No cycling today - Mrs G away with the girls for the weekend so I'm on babysitiing duties.
Cacophony is still in good spirits after the crash, and planning his recovery rides on the rollers.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the local cycling community though - it could have been any of us on that bend and it could have been much worse.
A few of the boys are off at the Dave Lloyd Mega Challenge tommorrow - I wish them all a good ride.
Saturday, 28 June 2008
Friday, 27 June 2008
Cacophony Crashes!
Did my last long ride today, but the day has been dominated by good friend Cacophony's crash this morning.
We started off with him but then continued at their half-way point for a longer ride.
Crash report courtesy of El Cid:
"5 riders out this (Friday) morning. Harry Q and Gizzajob were heading off for a big one before tapering for the Etape Du Tour. Me, Cacophony and Rogan turned at Cavendish for an easy Friday potter.
Coming back between Beamsley and Nesfield, BAD CRASH.
It was on the 2nd blind bend. You know, the downhill before the ‘s’ bends where you can turn off for the Addingham bridge. The hedges are high on the right, its difficult to see what’s round the left hand bend, there is a small rough passing place for cars on the right hand side of the bend.
We always go single file round here. Today was no exception, Cacophony, Rogan then me. I looked across as we rode down the slope. I always look at a gateway in the wall to check if any cars are coming towards us. Today a car must have just gone passed the gateway before I looked and was coming towards the corner. It was hidden from us behind the dry stone wall.
Cacophony went round the corner. He was well on the left, brushing the foliage as you do on this corner when you take it well. The car was right there coming towards him. When he feels better he will probably be able to give us a better report of this bit. Rogan was still entering the corner and I was behind him.
Was the car coming too fast, or was it hugging the right hand side for some reason. I don’t know, but the road is very narrow at that point anyway. The timing of the meeting of bike and car was the worst it could be. Cacophony managed to miss a head-on with the car, and squeezed between the car and the wall, but he was hit in the area of the front wing/wing mirror.
I’m not exactly sure , but this looked to ricochet him between the car and the wall, with Simon ending up eventually on the floor at the other side of the road behind the car, having fallen heavily. The driver simultaneously swerved into the left bank.
Simon got to his feet , but it was obvious that his arm was broken as it was in the shape of a ‘J’ between his elbow and his wrist. There was also blood coming down his face from a cut above his forehead. How unlucky is this. Simon had washed the pads from his helmet in preparation for the Dave Lloyd Mega, and left it off. He NEVER rides without his helmet. We had just been chatting about the old days and how riding without a helmet is so liberating.
The driver was quite shocked, but we piled Simon’s bike in the back of his car and he drove off to Airedale Hospital. It seemed the best option for speed. Simon wanted to be taken home , but that is shock.
Update from Mrs. Cacophony (Miranda) - Wrist badly broken, staying in hospital tonight and having operation tomorrow. Probably staying tomorrow night as well. Been sedated - Cacophony will take a lot of sedating - he will be angry, frustrated , annoyed etc.
My heart goes out to him, the start of the summer, loads of good stuff coming up, he has been getting fitter and fitter. And then for this to happen. "
The good news is that I have spoken to him this evening and no surgery is required to reset his wrist, and he is back home tonight.
My ride details are at: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6094327
We started off with him but then continued at their half-way point for a longer ride.
Crash report courtesy of El Cid:
"5 riders out this (Friday) morning. Harry Q and Gizzajob were heading off for a big one before tapering for the Etape Du Tour. Me, Cacophony and Rogan turned at Cavendish for an easy Friday potter.
Coming back between Beamsley and Nesfield, BAD CRASH.
It was on the 2nd blind bend. You know, the downhill before the ‘s’ bends where you can turn off for the Addingham bridge. The hedges are high on the right, its difficult to see what’s round the left hand bend, there is a small rough passing place for cars on the right hand side of the bend.
We always go single file round here. Today was no exception, Cacophony, Rogan then me. I looked across as we rode down the slope. I always look at a gateway in the wall to check if any cars are coming towards us. Today a car must have just gone passed the gateway before I looked and was coming towards the corner. It was hidden from us behind the dry stone wall.
Cacophony went round the corner. He was well on the left, brushing the foliage as you do on this corner when you take it well. The car was right there coming towards him. When he feels better he will probably be able to give us a better report of this bit. Rogan was still entering the corner and I was behind him.
Was the car coming too fast, or was it hugging the right hand side for some reason. I don’t know, but the road is very narrow at that point anyway. The timing of the meeting of bike and car was the worst it could be. Cacophony managed to miss a head-on with the car, and squeezed between the car and the wall, but he was hit in the area of the front wing/wing mirror.
