Please, please be careful

[RoadRaven]

I would like to share with you a sad story from our local club

Last Saturday we all set off in our respective grades, over a course we had had ridden just weeks before.

Vincent had been back riding only a few weeks... he had been looking after his wife through illness.

He was a man who rode everywhere... due to medical condition he didn't drive.

He rode in the club socially and for fitness, not with the intent to win races - just to ride. He was a main stay of the club, riding with many riders through their first races. He looked out for my two eldest sons even though they moved up and away through the grades from him and F grade quickly. He rode in F grade for the first time with my third son last month, as well as last Saturday...

Last Saturday his front wheel tapped the rear wheel of the rider in front, and he lost control of the bicycle. By the time she turned and got back to him, he was in the middle of the road, and she sat with his head in her lap after he regained conciousness until the ambulence arrived.

I passed the ambulance, unknowing who was in it, as it was about to leave - but knowing I had not seen these two on my return from the out and back course. My gut lurched.

No longer a young man, Vincent was put into a medical coma on Sunday as his body tried to cover from broken ribs and I think spleen damage - I don't have all the details.

I received a generic email from the club this morning telling us Vince died yesterday afternoon.

This is a salient reminder to be careful out there and never take anything for granted... be safe out there ladies

I ask you all to think warmly for his elderly widow, for his grown children who did not live close and for his cycling companions and acquanitances.

I ask you all to send love and warmth to the woman who was riding in front of him... she has spent much of her time this week with Vince and his wife and I have barely been able to catch up with her.

Thank you in anticipation for your thoughts.

[bikerz]

How tragic - RR - my thoughts go out to all you mentioned. Your boys and partner must also be very sad, so hugs to all of you too. I'm so sorry.

[KSH]

WOW! So many moving and important stories. It's so sad and tragic when someone dies.

I always hope though, that when I die.... it's doing something I love, versus really old and in a nursing home out of my mind.

I know for me, I am always hesitant to fly down hills, because I am afraid of not being able to stop at the bottom, or hitting a pothole at a high speed, etc...

I am simply amazed at how ignorant drivers are at our SPEED though! I also know that people crossing the road are equally ignorant. I guess they think because we are on a bike, we must be going around 5 mph.

Finally... I always get really nervous when I have to ride with someone who is oblivious to bike safety in a group. Unfortunately, my triathlete friends are the worst offenders.