A night ago I was biking around without a helmet. I’m starting to learn why it’s a good idea to have one but until then I’m relying strictly on ninja skills to keep me alive.

We were racing around at medium speed when I hit a cement block in a parkade that I couldn’t see in the darkness. I saw it just a split second before I hit it and I tried to raise my front wheel over it but I wasn’t quick enough. I smacked into the cement block and was thrown forward over my handlebars. Everything paused. There I was eyes wide open, pavement calling my name ahead of me for a few feet and some grass about 3 meters away. Large neon letters descended in the darkness saying:

Colin vs Gravity. Death match. FIGHT!

Reality resumed and I was hurtling forward with my bike behind me slamming to the ground. I started to doggy paddle on approach with the pavement and luckily there weren’t (m)any sharp rocks or glass around. My arms and legs connected with the ground and I kept pushing forward with the momentum trying to keep my body from collapsing onto the hard cement. It was a short but aggressive battle to keep up and the momentum lasted maybe 2 or 3 seconds when finally I made it to the grass, tucked my head under my shoulder and somersaulted clumsily onto my back… then back up onto my feet. ;)

The bike survived too! What a rush. Would have to conclude that I loved it. No injuries, just some small scrapes and shrapnel that I had to pick out of the palms of my hands. No blood, no bruises that I can see. I didn’t even remember that it happened really until just now when I thought to post it somewhere.

Ever had a physical battle or challenge that went well when it could have gone extremely bad? Could you share a story?

Topics: risk, desperation, strength, physical, fights, hope, skill, aggression, battles, struggle, victory, determination, might