The hazards of cycling

Yesterday I was saddened to hear of the death of a fellow bike racer during the Icknield RC 25 mile Time Trial on the A1. I never knew Gareth Evans, but this news must strike home with all those who venture out onto the open roads to compete in this country. My thoughts go to his family.

He was a user of the excellent time trialling forum and there is a long thread about the incident with many moving tributes and messages of condolence. Duly sobered, this morning I agreed once more to the fiancee that I would be safe on my ride and take extra care.

Today I was on my own, as big brother Ben once again pulled out of a ride at the last minute due to ‘bike problems’, an excuse that has been rolled out a couple of times now so I’m starting to get suspicious… I was also still a little tired from an epic six hour ride on Saturday with club mates Phil and Lawrence to Arundel and back.

Anyway, my goal for the ride was to get in two and a half hours of riding, taking in a couple of climbs including the short and steep Crocknorth, and the gentle but longer Box Hill. Both of these climbs feature in the Kingston Wheelers bragging rights with unofficial times recorded up it. I currently hold the number one spot for both, but James Beaumont had equalled my Crocknorth time and was edging closer to the Box Hill time as well.

After a good hour warm up, I ratcheted up the Bont’s and hammered up Crocknorth in 2:22, 8 seconds faster than a month ago. Feeling good, I cruised over Ranmore common and descended to the base of Box Hill. Here I tried a new strategy, setting off in the big ring but I found this counter-productive so switched to the ’39′ just before the first switchback. Feeling petty tired, I made it up in 5:46, just one second faster than a month ago!

Being on my own and keen to get home I pressed on over the top with a brief cool down. Coming into the village on the top of the hill I switched back to the big ring and got back into an endurance groove, only for my so far very successful ride to come to a violent end.

Just outside Cycles Dauphin, there was a parked car on the left, and before I had time to register it, a lady opened her door right in front of me. There was not even time to brake so I must have hit her door at around 35kph. My left shifter took the impact, grabbing me down, but not quick enough as my left shoulder hit the door hard, just below the collar bone. I slid a good few metres to a stop in the middle of the road.

Anyway, to cut a long crash story short, the bike is in a bad way, with a crack in the down tube. The front wheel is buckled beyond repair and the carbon shifters have taken a battering.

As if that wasn’t enough, the carbon on the heel of my new Bont shoes (only six days old!) is damaged beyond just a scratch.

Luckily given the nature of the impact I seem to have escaped without any broken bones: the impact marks on my shoulder indicate how close to the collar bone it was. I’m pretty stiff now but hopefully back on a bike ASAP.

Always looking for the positives: I was not in my new Kingston Wheelers kit so avoided damaging that, and now, as my brother likes to say I can act like the Doozers and see this as an opportunity to build up a new, better bike. I do also have a training bike I can race on the interim but it is not quite up to the same standard.

Finally, to return to the opening sentiments things could have been a whole lot worse. At least it was me who got to phone my fiancee, not the police or a hospital. Cycling is a hazardous sport, and every day we ride we take calculated risks whether training, commuting or racing. The greatest tragedy in life however, is to take no risks whatsoever, staying comfortable and avoiding stretching towards something better. Rest in peace Gareth Evans, and the rest of you take care and ride safely.