The Joys of BB X: Squirrel in a Fork on Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
-- Robert Frost

Broken plastic plates and bits of food covered the sidewalks in Dupont last night. I helped a woman back to her feet and helped her brush off refried beans and salsa from her jacket. I was waiting for my bus. People fell or nearly fell up and down O Street and staggered from signpost to parking meter, and slid on all fours.

Bodies upending, feet flying, torsos smacking the pavement--I paid attention. I know that, if I race this summer, I am likely to do this at least once. I am likely to go over my handlebars, under wheels, break my collarbone, or lose my skin. Cyclists do a girly thing (shave their legs) for a very manly reason (when the road shreds off their skin, hair gets stuck in the rash and makes it more difficult to bandage). You know how nurses shave patients before surgery? Cyclists shave themselves anticipating surgery. That is sobering.

I thought about that especially when a cyclist zipped by, in the dark, on a thin sheet of ice. I would have bike commuted myself, except my knee's a little gimpy. Glad I didn't. Commuting, especially after ice storms, is even more dangerous than racing.

I hope to avoid some accidents by being smart and cautious. For example, not carrying an umbrella while riding:

Most commuters don't worry about road rash or a few rain drops on the head--we worry about complete obliteration. That is, cars. Cars do to cyclists what cyclists do to squirrels, as seen here:
Cyclists ride a path that is perpetually icy, figuratively speaking. We cover ourselves with blinking lights and wear helmets. We ride in packs. We discuss falling techniques. We have separate threads for different injury prevention techniques entitled "Wear your helmet", "Wear your elbow pads!!" where we dispense advice such as

"first DONT EXTEND YOUR HANDS!!! second..... RELAX AND ROLL!!!"

and suggest taking judo to improve falling technique.

Really! Take up a martial art, just to learn how to fall. Would judo have helped the poor squirrel escape getting jammed into some poor guy's fork? Would it have helped the hundreds of cyclists hit this year by drunks and dufuses?

When it comes, I'm sure I'll be surprised. Hopefully, this guy remembered to RELAX AND ROLL: