Sticks and stones will really hurt you! Along with the change of season comes falling leaves and sticks and leaves on the roadways and especially on the trails. It’s also harder to see obstacles with low light conditions in the trees. Bicycle riders don’t fare well when they hit debris or wet bridges, or roots or moss or just about anything.
My advice as road captain is to SLOW DOWN. Do not ride on Burnt Bridge Creek Trail or Salmon Creek Trail. Another trail to avoid is in Brush Prairie along 503.
Don’t trust wet railroad tracks, no matter what angle you take them, if they are wet, you can fall. Walk your bike. If you see wet moss, get out of there or walk.
Why the caution? We’ve had two riders go down in the past few weeks and it was due to wet slippery bridges and wet slippery moss covered bumps on trails. The riders are ok, but bruised and broken ribs are not fun.
Still not afraid enough to slow down? Remember the president of the Portland Bicycling Club, ‘(formerly the Wheelmen), who hit a stick on Lower River Road many years ago? It was in the fall. The stick got caught in his spokes, he broke his neck and died. All from a stick in his spokes! Well, he was also in a pace line and the rider behind him crashed into him also. See Joe’s latest article in the Wheel Truth for more info on the dangers of pace lines.
Or ask Ceasar how it felt when he hit a rock riding close behind another rider.
Summer is over, relax and enjoy the ride but most importantly stay safe so we can all ride in the sunshine next summer.
Stay safe and still have fun!
Mary