This is my first entry for the MeFi bike challenge! I was excited to participate and see how I stack up against other MeFites.

My fiance and I love to go out on the Sioux Falls bike trails and last night was the perfect night for it. The trails run through greenways along the Big Sioux River and have gentle slopes and the occassional big hill. The scenery is gorgeous - especially the falls.

We had a nice ride meandering through downtown and back on the bike trails. We discovered the south loop was no longer closed and went quite a ways before turning back around.

A thunderstorm was moving in so we started to book it on the way back. Just before we got back to the truck, it started to rain. We were delighted and slap-happy about the rain because we have been in a terrible drought. I certainly didn't mind being out in it.

I wanted an even 10 miles to add to the MeFi challenge so I had an eye on the bike computer. We arrived at the truck and it was at 9.8. So close! It was raining pretty good by then but I decided to circle the parking lot a few times so I would have my even 10. Round and round I went while laughing and feeling good about exercise.

I approached the truck and hit 10 even. "Woohoo! I hit 10!" I cheered as I sat back on my bike seat. I started to brake, but my hand slipped on the handlebar. I instinctively grasped for a tighter grip and in turn squeezed hard on the brakes. The bike skidded to a sudden stop and then did a hop and a skip on the slippery asphalt before going down. My bike and I crashed to the pavement at an angle with my knee breaking the fall.

I sat stunned on the ground in the rain. I was dirty and wet and bloody. Everything hurt, especially my knee and hands. I was an idiot and had decided not to wear my gloves because I didn't want to get sweaty.

"Are you ok?" asked my fiance. I had to think about that for a while.

"Yes," I said. Then tears started to well up in my eyes. "Nnnn.... nn... Nooooooo."

I fought the urge to cry and with my fiance's help got in the truck. Back at the house he carefully cleaned up my knee and wrapped it with bandages. What a great guy! I will be OK but I certainly won't be biking for a few days. My knee is bruised very deeply and pretty cut up. This is bad as it had just finally healed from a spill I had taken during basketball last May. I have slight scrapes on my palms and a severe scrape on my right forearm, just above the elbow. There's a massive bruise on my upper arm on my right. And I'm generally sore all over.

So much for my first day!