OF THE NATURE OF THINGS
by Steve Strain, Club President 1996-1999
February 1999
I tried one vehicular homicide case this month and settled another when the defendant
pled guilty the morning of trial. In one case the defendant was dog drunk on a lovely
Sunday afternoon and hit and killed a woman. In the other case the defendant was full of
methamphetamine (crank) and killed two people on a motorcycle. That incident happened on a
Saturday morning around eight thirty central time. I have ridden my bike on both stretches
of road in the company of my fellow club members. It gives one pause.
One of the family members of one of the victims blamed herself because she believed
that they would not have been on the road but for her suggestion that they visit some
family in the area. I reminded her that it was the defendant who was to blame and that no
one could explain why this happened to these folks who were good people. In my years as an
assistant district attorney I have spoken to too many people who have lost loved ones as
the result of some criminal act. Miss Karen and I were discussing motorcycles over the
weekend and she reminded me that I knew of what could happen to one on a motorcycle. I
told her that I knew of a lot of ways people lost their lives or suffered other harms.
We are indeed fragile creatures. The world holds its perils and as a cyclist one cannot
help but wonder about the wisdom of riding when drunks are out on beautiful weekend days.
In preparing the cases for court the thought passed my mind about what might have happened
had there been cyclists on the road. And yet after the defendant pled and I suddenly had
the day open I went and rode. I left the house on the Waterford and headed out 41 and
across the bridge. It was a gorgeous day. A day that had no business falling in January
and I soon took off my vest and rode as if it were spring. I climbed Ladd's Mountain and
dove through the curves leaning the Waterford over and crouching for more speed. I
attacked some hills standing and accelerating over the top. I came home and was greeted by
the Lily dog.
If I have learned anything it is that life is a precious and fragile thing. There are
no guarantees. Someone told me that no one on their death bed said they wished they had
spent more time working. So get out and do the things you love. For those of us who are
cyclists get out and ride. Ride with your club, your friends. Ride for the joy of riding.
Ride for the challenge of doing things you never thought you could. But most of all; ride
because you are alive.
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