Thread Drift

[Nanci]

I just signed up for OT on Sunday, so I will be working 13 days in a row, including 3 of OT!

[Nanci]

(This is an A rider from my club)


many people have emailed and asked that i explain what happened
saturday regarding a large gcc group on millhopper road this past
saturday. the requests come from a sincere effort to stem rumors and
enhance rider's awareness of how to ride more safely, particularly in
that area of millhopper road, which is riddled with blind driveways
and other hidden roads. not to mention the gainesville sun article,
which didn't even scratch the surface of what really happened.

i am reluctant to make any detailed or official statement, as i was
only one of about 24 cyclists. all of us naturally had, and have,
different perspectives and interpretations, especially during a
quickly developing and dangerous event.

however, in the interest of safe riding and productive dialogue, here
is a basic framework as to how i saw it unfold. please keep in mind,
this certainly is not the only version of how it happened. and i am
not a spokesman for the group in any way. i respectfully request
that people not email me w/ additional questions regarding this email.

? ? ?

a vehicle, traveling in the same direction as the cycling group on
millhopper road, tries to turn right at a time when our gcc cyclist
group had already effectively blocked the turn by the normal course
of riding in the bike lane, two abreast, towards the chevron
station. speeding to try and make the turn, the driver clearly
misjudges the distance and realizes at the very last second that the
group would be in his way. he slams on the brakes, nearly smashing
into the front part of the group and taking up valuable space in the
road and bike lane. we are roughly one mile away from the chevron.

the riders, almost getting hit, swerve to avoid collision and yell to
gain the attention of the driver and other cyclists. the vehicle
screeches to a stop, just in time to avoid direct collision. riders
try to pass and regroup, stunned and terribly unimpressed with this
display of dangerous driving. the group continues onward, startled
and scattered, but is quckly regrouping.

out of my view, perhaps something provokes the driver. or maybe he
isn't provoked at all. it is unclear. but now that most of the
group has passed the car, the driver revs the engine and again speeds
towards the group. yells are called for heads up. the car speeds
faster and faster, engine sounds redlined. just feet away from the
main part of the scattered group, the car slams on brakes, skidding
several feet and stopping just a few more feet from a large number of
cyclists. now the group is very angry and feels under attack. a few
people crash trying to avoid collision with the car, not seriously
injured, but road rash and damaged bike(s).

the driver starts screaming out of the window, gets out of car,
leaves car in the middle of the road. cyclists, now livid, start
yelling back. there is a shouting match for several minutes, both
sides trying to make a point. man tries to get back into car to
speed off. cyclists try furiously to remember the tag id. the
driver can't find keys, curses about not having his keys. cyclists
are now calling the police. the shouting subsides and people calm
down after several more minutes, but scene remains tense. the car
remains in the road. all traffic is forced around it.

when the police arrive, officers find the keys and drive the car out
of the street. most riders are able to leave at this point. a few
stay behind to give statements and talk with officers. apparently,
the driver is ultimately charged w/ reckless driving and gets fine
and driving school.

[Nanci]

( I didn't write this).


First, to preclude any confusion, I was not party to the Millhopper
incident of 15 July. I have though read the e-mails, G'ville Sun
article, and spoken to some of those involved. The common thread in
all these absorbed communications is the responsibility of the
cyclist: a renewed introspection as to our behavior on the road
encompassing common sense, legal compliance, and pro-active courtesy.
And I trust that we all concur with each of these precepts,
consciously embracing them every time we mount the bike.

Yet nothing in the discourse suggests that any of these were wonting
in this event on the part of the cyclists. Stunningly, no one notes
that this particular driver should be in jail. It is the usual
consequence attending assault and battery with a deadly weapon.

Do we collectively embrace a victim mentality? Stunned & pleased that
this driver will have to take a driver education course. Oh sure, the
fallen cyclists only suffered minor road rash, property damage. Would
the driver's fault be greater if one or two of the cyclists, being
less agile in evasion, had struck the car? Or had just happened to
crashing die?

In my time in Gainesville, there have been a number of events in which
drivers have intentionally endangered and injured cyclists; and
druggedly killed. None have been punished in any manner consonant
with the crime. And always the discourse centers on our
responsibilities to be courteous riders. Fine! I submit that it is
our responsibility - to one another, to cyclists generally, to the
civic health of society - to prosecute felons and to publicize
consequences.

Reality Check: Filing charges increases the already significant
chance of civil/criminal suits by the driver - against individual
members - with attendant costs. Will we take collective
responsibility? Where is the Legal Fund?

The relatively minor physical consequences in this event reflect the
skill of the riders - not the intent of the driver. This man should
be in jail - now. I will feel more secure on the road for his absence
from it; and for the knowledge and expectation that reasonable
standards do apply, will be applied, to those who assault my family,
my friends, or me.

