Fall down, go "ouch!" (or "oops")

[milktree]

I've failed to get my feet out of toe clips or clipless pedals exactly twice, ever. Today was the second time. There was this cop blocking a road marked "local access only" and I was trying to convince him that construction wasn't a big deal and he should let me go by the cones. It worked, but I had to fall on my ass to do it. That's why I wear gloves. slight boo-boo on my knee, and right wrist was a bit sore for a while, but I can't tell anymore. Hey! Pavement doesn't hurt! (wrong lesson) It was kind of funny, when I fell over I could tell there was conflict in him; do I help? is it a trick? what's going on? I was up fast enough that he didn't have to decide.

The first time was in 1990 when I was working at a bicycle shop in Bar Harbor as a mechanic. I customer brought in a soooooper fancy somethingorother, and thought he heard a "click" in the bottom bracket; wanted it rebuilt. Ok, whatever, it's your money. Rebuild bottom bracket, take it for a test ride. But when I got back to the shop I rode into the driveway and ... fell over. On his very fancy shiny spotless pride-and-joy bicycle. My boss ran over to the door, saw what happened, and immediately stepped between the customer and the door so I could get up before he saw anything. He was a pretty good boss, never gave me shit about it. I protected the bike with my body, so the customer never knew.