Lost a local cyclist last week
09-10-12 | 05:55 PM
#1
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Lost a local cyclist last week
Here is the link to the brief article:
https://www.fingerlakesdailynews.com/...id=16&id=45395
I have been having a hard time getting my head around this. It just seems like such an unlikely way to die. There were no cars seen on the road. He didn't hit a tree. Today was the man's memorial service and my wife went and had a chance to talk to his wife. The police investigators say that all signs point to the catastrophic failure of his CF frame. The frame was in her word was "crumpled" when he was found. The coroner recommended that she not look at the body as much of the impact was to his face. I have spent the past few days trying to figure how this could happen. RIP Flick.
https://www.fingerlakesdailynews.com/...id=16&id=45395
Penn Yan Man Killed in Bike Accident
6
9/6/2012 1:45:31 PM
By Lucas Day
A 65 year old Penn Yan man was killed Wednesday after being involved in a bicycle accident on County Route 87 in the town of Wayne. Robert Flickinger was riding his bike near Keuka Hill Road when he lost control of it and crashed into the pavement. An initial investigation suggests the bike may have suffered a mechanical failure. Flickinger died from his injuries. The investigation into the accident continues.
6
9/6/2012 1:45:31 PM
By Lucas Day
A 65 year old Penn Yan man was killed Wednesday after being involved in a bicycle accident on County Route 87 in the town of Wayne. Robert Flickinger was riding his bike near Keuka Hill Road when he lost control of it and crashed into the pavement. An initial investigation suggests the bike may have suffered a mechanical failure. Flickinger died from his injuries. The investigation into the accident continues.
09-10-12 | 08:10 PM
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The police investigators say that all signs point to the catastrophic failure of his CF frame. The frame was in her word was "crumpled" when he was found. The coroner recommended that she not look at the body as much of the impact was to his face. I have spent the past few days trying to figure how this could happen. RIP Flick.
09-10-12 | 09:17 PM
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I suppose that's part of the reason other vehicles aren't made of carbon fibre. Imagine the horror if Mum or Dad was driving the kids to school and their car snapped in half, kids fly onto the road and die.
09-10-12 | 09:21 PM
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Does anyone have any info on the bike make/model? I commute on my steel bike, but also have a CF bike. Every time I hear one of these stories, I think I should have gone with a Ti bike for my "fast" bike.
09-10-12 | 10:13 PM
#11
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Holy crap. Not sure which alarms me more, the suddenness of it all (no car, no road debris, no animals, no nothing) or me thinking "holy ****, so that's how bad catastrophic failure in a carbon frame can get."
09-11-12 | 08:23 AM
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" The coroner recommended that she not look at the body as much of the impact was to his face. I have spent the past few days trying to figure how this could happen. RIP Flick."
This scares me, What a way to go. Do you know if he was wearing a helmet? RIP
This scares me, What a way to go. Do you know if he was wearing a helmet? RIP
09-11-12 | 08:32 AM
#15
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From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
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Ack. Awful. The one consolation is that he died doing what he loved (I assume).
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
09-11-12 | 09:02 AM
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Yes, he was! If you read the comments at the bottom of the article, it says that the impact to the ground was so strong that the "helmet split in half."
Obviously the investigation continues, but this sounds to me like a typical case of CF fork failure leading the rest of the CF frame to "crumple" upon impact to the ground. I really hope someone finds out who is the manufacturer of this bike. They need to issue a voluntary recall on whatever part failed in this manner ASAP! Another death on a high-end CF bike happened earlier this year. Apparently the victim wasn't aware or didn't act on an issued recall.
Obviously the investigation continues, but this sounds to me like a typical case of CF fork failure leading the rest of the CF frame to "crumple" upon impact to the ground. I really hope someone finds out who is the manufacturer of this bike. They need to issue a voluntary recall on whatever part failed in this manner ASAP! Another death on a high-end CF bike happened earlier this year. Apparently the victim wasn't aware or didn't act on an issued recall.
Last edited by Chris Pringle; 09-11-12 at 09:15 AM.
09-11-12 | 09:07 AM
#18
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Wow, terrible news.
I too am curious about the bike. There are thousands of people out riding bikes of all kinds. This kind of thing is extremely rare. I wonder if a small animal could have also been involved. I've feared squirrels would be the end of me a few times.
I too am curious about the bike. There are thousands of people out riding bikes of all kinds. This kind of thing is extremely rare. I wonder if a small animal could have also been involved. I've feared squirrels would be the end of me a few times.
09-11-12 | 09:46 AM
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09-11-12 | 09:49 AM
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They make planes out of carbon fiber. They make automobile chassis out of carbon fiber.
This is certainly a very sad and tragic case, but there is information missing here. You don't JRA and have your bike randomly assplode. Some kind of external force needs to act on the frame.
This is certainly a very sad and tragic case, but there is information missing here. You don't JRA and have your bike randomly assplode. Some kind of external force needs to act on the frame.
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09-11-12 | 09:56 AM
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May the rider RIP.
09-11-12 | 09:57 AM
#23
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They make planes out of carbon fiber. They make automobile chassis out of carbon fiber.
This is certainly a very sad and tragic case, but there is information missing here. You don't JRA and have your bike randomly assplode. Some kind of external force needs to act on the frame.
This is certainly a very sad and tragic case, but there is information missing here. You don't JRA and have your bike randomly assplode. Some kind of external force needs to act on the frame.
09-11-12 | 09:59 AM
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09-11-12 | 10:03 AM
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Bikes: Too many.