We lost a local rider(long beach, ca). He and a friend were riding on the bike path in hungtington beach last saturday. They were riding 13 mph when a woman stepped out in front of them to walk across the path. When they swerved to avoid her, she tensed up and dropped a beach blanket. The blanket when into his front wheel and went over the handlebars.
Without being too graffic, his head struck the pavement first and was put on lifesupport for a week. His family decided to remove him from the respiratory machine thursday.
Please, wear a helmet. You just never know what will happen to you; even at 13 mph. He was a roadie with 20 plus years of riding/racing.
I ride a local bike path occasionally, after work, because it is close by and has some nice long flat straight sections to practice time-trial form, and is 24 miles round-trip. Even in the evening hours, I am constantly amazed at how many walkers, bladers, and carousers there are blocking most or all of the BIKE path just standing around or travelling slowly side-by-side taking up both lanes. And please try to move a foot or two out of my right-of-way when I look into your eyes and know that you clearly see my approaching.
I try to be courteous if possible, but I have to shake my head when people tell me to slow down…uh, excuse me, it’s a BIKE path! I am anything but reckless, and handle my bike very well. Please read the rules before you start walking your double-wide stroller on the wrong side, or leave your bike lying in the middle of the path while you go pick flowers, or cross the path without even looking, with cyclists trying to ride by at 15-25 mph.
Sorry, didn’t mean to hijack your thread.
WEAR YOUR DAMN HELMETS! If you are a parent, it’s not your childs responsibility to think about the consequences of riding without it. Jeez, I sound like my father. Thanks, Dad.
My three year old daughter NEVER rides her bike without her helmet. She’s been schooled very well on the dangers of riding without head protection. In fact, she’ll call an adult an IDIOT out loud when she sees one without a helmet. You should see the look on their faces. Priceless. And I’m just giggling watching the whole thing. Kids - you gotta love 'em.
I am sorry to hear that, but have to comment on this:
I always see people at the particular location mentioned riding fast, reckless and/or without helmet (or helmet dangling from the bars). I personally do not “ride” in this particular area at the beach. Too dangerous at speeds faster than walking speed (2-3 mph). Distracted beach goers, lots of drunk and hyped up people. If he was going 13 mph in this area and was familiar with the location, I would consider that reckless at best. I know it sounds cruel, but doing what he did was asking for disaster!
Wearing your helmet does not make you invincible. Being able to ride your bike fast, does not automatically gives you the right to do so wherever, whenever you please to do so…
Again, people: Be careful out there and ride responsible and keep a cool head (with your helmet on)!
Never leave home without your brain bucket. I’ve lived in Chicago for 11 years now and about every other year someone goes through the exact same scenrio as you described. Most recently a lady was killed when she hit a guy on the lake front path coming the opposite direction.
I was wondering where exactly it happened, I get the idea it was along the beach not the actual river trail. There is only one reason to ride along the beach path, that is so a friend of mine can get his eye candy, and this is best accomplished at around 5mph.
I hear you on the helmet thing, why carry it on your handlebars and not wear it. I see this alot at the beach and while climbing GMR. It does not matter how hot it is or if you think you will miss that once in a lifetime woman who will want you right then and there, but only if you are not wearing a helmet.
I fought my wife for some time about the helmet thing, I did not grow up wearing one and I crashed alot more then. After she was cut off and went over the handlebars and cracked her helmet, I was convinced. At least I did not have to learn the hard way.
I agree, I always ride on the road and avoid any beach bike path.
I have known him for many years and he was just one of those guys who would never wear a helmet…just giggling ssaying, “I don’t need one”. All of us would tell him to put one on… but, he never felt he needed one. Whether he rode mellow beach rides or going 30 mph+ group rides, I would always think that “he has been lucky so far”.
It just sucks… this all would have been avoided if he had one on.
sorry to hear about that…I live in Chicago and use the lake front path…have to at times and after work on a warm day its packed with people at certain locations…namely the boat bar/restaurant and Wed. eves…lots of volleyball players with people blocking the path constantly. Helmet is always on. I even sleep with it LOL
My three year old daughter NEVER rides her bike without her helmet. She’s been schooled very well on the dangers of riding without head protection. In fact, she’ll call an adult an IDIOT out loud when she sees one without a helmet. You should see the look on their faces. Priceless. And I’m just giggling watching the whole thing. Kids - you gotta love 'em.
My 1, 3, and 5 year olds all wear helmets. They all started as soon as they could get on the Radio Flyer little push bike. It is an absolute mandatory at our house. My 3 year old was very upset with Mr Armstrong for not wearing his helmet on the L’alpe time trial - he could break his brain!
My brand new Atmos did a trerrific job 3 weeks ago in my crash. The shoulder will heal, and the brain is just as it was before.