Shoulder The Blame

First of all, I don't think there can be much blame apportioned to me on this one. Let's be clear; if we take 'fault' as a percentage, I will accept no more than 5.
As a cyclist of some twenty years, I consider myself pretty damn proficient on the roads and, without (hardly) any exception, I obey the laws accordingly. Unfortunately, there are others out there who do not and it is those mindless idiots who have a lot to answer for. Answer or not, it doesn't help right now as I nurse my recently dislocated right shoulder. Ouch.
There I was yesterday, having a good day touring north London in search of bathroom suites and tiles when, on my way home, I came a cropper. Coming down-hill, with the traffic lights in front of me showing green, I went through a large junction turning right and collided, at about 25 mph, with a fellow cyclist. I had seen him too late to make any adjustments and, even from about 15' away, was still sure that he was going to apply his brakes and let me pass. He didn't see me at all, until we virtually kissed at the moment of impact. I went into him side on, our torsos bounced off each other and we went to ground. Out came the shoulder. I screamed for a while and then, realising that I was in lying in the road, tried to haul myself and my bike on to the pavement. A group of four or five people had gathered instantly and one young lady was already phoning for an ambulance. "No", I said, "don't bother calling them", as, after about 15 seconds, my shoulder had popped back into it's socket and, from past experience, I knew the procedure.
I sat down on a wall and tried to compose myself. The other rider (we shall call him the hittee) was also in shock and, constantly apologising, he wanted to know if I was ok. Another woman came up to me. "Excuse me", she said, "I'm a believer. Do you mind if I say a few words for you?". I told her that was fine, to fill her boots. Having heard the call for the ambulance, a policeman pulled up in his car. I told him what had happened and that everything was under control. Not that I really felt I knew much about control at that point, but I was already clear in my mind that I wasn't going to be hanging the other guy out to dry and pressing charges. It was totally his fault and he knew it, but it was still an accident.
An ambulance woman in her ambulance car arrived soon after and then, within another minute or two, so did a full-size one. I didn't really want to waste their time, but they were here now, so getting checked out seemed to make sense and went some way towards calming me down. I had my pulse and blood pressure checked and the very atrtractive ambulance girl asked me, "are you sure you don't want us to take you to the hospital?". I was tempted. I told her no; maybe another time.
They loaded my bike into the back and drove me the rest of the way home. As the driver was pushing my bike to my door, I could see my downstairs neighbour walking up towards us. I shook my head, as if to say don't ask, I'll tell you later. As he got closer, I saw that he too had been in the wars. He had butterfly stitches over a wound under his right eye, an eye which was rich with varying degrees of purple and green. In a work related incident, he had slammed a hammer into his face. Ouch. A short while later, we were sitting at my kitchen table, swapping notes.
I don't expect to ride again for a while, but when I do, I'm sure that this experience will alter, to some extent, the way I treat the roads, especially that turn at that junction. I am thankful that I hit another cyclist and not a car and, to be blunt, that I am able to sit here today and write about it.


"In Govan, until something actually turns black and drops off, they think it's bad form to bother the doctor." Rab. C. Nesbitt

Lyrics

When you're down and troubled,
And you need a helping hand,
And nothing, whoa nothing is going right,
Close your eyes and think of me,
And soon I will be there,
To brighten up even your darkest nights,
You just call out my name,
And you know wherever I am,
I'll come running, oh yeah baby
To see you again,
Winter, spring, summer or fall,
All you have to do is call,
And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah,
You've got a friend.

If the sky above you,
Should turn dark and full of clouds,
And that old north wind should begin to blow,
Keep your head together and call my name out loud,
And soon I will be knocking upon your door,
You just call out my name and you know wherever I am,
I'll come running to see you again,
Winter, spring, summer or fall,
All you got to do is call,
And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah,
Hey, ain't it good to know that you got a friend,
People can be so cold,
They'll hurt you and desert you,
Well they'll take your soul if you let them,
Oh yeah, but don't you let them,
You just call out my name and you know wherever I am,
I'll come running to see you again,
Oh babe don't you know that,
Winter, spring, summer or fall,
Hey now, all you've got to do is call,
Lord I'll be there, yes I will,
Youve got a friend,
You've got a friend,
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend,
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend,
You've got a friend.