Fellow Clydes,

I met a fellow Clydesdale this weekend for what we thought would be a nice ride through the countryside. It was a SAG supported ride that probably had around 100 riders. The ride was going well until a small group was going down a hill with a curve at the bottom. I happened to be at the tail end of the group. I remember looking down and seeing 36 mph somewhere on the hill. There was a girl and guy drafting off of each other that I was following, my son and my new friend's son were on the opposite side from me.

Things happened pretty quickly at this point, but I remember seeing the girl turn her bike sideways and going down. I caught a glimpse of another rider (later I found out that if was my friends son) go down as well. Screams, bikes flipping around, and tire pads squealing was all happening at the same time. The girl slid from the center of the road directly in front of me. Remember that I am 240 pounds or so. I had thoughts of sliding down go through my mind. I came to a stop thankfully with my front tire resting on her rear tire. She and I were looking directly at each other. We ended up directly in front of oncoming traffic. Thankfully, the driver was watching and saw the bikes go down.

Long story short, my friends son needed stitches, I am sure that there was a lot of road rash as jerseys and shorts were shreded from the road surface. It was a scary situation...now what were we saying about drafting around people that we dont know?

Yep, it can happen. Good job and all that on keeping alert enough to react :D

Wow, glad everyone is safe and no serious injuries occurred.

Always scary - glad your reactions / anticipation were up to scratch. Cycling with unknown people can pose problems!

thanks, but I have to say it was probably more luck than anything not doing an endo over the girl rider. My friend didnt see the crash, but came around the corner as others were tending to the downed riders. Imagine seeing your son on the ground.

Thanks again Steve, for all you did!

Not a good thing - it can knock your confidence - but what can you do but carry on...

your right, but it does cause you to pause....

Not a problem Bill. You would have done the same for me.

It could have been a lot worse... Good reflexes, Steve!

So, lets see if I've got this straight.......drafting is that thing that cyclists do that, if we were doing it in our cars, would be called tailgating.

It's stories like this that keep me wary of group rides. I just don't like riding in large groups of people I don't know.

Being nicked by a rider I didn't know and ending up in the hospital for a couple days is what put me off from group rides for a loooong time. It can be scary stuff, especially when a whole group goes down.
Glad you're OK. Glad the kid only needed some stitches.

Everyone seems to have forgotten the most important question: How are the bikes?

So, lets see if I've got this straight.......drafting is that thing that cyclists do that, if we were doing it in our cars, would be called tailgating.

Pretty much, except that drafting is something one should ask permission to do, and not be offended if the answer is no. I'd certainly say no if I didn't know the cyclist was at least competent.

On the Texas forum, there was a report of injury at the Crazy Kicker ride this weekend- broken bones, apparently.

Drafting had a part in this, but more than that was the fact that there were riders with all different levels of skill riding down a hill in a pack. The start of the turn started and riders turned away from the corner to start the turn. A car coming the opposite direction was over the yellow line. The swerving pack suddenly jerked the opposite direction. Chaos from that point on....no one was hit and actually, if everyone could have stayed on their bikes, we could have made it through the turn...at least thats how I remember it happening. It all happened too fast to be sure though.

As I got the story, Will was passed by a faster rider who then began to slow down. Will, not anticipating the slow down, could not decrease his speed as quickly as the rider and could not get to the inside from his position. He then decided pass the guy but had to cross the center line to do so. At this point he saw an oncoming car decending the hill and hit his brakes. The rest is history.

I want to add a something else. First, I met a new friend, TallSteve on this forum who then came to the event. Second, this new friend was there to attend my son when I was not. To my knowledge, severe road rash and some stitches were the extent of damage to any rider who went down and I assure you it could have been much worse. Third, SAG had just passed. Will had put their number in his phone at the beginning of the ride so he had the phone number to call for immediate help. Fourth, his mom, attending her first ever ride had completed half of the family ride and was standing beside the lead SAG car when they got the call. They took her to the hospital to meet the ambulance carrying Will. (I went to find our other son at the rest area ahead.) I believe coincidences are miracles in which God chooses to remain anonymous.

My sincere thanks to all who assisted.

