The dangers of a chain gang

[Keith Oates]

I was doing my morning ride today in Manila and there were literally hundreds of bikes out on the 22Km loop. As usual several chaingangs formed at different speed levels but in one of them, which had about 30 riders, one rider accidentally 'unclipped' when going from sitting to the honking stage on a sharp climb. Others ploughed into the back and about 6 or 7 riders ended on the road. There were several cuts and bruises but one guy came down on his handlebars with his rib cage and was not a happy hector. After a while he still didn't get up so an ambulance was called and he was taken to hospital. Not nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ufkacbln]

Now if only he had been wearing a helmet bullet proof vest body armour

 

[yenrod]

Oh Keith this is my specialised subject.

I recall once saying that if you ride in a group you take and except the fact that if you do 'come down' then you accept that and no come back for anyone.

When I came a cropper!

:looking down...(you cant look up ALL the time)

:hasty, nervous vibe in group - sudden jump develops in bunch

= me down...and someone on top of me..!

That cost me £150 - I accepted that. Though, I did indirectly inform those that where responsible ~ that I can ride straight and it was my 1st group crash AND haven't crashed in 20yrs...and there was no need for the nervy riding style of them - but they still do it, soo I keep my distance, now

Interstingly, never seen any crashes on the raod whatsoever which is interesting as Ive road thousands of miles...I did witness a mate crash totally spectacularly whilst messing off-road but he walked away from it.

You've just gotta keep the space and realise that what you do WILL influence those ALL around you.

I recall racing once, on a massive circular industrial estate, and everyone seemed to close around each other - that was very scary but I relaxed and everything went ok...50 people on bikes close together is a real skill to ride amongst!

 

[Keith Oates]

You are right Yenners, riding in a chain gang takes a lot of training and experience. I also love doing them but I usually only join in the ones with people I know or stay at or near the front!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Joe24]

Having a new guy with you. Chain-ganging to the cafe today, came past everyone and got sorted out when the new guy shot past. He didnt know how the chain-gang worked and when i tried to pass him when i was behind someone he let the other person in then sped up. Then while i was sitting out he came past me on the left(ok, no problem but he didnt give a warning) and cut infron of me leaving about 1/2 an inch between my front wheel and his back wheel. He nearly took a few others off aswell.
Luckily no crash, but we kept out distance from him.
That crash sounds bad Keith, wouldnt have liked to have been the guy whos rib cage wacked his handlebars

 

[Dayvo]

Yenners!
Which one were you?

View: http://youtube.com/watch?v=l5fR-6E-xss

 

[Proto]

At training session at Reading track on Thursday, dozen riders in chain gang mode ( I was tootling around on my own up the banking out of the way, taking a breather), heard this 'crunch, arghhhh! smash' type noise. Three riders at the tail end had gone down and two didn't get up again. Ambulance, in fact two ambulances. Don't think it was life threatening but I suspect there were some broken bones. Oh so easily done.

 

[yenrod]

Yenners!
Which one were you?

View: http://youtube.com/watch?v=l5fR-6E-xss

I was the bloke with another on top of me -

But I cant recall there being lots of people around, barriers and stuff..