[Nanci]

Not mentioned here, the incident involved three different law enforcement agencies. The driver's keys were apparently taken away and thrown into the woods at some point.

[maillotpois]

Wow, scary stuff, Nanci. Good thinking to whoever threw the keys into the woods - though the outcome could have been worse.

[DrBee]

Hi there! I'm in St. John's. I go away for a few days and y'all are talking about boobies and beastie wrestling matches. Craziness!

St. John's is awesome! CC - my raincoat has a hole in it, so I didn't bring it. I could use it, but that's okay.

On the plane to here I had my seat moved to sit further forward in the plane. This seems insignificant. Well - I was reading the Triathlon book that Lise suggested (thank you btw) and the woman next to me asks about it. She is a triathlete and is attending the same conference I am. The plane ride went so fast - we chatted the whole time! I told her about TE and TD - she should hopefully be joining us soon! How cool is that???

Well - go back to your boobie talk - I have a reception to go to.

I saw tons of puffins, muirs, and a minkie whale today on a tour!!!!!! Cool!

And CC - we had a screech fruitcake in the conference bag. Is this a good thing? There's also rum in there

Later ladies!

[dachshund]

Ms. Spazz,
What were those sunglasses again? That was apparently too much information for my poor brain to carry home after the ACT ride.

Thank you, ma'am!
Weenerdog

[spazzdog]

Sunglasses: Rx SunPro
Purchased at Site for Sore Eyes on Piedmont Ave in Oakland

[Lise]

Nanci, sorry to hear about the incident. Glad no one was seriously hurt. The guy should have gone to jail. That huge piece of metal he was driving is a deadly weapon when used as such.

Fishdr--how cool that you met up with another athlete going to the conference! Which book was it? I routinely recommend both Triathlon Training in 4 Hours a Week and Slow, Fat Triathlete.

I took the Serfas tri saddle back to LBS today. The guys seemed wierd. I've decided (of course) that they don't like me. Anyhoo...I had them take the tri saddle off the tri seat post, and put my regular Serfas saddle on it. They suggested that the arm pain may be eased by using the tri seat post, as it brings me closer to the handle bars. I rode about 20 miles with the new configuration--no arm pain. It was a dramatic difference, so I hope it's not just the Motrin masking the pain. We'll see tomorrow, when I do a longish ride with my brother.

My legs definitely feel different riding with the tri seat post. The idea is to use the muscles differently so I will have more power for the run. Can anyone here explain this to me? It didn't feel bad to ride with this set up, just different. My legs felt like they were working differently. Lots of power (when the wind was at my back! ), no pain, just different.

My brother and his fiancee are coming into town tomorrow to celebrate the birthdays-- mine tomorrow, and my niece's on Saturday. I had emailed him to suggest we ride together. Didn't expect him to take me up on it, as his visits are usually packed with seeing friends and doing things. But tomorrow he's taking the train into the city from my sister's in the morning to hang with me! He'll ride the Larkspur, and I the Bianchi, down to a Bistro on the the beach, where we'll have lunch with mom. After lunch, he and I will ride as far south as time allows, then back to my house for dinner with the whole family.

[kelownagirl]

Scary story Nanci - were you on the ride??

[Trek420]

dachshund "Yes! Got any recommendations??"

these sold right here?

[Lise]

Whoo hoo! Those are some seriously snazzy arm warmers!

Trek--how's Mae doing today, post paw trauma? And how's your sister the Duck? She's not been heard from for lo these many days!

L.

[kelownagirl]

Can someone tell me the purpose of wearing a sleeveless jersey and arm warmers? Would a regular jersey not be simpler?

barb

[KnottedYet]

Trek - those are some peachy armwarmers... think how nice they'd go with a cool pair of capris.

BTW - my zoics have shrunk so much that I can't wear them anymore. Gonna give 'em to the DPITA. How are yours doing?

KG- I just about always wear long sleeves, and don't own any armwarmers, but I gather the idea is that you can take the armwarmers on and off and it's like changing longsleeve shirt for short sleeve shirt without having to actually take off the shirt. Like zip off legs on pants to switch shorts/pants.

[kelownagirl]

KG- I just about always wear long sleeves, and don't own any armwarmers, but I gather the idea is that you can take the armwarmers on and off and it's like changing longsleeve shirt for short sleeve shirt without having to actually take off the shirt. Like zip off legs on pants to switch shorts/pants.

Oh duh! I didn't think of that. I wear a sleeveless top almost exclusively from May - September - I get too darn hot even when it's only 65-70 degrees. I have a lovely sugoi wind vest and a nice long sleeved wind breaker that I am dying to try someday but I guess I'll have to wait until fall... I need a bigger seat bag to carry extra clothes too... I'm trying to convince Erik to get a seat bag so he can carry the tools and spare tube and I can carry my extra clothing...