Audax Cyclist killed

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Guys, a fellow cyclist died. Whether he was in the wrong or not, he died, he is gone forever, he will not be back with his family and friends. Think of that.

 

What is the first thing that some hubbers do? They start with mudslinging, unbelievable

 

Nobody is mudslinging, there is discussion on the possible reasons for the accident, nothing wrong with that.

Maybe by discussing it, we can learn from it, and try prevent it happening again.

[covie]

Nobody is mudslinging, there is discussion on the possible reasons for the accident, nothing wrong with that.

Maybe by discussing it, we can learn from it, and try prevent it happening again.

 

Agreed, I think Backlash need to realize that we have empathy, and sympthay towards the rider that passed away, as well as the truck driver that now has to live with this. Definitly not a situation any of us wants to be in or experiance.

 

However with the limited amount of detail we have on this thread, it seems the cyclists were occupying the ENTIRE left lane of the road, (which already is ridiculous and is a really good way to get killed) the cyclist in question swerved into the RIGHT hand lane across a WHITE stripe into the oncomming lane. This is not as ridiculous as riding in the middle of the left lane its just blatantly stupid. (harsh words I do realize, and grieving friends wont appreciate them i know) but the simple fact here is that we as cyclists are easy to have a linch mob out to get the darned misbehaving motorists. But a lot of these accidents are caused by cyclists and not motorists. Cyclists are just the ones that come of worse and loose the fight.

 

If this bunch were on a road, tucked in the shoulder where they should be, riding single file. The odds are in favour of this incident never occuring. And yes I personally blame the organizers, if they can't get their cyclists to obey the rules of the road they should be fined or held accountable. They should also have saftey vehicles and trained medical staff for these long dangerous rides far removed from proper medical facilities. (not sure if they do or dont) just mentioning that should be available.

[LeTurbo]

Sorry GuyP, this must all be pretty awful for you too, and those who were with.

Edited April 12, 2011 by LeTurbo

[The Drongo]

Guys, a fellow cyclist died. Whether he was in the wrong or not, he died, he is gone forever, he will not be back with his family and friends. Think of that.

 

What is the first thing that some hubbers do? They start with mudslinging, unbelievable

 

Backlash.

 

Very sad indeed, and yes, gone he is. I do not see any mudslinging here, just the bare truth that we are far too casual about what we do, and how we do it, on our roads.

Cyclists and Motorists alike.

Riding abreast, crossing lines, clipping one another, (all hearsay at this point I agree) all boils down to carelessness. That is what kills.

 

I think what people are trying to say here is 1. Is it worth it? and 2. Can something be learnt from it?

 

'Get a life', is not a positive, or meaningful contribution.

[2 X 2]

Guys, if we were not there when the incident happened and we did not see it happened we are only speculating. We don't know whether the cyclist was hit from behind or if it was a head on. There is a lot of contradicting stories. If this was a head on incident then surely the driver of the truck would have noticed it. it is a little insensitive to make allegations and say that he was in the wrong if you were not there personally. i'm sorry I just feel very shocked about this as I was in the same event.

 

As for the mudslinging, you only have to look at Popeye's comment - in very bad taste

[Brakkies Sport Fotos]

nope, not bad taste.

 

Dis net dat ons wegskrum van die waarheid.

 

Elke week is daar 'n baklei oor hoe fietsryers ty, rooi ligte, regs van die wit lyn, oor stop strate, 3 langs mekaar.

 

En dan op 'n maandag oggend dan lees jy dat iemand dood is , juis oor een van daardie redes.

 

Die aanduidings (en dis nie spekulasie) is dat die fietsryer die pad reel oortree het.

 

Ja, dis tyd dat julle die waarheid besef:

 

Hierdie voorval raak baie mense:

Die Lorrie drywer

Die Lorrie drywer se familie

Die lorrie drywer se friende

Die fietsryer se familie

Die fietsryer se vriende

 

En as hy getroud was, SY gesin.

 

Dis tyd dat almal begin verantwoordelik dink en ry, en ophou om simpatie te soek in sulke gevalle.

 

Dit kon prevent gewees het,

 

NATUURLIK VOEL EK VIR SY FAMILIE, NATUURLIK VOEL EK DAT NOG 'N FIETSRYER DOOD IS EN HY MOONTLIK SELFS 'N HUBBER KAN WEES.

 

MAAR, Hopelik lees almal hierdie voorval en besef wat jou aksies op die pad vir ander beteken.

 

Dis my laaste op hierdie !!!

[Nettie R]

And than there is still some off you who have a opinion if other cyclist gets upset because you disobey the traffic rules?

