Don't know if anyone else is following this story...

[jobob]

Those of us in the SF Bay Area may have heard about this. What chills me to the bone is that, as far as I can tell, these cyclists were doing everything right. Stirs up the old road-riding fears in me. Yes, it was a fluke, a rare occurrence, but as one of the op-ed pieces points out, that could have been me, or my husband.

I just wish I could get over the fear.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/local/n...yclist_b1.html

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/local/news/14bike_b3.html

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/coursey/14chrisc_b1.html

[Adventure Girl]

I have been following the story. Yes it was a fluke, and these people were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but it just sends chills up my spine. Very scary and very sad. They drunk driver's blood alcohol level was almost 4 times the legal limit.

[melissam]

One of my co-workers told me about this. Her husband worked with Alan Liu, and he was (understandably) devastated.

She knows I ride, and she urged me to be extremely careful. But how in the world can you be careful against something like this?

[grannydea]

This is the one thing that I think we all fear. Sad Sad. I dont think I am going to tell the old man about this one. Heads up everyone. But remember that this driver was drunk and not all of them are out to get us. all of the ones I have delt with out here have been nice. Even have had a few stop and offer water. This creep was not the normal.
Be safe my fellow roadies.
Dea

[OrbeaJ]

Sheesh, what a tragedy...
Since I've moved here from the Sacto Valley, I've kept mental track of bicyclists being hit and/or killed while riding. Scary stuff. Out where I live, the building never ends, turning orchards and fields into Home Depots ("paved paradise, put up a Home Depot") and Targets. Thus, turning my once-tranquil rides into eyes-wide-open-scanning-the-driveways-for-oblivious-shoppers miles before I get to where I know I can ride w/fewer worries.
I now ride w/a rear view mirror, which makes me feel like a bike nerd! Ugh, the price of progress....

[spokes]

I just wish I could get over the fear.

i relate. i'm trying to get my butt back out there to resume commuting by bike, but one of the issues i'm having (besides chronic flat front tire problems?) is that i'm still getting over my accident (it was relatively minor, but i fractured a rib and coudn't ride for over a month, and my elbow--where i landed-- is still wonky.) i think it, for the most part, made me realize my own mortality.

so... how do you get over the fear? for general fear, like hearing about makes-no-sense tragedies like the one in this thread; and specific had-an-accident-and-now-i-have-no-guts fear? what do you do? is it just a matter of getting back out there?

edited: spelling error.

[snapdragen]

For general fear, I think just getting out there, being aware, and choosing the roads you ride wisely. There are some places here I will NOT ride my bike.

Getting over an accident - that's a toughy. I've not had an accident (yet), I would think giving yourself time..don't try to get back into commuting right away. Start small, as you get comfortable increase your riding and where you go. I would not throw myself wholeheartedly into busy city street riding. Take it easy, baby steps are good.

[melissam]

Spokes,

I'm not sure if I have a good answer for getting over fear, but I'll share some observations.

I broke my femur back in 1990 while riding my old road bike. I had no desire to get back on the bike, even though the surgeon said I could ride six months after I broke my leg. No thanks.

I got back into riding in '94, trained for a century, then did a weekend bike tour. It was fun and all, but I found that I was leary of turns, and descents were absolutely nerve-wracking. So, I put the bike up again -- sure, I'd ride occassionally, but there wasn't much passion there.

Last year, I decided to it would be fun to have a mountain bike, so I bought one, took a few WOMBAT clinics, and got a little bit comfortable with the idea that you don't break your femur everytime you fall. I tried a few "crazy" descents off road, and got used to the idea of the bike being "loose" (as in, not under my complete, rigid control.)

This year, I decided to get in shape by doing a century, which meant dusting off my road bike. I signed up for the Cinderella group training rides, where they did some teaching on skills (including my bugaboo - descents). I also bought a new bike, which has fabulous brakes! My first descents were tentative, but I've improved.

I credit the group rides for my improvement. Yes, the skills training helped, and yes, I just feel safer with a group. But the big benefit for me is that I am a lot less likely to flake out if I'm riding with a group. Plus, they determined the route -- on my own, I might opt out of a route with a lot of descents. The more I got out there, the more confident I became, and I got better at descending, which, in turn, boosted my confidence. A very nice cycle to get into. Oh, and the new brakes helped a lot -- confidence inspiring to know that you can stop without exerting a ton of pressure on the brakes.

Another thing that helped with descents was that I applied some knowledge I've gotten from another passion of mine -- high performance driving. I found that a lot of the principles crossed over -- apexing the turns, weight transfer, etc. It was kind of fun to experiment -- I was thinking about experimenting instead of how worried I was about crashing.

I know this is long, so I guess I would summarize it like this:

* slowly increase your comfort zone
* figure out ways that will help you keep at it -- seat time helps a lot, and for me, the group rides helped to increase seat time
* think about ways to improve your technique to avoid the cause of your crash

-- Melissa

[jobob]

Another thing that helped with descents was that I applied some knowledge I've gotten from another passion of mine -- high performance driving.

