Killer Blackbirds

A while back I wrote about an article I read that blackbirds were attacking cyclists and pedestrians. I talked to one of my friends tonight who told me that a cyclist in the north suburbs died over the weekend after being pecked by a blackbird . I don't know the exact details, but it sounds like he wasn't wearing a helmet and the bird pecked at him so relentlessly that he fell to the pavement and hit his head. He died a couple days later from the head injury. Again, this is third or fourth hand. It's very sad to hear, and makes me take the blackbird thing more seriously. My friend also said that there are two areas where "killer blackbirds" is (or was) written on the pavement to warn people. The dangerous period is June-July, when they are protecting their young.

Update on the killer blackbirds: apparently the cyclist was attacked near the Highland Park Lexus dealership, on the "bunny trail". Apparently someone else, on an earlier date, was pecked and fell off his bike and broke his leg. None of this has been verified - but my friend heard about it via an email warning other riders. It doesn't seem to be mentioned in the press anywhere. I don't know what the bunny trail is, but if you do and you ride it, be careful!

On another note, I tried to ride twice today but was thwarted by the rain. The first time I headed out, even though it was gray, and my cell rang a few minutes into the ride. I was a call I needed to answer, so I stood there for a few minutes talking. In that time it started to rain, so I turned back. I took care of a bunch of emails on the computer got ready to go, then the phone rang. I answered that one too, and it took a while to get off. The sun had come out before the phone call, but by the time I finished it was gray and menacing, and my bike was getting all wet sitting outside on the porch waiting for me to ride it. I really needed the workout, I guess it's going to be the gym for me, after I got get groceries. Arrrgh. The phone calls were probably a good thing because they kept me from getting far from home and getting really soaked each time.

Yes, I do still have race reports to catch up on from Levis Trow and from Chippewa Valley Firecracker in Eau Claire!

I'm volunteering instead of racing at Blue Mounds Saturday. Julie and her teammates will be volunteering too, we'll have fun. I might head over to Half Acre's time trial Sunday morning. I also noticed in the Reader that an old teammate's band is playing Sunday early evening at a festival at Belmont and Lincoln. I doubt I'll have the oomph to go, but I haven't seen her not-so-new-anymore band yet!