Very bad ride, saw a man down

[Dave7]

Very sad. I hate seeing people get hurt. I have stopped to help in situations (nothing like this one) and TBH I get very emotional.
BTW @ColinJ (" I hope the old fella")............I am 69.........70 is the new 90

 

[Deleted member 35268]

I can dilute the conversation with my wife with the news that Poldark is back for a 3rd series.

 

[ColinJ]

Very sad. I hate seeing people get hurt. I have stopped to help in situations (nothing like this one) and TBH I get very emotional.

I got flashbacks for weeks after the Pateley Bridge crash scene. I was squeezing the unconscious stranger's hand while trying to avoid looking at his smashed-in face. I was telling him that he was going to be okay and that help was on its way. (I actually thought he was going to die, but I thought there might be some part of his mind that was taking in what was going on and needed reassurance.) I still sometimes get choked up telling people about it.

BTW @ColinJ (" I hope the old fella")............I am 69.........70 is the new 90

I hate to tell you this ... if that is true, then you are old before your time! I think you meant something like 70 is the new 50!

 

[jefmcg]

I know these things are very distressing, but you have to remember how good exercise is for you. Sure, if that man wasn't on the bicycle that day, he would have avoided this collision, but maybe if he didn't cycle he'd currently be learning to talk again after his 2nd stroke (or choose your favourite disease of inactivity).

 

[Dave7]

I got flashbacks for weeks after the Pateley Bridge crash scene. I was squeezing the unconscious stranger's hand while trying to avoid looking at his smashed-in face. I was telling him that he was going to be okay and that help was on its way. (I actually thought he was going to die, but I thought there might be some part of his mind that was taking in what was going on and needed reassurance.) I still sometimes get choked up telling people about it.


I hate to tell you this ... if that is true, then you are old before your time! I think you meant something like 70 is the new 50!

HA HA...........I'm 69 and entitled to get things wrong

 

[ColinJ]

I know these things are very distressing, but you have to remember how good exercise is for you. Sure, if that man wasn't on the bicycle that day, he would have avoided this collision, but maybe if he didn't cycle he'd currently be learning to talk again after his 2nd stroke (or choose your favourite disease of inactivity).

I remember reading that cycling regularly on average adds a few years to your life, even taking into account those who are involved in fatal accidents. So, from the point of view of life expectancy you are likely to benefit from cycling. Obviously there are tragic cases where this does not apply, but as you point out - think of all the people who suffer unnecessary ill-health through lack of exercise.

And that is not taking into account the quality of the last 20 years or so. My dad was already a semi-invalid when he was my age (60), his 70s were pretty grim, and the last few years in his early 80s were awful. I hope to be doing vigorous cycling for at least another 15 years, more gentle cycling for 10 years beyond that, and when I do start to really decline, for it to be very rapid.

TBH, I have a suspicion that I will die cycling. If so, I hope it is not in an accident, but more like the way that Beryl Burton went - suddenly feeling poorly on a ride, getting off the bike, and just passing away at the side of the road. Ideally though, I would die in bed a few hours after a long bike ride because that would avoid distressing ride companions and passing strangers.

 

[BorderReiver]

Crashing is to cycling what crying is to loving. You can't have one without the other. When other people are involved (especially a hit and run) it is harder to deal with but deal with it we must.

 

[Dirk]

.............Ideally though, I would die in bed a few hours after a long bike ride because that would avoid distressing ride companions and passing strangers.

I'd prefer to be shot in bed, by a jealous husband, at the age of 95.............

 

[Globalti]

Having come round a corner and found my own son unconscious and bleeding in the ditch I can confirm that it's a traumatising experience. I'll never forget the brightness of the blood.

 

[subaqua]

I got flashbacks for weeks after the Pateley Bridge crash scene. I was squeezing the unconscious stranger's hand while trying to avoid looking at his smashed-in face. I was telling him that he was going to be okay and that help was on its way. (I actually thought he was going to die, but I thought there might be some part of his mind that was taking in what was going on and needed reassurance.) I still sometimes get choked up telling people about it.

apparently so .
we get told on our first aid training , from SJA and Red Cross that people may be unresponsive but can still hear just not be able to communicate back.

TLC talk lots of crap , anything but how bad things look. I talk about rugby , football , cycling whatever. it also keeps me in the calm zone where i can concentrate on doing what i have been trained to instead of going headless chicken.

 

[mark st1]

I've just spent an hour directing traffic whilst paramedics look after a fellow cyclist on the Fairmile in Henley. He's OK but they are bringing in the Chilterns Air Ambulance. He was riding northbound on the carriageway and just got knocked off by a car. He ended up in the middle of the road. An NHS lady was passing and stopped to give him first aid. We was talking and able to move but had blood all over his face and clearly in pain all over. Very upsetting and I abandoned my ride. He was in his 60s or 70s and clearly very stressed. If I get any update I will post here. I'm sue he will be OK.

I came through there about 15.30 nasty bit of road that cars pass way to close for the size of the road ?. Was he on the flat bit or the hill ?

 

[andyoxon]

Hope he's OK. Didn't seem to make the local news.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

Hope he's OK. Didn't seem to make the local news.

It will in time.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Talk it out and rarionalise it however works best for you but remember it is such a shock to encounter something like this because it is relatively speaking a rare event.

Having also been the one lying on the road, the kindness and support of strangers to help you in that WTF and why does this hurt moment is very much appreciated, plenty of Karma points and kudos to you for stopping and doing your bit, chapeau.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

After the ordeal of yesterday I was out at a Festival and ... I drank too much. I am usually very sensible but I think I just over did it because of what happened. This meant I could not ride in, or ride at lunch so it has kind of been good, keeping me off the road for a day. I plan to ride tomorrow. I called the Police and the Hospital for an update on the rider but I got nowhere as I am not related. I think he will be fine, I will check the papers / local news sites and post an update. I was talking to a couple of doctors about how they deal with horrible stuff - they said that adrenalin usually takes over during the event, and that as this subsides the mind is then allowed to take stock of the situation, which is why I go so upset as I walked away after. I never ever want to see that again, but if I do, I will be even better prepared.