I went out for a bike ride today.  The temps were in the upper 70's, the sun was shining, the fall colors are fantastic.  (However, I could have done without the 20 mph headwinds!).  With the sun so low in the sky, even during the early afternoon, I could see my shadow as I was biking along my favorite bike path.  I noticed something hanging down from my bike bag, and thought - oh my, I didn't get my purse strap all the way into my bike bag.  Then I realized - it was my braid dangling below my bag!!!  I usually tuck the end of my braid up into my helmet so that it is not on my neck or getting caught between me and my seat back, but today I didn't bother.  I must have flipped my braid back behind me, which would take it over the seat back and over my bike bag.  I had no idea my braid would be long enough to hang down below my bag.  This puts it within an inch or so of the back wheel.   I don't even want to think what might happen if my braid got caught in the wheel - eeek!

HEADLINE - Woman found unconscious on bike path.  A witness of the accident reported "It was the strangest thing I ever saw.  She was biking along and all of a sudden she did a back flip over the back of the bike.  The bike seemed to be attached to her as she rolled on the ground."  Investigators found the woman's 4 foot braid tangled in the back wheel of her bike.  Fortunately the biker was wearing a helmet which prevented her from any head injury and helped keep her hair from being pulled out.  The woman was treated for abrasions and released.   She was seen biking away with the end of her braid tucked into her helmet to prevent a repeat of the incident.