"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Sad Story...For all you racers....

You know I'm jealous of you guys who are the younger, studly racers giving it your all in local crits or road races. Had I discovered this sport as a younger man and before my hip replacement I would be right there with you now. At this point, I read your posts and cheer you on from a computer monitor. Keep all the riding reports coming. Others live through your stories.

I know when you are in your 20's you're indestructable....you take chances trying to beat out the other guy without thinking about consequences.

But please read this story.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/ozwash/may05/326025.asp

Over 100 riders showed up at his funeral IN JERSEYS yesterday. I didn't know him, but today, after reading his story, I am signing the donar card portion of my license.

Sad story, makes me wonder though, how does your foot slip out of the pedal? I'm paranoid now.

You know I'm jealous of you guys who are the younger, studly racers giving it your all in local crits or road races. Had I discovered this sport as a younger man and before my hip replacement I would be right there with you now. At this point, I read your posts and cheer you on from a computer monitor. Keep all the riding reports coming. Others live through your stories.

I know when you are in your 20's you're indestructable....you take chances trying to beat out the other guy without thinking about consequences.

But please read this story.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/ozwash/may05/326025.asp

Over 100 riders showed up at his funeral IN JERSEYS yesterday. I didn't know him, but today, after reading his story, I am signing the donar card portion of my license.

It is a very tragic story, one BTW that was posted here days ago. Note, however, that he was taking no chances. He was ahead of the pack, and suffered an incredibly freak accident. If we spend our life worrying about these potential consequences, life would not be much fun. We would have the same caveat when we venture out into traffic in our cars. I certainly would not have enjoyed 659 skydives if I worried about potential consequences. Carpe Diem, and race damn hard - I do!

my last intention is to hijack this thread. but i tend to slip out of my pedals occasionally when accelerating strongly and pulling up on my pedals hard, sometimes twisting in the act of standing and accelerating.

my last intention is to hijack this thread. but i tend to slip out of my pedals occasionally when accelerating strongly and pulling up on my pedals hard, sometimes twisting in the act of standing and accelerating.

Thanks. I haven't had this happen to me yet....and I hope not to!

I saw Davis Phinney 'pull a foot' while sprinting for a $250 prime in Fitchburg in 1992 (?)

His right ankle was up behind his ear, and his nose was out in front of the brake lever, but he held it upright and kept goin'.

Sky69 is right: you can live in fear, but I hardly call that livin'.

Instead, I say you should live for those who can't... like Matt.

I saw Davis Phinney 'pull a foot' while sprinting for a $250 prime in Fitchburg in 1992 (?)

His right ankle was up behind his ear, and his nose was out in front of the brake lever, but he held it upright and kept goin'.

Sky69 is right: you can live in fear, but I hardly call that livin'.

Instead, I say you should live for those who can't... like Matt.


Amen!

I saw Davis Phinney 'pull a foot' while sprinting for a $250 prime in Fitchburg in 1992 (?)

His right ankle was up behind his ear, and his nose was out in front of the brake lever, but he held it upright and kept goin'.

Sky69 is right: you can live in fear, but I hardly call that livin'.

Instead, I say you should live for those who can't... like Matt.

Amen...
I did a quick, fast, hard 20 before work today.....and despite lots of traffic stops at intersections pushed myself to a 17.2 average for the ride. I got off the bike and pointed up to the sky and said, "That one's for you Matt."

After my lastest crash that put me in the hospital for a few weeks and seeing what impact that had on my family and friends, I can only imagine what his are going through. I can tell you though, that once cycling gets in your blood, it's hard to shake. Only days after being released from the hospital, still in pain and obviously unable to ride, all I could think about was getting back on my bike. I think I know how he must have felt after his first accident. At least he went doing something he loved, something not many people get to do. Reading that story made me sad yet greatful that this sport has people with so much passion and that I get to experience that love of the sport.

I raced cars for over 20 years and only had one really bad accident which led to a major concussion. I've raced/ridden road bikes for for 13 years and have been badly hurt many times, including many broken bones. My wife is happy I'm back to racing bikes and no longer racing cars. I've never really let her know just how much more dangerous racing a bicylce is compared to racing cars if I did she'd probably never let get on a bike again.

Really sad. Reminds me of this years paris-niece when contador pulled his foot out. Scary stuff. Wish there was someway to practice reacting to horrible things like this. My condolences go out to his family.

After my lastest crash that put me in the hospital for a few weeks and seeing what impact that had on my family and friends, I can only imagine what his are going through. I can tell you though, that once cycling gets in your blood, it's hard to shake. Only days after being released from the hospital, still in pain and obviously unable to ride, all I could think about was getting back on my bike. I think I know how he must have felt after his first accident. At least he went doing something he loved, something not many people get to do. Reading that story made me sad yet greatful that this sport has people with so much passion and that I get to experience that love of the sport.


After his first accident he was in a coma for 2 weeks, when he woke up the first thing he wanted to do was ride his bike. He even wanted a trainer brought into the hospital. Pure love of cycling.