trapdoor2
Zen MBB Master
I chose not to ride our local century (Sept 17), for a variety of reasons. Miz Diane and I drove the course the weekend before the ride and it was quite a bit more hilly than advertised ("FLAT METRIC"...right.) and the more I saw of the course, the more I felt like I simply wasn't ready to do it. I didn't...and felt a bit vindicated as a nice, big rain-storm took over the course about 1hr after the start. SAG support was kept very busy hauling wet riders back to the start.
Turns out that they had an incident early in the ride where the road was narrow and there was traffic. A group was riding with several abreast and were surprised by traffic approaching in the other lane. They bunched up, got tangled and had a very serious crash. One man was airlifted out with severe head injuries...and he died last night.
I have no details of the wreck other than there apparently were no traffic violations, it was simply a peloton crash; too many bikes, not enough road. No idea how fast they were going...he was an avid and long-time rider of similar centuries and riding with the main group. He got almost instant help, both a trauma surgeon and a nurse were riding in the same group. EMS were out to support the ride and were on the scene very quickly.
I feel terrible for his family. It makes me think really hard about doing these group rides...there were upwards of 500 riders at the start. I had actually planned to wait until the bulk of riders had left before I started...was going to be pretty slow anyway.
Anyway, be safe out there. I do feel better being on a recumbent.
Turns out that they had an incident early in the ride where the road was narrow and there was traffic. A group was riding with several abreast and were surprised by traffic approaching in the other lane. They bunched up, got tangled and had a very serious crash. One man was airlifted out with severe head injuries...and he died last night.
I have no details of the wreck other than there apparently were no traffic violations, it was simply a peloton crash; too many bikes, not enough road. No idea how fast they were going...he was an avid and long-time rider of similar centuries and riding with the main group. He got almost instant help, both a trauma surgeon and a nurse were riding in the same group. EMS were out to support the ride and were on the scene very quickly.
I feel terrible for his family. It makes me think really hard about doing these group rides...there were upwards of 500 riders at the start. I had actually planned to wait until the bulk of riders had left before I started...was going to be pretty slow anyway.
Anyway, be safe out there. I do feel better being on a recumbent.
