A few Cycling shots from this morning

[Mad Aussie]

I thought I might share a few shots (and a story) I took this morning while on a bike ride.
My wife and I met up with a mate (Paul) and we headed off along quiet roads and mostly bike paths to clock up a few easy k's. Tomorrow is our mid-week hard work out.

These were all taken with my old Sony Cybershot and while I was riding so excuse any 'Casilized' horizons

My wife Leanne ...


A view over my bars, past my cycling GPS and road LED light


Paul on one of the many boardwalks we cross through the wetlands here


Paul again descending behind me


Paul and Leanne on a busy section of the path


I'd have taken more but we had an accident.
Paul ran into my back wheel and 'touched pavement' as we say when someone hits the deck.
It was one of those things I guess ... I was leading, and at last look Paul and Leanne were back 20 metres from me so I didn't know they'd suddenly accelerated and jumped right onto my wheel. As I'm the strongest, this is quite normal. They save up to 30% of their energy by tucking in behind me.
I saw a truck coming down a side street on a collision course with us and couldn't see the driver. His face was hidden by his large side mirrors (large truck this one ... Tractor Trailer Units you call them over there perhaps) so as far as I could tell, he hadn't seen us and the steady motion of the truck seemed to suggest that. As we got closer (only a sec passing) he leaned forward but was looking in the other direction, further confirming my suspicion he'd looked our way already and not seen us.
I stopped pedaling (no braking) to give him just another moment to look my way and see our flashing lights (even though it was broad daylight now as you can see by the photos) ... and bang ... Paul runs up the back of my bike and I hear the sickening sounds of bike and rider hitting the bitumen. The truck driver stopped now and looked

We needed help getting Paul off the road and a passing motorist gave us that help. The truck had driven off of course.
Shock, pain and adrenaline were directing his focus on me, demanding why I stopped. I didn't stop of course, only eased up a little but from his point of view I caused the accident, and I guess I did.

The more I thought about it, the more I know it was the right thing to do. My choices were to keep going and 'hope' that a 20 ton truck was going to stop and not accelerate out of the side street and run right over us, or, try to ease up and maybe have a chance of stopping ourselves should he not stop.

After a few minutes Paul managed to climb back on his bike. He had a very sore elbow and hip and leg. Riding was the best thing he could do in this case so the leg didn't stiffen up.
He obviously didn't want me around for time being so I rode ahead a little and left him cruise along behind with Leanne. As his leg started to feel better, he became his old self again and was rationalizing what happen with more clarity.
I only had to push him up a couple of climbs on the way back as his leg got better. His elbow was still very sore even when got back to his place though.
Hopefully nothing broken or fractured. I don't think so. No swelling evident anywhere.

So ... what a ramble huh? That was my morning ... so far

[Bambi]

nice pictures, but I don't know how you manage to do while you pedal!

Sorry about the accident. it must have been scary. And hard when you do the right thing but it goes wrong anyway (just not as wrong as it could have gone).

[casil403]

I think you did the right thing MA...you went with your gut which IMO is always the right thing to do. Imagine if you had not...you might all be in the hospital or heaven forbid even worse.
When I am out riding on the road (or walking even) I ALWAYS look to see if the driver is looking my way or has acknowledged my presence before making a move....you just never know and it is just so much better to be safe than sorry.

Looks like fun up until the moment....How did you manage to take suchshots while riding?
I wonder, in the future could you guys have some kind of signal (voice call) that someone is on your back wheel just in case or maybe the person in front could give some kind of warning they are slowing down?
Paul sounds like his frustration was in the moment more than anyting...I hope he is okay and I'm glad nothing more serious happened..

[kat]

I really like that last shot. Sometimes our greatest intentions end up not ending the way we wanted. I'm glad to hear your friend is fine..it could of been a lot worse.

You know..I managed to run into a person..coming right at me on our bikes. I wouldn't be the best on a bike ride with you guys.

[Mad Aussie]

Taking the shots wasn't too hard ... I've done it before. It's such a small compact camera that it's easily held in the hand. The hard part is composition ... that's hit and miss as I guess whether I have it angled to include ... well anything at all really

Usually we are well aware when others are wheel sucking (drafting) but in this case all those elements came together at the wrong moment. I could easily blame Paul for drafting on a section of road that can present these kinds of dangers. He saw the truck before I eased up, and so did Leanne. She eased up before I did, Paul didn't. Leanne narrowly missed Paul he hit the road, she didn't need to be in a 2nd accident so soon after the other one a few weeks back.

Yeh Paul was frustrated, sacred (that he'd hurt himself badly), in pain, adrenaline forcing a reaction from him. I understand all that of course ... been on the road myself and been doing this off and on for about 30 years now.

[Michaelaw]

Cool shots MA and I can understand the accident as I ran in to my friends bike years back for almost the same reason with the exception that he just applied the brakes and I had no place I could go fast enough..Two buckled wheels was the final call on that one with nothing injured but pride Hope nobody had their headphones on

[Mad Aussie]

No headphones involved at all in this one M

[Richard]

Hey Mad sorry to hear about the accident, I'm liking shot 2.

[Mad Aussie]

Thanks Richard.

Accidents happen. A few weeks back Leanne fell off and separated her AC joint ... thankfully a minor seperation.

Glad you like the shot. Practicing for taking more for a road group I ride with on Saturday mornings. I just built them a nice new website to help them be a bit more interactive. They are a lot of old guys so I'm not sure how many will get involved but we'll see.

[MoinMoin]

What a morning story, MA! But I really guess, you didn't do anything wrong (as your friend see at least too, right?!).

When I am out riding on the road (or walking even) I ALWAYS look to see if the driver is looking my way or has acknowledged my presence before making a move

-
That's the same for me!

But sure, pain is making everyone grumpy ;-). The photos are very good shots, especially the first one!