At home on a damp afternoon in San Francisco. It's been raining here, yesterday, the day before. The roads become very treacherous in this weather, and it's imperative that you cycle with great care, particularly on slick surfaces like rail tracks and painted lines. Crosswalks, intersections, and the like. One particularly sketchy spot is on Church St. where the Muni trains emerge from the tunnel heading west into the Sunset district. Years ago, a friend of mine's front tire slipped on one of these steel rails, catapulting his body forward over his handlebars. He failed to let go of the handlebars in order to use his forearms and hands to cushion the impact and protect his face and head. Also, he was not wearing a helmet. I still can hear the sickening thud when his bald head hit the wet concrete hard and full. Incredibly, he did not crack his skull open or suffer major head trauma. He was able to stand, shake it off, and after a short break remount and ride on. We must have had a strong drink or two soon afterward to dull the pain. Russians, they are indeed hard-headed.
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