 

YES, SOMEONE DIE, It looks like he made that choice himself.

 

Do not blame the Organizers !!

 

In afrikaans: As jy nie wil hoor nie, moet jy voel

 

This is totally uncalled for.

Please take the family/friends' feelings into account before you open your mouth.

[Joe Low]

A truck approached from behind and the cyclist tried to swerve in, but clipped his mate and then swerved back out into the path of the truck's wheels.

 

Same thing happened on the Lido route a while back.

 

I nearly caused a pile up on Sunday riding down Kliprivier at the end of the Lido run. I saw a bakkie approaching the junction to my left and as the light was red for me I stopped. Jings that caused lots of huffing and puffing and shouting and squealing of brakes from the cyclists behind.

 

I think we very often get lost in our own cycling world & lose touch with what's going on around us... & then we die.

Edited April 12, 2011 by Joe Low

[GuyP]

Sorry GuyP, this must all be pretty awful for you too, and those who were with.

 

There's definitely an impact on everyone involved LeTurbo, myself included, thanks. There were tears from many that morning.

 

I can also say that he received the best care under the circumstances - there were two nurses in our group, who were joined later by a doctor from a following group. All worked tirelessly to keep him with us. They're quite simply the unsung heroines in all of this, all three of them. They were absolutely amazing and gave everything.

 

I still had to finish the ride after that, being my last qualifying ride for Paris-Brest-Paris. Three chaps joined me. The mood was most certainly sombre.

[chris_w_65]

I saw my friend Debbie who was in the group with Clinton, apparently the truck was from the front but it didn't hit him head on, it was like he was sucked into the side of the truck.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

The truck driver's charges will relate to hit and run ... he had to be called back by the police somewhere near Delmas.

 

 

I saw my friend Debbie who was in the group with Clinton, apparently the truck was from the front but it didn't hit him head on, it was like he was sucked into the side of the truck.

 

Yeah sure Guy, but its only "hit and run" if the driver was aware he hit the cyclist.

From other posts it is quite possible the driver didnt know, especially as chris says he was sucked into the wheel / truck side by the dynamic forces of the moving truck. Certainly a loaded 36 wheeler is not going to register a small bump like that.Certainly traumatic for the driver too, I am quite sure this was not his intention when he went out that morning.

 

I once stopped at a woman who was in a state on the side of the road when I was out running, she said a passing truck had sucked her in as it passed and she felt the wheels, thank goodness she survived with only a traumatic memory but she was really in a state.

 

These big trucks are lethal at speed, especially when loaded, the forces and the road noise in the cabin means most drivers would not have a clue they hit you unless they actually saw it happen.

[Kranswurm]

Statement 1: It was in Devon, 8km into the ride and they were riding three abreast.

 

Statement 2: We however only ended up doing 150km's as there was a terrible accident

a guy in our group went over the white line and an oncoming truck went into him

 

==

 

And than there is still some off you who have a opinion if other cyclist gets upset because you disobey the traffic rules?

 

YES, SOMEONE DIE, It looks like he made that choice himself.

 

Do not blame the Organizers !!

 

In afrikaans: As jy nie wil hoor nie, moet jy voel

 

 

Condolances to the family.

 

Whilst Popeye's comments might seem harsh,he is 100% correct.He just tells it like it is.

[GuyP]

It was a hit and run.

 

The police brought the driver back from somewhere near Delmas, and when asked why he didn't stop, he said it was a high hijack area, and so didn't want to stop. There was nothing about didn't know...

[FC&P2C]

It was a hit and run.

 

The police brought the driver back from somewhere near Delmas, and when asked why he didn't stop, he said it was a high hijack area, and so didn't want to stop. There was nothing about didn't know...

But did the truck hit the cyclist or did the cyclist hit the truck?

[GrumpyOldGuy]

It was a hit and run.

 

The police brought the driver back from somewhere near Delmas, and when asked why he didn't stop, he said it was a high hijack area, and so didn't want to stop. There was nothing about didn't know...

 

Okay, fair enough, it would be interesting to read his testimony.

[covie]

Okay, fair enough, it would be interesting to read his testimony.

 

Just an interesting fact, and this has been through courts and found justifyable, that if you hit a pedestrian and deem yourself to be in an unsafe area, you are allowed to drive away from the scene of the accident as long as you go to the closest police station and report the incident.

 

This came to light a couple years ago when there were a couple of incidents where motorists involved in accidents with pedestrians especially close to shanty locations were murdered out of "rage" by the residents.

 

Cant remember what the official legal term for this action was, but its actually defined.