Halloween weekend last October I pedaled home along the bicycle path and was attacked by a stranger in a random act of violence.
Though it was dark, I noticed three figures standing idle just off the path ahead. I mistakenly didn’t take heed to stop and go the other direction. Too trusting, I continued along the path like a thousand times before…
As I rolled by, I noticed one figure lunge toward me. He was big, like a football player. In that moment, I thought, what the fuck does he want and looked ahead to ignore him and keep going.
I recall a moment of the collision, of what was me hitting the ground. Next I recall, a guy was asking if I was okay. He pedaled by and saw me lying with my bike off the path. I told him I was attacked, but seemingly okay. He went on his way and I continued the last few blocks home.
By the time I arrived, the concussion was obvious. I had a huge lump the size of a baseball on the backside of my head. My jaw was out of alignment and my bite didn’t come back together for a day or so. Then the deep body bruises on my back and entire ass cheek appeared and lingered for a couple weeks, eventually forming into the shape of a loon. How MN like.
I can only surmise the thug slugged me in the jaw, which knocked me out and off my bike. In the fall, I landed on my ass and hit my head on the ground. Considering the amount of time between leaving for home and arriving, I was unconscious for 10-15 minutes.
Strangely, I wasn’t robbed, raped and they didn’t take my bike. What was their purpose? Was it an act of hazing? Was it a dare? Was it just asshole guys out wilding on a Halloween party night? Did they realize they nearly killed me and that scared them off? So fucking senseless of them...
I never felt fear, though I’m deeply disappointed. My bicycle is my main mode of transport. I travel the bike paths daily (when free of ice). I wear a helmet now, which I never had before, in nearly 50 years of riding. The helmet cautiously restores my roughed up sense of safety. I am used to riding anywhere, at anytime I want. Anyway, seven months later, there is still a small lump that is sore and tingles, sometimes my skull hurts and my ears are fucked up.
I love my bicycle. http://www.loversandwreckers.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-bicycle-love-poem.html
When I was young I use my bike for years and years untill I choose to have 2 jobs ..... And I still use my bike sometimes.
ReplyDeleteIs something inside of me when I ride my bike.
Some feeling that I can't explain . Me and my bike we share a lot of great great memories.
I love my bike.
I really don't know what people think,when they do something like that. Only one thing, "useless people".
ReplyDeleteIt makes me angry,what happen to you
One theory, it starts out as macho boredom and they push things until they do something "dangerous".
ReplyDeleteI'm sure what happened scared the hell out of them and yet got a kick from the adrenaline.
Another thing is that bicycles being big and fast often trigger chase instincts as in cougar attracts and maybe this? At some primitive level you are the competition or maybe they were just assholes.
@babettejones
What kind of man strikes a woman? That's messed up, Jenny. 10 minutes is a long time to be knocked out. I hope you got medical care and filed a police report. You're smart to wear a bike helmet.
ReplyDelete@madabip