My whole body aches. Even my fingers hurt.

Day 2 of my bike riding to work didn’t go very well. In fact it went so poorly I’m still feeling it’s effects.

In an effort to avoid as many hills as possible I was investigated new paths to take home. I was riding on the sidewalks downtown to try to avoid traffic. You know how most sidewalks taper down when you get to an intersection. There is typically a curb on the sidewalk, but when you get the intersect the sidewalk goes down a little to you don’t trip over the curb.

Well in the older parts of town the sidewalks don’t do that. There they just have the big curbs.

I was flying down the sidewalk, trying to make the intersection before the light turned red. I jumped off the curb and tried to jump back on to the curb on the other side of the street. Last weekend when we took the kids to a big parking lot to teach them to ride their bikes without training wheels, Lee was showing off by jumping a bottle of pop while riding Spencer’s bike. I figured, if Lee can jump a bottle of pop then surely I can jump this three inch curb.

I was wrong.

I leaped up. The front wheel didn’t quite make the curb. Instead the side of the wheel slid down the side of the curb. The bike tilted to the right and I went flying. Face first. In to the sidewalk. It was quite a spectacular flip. I really should think about joining the circus.

Oh how I bet you wish there was some video of that.

Almost as good as video is eye witness accounts. About ten car fulls of eye witnesses. All stopped at the red light. Watching me pavement dive. Good times.

I could hear some people laughing at me. Bastards. As I stood up one guy yelled out, “Are you ok?” I said, “Yeah, I’m fine.” My shoulder felt a little sore, but I was ok. My ego was a little bruised. I’m in my thirties and I can’t even ride a bike for crying out loud.

I picked up my bike and got on. I started to pedal, but went nowhere. The chain had fallen off.

I climbed off an tried to get the chain on. After about five minutes I was on the verge of tears. But I was trying to keep it together. So I called Lee.

“Hello.”

“Hi. I fell on my bike. And the chain came off. And I can’t get it back on.”

“Ok, where are you?”

“Eighth Street.”

“Ok, as soon I drop Skyler off I’ll be down.”

Another ten minutes went by. I was still fiddling with the chain…trying to keep my cool. A guy in a pickup truck stopped right in front of me. He said, “Do you need help?” I said, “I can’t get my chain back on.” I thought he was going to help me get it back on. Isn’t that what guys are supposed to do? Instead he said, “Do you need a ride somewhere?” I said, “no my husband will be here soon.”

Shortly after that I finally got the chain on. I had just started pedaling down the road when Lee called. “Where are you?” he asked. “On Eighth Avenue. I go the chain back on so I’m pedaling home,” I responded.

And just then I realized I must have been delirious from the fall because I was not on Eighth Avenue. I was on Twelfth Avenue. Oops.

I made it about another block before I realized Lee was following me. I hollered at him, “Are you going to take me home?” He said, “No you’re doing fine.” I said, “No, I think I’ve had enough bike riding today.”

He pulled the truck over and looked at my sunglasses. My sunglasses that now had a big scratch across the front of them. I lifted up my hair and showed him the scrape on my forehead.

I didn’t even realize my shirt was torn until I got home.

Then I pulled up my sleeve and showed him my scraped up shoulder.

He said, “Yeah I guess you have had enough for today.” He threw my bike in the back and we drove home.

When I got home I realized, not only had I scraped up my forehead and my shoulder plus ripped my shirt, but I also scratched up my thigh and my ankle. I’m a walking disaster.

And now my whole body is stiff. I feel like a grandma. I’m getting to old for these amazing bike tricks trips.

I am still going to ride my bike to work on Friday though. I am going to show that bike who’s boss. One little fall isn’t going to stop me.

This week at least. I’m not making any promises for Monday.