Wow, I'd love to be in a carpool with you

But seriously, that was a great post Melissa. A definite keeper.

[melissam]

Wow, I'd love to be in a carpool with you

Jobob,

Any time! Heck, we can pre-ride one of the routes and determine the perfect line.

-- Melissa

[ausgirl]

This death is a tragedy and such accidents are all too common.

Australia had the grave misfortune to witness a similar tragedy in January 2002 when Luke Harrop, a young up and coming superstar of the triathlon scene was killed in a hit and run accident whilst training in a bunch. They were doing everything by the book and all were experienced cyclists, but a woman driving a stolen car and on drugs at the same time hit the bunch. It devastated every cyclist and triathlete in the country. The woman is now in jail.

His sister Loretta Harrop will be representing Australia in triathlon at the Athens Olympics. She will be racing in memory of Luke.

[spokes]

thank you all sooo much for your responses. i love how supportive this forum is compared to my tattoo (and occasional nasty porn link) forum. it has its place, but this is where i'll come when i need a hug. *blush*

i may have conveyed the wrong impression about the timing of my accident. it happened in september, and after i healed, i commuted for a month or so before it got cold. i had some anxiety before my early-season recreational rides in the last month (45 min or so on a weekend morning, weather permitting)... but working up to commuting again has been fear-ridden-- because of rush-hour traffic.

the biggest thing i notice is my hyper-awareness of cars when i'm in the same traffic situation as when i was in that stupid accident. (i was going north, and a car facing south turned left in front of me. i braked to avoid running into the moron and flipped over my bike.) so now, when i see cars waiting to turn left across the lane i'm in, i'm never really confident that they'll wait. and i now unconsciously view cars passing me on my left as 'body armour'-- as long as there's vehicles beside me, i know i won't get run over by another schmuck!!

that being said, i did bike to work this morning. i think posting my fears yesterday helped excorcise my demons. thanks again for your replies, i really appreciate the support.

[melissam]

Hey Spokes!

Hope your demons stay exorcised!

One tip that we learned on the Cindy Training rides might help you: wave at cars that could potentially cross your path. If they wave back, you know that they see you (and think you're one of the most friendly cyclists around!) If not, watch out! Be ready to stop -- keep your weight back and hands by the brakes.

Take care!

-- Melissa

[snapdragen]

Originally posted by melissam
One tip that we learned on the Cindy Training rides might help you: wave at cars that could potentially cross your path. If they wave back, you know that they see you (and think you're one of the most friendly cyclists around!) If not, watch out! Be ready to stop -- keep your weight back and hands by the brakes.

There's something else we missed in the Cindy rides, thanks to our "leader"

Good idea melissam!

[melissam]

From the San Jose Mercury News website:

Posted on Mon, Sep. 27, 2004

Drunk driver who hit bicyclists gets sentence of 8-plus years

By Connie Skipitares

Mercury News

The 69-year-old drunken driver who plowed into a bike-riding couple last Easter morning in Sonoma County was sentenced to 8 years and 8 months Monday for killing Alan Liu, 31, of Mountain View, and putting his girlfriend, Jill Mason, 27, of Cupertino, in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Elaine Rushing gave Harvey David Hereford, a Santa Rosa maritime-injury lawyer, the maximum sentence for vehicular manslaughter, drunken driving and other charges. Hereford had pleaded guilty to the charges in July, forgoing a jury trial.

The hearing lasted 2 1/2 hours, with Mason, her parents and brother telling the packed courtroom how Liu's death and Mason's crippling injuries changed their lives forever. Mason, who had been training with Liu for a triathlon, was released from the hospital Sept. 14 and now lives with her parents in Grass Valley. She also suffered a brain injury in the crash.

Liu's parents, friends and co-workers also spoke about the deep loss of the handsome athlete who coached the Mountain View Masters swim club and was an engineer at Applied Materials. They presented a 30-minute pictorial of Liu's life and through tears described what a bright and charismatic person he was, said Sonoma County Deputy District Attorney Bill Brockley.

Hereford spoke briefly, saying he didn't remember the events of that fateful day when he plowed into the couple on picturesque, winding Highway 12, a favorite route of bicyclists.

``He showed no emotion when anybody spoke or after he was sentenced,'' said Brockley. ``He gave a brief apology at the end of his speech, but I don't think he took any responsibility. That was disrespectful to the families. They were very disappointed.''

The most emotional moment was when Jill Mason spoke, Brockley said. She told the court how the accident devastated her and her family and that she will need care for the rest of her life.

Brockley said Hereford will serve 85 percent of his sentence because he was convicted of a violent felony. Under normal state sentencing rules, defendants often serve 50 percent of sentences if they have good behavior records.