Every time we get on our bikes, we are playing a game of Russian Roulette. We take care to maintain our machines, to make sure they are in perfect running order, we look after our bodies to maximise our performance, and we, hopefully, abide by the rules of the road to keep ourselves safe from the dangers of other road users. But ultimately, our lives are in the hands of fate, destiny, or even other people. Ours is a sport fraught with danger, and every now and then, and increasingly all too often, we are reminded of the thin black line between life and death.
Such a reminder came today with the news that yet another Pro Cyclist, Kristof Goddaert, lost their life when going about their everyday job. Maybe we are less at risk in our own day-to-day lives than these athletes, but we shouldn’t take with a grain of salt the dangers that are inherent any and every time we cover ourselves with a thin shield of lycra, mount an 8kg piece of plastic, alloy and rubber, then surround ourselves with tonnes of fast-moving metal often operated by less-than-accommodating drivers. We should regard every motorist with caution, never knowing if they themselves are a cycle-aware operator or one of the increasingly common outspoken anti-cyclists that seem to crawl out of the woodwork to vent their disdain for us every time an online article regarding any aspect of sharing the road appears. Make no bones about it, there is a lot of contempt and anger towards cyclists from many drivers.
There’s only so much we can do to minimise our risk of not returning from a ride. Wearing a YJA is not going to help. Having a foam lid half-encasing our craniums will only do so much (let’s not get into a helmet debate here though). Not putting ourselves into a dangerous situation by flouting road rules, running red lights or riding erratically in traffic should be a no-brainer. Yet just by joining the arterial flow of cars, buses and trucks we put ourselves at the bottom of the transport food chain, and like a hyena in a lion-filled savannah, we need to be alert and aware of our surroundings and regard everyone around us a potential predator.
We’ve lost many of our own, and it’s often I think about our community friend @itburns when I kit up. Every time I read about another cyclist tragically killed, the reality of the dangers of our passion hits home, again, hard. Having met Kristof on KT12, when he gave up his time to talk to us before Paris-Roubaix, answering our questions, humouring us as he prepared for one of his most important days at work of the year, it feels that little bit more personal, even though our worlds were so far removed from each other. And now, he is removed from our world completely, a victim of bad luck, a tragic accident of circumstances that we might never consider could happen to us. Which only serves to remind us that it can.
Be careful out there, friends.
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@Walbly
Says who? Where is that written? I see no Rule that says we won't ride with you. I could give a fuck if you show up for a ride in sandals, YJA, and unshorn guns as long as you can keep up and you don't crow about it. Read the entry for "Brian" in the lexicon and you will understand.
I love riding Audax/Rando more than anything, and it's a hotbed of gratuitous Rule violations. Come to Nashville, TN and I'll ride with you anytime.
Riding safely is paramount, and as @brett put it, there is only so much you can do. I've recently been hypothesizing with my club on kit wearing. Currently, it's not mandatory for club rides, and despite no studies to back up my thoughts, I truly believe that a group is safer if all wearing matching kit. I just feel there is an unconscious sense of "team" that adds some sense of respect and hopefully an awareness or an extra few inches from a motorist.
To the subject at hand: I have seen this kind of senseless, bloody death firsthand, and will happily live out my life without seeing it again. That said, I find some hope in the following idea, which I've been wanting to set it down in writing for some time. Now seems the correct moment. Forgive the prosy rendering - it seems appropriate, given the gravity of the subject.
-------------
The death of one of our own drives our thoughts inward, inspiring us to probe at the dormant kernel of fear that we hide behind bravado and V.
We must confront the fear alone - in this way we are truly islands unto ourselves. Fear passes through us, leaving resolve in its wake, or cripples our minds with craven imaginings of pain and annihilation. How then do we act when the fear is upon us and we cower under death's deadly regard?
I clutch to this thought when the fear is upon me:
When we pass death's high cold gates, the Man With The Hammer awaits us, and weighs our fear and our courage to a nicety in the scales of his judgement. If our resolve is not found wanting, we shall join his Shadow Peloton, to ride alongside the living and instruct them with loving Hammers of our own.
The dead are never truly gone, but ride with us on steeds wrought of the essence of V.
Vive la Vie Velominatus.
@ChrisO
@ChrisO
Very nice point, ChrisO. It is a big, complicated world. To assume your place, your sanctity, your role is to misjudge how big, wild, and unpredictable things truly are.
Be safe, ride defensively aggressive, and make sure you've recently told your VeloPartner/Pal/minatus you love them.
@ChrissyOne
I believe that expecting that ALL traffic is trying to kill you at all times is the only way to go.
A while back I was returning home after a group ride, and a UPS truck nearly pulled out in front of me from my right. I saw him approach the intersection, and my hands went directly to the brakes. I stared at the driver the whole time, and after he started to pull out and the truck lurched as he slammed on the brakes, I continued to make eye contact with him, as if to say, "Thanks for not killing me today." Which is exactly what I was thinking.
I've been seeing lots of stories lately about the lack of consequences for motorists who hit cyclists. Perhaps some of this could be avoided if countries would adopt the Dutch law where in the case of a collision between car and bike, the driver is automatically at fault, until proven otherwise. If people knew there were consequences for their actions, perhaps they would think twice.
Until that day comes, stay vigilant and safe brothers and sisters.
@LIIIXI
That's an interesting theory.
On the one hand it would seem to be counter to the study by Ian Walker at Bristol University who found that drivers give more room to people they think are inexperienced cyclists i.e. not wearing high-vis or lycra, and preferably female.
However the comparison was to individuals so I guess it is possible a team in matching kit might be more imposing. Maybe it plays on some natural instinct of an individual being more wary about taking on a pack, especially if it looks organised. Just don't be the old, sick one... I've watched enough Nat Geo Channel to know what happens to them.
Anyway, forget the safety element - you should all wear team kit because you will look More Fantastic.
@KW
Yeah, the eye-contact thing is an interesting one; I find they usually look away after they've come jolting to a halt rather than hold my eye. And that Dutch law says so much about the transport culture there; try to introduce that in Sydney, where I grew up, and talk-radio stations would explode with hostility, and that in a country that managed to pass serious gun control.
Germany is just so car obsessed and the 'solution' for cyclists is generally to designate narrow cycle-paths which -- at least in theory -- must be used and which are then so badly maintained or used by drivers for parking and delivery stops as to be unusable. Unless you're on a mountain bike and enjoy riding over potholes, cracks and tree roots.
@ChrisO
Surely team kit is the only real alternative to V-Kit
I was once stopped by a policeman on motorbike for running a red (was much younger and stupid) He basically told me to go but next time HE would run me over...Try changing that culture.
http://www.mec.ca/product/5025-534/mec-plasma-usb-white-led-front-light/?h=50002+50037&f=10+50002+50513
I picked up the Front and Rear versions last time I was in Montreal - recharchable and cheap...
@andrew
I was actually shocked that the UPS driver actually held my eye contact the whole time, and even pointed at me with a smile to acknowledge that he saw me and realized what he almost did.
Same thing would happen here in Wisconsin if you tried to pass a law like that. If there's one thing I've learned in the 5 years I've lived here is that you don't mess with people's cars (or Harleys!). I can't imagine what it's like in Germany!
We tried to get a high speed rail line extended from Milwaukee to Madison a few years ago, and the general sentiment from those opposed was, "Why would I want to take a train when I could drive?" It's difficult to fundamentally change the mindset of a population regarding transportation.
Frankly, it's about 120km from Milwaukee to Madison, and I'd rather make the trip by bike.