Bicyclist strikes bear, lives to tell about it

Bicycle commuters know that keeping an eye out for danger on the road is an important part of their commute. My husband has been commuting by bike for several years. Though his route is short, he often comes home with a story to tell -- dogs who chase him, motorists who leap before they look, black ice, even squirrels who try to throw themselves under his tires.

I'm pretty sure, however, that in our urban neighborhood he won't have to worry about running into a bear. But Missoula man Jim Litz isn't so lucky. He was riding his bike to work recently -- cruising at about 25 mph -- when he came over a rise and discovered a black bear in front of him. He hit the bear head-on, flew over his handlebars, and the two went tumbling down the road. The bear took off, and Litz is left with some bumps and scrapes ... and a great story to share.

Riding your bike to work is the perfect way to make fitness a part of your daily routine. While bears may not be a risk-factor in your neighborhood, cars probably are. Stay safe on the road with these 10 tips for not getting hit from bicyclesafe.com.