Triathlete hits unexpected road black
By Karen Augé
Denver Post Staff Writer
As a serious, focused triathlete, Sabrina Oei anticipated and trained
for everything from proper hydration to changing a flat tire mid-race.
She neglected, however, to prepare for one element of the Boulder Peak
Triathlon.
A black bear.
About halfway through Sunday's 42-kilometer ride, the 31-year-old
cyclist saw the animal lumbering across Left Hand Canyon Road just as
she came flying downhill.
"I knew right away it was a bear," she said Monday, recovering at her
Denver home. "And I knew I was going to hit it unless it speeded up."
It didn't.
"I broadsided the bear and flew over handlebars. Luckily, my bike
clips ejected, and I landed on my upper shoulder and slid onto my
back," Oei said. "I popped up swearing like a sailor."
She said it took about 35 minutes for paramedics to arrive. After
being brushed off, she hopped back on the bike and finished the
Olympic-distance race - a little sore and a little annoyed the bear
had contributed 35 minutes to her time of 3 hours, 6 minutes and 37
seconds.
The bear was apparently not seriously injured and ran off.
[snip]