Everyone knows it's always a good idea to keep looking ahead when on the road.

But that might be especially true for Spokane bicycle riders at this time of year, when skies are gray, the light is subdued and the wet streets are the color of, well, turkeys.

One particular scenario comes to mind.

Say you are riding through a residential area and spot a flock of turkeys ambling though a yard next to the road. It's tempting to turn your head for a moment to gaze at the big birds. If that scene is familiar to us now, it's still sort of amazing.

But that can be a mistake. If there are 10 turkeys in the yard, there might be two or three still walking across the street. And they can blend into the background color.

The cyclist who is not paying attention to the road -- even for a fraction of a second -- can find himself having to slam on the brakes.

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