Mark,
You are so right. Luckily I am very stubborn and keep coming back after punishment. I hope that Dale permits this somewhat off-topic post, as it has brought back the importance of cycling in my life in a rather stark way...
I was rear-ended by a speeding Dodge Durango V-8 SUV on the SF Bay Bridge Thursday night on my way to choir practice. My stopped Mercury Sable station wagon was knocked into the Ford Ranger pickup in front of me, which was, in turn, knocked into the Ford Taurus sedan in front of it. All of these vehicles are well off-topic, but I rode my on-topic 1973-ish Peugeot mixte somewhat unsteadily to the chiropractor for a 2-hour exam and treatment on Friday. (My physical state at the time reminded me of having one of my crunched Raleigh Pro's re-tubed or my beloved PX-10 straightened after an accident bowed but could not dent its strong metric 531 down tube.)
Even when I was mentally in a fog and somewhat unsteady on my feet Friday, the day after my accident, cycling had restorative powers. I have been similarly able to ride my bike despite extreme fatigue or injuries during long rides like the Mt. hamilton Challenge and AIDS/ LifeCycle rides, and can understand how pro racers can get back on their bikes after nasty crashes, including Tyler Hamilton's famous broken bones.
The mental fog pretty much lifted Saturday morning and I am (somewhat tenderly) back to many of my regular activities like pulling up old carpeting this afternoon to prep the house to show and sell by October 6. And cycling has definitely helped bring me back.
Our 1996 station wagon (thank you, Ford, for meeting the 1997 side- impact standards in 1996 cars!) is probably going to get totaled, since the repairs will probably cost more than it is worth. Any recommendations from fellow listers on a comparable-volume (station wagon, small SUV, or mini-van) that would make a good sag wagon and car-camping vehicle for 2-4 riders and bikes? (I'd prefer a Reynolds 531 vehicle rather than Columbus, Durifort, or Isiwata, if possible... :-) Please email me off-list with any suggestions for infernal combustion vehicles of any vintage. We'd prefer as "green" as possible--and I do not mean "celeste."
Jon Spangler grateful to still be able to ride his classic Peugeot mixte in Alameda, CA USA
On Sep 24, 2009, at 8:59 PM, Mark Fulton wrote:
> Writers often screw up when they edit, editors often screw when
> they write. So what chance do writer/editors like John and I have.
>
> And yeah I know that line could use some (more) editing. (That's my
> third pass. Strike that, fourth.)
>
> Mark Fulton
> Redwood City
> California
> USA
Jon Spangler Writer/editor Linda Hudson Writing
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