Today I dropped a chain riding down a significant hill leading to a shorter steep hill. I dropped the chain to the outside so I tried shifting to the small ring to grab it and spin it back on...didn't work. so I pulled over a quarter of the way up the steep hill in someone's driveway just past a T-intersection. My buddies rolled up and stopped behind me. I got the chain back on and was getting ready to get back on the road. Just as I lifted my pedal to push out, I looked out to the road to see what traffic may be there. I saw a cyclist coming down the steep hill. He yells, "nooooo"; locks up; I look ahead of him. A pickup had pulled across his lane attempting a left turn without seeing him approaching. The cyclist scrubbed maybe 1or 2 mph before crumpling into the truck at probably 30mph. He dropped to the pavement and didn't move. The bike fork snapped and separated from his bike. The bike bounced away. He was laying on his side in a fetal position, his left, down-side arm pointing back. His right arm was tucked between his legs. It is a two lane road with two-way traffic; a popular ride for its rolling hills and scenic landscape. I rushed over to him and tried to talk to him so see if he was conscious and see if i could help him in anyway. One of my friends went to talk to the truck's occupants who had stopped and pulled off the road. They came over to see how the cyclist was. At this point more traffic approached. My other friend started to direct traffic around the accident since the rider was still in the road. He was breathing; but not responding to questions. I tried just talking to him to see if he was there. He looked awkward in the crumpled up position. His arm was clearly broken. I couldn't see other signs of injury save a little road rash and some bruising. But he must have cracked some ribs and may have done something serious to his spine. His helmet was intact and still on his head. I started to try get his backpack off, but stopped as it wasn't going to happen without moving him. I wanted to get him onto his back but was afraid to move him. One of the first drivers coming by stopped and pulled over. She had not seen the accident but offered to call 911; I said yes, please! She initiated the call but ended up handing it to me. I talked to 911 a bit explaining what we saw and how it happened. An off-duty emt and nurse drove by shortly after and took responsibility for his care [not that i had been able to do anything; I felt pretty helpless]. He was in shock and didn't come around for 5 -10 minutes. The truck driver was shaking and very upset. She didn't see him until he hit her. Police and rescue arrived shortly after. We gave info to the cops. The cyclist was put on a board, loaded, and taken off to hospital.
we continued our ride slowly and talked about the accident
this was a humbling, scary experience
please ride as safely as you can
Today... I got up at 410am
Today...
I got up at 410am and showered, got gear ready and caught a bus at 5:03am to another connection where I waited 3-minutes to catch it to get to my final destination 2.5 hours later.
When I got there I rode 2 miles and saw the bike course of a sprint race in motion so I ducked in when it was acceptable. I rode the course with the racers who were calling out "ON YOUR LEFT!!!" as they passed me as I rode on the right...
I trailed the right side of the race course into the race central as it was a local sprint race.
I went to support friends on their first race of the year...
I partied in the beer garden as I waited for them to finish. We drank beers, I met up with a fellow in my tri club who sold me a De Soto Black Pearl Top in my sz for $50. I plan to build this with a speed tube bottom for $200 and a Speed tube top vest for $140 to make a nice modular wetsuit package.
I rode the La Jolla Blvd. to the Cove and met up with my bros. I went bare skin in 59-degree water all the way to the Shore (1.2 miles one way) where I ran the shoreline there looking at all the thongs and mini bikini types.
I swan back to the cove which is always rough water, total chop ocean conditions and made it OK...
I met my bro, mentor bros GF and chatted her up making a good impression then packed up the tri bike and headed home.
I stopped in an affluent area where I met a wine clerk who remembered my name and we chatted over the wine he sold me last night and I explained I didn't cork it, I was tired and saved it and he and I laughed...
I rode home and watched the sunset as I met my new neighbors as they're moving in since it's the first. We laughed and made plans to do a BBQ soon...
Another day in the life as faux pro...
tri-ac wrote:Today I dropped
[quote=tri-ac]Today I dropped a chain..[/quote]
sorry to hear that. I hope the cyclist is going to be ok. I'm glad that someone (you) were there to help direct things and get first aid started (yes, a phone call and organizing people is first aid). These things can shake you up pretty good. When I've been in these situations it kind of makes me appreciate my health a little more. Be safe out there, important to remember that it is kind of a high risk activity.
Cars/trucks making lefts in
Cars/trucks making lefts in front of us as we descend is a nightmare scenario. At least the truck stayed in this situation. Thanks for sharing Tri-ac. It is always good to be reminded to stay extra alert.
What an experience. It is
What an experience. It is good to hear that the cyclist is ok. I am always nervous around cars, they sometimes make left turns in front of other cars, so it is no surprise that one might not see a cyclist.
what a scary experience!
what a scary experience! It's good that you and other cyclists were around to help. It's a completely different perspective being a regular cyclist on the road compared to just a random witness/driver. I'm glad he's relatively okay. ugh
I have to say I don't know
I have to say I don't know if he's ok yet. They carted him away to the hospital so he's getting care at least. I hope it's nothing more than the broken arm. If the police call me, I'm going to ask. I've been up since 230 this am just running over the event in my head. (and reading about Osama since that's all over the web)
Life is a precious thing.
very tragic for both the
very tragic for both the cyclist and the driver. Sounds like this was a true accident, unlike some of the others we have read about.
On Saturday's ride I almost was the victim of road rage myself. I was pulling up to a 4 way stop in our small town and there were about 6 cars ahead of me. I stopped my watched and slowly (4-6 mph) passed up the cars to get to the front. A driver in a F-250 saw me in his driver-side mirror and proceeded to pull all the way to his left-hand side of the lane to block me. I pulled around him and we were both now at the front of the line. I kindly (in a sarcastic tone) told him "thank you". He then proceeded to tell me how much he wanted to have sex with me (get the point). I continued straight through the intersection and pulled right in front of him (I probably shouldn't have done that) he hit the gas and then honked. After I got through the intersection he followed me for about 1/8 mile. I didn't want him to run me off the road, so I rode in the middle of the lane (2 lane road). He then sped off and turned.
This coudv'e been very bad. I probably should have just not told him anything and kept looking forward, I guess. But I think even then, he would have said or done something. I mean really what did a cyclist ever do to you that you have to go out of your way to try and hurt one? Just goes to show you that there are people out there that have vendettas against cyclist.
Hopefully the guy is ok.
Hopefully the guy is ok. That is a really tough thing to witness. He might never get on a bike ever again.
@jarhead. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry reading your story! I think some motorists automatically think they own the road and cyclists don't belong there. And when they choose to ride on the road they are a pain in the @#$! Hopefully with more education/awareness and more people riding on the road that will change. I ride on the road and on trails. And I find I get "yelled at" in both places. I feel like I don't belong anywhere!
thoughts are with him. Not
thoughts are with him. Not fun to witness the crash. We were descending last year and a truck thought about doing the same. Our newest rider locked up her brakes on gravel in case he came out (he didn't, had caught himself) and all I heard from in front was the bang when she hit the deck. Luckily she had only broken her collarbone, but she didn't ride the rest of the season. The drivers were all fantastic and helpful and she was a good sport about it. I think about it everytime I go down that hill though and still run the "what-if's" in my head.