Scary fall on ride today

[endoman]

Not by me, but my mate who was riding the last 40 miles with me.

Was going from Chesterfield to Wigan, route planned on bikehike and waypoints all written down via google maps. We met up in Wilmslow, I know the way there with no bother. It was then the fun started!

We planned a route via smaller roads, over to Ashley, Bowdon, Dunham Massey, Glazebrook, Culceth, Ashton etc. From Ashton I know the way to parents. Ride came in at about 82 miles which is 12 miles past my previous longest.

Out of Wilmslow and the named road we followed turned into a dead end and a bridle path, we gingerly went down that on road bikes and came out exactly where we should have done near Mobberley Golf Club, just the road showing on Google maps isn't a road, neither is the one they show going over the new runway, so we diverted around that.

No signs further on lead to a 3 mile wrong way to Partington, we turned back, found the toll bridge over the ship canal and carried on.

In Culceth, mate decides to get car sat nav out of back pocket to check progress and runs into my back wheel at about 25 mph. I stop on, but hear an almighty crunch from behind. Stop, turn round and he's slid down the pavement on helmet, nothing broken, but grazed etc. R Shifter bent but got it back in place and after a few minutes and some kind concerned motorists who saw it and stopped we carried on. Managed the rest ok despite him insisting we turn left where I knew it was straight on. As he bravely carried on I wasn't arguing, so we then ended up on Haydock Park racecourse, and another dirt path. The paths and getting lost brought down average speed but I was still chuffed with 15.8 mph for 86 miles, especially as I had to travel over the peaks,

The flat stuff on the other side is something I'm not used to riding in Sheffield and Chesterfield, very nice and easy! Saw lots of other cyclists around Wilmslow and Ashley etc.

Spoke to mate and his helmet is knackered but he's ok, bike seems to have survived as well. He won't be riding one handed while not looking where he's going any more.

Good training for me as I have first 100 in York in a couple of weeks, I will now aim for 6 hours, and see how it goes, then the Manchester 100 in a month,

 

[HLaB]

Ouch! I hope they heal soon! I done something similar last week. I was at the front of the pack (doing 25mph) when somebody came through to relieve me, I got caught out and didn't drop back properly and when they came in they clipped my front wheel and down I went. Luckily though I escaped with relatively minor injuries, my elbow was cut open quite and my ribs are bruised and somehow with Adrenalin I went on for another 40 miles at + 20mph; unfortunately the really sore ribs hurt badly a few days later and the elbow became a little infected. The bike escaped not bad though, there was a minor buckle, a few tarmac bites out of the bar tape and minor scratches to the rim but that was all. Apart from this idiot though, it was a good ride.

 

[apollo179]

Stories like this are enough to put me off group riding. Personally i woudnt have confidence in my own ability to ride on somebody elses back wheel. I can appreciate the skill involved in cycling like this but for me the concentration required and the worry would detract from the enjoyment of the cycling experience.
Add to worry of me taking down someone else theres also the ever present danger of someone else bringing you down. I dont fancy the prospect of being slung down the road on my face cos someone else isnt looking where theyre going. Guess theres a good deal of mutual trust required. Interesting though to here about.

 

[endoman]

we had done 30 miles no bother, just a bit daft to get sat nav out and try and read it in hand while doing 25 mph, no access ti front brake of course ! No idea why he got sat nav out as we knew exactly where we were.

I've only just started group riding, 22 of us last week, and have had no problems if remaining attentive.

 

[HLaB]

Stories like this are enough to put me off group riding. Personally i woudnt have confidence in my own ability to ride on somebody elses back wheel. I can appreciate the skill involved in cycling like this but for me the concentration required and the worry would detract from the enjoyment of the cycling experience.
Add to worry of me taking down someone else theres also the ever present danger of someone else bringing you down. I dont fancy the prospect of being slung down the road on my face cos someone else isnt looking where theyre going. Guess theres a good deal of mutual trust required. Interesting though to here about.

Touch wood, I went for 4 or 5 year after I joined a club before having a spill but I think it was a loss of concentration on my part You are right though when you are travelling at speed a few inches to foot off somebody's back wheel a lot of mutual trust is required and you soon find out who should give more room to.