This weekend marked 5 years since Dick Tomlin, twice a podium finisher in Kona, was killed training near his home in Arizona. He was biking on famed Route 66 when struck by a travel trailer, the driver of which was unaware that he had hit and killed a cyclist until stopped farther on down the road.
All too frequently the pages of ST contain yet another car vs. biker accident in which the result is frequently the termination of the biker’s life. I write this now as an extension of my blog, to strike one more blow for safety. For each of us to take the initiative and advise/correct/scold/ embarrass our biking partners into strict adherence to the rules of the road. Tolerate nothing less than behavior that keeps the athlete out of harm’s way.
To make this a group effort, I would encourage each of you to add the name of a friend or acquaintance who unfortunately suffered the same fate. The goal is to show the magnitude of the problem such that, like it or not, each of us becomes a defensive cyclist, not only for ourselves but for those riding with us as well.
I’ll go first.
Charles Culp- killed 2004 - former Virginia state champ, owner of local bike shop.
You’re right. Too damned many.
Taking yours and adding on…
Charles Culp- killed 2004 - former Virginia state champ, owner of local bike shop.
Randy Caddell 2005 in Kona, IMWC HC division winner
Kristy Gough 2008 in NorCal, IMWC overall female AG winner, multi-time IM winner, up and coming cyclist
Matt Peterson 2008 in NorCal, IM LP finisher, up and coming cyclist
Charles Culp- killed 2004 - former Virginia state champ, owner of local bike shop.
Randy Caddell 2005 in Kona, IMWC HC division winner
Kristy Gough 2008 in NorCal, IMWC overall female AG winner, multi-time IM winner, up and coming cyclist
Matt Peterson 2008 in NorCal, IM LP finisher, up and coming cyclist
Renee Nichols (AUS) second overall age group female 2009 Kona, Hawaii / W25-29 champion
Charles Culp- killed 2004 - former Virginia state champ, owner of local bike shop.
Randy Caddell 2005 in Kona, IMWC HC division winner
Kristy Gough 2008 in NorCal, IMWC overall female AG winner, multi-time IM winner, up and coming cyclist
Matt Peterson 2008 in NorCal, IM LP finisher, up and coming cyclist
Renee Nichols (AUS) second overall age group female 2009 Kona, Hawaii / W25-29 champion
J Cecil Jarvis May 22, 2007 multiple IM finisher and avid cyclist.
While I did not know her personally, I have walked past the ghost bike in her memory in Park Slope, Brooklyn many times. Today is the 5 year anniversary of her tragic death while bike commuting to work. Liz was an avid cylist, swimmer and runner and in 2004 she ran the NYC marathon as a guide to a blind man.
I’ll add Father Joe Shea, a priest from Cape Cod who was in his late 70s and active in triathlons when he was hit by a car and killed in Clearwater on a short training ride just a few days before Great Floridian back in 2002. I had seen him at a few local races and had the chance to meet him and talk for a few minutes at Timberman that year, very nice guy who seemed like he was quite a character. He was excited about winning his age group (he was the only one in his category) and proudly went up to accept his award while still eating his post-race Jordan’s ice cream. I was shocked and saddened to hear that he was gone just two months later.
In my hometown, Abilene, Texas on the very same road that I train on and exactly two weeks ago today, Susan Gerred, 50 died after being struck by a car.
I did not know Susan very well but she was a serious road cyclist and the race director of a local bike race/tour ride, “The Steam N Wheels Bike Race”.
And that’s just those killed…There are those permanently injured too…
Farrar’s dad, cyclist, ortho surgeon, hit by a car in 2008…paralyzed from the neck down…
I’ll add Father Joe Shea, a priest from Cape Cod who was in his late 70s and active in triathlons when he was hit by a car and killed in Clearwater on a short training ride just a few days before Great Floridian back in 2002. I had seen him at a few local races and had the chance to meet him and talk for a few minutes at Timberman that year, very nice guy who seemed like he was quite a character. He was excited about winning his age group (he was the only one in his category) and proudly went up to accept his award while still eating his post-race Jordan’s ice cream. I was shocked and saddened to hear that he was gone just two months later.
Father Joe Shea, he did our inaugural olympic and i remember him being at Timberman that year too… rip
Navy Sailor(do not know identity)
May 25th 2010 Camp Pendleton CA riding home from work
Killed by female driver who was turned around, messing with stuff in the backseat (from report i heard)
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Charles Culp- killed 2004 - former Virginia state champ, owner of local bike shop.
Randy Caddell 2005 in Kona, IMWC HC division winner
Kristy Gough 2008 in NorCal, IMWC overall female AG winner, multi-time IM winner, up and coming cyclist
Matt Peterson 2008 in NorCal, IM LP finisher, up and coming cyclist
Renee Nichols (AUS) second overall age group female 2009 Kona, Hawaii / W25-29 champion
J Cecil Jarvis May 22, 2007 multiple IM finisher and avid cyclist.
Chief Warrant Officer Shawn Harrison, killed June 9, 2007. avid triathlete and cyclist, member of Camp Pendleton Triathlon team, Marine, served 1 tour in Iraq.
I don’t want to add to the list. I shudder when I think of the many people that have been killed or seriously hurt in these interactions between car and cyclist.
They seem to be on the rise and I fear that the situation is going to get worse before it get’s better. At the roots of it all, is a lack of respect and understanding on both sides, that we need to share the road. That being said, the onus has to shift more to motorists, because the outcome of any incident or collision of any kind, is almost always far worse for the cyclist that it is for the motorist.
Mary Jane Reoch was born in 1945. Reoch won nine national road and track championships from 1971 to 1980, and a lifetime total of 11 national championships. She was named to the first ever national women’s team and she was on the world championship team 9 times. Miji also became the first America women to ride under 4 minutes in the 3km pursuit.
In April 1977, Miji Reoch set records for eight distances of five to 25km at the National Capital in Washington DC. Also in 77, Miji led a four women team to win three of nine events on a two week trip to Europe.
Miji won the time trial championships at Port Washington Wisconsin in 1975, and took 2nd place in the 3km pursuit at the Worlds that year. In 1976 she won the Tour of Somerville, and won the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic in 1979. Miji also won the points race at the national track championships three times in a row 78, 79, and 80. In 1977 Miji took second place in the Red Zinger stage race in Colorado.
When Miji retired she went into coaching, and worked with women’s teams for over 15 years. Miji took part in writing a book on winter training before her untimely death. Miji was killed in a tragic training ride on White Rock Lake in the Dallas Texas area, while coaching a rider on September 11, 1993. Roach was inducted into the Bicycle Hall of Fame in 1994.
When I first started racing, she came up to me after a crit and told me I should focus strictly on cycling and that I could be olympic quality one day-I was young and still wanted to tris and be low key-it’s one of those moments in time I constantly “coulda, shoulda, woulda” myself to death over
I will never forget the feeling of hearing the above reported
oddly, as I did my early a.m ride this morn I thought about the man that had just passed away being hit a month ago on the same route I was on; what could I do to make things safer? I live in a relatively safe cycling community-good access, lots of choices, little traffic but it is highly uneducated traffic. I decided to get something started at least on the bike routes most frequented by teams, groups, tours etc. and try to get some signs up along the scenic Hwy 28 to start since there is little to no shoulder on the 2 lane old hwy