There's been much debate here on whether or not to post these kinds of things. Cycling can be a dangerous sport, anyone who watches the TdF that is basicly a month long high speed crash usually no cars involved.

The debate here has been there are those even on TE (where we all have a passion for the sport I hope) who will read these and think "that's it I quit".

Others may continue but freeze when being relaxed is key.

Then there's "oh, that would never happen to me, she did _____, I never do ___ I always do _____" and yes always doing _____ makes you safer.

I've read that here in the States about 37 cyclists die each year, I don't know if that figure is true. Many crashes go unreported such as urban poor riders, they are not on this forum or make the news.

When you consider the thousands and thousands of miles ridden each year all in all it's pretty safe. Maybe more so than driving itself

All this makes no difference when that one person is a loved one.

No figures make sense then. Or when it's someone you know, have ridden with.

I want to share something about Kathy. Kathy was my cousin Maurys "stoker", Maury's about my age. He's always been there, he's MY cousin and now we share this sport. We had been talking about some time if he wants to do a double and Kath's not available, he thought he could outfit their Calfee to fit me.

I'm much shorter than Kath but he thought it could be done.

"But tandems go so fast" I said "I might feel out of control, I've never done..." . Maury was just grinning, here's his cousin, fits the tandem and I can do centuries...why not?

He said "we don't ride our bikes to anticipate every danger that could happen"

We ride for the joy (and the food), I hope we always do.