I took a digger tonight on the commute home.  Only 1/2 mile from home, after climbing 4 miles, there's a short steep downhill where it's easy to hit 25mph without pedaling.  It's sort dangerous because it's a long right where you can't see well and at the bottom of the hill there's a 4-way intersection with no signage.  Just another unimproved road/intersection in Portland (yes it's that weird here).  It'd be better too take it easy and use some brake, but many times I do not because on the other side is a short steep climb and it's good to get momentum to make it up the other side without much effort.  However, this usually means I have to drift slightly into the oncoming lane through the turn.

Over the last 2 years I haven't seen a car at the bottom of the hill.  Sure enough, this time, out of the corner of my eye, even with the sun setting right into the direction I was heading I saw a car coming.  I hit the brakes hard while trying to lean harder right to make the turn.  The back-end lifted up, swung a little to the left, leaving my front pointing in a different direction.  When the wheel came down, with the weight of both panniers and me on the seat it tacoed the wheel and sent me flying.  I do remember thinking as I was coming down and my back of my head hit the pavement that, "thank god I have a helmet on."

I was a little shook up.  The woman in the car must've had a spectacular view.  She asked me if I was ok.  I was thinking at the time that I feel ok but there's been a lot of talk lately about the post-crash adrenaline rush you get, only to find out later you're really hurt.  So I replied, "Not sure yet.  I think so."  She said, "OK" really quickly, and took off.  Thinking back now, I bet she was laughing.  Hell, I was too inside.  What a retard I must've looked like.  It's not like it was raining or something.

Other than a bruised elbow and a wheel that is now going to need fixing (I just at the shop yesterday getting new brake pads installed too) only my ego was hurt.

Next time, use your brakes.

Later

Update:  Here's a view on google maps of the intersection.