Alleycat cyclist killed today

[Blopslee]

I happened to be on a ride with some friends this morning when a local alleycat race here in Chicago went by. Just as the race went though a six way intersection I looked up just in time to see a bike fly up in the air on the front of an suv - the rider landed and did not move......he later died.

My thoughts are with you whoever you were.

Please be safe in alleycats everyone!!!!!

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/cyclist....2.661587.html

[genericbikedude]

the article say 9:15 AM. there was an alleycat that early in the morning? are you sure about that?

[EZbot]

oh man that sucks

[wroomwroomoops]

I'm so glad I don't have a car. I have no chance of killing anyone, ever.

[sp00ki]

i was talking to my co-worker who participates in sanctioned races and tri's about alleycats. he thought the idea of open course races without any kind of qualifying was risky. the more we spoke, the more i realized that he's probably right. the fact is, messengers are taking far less risk during a race than your typical college kid. the difference between doing a race with six + hours a day 5 days a week experience and doing it for one hour a day and maybe two a day on weekends is huge. alley cats really put a lot of relatively inexperienced riders at a LOT of risk.
sucks-- whenever you hear about someone getting hurt in a race, it's someone who had only been riding for a few months going balls out trying to keep up w/ their friends who've been riding in the street for years.

[bexley]

Rest in peace. Any Chicagoans with more information?

Article says: "That address is located near the large three-way intersection of West Irving Park Road and North Damen and North Lincoln avenues."

That's a deadly motherucking intersection. Any time I went through, I couldn't believe the concentration of angry yuppies driving their cars so aggressively. Ugh, I'm getting all tense just remembering how it was to ride around there.

[cavernmech]

i was talking to my co-worker who participates in sanctioned races and tri's about alleycats. he thought the idea of open course races without any kind of qualifying was risky. the more we spoke, the more i realized that he's probably right. the fact is, messengers are taking far less risk during a race than your typical college kid. the difference between doing a race with six + hours a day 5 days a week experience and doing it for one hour a day and maybe two a day on weekends is huge. alley cats really put a lot of relatively inexperienced riders at a LOT of risk.
sucks-- whenever you hear about someone getting hurt in a race, it's someone who had only been riding for a few months going balls out trying to keep up w/ their friends who've been riding in the street for years.

+1.

I have been involved in Alleycat racing as long as anyone. First time I have heard of a fatality.

My thoughts to family and crew.

[bonechilling]

whenever you hear about someone getting hurt in a race, it's someone who had only been riding for a few months going balls out trying to keep up w/ their friends.

I agree with this. Although I'm certainly not concluding that this was the case today in Chicago, I've seen more than a few people whose idea of an alleycat was formed by watching Lucas Brunelle videos of Monster Track. I'd say that most of these riders are in moderate to extreme danger.

[deathhare]

+1...an alleycat at 9am?

[salome]

yes, 9AM.

many people in chicago are no longer on this forum. we're all in a bit of shock right now anyway.

[deathhare]

I see. Must have been cold out.

It seems from the article they were running the light.

Sad news

[barba]

sad news.

[kjohnnytarr]

Sad.

[Blopslee]

yes, they ran the light - a couple got through and one said that cars had been stopping at other intersections all morning, but this intersection is really really bad.

[doofo]

i was wondering when this would happen

im sad for this person

but not suprised

[ThunderChunky]

I'm so glad I don't have a car. I have no chance of killing anyone, ever.

yes, because killing people with cars is the only way to kill someone...?

[rlaliberty]

^ +1

i've never raced but just from videos, i was surprised this hadn't happened sooner. it just seems like a reckless way to bike, esp if they were running lights. poor idea.

[metaljim]

man, that's a real shame. i feel sorry for his friends, his family, and the other local chicago riders. i'm not a praying man, but i hope everyone involved gets through this.

RIP.

[deathhare]

Of course theyll 'get through this'.
But with other major races, like MonsterTrack, coming up...what can be learned?
Will someone die at MonsterTrack?
I pray not but, from the vids ive seen from it, its only a matter of time.

[ryansexton]

****ty buzz. But, seems like he may have thought he was some kind of divine being, who can blow red lights in busy intersections.

[Straws]

I feel bad for his family but I also feel bad for the person driving the car. They just killed someone through no fault of their own. That's gotta be tough to go through.

[rlaliberty]

Well, according to quite a few on this board, its the drivers fault anyways

[Eric Hanus]

was this during the tour da chicago?

so sad.

[deathhare]

Well, according to quite a few on this board, its the drivers fault anyways

No one said that.
In fact, just the opposite.

[JoeEasy]

it's awful that he died