General Cycling Discussion - Have you accepted your fate?

I've done quite a bit of road riding over the past several years, and I've come to one obvious conclusion - I'm going to be killed. This may happen today, tomorrow, next week, or 20 years from now; but there’s no question, I'm going to be run down and killed. I’m not a dangerous rider, in fact, here are a few details:

-I always respect the rules of the road
-I try to ride during low traffic times
-I live in a mostly rural area

However, almost without exception, someone will almost hit me on every ride. Also, last year, I was hit by a car. He, of course, did not stop. I was very fortunate to only end up with a trip to the ER, stitches, bad road rash, and a week off work. I know that this guy saw me, and my guess is that his intention was to "make it close". Moreover, I know that there is more of his ilk still on the road. Combine that demographic with the soccer moms that pay less attention to driving than Ted Kennedy does to a can of warm O’Douls, and you see my point. It’s only a matter of time before the numbers catch up with me.

Has this stopping me from riding? NO WAY! I still ride as much as possible – I’ve simply learned to accept my fate. I wonder how many of you have done the same? Or, do you still think that you’ll survive a lifetime of riding? I hope that I’m wrong, but I keep returning to the same conclusion.

Thoughts???????

And people call out of bounds freeriding danerous. Jeez you roadies are nuts :D

(don't take offence it is actually the drivers who are nuts)

My only question is that it took you several years to notice this? :p. We will all die at some point. Why avoid doing what you love for fear of dying. Remeber that statistically you are safer biking than anything else. If you spend as much time driving as you do riding a bike, you would probably become convinced that you are going to get killed driving too!

I used to feel that way – Until I was sure I would slip on some soap in the shower – that changed when I realized that cancer would more than likely be the culprit, because everything causes cancer. Now I have life insurance, so I’m not going to die until I miss a payment. You know what they say – “Only two things in life are for sure, death and taxes”.

This is an unpopular opinion but car rules are for cars. I ride to protect myself. Courtesy is mandatory, but I've learned the hard way to ride aggressively and think quickly in traffic.

I've accepted my fate, that one day, I will die.

I might die on my bicycle, or in my car, or in my sleep. I might even die having sex.

I think I would prefer to die on my bicycle. Dying during sex would be embarrassing and might discourage my wife from remarrying.

I do think I'm riding on borrowed time without having an incident. I never think about death and dieing while riding, but lately I have had the nagging thought that I'm cheating fate and am over due for an accident :(

I have nowhere near the fear level riding my bike on urban streets, rural secondary roads, or even middle o'nowhere freeway shoulders, that I have when driving the car on our area's freeways. There is no cycling situation that is half as scary as the I-205 bridge near Portland International Airport on a windy, heavily raining day, just nothing that bad! My bigotry against and caution toward the motoring primate probably helps too.

I hope that when my time comes a lovely young woman in a new Suburban, distracted by a cellphone conversation with her lover, drifts off course at 70 mph and punts me directly from the seat of my Schwinn 18 speed into Valhalla. Thus would I escape this life without benefit of the witch doctors and their damned catheters and all-electronic tinker toys.

They tell me that in Valhalla every woman is beautiful with skin like warm silk, and shining golden hair down to her perfect apricot ass. She runs just slowly enough that I will catch her before I am tired.


:D

I gave up motorcycles years ago because I thought it was dangerous.Later I take up roadriding on a bicycles!?I would say they are about even.But I would rather die with the handlebars in my hands than the remote control. It is a good day to ride!:D

hell..we'll all die sometime

might as well kick the bucket on a sweet road bike :D

I do not worry about dying, I worry more about being paralized and never being able to do the things I love to do. These thoughts do not deter me from doing the things I love to do.
Slainte:beer:

Silly as it might sound, I ride with a mirror not only to see what is approaching from the rear, but also to see how it is approaching. I have the option to bail, and I'll take a bad case of poison ivy over a wheelchair anyday.

The thought of ending it all inside a heap of twisted metal is more of a concern for me.

I figure that I'll go when I go. No use worrying about it. (Worrying will only bring it about sooner.)

While I'm more than happy with things right now, I've got big plans after this life so I'm OK either way.

I have accepted my fate to the extent that I know I'm going to die eventually. I'd say skin cancer is the most likely suspect. However, I do not accept that I'm necessarily going to die cycling. Here on the Gold Coast we have some of the least competent motorists you will find anywhere (a driving instructor once claimed that around 90% of them would fail a driving test), and after around 80,000km of cycling, I'm still alive.

I plan on spending my life on a bike, not losing it.

I dont beleive in fate...

But if I do have to go, I wish it to be quick and spectacular...

If there's anything worth salvaging for organ donation they can have it.... I wont be needing it.

I do not wish to becrapping in my diaper in a nursing home... to LIVE to seventy, is beter than mearly existing to ninety-five.

Originally posted by Scooby Snax
But if I do have to go, I wish it to be quick and spectacular...

If there's anything worth salvaging for organ donation they can have it.... I wont be needing it.

I do not wish to becrapping in my diaper in a nursing home... to LIVE to seventy, is beter than mearly existing to ninety-five.

Well said. :thumbup:

Thanks Chris L!

