On a ride I was leading yesterday......
I hear an insistent beep...beep...beep from behind the group. Eventually I pull over to let the impatient twot past. Nice lady informs me that guy riding near the back has "...collapsed...". Use of horn had been to attract our attention.
Ride back, to find numerous vehicles stopped and bloodied rider inthe recovery position with 2 members of public (passing drivers) tending to him, one turns out to be a local gp. Looks to have nasty head injury with copious quantities of blood. One driver has already phoned 999 and ambulance is on its way. Mini bus driver produces bumper medical kit, which gp puts to good use. Other driver is directing traffic around the incident. All passing drivers negotiate the incident with due care and no complaint. Mini bus driver produces box of choc-ices and hands them round. Lady whose house we are outside, offers to take bike in for safe keeping and drive it round to rider's house later in the day. Shop keepers etc come out offering assistance.
Ambulance arrives, by which time rider is compos mentis enough to walk into ambulance, carted off to hospital. Discharged later in day and apart from bumps and scrapes and lost skin is ok.
Cause? Front quick release was not done up tight enough. When wheel hit road hump it twisted out of the fork, jammed against the brake, stopped instantly and ejected rider over the bars ejector seat like and he landed on the road head first. Bike is classic steel frame/fork, predating lawyers lips.
Rider was only one in group not wearing helmet, fortunately hit the flat of the road not the kerb. Accident was classic 10-12 mph, no vehicle involved event that helmets are designed for.
Be careful out there folks, and don't forget those pre ride safety checks we all know about but rarely do.....
Response of all the drivers helping or passing with care was exemplary.
I hear an insistent beep...beep...beep from behind the group. Eventually I pull over to let the impatient twot past. Nice lady informs me that guy riding near the back has "...collapsed...". Use of horn had been to attract our attention.
Ride back, to find numerous vehicles stopped and bloodied rider inthe recovery position with 2 members of public (passing drivers) tending to him, one turns out to be a local gp. Looks to have nasty head injury with copious quantities of blood. One driver has already phoned 999 and ambulance is on its way. Mini bus driver produces bumper medical kit, which gp puts to good use. Other driver is directing traffic around the incident. All passing drivers negotiate the incident with due care and no complaint. Mini bus driver produces box of choc-ices and hands them round. Lady whose house we are outside, offers to take bike in for safe keeping and drive it round to rider's house later in the day. Shop keepers etc come out offering assistance.
Ambulance arrives, by which time rider is compos mentis enough to walk into ambulance, carted off to hospital. Discharged later in day and apart from bumps and scrapes and lost skin is ok.
Cause? Front quick release was not done up tight enough. When wheel hit road hump it twisted out of the fork, jammed against the brake, stopped instantly and ejected rider over the bars ejector seat like and he landed on the road head first. Bike is classic steel frame/fork, predating lawyers lips.
Rider was only one in group not wearing helmet, fortunately hit the flat of the road not the kerb. Accident was classic 10-12 mph, no vehicle involved event that helmets are designed for.
Be careful out there folks, and don't forget those pre ride safety checks we all know about but rarely do.....
Response of all the drivers helping or passing with care was exemplary.
