The first thing I did was get up and retrieve the rolling water bottle that fell off my bike. I had to get my things. I had to get my things.

Then I felt this bright dizzy feeling overcome me. I knew that I hit my head and my right forearm and hip were in pain. I tried to remember what I had happened but I couldn’t. Someone was saying in front of me, “I have gotten caught like that. Are you ok?”

I took deep breaths and said, “Yes…I think so.”

Another cyclist stopped and said, “That was quite a wipeout. What day is it?”

I reached back in my memory remembering that I had checked the date indicator on my computer several hours before. “April 5,” I said.

“What time is it?”

I reached for my phone, he interrupted, “Don’t check your watch.”

“Um…9 pm.” (And it was actually 9 pm.)

“Do you recognize these two guys? Do you trust them?”

I gestured toward the one who was wearing a brown beret, “I recognize him. San Jose. But I don’t know him. Should I trust them?”

“Are you with anybody?”

“Yeah, but he was way in front…leading everyone. He was the one wearing the blue helmet. I think that I am going to walk.”

With that, I started walking and called Chris, noting his latest text message where r u? “I think that I got caught in the muni rails. I don’t feel good.”

“Walk over to Illinois and 24th. I am directing traffic.”

I found him as he directed cyclists to turn left, waving his arms left. “I feel weird like a whole day has passed. I don’t remember the moments before and after I fell. I don’t know if my bike is ok.”

Then suddenly I remembered how the group was moving fast and I thought that I should speed up. After all, I can ride fast. A car was blocking the way. I hated going near the muni rails, but I saw other cyclists ride smoothly through the middle and it’s not the first time I crossed the tracks. I’ll do it. Then I fell.