Car hits bike... spring in New England

[nuthatch]

How very sad about Bill McGee! Sounds like he still had so much to give the world.

My mother told me one of her good friends (in her 60's) has a very aggressive form of brain cancer that the doctors are tracing back to a childhood head injury. You may be able to get up and walk away when you're young but it's just not worth having a head injury on any level! Wear your helmets, kids!!!

[singletrackmind]

I suppose like seatbelts helmets don't guarantee life and freedom from injury but they save more brains more often than not by either lessening the severity of trauma or eliminating it. Sometimes our sport and sanity saver takes a great person no matter what we do. True of everything in life. I am sorry to hear about Bill McGee and I am glad he was able up to the last to do what he enjoyed.

[Trek420]

Yeah, the thought occurs to me that to go at 70-80+ years old doing the sport you most love, and being able to be active at that level for that long...that's not bad if I can train till then and I plan to be "a lifer".

It doesn't make it any easier on those left behind but what a way to go, and what a life! If we stay indoors these accidents can't happen but think of all we miss.

[Bike Goddess]

Okay- I'm going to get my two cents in here.

Sunday, May 15th, a fellow in my bicycle club crashed on the way down from the summit of Mt Diablo (a very tall mountain here in the SF Bay Area). Although we don't know all of the details, his wife said that if it hadn't been for his helmet he wouldn't have made it. As it is, he was in Intensive Care overnight and may still be in the hospital today.

We think (no one saw him go down) from seeing the front tire in the truck that brought him down the mountain, that he had a flat on that tire. If this is true, then the accident makes sense. If YOU LOOSE YOUR FRONT TIRE you are toast! Always have a GOOD TIRE on the front wheel of your bike.

When I ride, I try to remember to check my tires BEFORE descending for this very reason. I have avoided two front flats from this practice. Yes, he could have picked up something on the way down, we don't know. But it doesn't hurt to be on the cautious side. Also when descending it's a good idea to check the inflation of your tires to make sure no leaky tires- I just bounce the front and back tires while standing. (use that time to eat/drink. etc.)

I mention this in the California section as the women who look at that area of the Forums know where this occurred. I'll keep you all posted over on that thread.

P.S. Spazz- you are one of the experts here. Anything else to add?

[DeniseGoldberg]

...We think (no one saw him go down) from seeing the front tire in the truck that brought him down the mountain, that he had a flat on that tire. If this is true, then the accident makes sense.

We should all remember that crashes happen with no reason too. It's quite possible that a flat caused the crash - but I can tell you from experience, there's not always a reason. Emily can tell you how she crashed (ouch!), but I have no idea what caused me to flip my bike and land on my head a year ago. I've been back over that section of road, and there are cracks in the pavement, and it's likely there was stuff on the road. But a reason? Couldn't tell you. I'm not trying to be a fatalist, but sometimes **** just happens. I'm sure I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't been wearing my helmet - just like Bike Goddess's bike club fellow.

--- Denise

[spazzdog]

Nothing to add except this:

Always wear a brain bucket unless you are 100% sure that you're not gonna land on your head, your god is riding tandem AND you are certain there is nothing/nobody out on the road that might affect the direction your bike may travel unexpectantly.


Other than than no brain - no helmet - no headache... early demise.

spazz

[RoadRaven]

We should all remember that crashes happen with no reason too. It's quite possible that a flat caused the crash - but I can tell you from experience, there's not always a reason. Emily can tell you how she crashed (ouch!), but I have no idea what caused me to flip my bike and land on my head a year ago. I've been back over that section of road, and there are cracks in the pavement, and it's likely there was stuff on the road. But a reason? Couldn't tell you. I'm not trying to be a fatalist, but sometimes **** just happens. I'm sure I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't been wearing my helmet - just like Bike Goddess's bike club fellow.

--- Denise

Yeah... my biggest/ worst crash earlier this year was a combination of factors, and possibly could be avoided now because of the knowledge I gained... riding around a corner at a faster speed then usual cause I was sucking a small groups wheels, a small skiff had left the road slightly wet before we came through, my back tire slipped sideways, I nudged the curb and hit the ground doing 38+km per hour.
Perhaps it would be different if I did it again, but maybe not... I don't know

The cause of a crash is sometimes indefinable or difficult to pinpoint

My helmet had a piece the size of a fist hanging free
Always wear a helmet

[LBTC]

My helmet had a piece the size of a fist hanging free
Always wear a helmet

I hope you've replaced it already??

Namaste,
~T~