So far, while riding my Worksman at 12 mph, I haven't noticed anybody drafting me. :)

thanks for the clarification Bill. Tell Will hello for me. I hope he is feeling better. How about we ride along the Harpeth sometime? I hear its a great ride....alot less traffic too~:o

Absolutely TS. I'd ride with you and anywhere, anytime. Just let me know when.

We have a few good loops over here if you and Matt ever want to come over some Saturday.

thanks for the clarification Bill. Tell Will hello for me. I hope he is feeling better. How about we ride along the Harpeth sometime? I hear its a great ride....alot less traffic too~:o

Hey, if you guys do a Harpeth ride, let me know. I'd love to butt in :D

Thank God no one was seriously injured. 36 MPH is a speed that can get someone badly hurt.

As for drafting..........I am too slow to draft or be drafted......

"Hey, if you guys do a Harpeth ride, let me know. I'd love to butt in."

Hey John,

Only if it not windy and it's less than 100 miles :o
Bill

Sooo, why dont we plan something? I would like to do a Harpeth ride.

"Hey, if you guys do a Harpeth ride, let me know. I'd love to butt in."

Hey John,

Only if it not windy and it's less than 100 miles :o
Bill

:D

Sooo, why dont we plan something? I would like to do a Harpeth ride.

I am still getting out for a longish ride on Saturdays (on the trainer the rest of the week). It has been Saturday mornings, but with the weather turning cooler, mid days are pretty attractive now too ;). My daughter may be starting Upward Basketball and have games on Saturdays (not sure the times yet - but I assume in the morning). I think I might be able to work out a deal with my wife to escape for an afternoon though. Especially if I talk real nice to her and get some honey-do items done :D

How far would you like to ride? I usually do a 35 - 50 mile ride on Saturdays but can do more or less. How hilly do you like (or not like) :D. Let me know, I can throw a couple routes down to look at. If we can get Bill down South it would make it even better!

Sounds like fun!

I cant do anything this weekend as my wife has other plans for my time. I can do 35 - 60 pretty comfortable. As far as hills go, I am not a hill person as I have only been riding since March of this year. I can do them, but I usually get left behind. Now get me on the straight and flat and I can cruise around 20 - 25 for a while. I enjoy riding at any speed though. Lets see some routes...

Don't wait for me. I'm back in town tomorrow night, but gone the next 2 weeks.:(

Here is one route...

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/tn/franklin/294833220

I'm calling it the Harpeth-Natchez scenic loop :D

35 miles, 1500 feet of climbing total (that includes the non-hills) :D Really only a few hills that count, although some rides, the rollers on top of the Natchez Trace sap me a little.

The ride starts at a small park by the Harpeth River. Follows along some scenic back roads that intertwine with the Harpeth River. Then we climb up to the Natchez Trace where at about mile 14 we will see the breath taking view of Birdsong Hollow from the Birdsong Hollow Bridge. From there we enjoy beautiful rolling terrain and a bold descent just before we pull into historical Leiper's Fork for a stop at the quaint Puckett's Grocery (a cyclist's haven on the weekend). After refueling at Puckett's we will continue North and cruise past more scenic vistas of the Harpeth River and return back to the starting point.

There's the first option. I'll whip up a couple more when I get a chance. But don't expect this kind of write-up on all of them :p :D. I've ridden all of these roads before so I know them pretty well.

I too won't be able to do it this weekend. Next weekend looks a hairy as well. I already know that I will be taking my daugter to a basketball league evaluation on 11/3. If I get out and ride that day it will need to be a "squeeze in" kind of ride.

That brings us ti 11/10. Maybe Bill will be back by then? What say you guys? If we get a day picked out then we can work on a time.

Sorry John, I am out thru that weekend. First weekend back is 11/17. That is almost 30 days off the bike! Busy month.

Sorry John, I am out thru that weekend. First weekend back is 11/17. That is almost 30 days off the bike! Busy month.

Hey, it gets pushed to 11/17 and you haven't been on the bike for 30 days, maybe I can keep up with you on some of the hills this time! :D

That is a great route, John. No hills at all!

When I got back on the bike 4 years ago, my first real ride was from the parking area beside the bridge to Lieper Fork and back on my 7500FX....in the rain....in rain gear.......during the Dodge Viper rally on the Trace!

Tomorrow I will probably replace Wills components that were damaged in the crash. I have several 105 parts I can put on, but will need to re-configure a 9 speed cassette the way he wants it.