Group Ride tonight…2nd week on my new bike. we ride the first of the interval sessions (kind of a long tempo session.) I start with the 2nd fastest group, not sure how i was going to feel tonight. The fast group catches us, i feel good, so i jump on. About 5 minutes later, (we’re echeloning) i’m coming up in the left side paceline (the fast line), and some dude jumps out of the slow line into our line, hits someone’s wheel (i think?) on the way out…goes into a sliding fall.
Right in front of me. I slam into his back wheel, and start rolling. Landed hard on my right side…my helmet and arm took most of the blow…along with hip/ankle/back.
Thank God the cars on the road had enough time to stop, because we ended up right in the middle of the highway. Anyway…long story short, STI was bent, but popped back into place enough for me to limp home. Shredded the bibshorts, the jersey, as well as took the front wheel out of true. Going to take the bike to the shop to see if anything else is wrecked. The helmet was smashed…thank God for helmets. Aside from a headache and some road rash, i feel fine. I’m worried about the bike though.
What does a guy do now? being a student, i’m a little scared at replacement costs of some of the stuff. am i on my own to pay for this stuff? what’s the proper procedure now? ettiquete (sp?) ?
in all honesty, i’m happy to be ok…but kind of sad that it was the brand new bike that took the spill…
at least i’m in that first group of riders now though (those who have fallen…and not those who are going to…)
I have been there as well scary as hell no where to go. Good to hear that you are all right. Are you still in K-town? We saw the tuesday riders come by scattered last night at dusk which is why I ask. Z and I started to ride in Gan with the wed recovery ride, lots of newbe’s they scare me at times.
Well glad you’re not worse off. That pic I posted in the “why people don’t wear helmets” thread - that bike was less than 1 week old.
What are you gonna do now? I sympathize. I’d suggest talking to your bike group, as a group, and letting them know what components need replacing. Since it was a group ride, its sort of fair to treat it as a group accident, you’ll probably find that the parts you need are available right there with your riding buddies in their spare parts bins.
Or, you could sue the guy who caused the crash and get his insurance company to pay for it, but you might find yourself blacklisted locally.
Glad you arent hurt. Hate to say, but the general rule is you are on your own for repair and replacement. If the guy that caused the crash offers to pay, then you are lucky.
Suing the guy who crashed ?? Lets just leave the lawyers out of it. You’d probably lose anyway as you didn’t have any stopping distance between the guy who came down and yourself.
It’s a group ride - chances of a crash are greater due to proximity, speed, and number of riders. Crashes come with the sport. You must accept that if you want to play. Next time it may be you that overcooks a bend and brings someone down. It’ll even out in the long run.
Personally I like to train a lot alone as that’s how I have to race. If I ride with my club, I take the risks of being with those guys. If I see there are really bad bike handlers out with the club, then I’ll peel off.
Sorry to hear that … but that’s the price we occassionally pay. Years ago I had almost the exact same thing happen: First Spring training race on my brand new Serotta (which I bought at steep employee discount at the shop I worked/raced for). A mtn biker moonlighting on a Colnago abruptly pulls out of the paceline as I’m sliding back and sideswipes my front wheel, cartwheeling me to the tarmac. Ruined a jersey, bibshorts and put a dent in the toptube of the frame. The offender never even stopped to check on me, or apologize at the end. C’est la vie.
Suing the guy who crashed ?? Lets just leave the lawyers out of it.
Personally I like to train a lot alone as that’s how I have to race.
I wholeheartedly agree, suing someone like that is pretty ridiculous. Not only is there 0 chance of winning unless you and the whole group agree that whatever done was specifically intended to take you down…but it’s just plain stupid to sue for something like that.
I also agree with Schwingding, I never ride with the groups, almost always solo. Even riding with a friend of mine is occasionally dangerous…I only have to worry about myself dodging the danger rather than wondering if he’s going to tag my wheel when I jump to the side of whatever hazard is in my way. This is how I do 4k-5k miles a year without being off my bike in the last 15 years (knock on wood). Well…except for the time I stopped at a light and forgot to unclip.
