Cycling across campus on my way home tonight I almost ran over a squirrel, which darted out in front of me. I was already slowing for junction I was approaching and squeezed the levers a bit more but, with damp autumn leaves on the floor, I couldn’t jam the brakes on too hard. Fortunately, the slowing combined with the squirrel’s ability to put on an extra burst of speed meant the potential collision was avoided.

Just as well! I’m pretty sure it would have ended badly for the squirrel and probably wouldn’t have been so good for me either. I’m glad I’m not in the habit of going hell-for-leather on the bike so neither of us had to find out.