This post comes from Ray after his fall this morning. Please feel free to leave comments.
I write this while reflecting on my fall and licking my considerable wounds from my latest fall and upon returning from the Emergency ward. Again you might say! I ask myself whether or not I should be riding at all, having way passed my 60th year. That decision will come in the next few weeks. Having said that I am of the opinion I was not riding recklessly or dangerously at the time of the crash, if anyone feels I was please let me know I can assure you I am not thin skinned. After all, I was in the front at the time and others would have observed me and my manner of descending.
I am strongly of the view that we, as a Sunday group and a cycling club, have to put into place the things most of us have talked about, that is, no overtaking down airport hill or similar ones, Uralla comes to mind. We are all aware of the dangers of our sport and accept that crashing is part of it. Or is it? Ask yourself that question. You might feel you descend better that others and need to pass, I don’t think so. We all love a bit of speed. I say, position yourself where you don’t have to pass other riders or be content with staying with the bunch.
I am also of the view that we need a ‘Road Captain’ with given authority by the group to control the ride. I am not suggesting the rides are totally out of control. This person could be nominated at the start of every ride from a selection of experienced riders, which is almost the entire group.
Think about this, we have a mix of riders, who, not necessarily of their own doing, could come down. Some of our riders are working for themselves and cannot take time from their occupation or even afford not to work because someone is not riding by the rules.
More reason to take action on this issue now is we have juniors riding with us and I know they don’t like to see or become involved in falls, I don’t know anyone who wants to tell their parents they have crashed especially ones that can be avoided.
I say the time for talking about this has ended. I say put our words into action and get our act together, before someone is more seriously hurt or even killed. These are strong words but a real fact.
Hope I am able to join you for a ride, in six to eight weeks, maybe.
– Ray
8 responses so far ↓
1 swanny // Apr 14, 2008 at 10:44 am
Ray - sorry to hear about your accident. Hope your recovery is as speedy as possible and that we’ll see you back on the bike sooner rather than later.
There’s a lot of sense in what you say, and I hope the club does something about this issue.
2 Bob Murison // Apr 14, 2008 at 3:53 pm
I was close behind (3-4 metres) and to the left and I support Ray’s version. We have had a surfeit of accidents which were entirely due to rider error. Sunday’s crash was caused by reckless riding .
Ray has risen above his own discomfort to give what I reckon is mild advice. It behoves all members to accept this advice.
A club like Armidale needs all-round cooperation and consideration of other riders..
Up until now, the beauty of our club was that there was a welcome to riders from 8 (or so) to 80 (or so). If any new riders want a role model, Geoff Straub is your man.
3 Colin Maciver // Apr 14, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Ray, sorry to hear about your accident. Hope your wounds are not too serious and you mend quick. We older fellows are not as rubbery as the youngsters and seem to come off worse when we cop it. I’d suggest we remind all riders about safe bunch riding and bunch etiquette. Two sources of info on these that I’d recommend are the on the Canberra Cycling Clubs website (the best one) and the NSW Cycling Fed Newsletter Issue 140 Feb 2008 under Rule of the Week (don’t be put off by index at the beginning) from Randwick Botany Website.
4 Jay Post // Apr 15, 2008 at 12:00 am
Ray, I too am sorry to hear of your accident. All the best for a speedy recovery.
5 rayphillips // Apr 15, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Hey Ray
You have summed up in some very well chosen words what all cyclists
should remember - it is a dangerous sport but we need not give in to
the inevitable that a crash must occur. Just that it COULD occur.
Your experience should be shared with the wider cycling community - I
strongly urge you to write to a cycling magazine.
We have had a sudden increase in new members in Sydney Cycling Club
and our recent Saturday rides have become extremely dangerous. To the
point that two weeks ago, I dropped off the back and rode with two
others just to avoid the bunch.
It is such an exciting and exhilarating sport but we have to exercise
extreme caution and basic common sense at all times
In SCC we do nominate ride captains but generally this discipline
wears off after a couple of weeks and people do their own thing. The
worst feature is people going with a bunch in which they are obviously
not the fastest member or even the one with the best bike skills.
I am going to discuss your incident with our club committee - as a
warning of what can happen.
I hope your bike is able to be repaired without too much cost.
I hope you are able to get back your confidence on the road soon
I hope that you wounds soon heal
But, most of all, I HOPE you do not consider giving up bike riding
just because you have reached your 60th year. There is a lot more
time and a lot more kms in you yet.
Take care
Des
6 rayphillips // Apr 15, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Ray,
Really sorry to hear of your recent fall. Especially given it appears it could have been avoided. I think the words you have written reflect the correct way to address the issues.
Like in business, all successful activites are guided by rules and governance. The cycle club and the conduct of its members should be no different.
I wish you a speedy recovery and do hope i hear of your decision to return to the saddle. No one should be deprived of doing what it is that they love to do. Think especially about those people who don’t have the opportunity to ride at all and i’m sure that you’ll do them the service of returning to the bike sooner rather than later.
Speak soon.
Luke Dillon
7 rayphillips // Apr 21, 2008 at 9:53 am
Thank you all for the visits, phone calls and good wishes, I have recovered well and hope to be riding sooner than later. Great to hear from you Jay.
8 Ray // Apr 21, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Thank you all for the visits, phone calls and concern, I am recovering better than I expected and hope to join you on a ride sooner than later. Great to hear from you Jay.
Ray
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