Chancing traffic
Both me and one of my mates are avid cyclists, and used to often go cycling along the canal that runs through our village. To get down to the thing, one has to nip down a hill and cross the perpendicular road.

Out of a cross between laziness in stopping to look both ways or as a small adrenaline buzz, we always didn't bother to look and nipped straight out onto the road. This is a backwards village so the road was almost always clear. It was months before this (looking back, it was incredibly stupid) stupid disregard of safety caught up on us.

Out for one of our canal rides as usual, we cross the road with my mate in front and me at the back. The car coming sideways at 35mph obviously didn't brake in time, but luckily I did - And watched one of my best mates make contact with it's bonnet and fly a good few meters into the doorway of the butchers.

As the shock kicks in, I realise that I have been partially responsible for the death of my pal, all until he suddenly stands up and declares "I'm OK!".... with not a lot of skin left on his arms and pissing blood everywhere.

Damage was a buckled frame, 2 rims and a pedal arm, a total write off. The metal pedal had also managed to embed itself somewhere inside the front of the car.

Took a few weeks to heal, and we cycle a lot more carefully these days!

Length? About 8 meters looking at the trail of blood
(MrBlue ding!, Fri 21 Dec 2007, 17:30, Reply)