I’m not exactly sure , but this looked to ricochet him between the car and the wall, with Simon ending up eventually on the floor at the other side of the road behind the car, having fallen heavily. The driver simultaneously swerved into the left bank.
Simon got to his feet , but it was obvious that his arm was broken as it was in the shape of a ‘J’ between his elbow and his wrist. There was also blood coming down his face from a cut above his forehead. How unlucky is this. Simon had washed the pads from his helmet in preparation for the Dave Lloyd Mega, and left it off. He NEVER rides without his helmet. We had just been chatting about the old days and how riding without a helmet is so liberating.
The driver was quite shocked, but we piled Simon’s bike in the back of his car and he drove off to Airedale Hospital. It seemed the best option for speed. Simon wanted to be taken home , but that is shock.
Update from Mrs. Cacophony (Miranda) - Wrist badly broken, staying in hospital tonight and having operation tomorrow. Probably staying tomorrow night as well. Been sedated - Cacophony will take a lot of sedating - he will be angry, frustrated , annoyed etc.
My heart goes out to him, the start of the summer, loads of good stuff coming up, he has been getting fitter and fitter. And then for this to happen. "
The good news is that I have spoken to him this evening and no surgery is required to reset his wrist, and he is back home tonight.
My ride details are at: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6094327
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Storiths, Cow and Calf and the Chevin...
...all before breakfast.
Starting to slow down a bit after a few heavy days but did three climbs on the way into work this morning.
Hadn't been up the Cow and Calf climb for a while and forgotten how good it was.
Feeling generally pretty good - last long ride tomorrow (definitely last one this time).
Starting to slow down a bit after a few heavy days but did three climbs on the way into work this morning.
Hadn't been up the Cow and Calf climb for a while and forgotten how good it was.
Feeling generally pretty good - last long ride tomorrow (definitely last one this time).
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Ride home from Leeds
Had a lie-in this morning, giving the EB ride a miss, taking my bike in on the train.
Nice ride home afterwards - Cookridge, Otley, Carters Land and a fast descent back into town.
Nice ride home afterwards - Cookridge, Otley, Carters Land and a fast descent back into town.
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Summer Solstice Ride
A special ride this morning in honour of the Summer Solstice!
An early start at 430am saw nine of us set off for the 43 mile round trip to Kettlewell and back. Beautiful, albeit fresh conditions. Lots of wildlife - pheasant, an owl at Conistone, a dear near Barden, and hundreds of kamikaze rabbits.
We all managed to get back in one piece to enjoy a coffee at 710. I then cycled into Leeds via the East Chevin.
Garmin output at http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6073317
We've eventually discovered where we are staying in Pau - at the delightful "budget" hotel Arena http://www.hotel-arena-pau.com/though we will be eating our evening meals at the Novotel.
An early start at 430am saw nine of us set off for the 43 mile round trip to Kettlewell and back. Beautiful, albeit fresh conditions. Lots of wildlife - pheasant, an owl at Conistone, a dear near Barden, and hundreds of kamikaze rabbits.
We all managed to get back in one piece to enjoy a coffee at 710. I then cycled into Leeds via the East Chevin.
Garmin output at http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6073317
We've eventually discovered where we are staying in Pau - at the delightful "budget" hotel Arena http://www.hotel-arena-pau.com/though we will be eating our evening meals at the Novotel.
Monday, 23 June 2008
Langbar and Leeds
No other EBs out this morning so did Langbar and then Otley and up the East Chevin and into Leeds.
Felt pretty good all the way round.
Less than two weeks to go now!
I feel like there is not much more I can do from here - just stay injury and illness free and get a few steady miles in every day or so.
Felt pretty good all the way round.
Less than two weeks to go now!
I feel like there is not much more I can do from here - just stay injury and illness free and get a few steady miles in every day or so.
Saturday, 21 June 2008
Last long one
72 miles with the early-birds - myself, Earthdreamer, El Cid and Johny Roberts choosing a long option via Norwood, Greenhow, Grassington, Arncliffe, Malham, Gargrave Skipton, Addingham.
Garmin output at http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6041606
I also put my demons to bed by climbing up and out of Arncliffe without a stop. It's a tough climb of course and my HR was over 170 but I never felt like stopping today.
We also picked up of other riders for a while, and after they had peeled off and thanked us for the tow, El Cid informed me one was the great Sid Barras (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Barras)
A great ride all round.
Garmin output at http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6041606
I also put my demons to bed by climbing up and out of Arncliffe without a stop. It's a tough climb of course and my HR was over 170 but I never felt like stopping today.
We also picked up of other riders for a while, and after they had peeled off and thanked us for the tow, El Cid informed me one was the great Sid Barras (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Barras)
A great ride all round.
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