COLUMBUS CYCLING CLUB

(Promoting Cycling in the Chattahoochee Valley)

www.columbuscyclingclub.org

 

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EBULLETIN (An ‘Almost’ Weekly Cycling Newsletter)

February 17, 2005

Issue # 48

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BICYCLING SAFETY - THOUGHTS TO PONDER

By Mike Winkler

 

Recently, on the Riverwalk, the unthinkable happened.  A friend that is new to cycling was riding with my wife and me when she suddenly went down…HARD.  She fell directly into the path of another rider that was traveling in the opposite direction.  The other rider had no time for evasive maneuvers and struck her head.

 

We can’t figure out exactly why the accident happened and the reasons really don’t matter.  In a split second, a normal afternoon ride turned into a serious emergency.  We handled the situation and hopefully, after a few weeks of recovery, our friend will be back out there again to turn the pedals.  The incident did hammer a few thoughts into my head, though:

 

1. Always, ALWAYS wear a helmet.  Luckily, I made sure that our friend was wearing one.  The Styrofoam liner is broken, cracked, and crushed in several places.  Even with it, she suffered a severe cut to her head that required six stitches.  Considering the amount of force absorbed by the helmet, I don’t even want to contemplate the outcome of the accident had she not been wearing it.  Remember that we were only traveling at seven or eight miles per hour when she fell.

 

2. Even though EMS can supposedly pinpoint your location by the pole numbers on the Riverwalk, make sure that you are aware of the closest landmarks at all times.  When I called 911, I gave the pole number that was right next to us.  I then had to spend several valuable minutes explaining to the operator where we were.  I had to stop and think about the closest landmarks, even though I feel like I’ve ridden the route enough to do it blindfolded. 

 

3. As you are riding, always be prepared for the unexpected.  We often treat the Riverwalk as our personal race course.  Pedestrians, animals, and other riders create unpredictable situations. We often assume that people are going to behave in the same manner as we would.  This thinking needs to be restructured to assume the opposite. As you are riding, you need to constantly play the “What If” game.  What if that child up ahead darts out in front of me at the last second?  What if there is a downed biker in my lane just as I go around this blind curve?  What if a family group is spread all the way across the path as I top this hill?  What if that group of riders coming toward me doesn’t switch to single file and move over into their lane?  Always be prepared to get on the brakes and have an evasion route in your head.  99 percent of the time, you won’t actually need the preparation.  Unfortunately, you don’t know when that remaining 1 percent is going to happen.

 

4. Prepare for an emergency.  Motorcyclists have a saying:  There are only two kinds of bikes; those that have been laid down and those that are going to be.  The same thing can be said of our bicycles.  No matter how well prepared or how skilled you are, at some point and time, an accident will happen.  A cell phone and some basic knowledge of first aid can be indispensable when the situation arises.  I’ll have to throw a comment in here about how proud I am of my wife, Amy.  She jumped right into the middle of the situation and provided the first aid as I called 911.  She was able to slow down a badly bleeding head wound using a glove as a compression pad.  She also systematically helped to assess the injuries so that I could pass the information on to the 911 operator.

 

As enjoyable and healthy as our sport is, we have to remember that it also has the potential to be dangerous.  A little bit of preparation, planning, and awareness go a long way toward making the sport safer for you as well as for others that are sharing your route.

 

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CLUB CONTACTS AND INFORMATION

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MEMBERSHIP - Membership forms can be found at any of your local bike shops:  Arnold Bicycles, Mike's Bikes, or Ride On Bike Shop or on the website. Please complete the membership form and waiver, attach your check and mail everything to the address on the bottom of the form. If you have any questions about membership or renewal, please contact us directly Annette Santiago (asantiago@tsys.com) or Barry Carswell (706/644-1783) Be sure to send an email note telling us you have mailed your form or dropped it at the bike shop, so that we can be get you added to the e-bulletin distribution list right away, and be on the look out for your membership.

 

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SUBMISSIONS

 

If you have anything you would like to submit to the CCC e-bulletin, contact Barry Carswell at 644-1783 (daytime) or email at bcarswel@tsys.com or contact Annette Santiago at 649-5122 (daytime) or email at asantiago@tsys.com