As my friends in SOS know, I like road cycling and racing. As I feel better, I start riding again. It's invigorating (after you recover from the ride).
Last Monday I went with the old boys for a bike ride. Nobody under 60 y.o. in this group, so it was at an easy 17-18 mph (27-29 kph) pace. Well we certianly did not go far. After 5 miles (8 kms) three guys hit the deck. It was an ambulance job. Two guys in their mid 70s were taken to hospital. David cracked a vertibrae, broke a fingure, spit an eyelid open, and part of his broken sunglasses got embedded into his cheek. Alan got a few cracked ribs and a damaged elbow. I tell you what, David is one tough dude. Not a whimper from him, but everybody else that looked at him went into shock. His face looked a real mess.
All it takes is one front wheel to touch anothers back wheel. Front wheel going down, back wheel going up, opposite forces touch and WHAMO, the guy in the back hits the deck instantly. We all now that this can happen to us too, and we accept the risks. But when it does happen, we all basically question our sanity.
Tomorrow I am going for a bike ride (alone). Need to ride 50 miles (80 km). Every week I'll ride a bit further. There is a 100 mile (160 km) ride-come-race in October. They always race the last 20 kms. I am obliged to participate. It will be ten years since I started this annual event. Every year more riders attend. Last year we had over 60 riders. A third of them I have never met before. There's a huge BBQ after the ride. Guaranteed some riders will have sore legs the next day. But it's allinsane fun.
Last Monday I went with the old boys for a bike ride. Nobody under 60 y.o. in this group, so it was at an easy 17-18 mph (27-29 kph) pace. Well we certianly did not go far. After 5 miles (8 kms) three guys hit the deck. It was an ambulance job. Two guys in their mid 70s were taken to hospital. David cracked a vertibrae, broke a fingure, spit an eyelid open, and part of his broken sunglasses got embedded into his cheek. Alan got a few cracked ribs and a damaged elbow. I tell you what, David is one tough dude. Not a whimper from him, but everybody else that looked at him went into shock. His face looked a real mess.
All it takes is one front wheel to touch anothers back wheel. Front wheel going down, back wheel going up, opposite forces touch and WHAMO, the guy in the back hits the deck instantly. We all now that this can happen to us too, and we accept the risks. But when it does happen, we all basically question our sanity.
Tomorrow I am going for a bike ride (alone). Need to ride 50 miles (80 km). Every week I'll ride a bit further. There is a 100 mile (160 km) ride-come-race in October. They always race the last 20 kms. I am obliged to participate. It will be ten years since I started this annual event. Every year more riders attend. Last year we had over 60 riders. A third of them I have never met before. There's a huge BBQ after the ride. Guaranteed some riders will have sore legs the next day. But it's all