Hit and Run - My Experience Getting Hit by a Car on My Bike

So, it is official. I am now a member of a bike club. Unfortunately a member of a club I never wanted to be… bike riders that have been hit by cars.

I was out cruising the neighborhood the other night. About 10 minutes into the ride I came to the main road that runs adjacent to our subdivision. Noticing a car coming toward me I stopped beside the curb far from that main road. It was dark after all and being an avid mountain biker I am always overly cautious when on the road. As he turned into my road the driver came across the road to clip the apex of the turn, almost exactly where I was waiting.

It was surreal. It wasn't like it was happening in slow motion as many often describe. It was more like someone lifted the needle on my life dropping it a few grooves in time later. The car was coming at me, then it was down the road.

As I lay in the road a thousand thoughts ran through my head starting with "did that guy just hit me? Really? He just hit me!"

No brake lights. "Did he even know he hit me?" It was dark. "Maybe he thought he clipped the curb. Surely he looked in his rear view mirror when he heard that he hit something. Doesn't everyone with a nice car look back when they hit something?"

Sitting on the curb I wondered if I was "asking for it" riding after dark. As I limped home with "Old Faithful" (my GT mountain bike) on my shoulder I was amazed at how really lucky I had been. If I had been any closer to the corner, the car would have hit me rather than folding my front wheel squashing it on top of me.

The next day amazement turned into anger. Sure, it was dark and accidents happen, but driving on the wrong side of the road? Not good. Then not stopping after hitting someone/something? Inexcusable! Our neighborhood often has older couples out walking or kids riding all sorts of wheeled devices. This driver might just kill someone in the near future…maybe even one of my children.

I felt a little better after filing a police report but everything seemed so pointless. Knowing they would probably not find the driver, not much would change.

I think part of the problem is that we all feel like things like this only happen to others. I have to admit I was one of those that felt that way. I was always overly careful when riding my bike on the road (something I rarely do). Those other bikers that defiantly ride in the road would be hit, not me. Being a dad constantly looking to use even the scariest moments to teach my kids, I of course used this as a prime example of how you can never think "it can't happen to you."

In a few weeks the bruises will be gone, the wheel replaced, and life will be back to normal. But what could I do that will remind both the rider and driver how quickly your life can change? I have a couple ideas. I will have the details in an upcoming post. Check back soon!

Thanksgiving Ride

It has become a family tradition: as soon as we are able to move again after stuffing ourselves, we get out for a walk, ride, anything that involves getting off our turkey-filled body moving. After a quick game of soccer at the local park someone suggested we try out the new-ish single track just down the road. A plan was hatched for another day... need to gather bikes for the out of town family members.

Two days later we headed out into the warm afternoon sun, the whole family (except moms)... three generations from 8 year old nephew to 73 year old Popi. A couple miles down the road we took off into Black Oak Trail, the single track that leads to the North Boundary Trails in Oak Ridge. The young ones occasionally had a little trouble with the slick leaves but "grandpa" had no problem. In fact, mentioned that he would have liked to ridden faster.

A quick rest while we throw rocks into the water

The moon above (and in) the quarry lake

One of the many cemeteries along the North Boundary Trails

Because Dad was riding my bike I had to pull out my old GT Timberline. I have not ridden a rigid off road before and was really surprised. With all the talk on the mountain bike forums of "not even bothering riding a sub-$1000 bike" I was amazed how much fun it was. There was this simple, connected-to-the-world feeling. In fact, I was able to do trails that might have been more difficult with the crummy fork on my Fuji. Sure, the ride was rough, the bike heavy, and trails not difficult... but fun is fun. I am going to be using this bike more and more in the future. And with all the high dollar carbon fiber and titanium machines on the trails around here, there is something cool about seeing some vintage steel out there!

1989 GT Timberline

Yet Another GT

I am not sure why but GTs seem to love me. Let me explain. This past weekend a bike came up on Craigslist. The listing said: "Timber Line" 26" wheels, $15. Was it a one of those Walmart junkers? I don't remember there being a Roadmaster Timber Line. Pacific Timber Line... hummm, sounds possible. For the fun of it I emailed the owner asking about it.

The email came back with a photo and it appeared to be a GT with a suspension fork. Knowing the brand of fork would tell me a lot. His next email said it was a Rock Shox fork and yes, it was $15 not $150. He said the rear brakes don't work. The gears don't work. The back tire is flat. But the "shocks are good." I figured for $15 I could sell the fork, throw away everything else, and not lose money.

Arriving at the owner's house the bike was in their tiny living room. The place reeked of cigarette smoke. The flip-flop wearing wife explained that they were going to use the cash to buy groceries. So I slipped her a $20 bill and left.

Once home I was able to breathe and assess. The bike is a '94 GT Timberline FS - a bike just above their botttom-of-the-range back then. Most issues appear to be minor. A healthy dose of chain lube in the brake cable housings and shifter housing did wonders to loosen things up. All bearings are pretty tight. The wheels are pretty straight. With a through cleaning this could be a nice bike.

The stats:
the steel frame is pretty big but not huge, a guess 18.5"
GT "bull" handlebars, period-correct but strange
Rock Shox Quadra 10
WTB tires
trigger shifters
21 speed
Shimano Alivio crankset
Shimano STX rear derailleur (amazingly straight!)

Check out this funky double kickstand:

Cool but not on a real mountain bike.

I now have the problem of having a bike that I hate to part out. This gets me to back to my original comment... GTs love me. Now I have two Timberlines that I really like.

Weekend Finds - Parts and A GT Timberline

It was the weekend for bike searches. My son and I planned out each and every promising yard sale in West Knoxville and headed out for six locations.

After being less than fruitful at every one we headed home. But that one pink sign on the way forced us to stop. At our first "non scheduled" stop we found handle bar ends. I talked the teenage girl down to 50 cents.

Entering our neighborhood we decided to stop at another. We spotted two bikes: a Murray and a late-80s (I assume) GT Timberline. Having just purchased another GT Timberline it was easy spotting the unusual seat stay attachments:

 

When I inquired about the price the owner said "Man, are you sure? It's gonna need a LOT of work." When I jokingly said "well then, how about 5 bucks?" he said sure!

So, after about ten yard sales, we spent $5.50 and headed home with a whole bunch of nice stuff.

I originally thought I would be parting out this bike but the signature GT seat stays and out of the box thinking with their brakes have me thinking I might change my mind. I really like the unique details in the GT's design. Even the rad 80s Duran Duran album cover graphics are growing on me.

After a little research, it turns out that the bike was new in 1989 which is a little puzzling to me. As a graphic designer I remember a short lived graphic movement with the styling to these logos (Memphis Style) being earlier by a few years - more like mid 80s.

After riding it a few times, I realized that I had found a diamond in the rough... at least for me. It just rides sooooo well. This old GT is going to live its second life as a hybrid in my stable.