inertia is fun

coming through a sharp curve on a debris-covered road, with my mind elsewhere, i suddenly found myself skidding at an untenable angle.  a wood chip provided for horizontal motion of my rear wheel, i went into a frightening lurch, and time slowed down, as it tends to do when i fall, to ensure that i could most fully enjoy the helplessness and inevitability of meeting the ground.

except this time, i didn't meet the ground.  my legs kept on doing what they were doing, even as they began to twist (instinctively, i hope) out of the pedals, and my body leaned out of the curve, which it was time for anyhow.  in other words, i just kept on cornering, and before i knew it, all was right, including my bike and me.

i cycled on my way, nervously and cautiously at first, and then back to normal.  i had plenty of time left on the ride to reflect on the lessons of my near-fall.

first, the lesson that applies fractally and hermetically: it ain't over 'till it's over.  i was surely falling, but i was not committed to the fall, and i did not impact the ground even though for a short eternity i was certain that i would.

second, i realized i've fallen to the ground on my bike only 2 or 3 times, and in all cases where i actually hit pavement, i was not moving in any direction except that suggested by gravity.  in other words, i was stopped.  in other other words, a bike moving forward wants to keep moving forward, and without sufficiently forceful motivation toward other directions, will keep on moving forward.  my bike, particularly, likes to go forward, quickly.

finally, i learned another aspect of the importance of a fast, easy cadence.  i was spinning at no less than 90rpm, and it wasn't a hard push at that cadence.  because of this, i had plenty of reserve power to keep the wheels spinning as i fell into my curve.  if i'd been maxed out on power, i might not have had the reserves to keep the wheels spinning, and when the wheels aren't spinning, i'm guaranteed to have a bad time.

in short, as long as the wheels are spinning, biking is a fun time.