Yesterday I was in a citizen race...
Its amazing how one does not really think of these things... untill now!! Damn you BAC... just kidding...

I firmly believe in, if you think it will happen, then you most likeley will let it happen.
Please allow me to extend my sincere regrets to the tree I thought I couldnt clear...
:crash:

I have better things to think about - like living!!

Ellie

Chris. At one time we lived in Florida. That state is only beat out by the state of New Jersey for traffic fatalities and auto accident rates. -Last I knew.-
So do all Australians drive like nuts? More so in Queensland? My point. Is there some similarity between sun belt areas like Florida and Queensland. ? Too much sun or what? Florida has a really high percentage of drivers over 70 years old? that a factor in Queensland .?
Driving a car in Florida scared the hell out of me. Don't know how cycling in Florida sounds to me.?
When I cross the U.S. on bike- Florida might be my end destination?
Even if driving in Queensland is awful, do look forward to someday diving the Great Barrier and trying some of that Queensland passion fruit you so often speak of.
Will get to Australia someday. Our nephew who presently lives in Singapore, plans to retire in Perth..

What a weird thought to "roll around" in your head.

It's truly a "Richard Cranium" attitude to maintain.

Ride as safely as you can and spend a few thoughts on all your friends and relatives who have died NOT riding a bicycle.

There is senseless death all around you if you look hard enough.

Good Luck.

I ride a road bike through a mostly rural area as well as downtown Toronto. I do the same on a motorcycle. I also SCUBA dive. I'm thinking about taking up hang gliding. Anybody want to start a pool? I'm in for five bucks!

...wait a minute...

Originally posted by bac
Or, do you still think that you’ll survive a lifetime of riding? I hope that I’m wrong, but I keep returning to the same conclusion.

Thoughts??????? [/B]

I'd prefer a LONG lifetime of cycling. Now that I'm cycling regularly though, even should I die tomorrow, I will enjoy a lifetime full of cycling:)
Carl

Originally posted by hillyman
I would rather die with the handlebars in my hands than the remote control.

Hillyman I just love that line.

I don't think I'll die on the bike, but I'm pretty sure I'll get knocked off by a car some time in the future, let's face it we've all had close calls with cars and generally it's us who manage to avoid the accident, but there will come a time when there won't be a way out.

I'll even goes so far as to say I think the car that knock's me off will be turning left ( that should be right for you lot in the USA) because all my close calls have come from cars that pull alongside me then turn left - all I can say is thank god for indicator lights on the front of cars, the sight of those things flashing in the corner of my peripheral vision has saved me on a few occassions.

Originally posted by Ouch !


all I can say is thank god for indicator lights on the front of cars, the sight of those things flashing in the corner of my peripheral vision has saved me on a few occassions.

Good Lord! People use the indicators where you ride?! You lucky &*$@! You must think the suns shines out your ass! :D

Originally posted by cyclezealot
So do all Australians drive like nuts?

Very probably. However, the problem does seem to be considerably worse here on the Gold Coast that in other places. Not so much their aggression, just their total and complete lack of survival instincts.


Originally posted by cyclezealot
More so in Queensland? My point. Is there some similarity between sun belt areas like Florida and Queensland. ? Too much sun or what

I have noticed in the past that people do tend to be more aggressive and have shorter fuses in summer. I think the heat may be a factor here.


Originally posted by cyclezealot

Even if driving in Queensland is awful, do look forward to someday diving the Great Barrier and trying some of that Queensland passion fruit you so often speak of.


Yes, driving in Queensland probably is awful, cycling in Queensland on the other hand...

:D

I seem to remember scientists looking for the world's oldest human in China a while back, and hearing about a guy in his 120's. They went to that village, and the authorities said that they were sorry, but he had recently been killed, in a bicycle accident! If I'm to go at 120+ years old, that would be a way to go!

I don't think many of us will be killed on their bicycle--if I did, as a professional safety person, I wouldn't have bicycled to work today after an accident about two months ago. I think if we are in an accident, we'll most likely survive and heal, if wearing a helmet, that is. There is a potential Darwin award out there for those who don't wear helmets, but that's another story.

Right now, I beginning to focus on minimizing my bicycle/car interactions, which I define rather subjectively as any car which comes within ten feet of me. By minimizing those interactions, and controlling those situation, I'm hoping to ride in a much safer manner than previously.

John

since i depend on drivers to be good ones, i try not to blame the whole 'interaction' thing on them. there just isn't enough simulation during drivers ed. now if there was only a part on the driving test that made you pass a bicycle safely..... i believe that it all goes back to education..
we all depend on common sense so much...but few people have it instinctively on their own.

Originally posted by John C. Ratliff
If I'm to go at 120+ years old, that would be a way to go!


John

Personally, I'm hoping to be stabbed in the back by a jealous lover at 120! :D

I have always believed, and gone out to do anything remotly dangerous , with the perception that i am one of lifes survivors.

Riding a bike, climbing up to several floor heights on construction sites, i say to myself nothing will happen to you here John "1 am a survivour", thank goodness it has worked up till now!

I also have this little superstition ,when I first start off for a cycle, i stroke the hoods on my bike and say silently in my head "now be a good girl to me today" a silly little quirk i know, but somehow i feel more confident for doing it.

God bless
Willi`c