Saturday

[Victoria Tate]

Dear Pedal Heads,

I sent a message to the people that are registered for the MS Ride earlier in the week because we had some ride specific business to discuss.  Not everyone registered for the ride is on the Google Group and not everyone on the Google Group is registered for the ride.  So.... I have to e-mail both to reach everyone. 

This Saturday is the start of our 7:00 rides.  As the mileage increases, we want to get an earlier start.  I know this weekend it is going to be unseasonably cold but, we have 42 miles to complete and we are going to want to beat the traffic.  Here is the link to our route: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/200584044

There are options for those who don't want to go quite so far or aren't up for the hills. We can discuss that the morning of the ride.  If you don't know the area, you can download the route to your cell phone in case you get lost.  We try hard not to loose anyone but things happen.  

We will be able to practice some pace line skills while on Woodward.  I am sending the link that has a video playlist of pace line skills we will work on.  Video  Please watch the videos!

Dress in layers.  It won't be too bad.  If it is raining, the ride will be cancelled or the start may be postponed.  Check your e-mail in the morning if the weather is iffy!

Crossing my fingers and hoping it will be dry!

Your Loving Captain,

Vicky

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[Jorge Moré]

Hi,

While doing this ride yesterday, I had an accident.

I was the last in the pace line and crossed the tire of the rider in front.

I knew that this was a definite no-no, but it happened.  I went down.

I have been trying to reconstruct how I went down, but have no idea.

I remember the thud as the helmet hit the ground, and my teeth grinding against each other.

I was quickly helped by other club members and told to lay on the grass.

Deb Wesley took over and issued instructions.

She is a nurse so I was grateful for her being there.

Amazingly the injuries were only to my lip and my chin. 

There was slight tenderness in my right hand.

There was some blood but slight.

My bike looks ok, although I will know more after I take it in.

A good samaritan stopped by and she took me home.

I will be thanking her profusely later.

I have been thinking of the physics of the fall and why my injuries are so slight.

We were going about 22 mph when I went down, so it could have been very bad.

I was wearing an outer wind-proof shell over the jersey and a long sleeve shell underneath.

The outer shell had a (0.5 in diameter) hole on the right sleeve, a (1 in diameter) hole

near the upper left shoulder, and a few small  rips in the font of the shell.

There were no other rips or holes in my shorts or gloves.

I do not want to minimize my injuries.

I did follow Deb's instructions and used ice on the lip and chip for several hours.

I placed my right hand in a bucket with water and ice.

Today the lip is slightly swollen; I can eat and drink without problems.

The chin is still swollen somewhat but not bad. My wife says that it looks fine.

The "road rash" on the chin is minor; about a 0.5 in diameter circle.

I have no pain.

I am grateful to the Pedal Heads in the ride for their concern and help.

Deb gets max credit for her nursing.

Vicky, as usual, directed traffic.

I would be grateful if she could add words of wisdom from her perspective.

Gratefully,

Jorge

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[Lonster56]

Jorge,

I'm so very sorry to hear that you had a crash, Jorge, but so glad nothing too serious came from it. You were in the hands of some very compassionate people.  

I hope to see you back on the road soon. 

Loni 

Sent from my iPad

[Craig McKenzie]

Jorge, I am really glad to hear that there are no serious issues, glad you are feeling better. I have seen my share of crashes, I did not see this one, but will offer some insights. When riding in a group always control your front wheel, touch your front against someone's rear, you will go down, unless you have practiced doing this. Never overlap the front, when drafting it is not necessary to be right on the wheel, 1-2 feet is fine, if not comfortable, 3-4 feet. Always look ahead so you can adjust based on what is up front not just the rider ahead of you.

Take care and heal up quick, see you on the road soon!

Craig

[Victoria Tate]

Jorge and Cyclists,

If we had to have a crash, this was a best case scenario.  Jorge was in Cycle Camp and we watched this video in class.  He may not have remembered the part about not crossing the wheel, but perhaps the brain kicked in instinctively and reminded him to tuck and roll.  I was not as fortunate when I was just starting out and had a similar crash.  As much as I want to blame my crash on the guy in front who missed a turn and slammed on the brakes, the crash was my fault because I took my eyes off of what was happening in front of me and crossed a wheel.  I was out for 6 weeks with a broken collar bone.  Please take a few minutes and watch the video.  What we do can be dangerous but if we educate ourselves, we can minimize that danger.  

Another topic we should think about regarding safety is the part fatigue can play into a crash scenario.  I was the top of my class at the School of Hard Knocks.  I know what I am talking about.  Years ago I learned a tough lesson while skiing; "bad things happen on the last run of the day".  When you are tired, your brain will be slow to react.  Don't be afraid to hold back and ride home with the Intelligencia.  We named them that for a reason!  

I am so thankful for Deb who administered first aid and assessed Jorge for a head injury.  I have a thank you note in the mail to our Good Samaritan, Victoria.  I am glad to have our first and only crash of the season out of the way.  Let us play safe and have fun!

From the Heart,

Vicky

[Jorge Moré]

Vicky,

I watched that video at least twice.

I was aware of the no overlapping, but it happened.

As I remember, the paceline had pulled ahead a bit, I increased my cadence, I caught up, and then …

I looked down, saw the tires overlapping, said [expletive deleted], and then KAPOW.

It was all my fault, this I want to make clear.

The bike had minor damage (amazing) and I will be back in the saddle.

Jorge

On May 6, 2013, at 5:17 PM, Jan Waichunas <jch...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

Vicky,

I finally watched the video - Very Good. Thanks.

Jan

[Victoria Tate]

Don't beat yourself up too much Jorge.  It was an accident and accidents happen.  You are a lucky guy.  Very happy your bike is okay and suffered only minor damage.  Be sure to buy a new helmet!  

Vicky

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[Bolton, Gary]

I watched the video but don’t tell my wife J

 

Jorge,  I had a close call on a ride on Sunday.  To be perfectly honest,  I have no idea how I didn’t fall.  It all happens so fast it is almost impossible to remember everything.  Your instincts served you well.  You are commended on minimizing your injuries.

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[David Tate]

I have limited experience in the art of group riding. I could be wrong, and please tell me if I am, but it seems as though pace lines completely fall apart on steep uphill and downhill sections of a ride. When watching the pros, they even break up the pace lines on the steeper downhill sections of their rides. Again, this is just something I've noticed over the years.

[Scott Collis]

Dave,

It really depends on the group, the skill of the riders, how even the mass and strength distribution is, and frankly, on the grade of the descent..

Also the degree of head and cross wind.

Leading up to the Sub 5 last year we did a pace line ride to Batavia and on the way back we had a phenomenal line going.. Yes the descent down to the underpass we broke up but smaller grades we held it together and even did a good job timing lights..

The key is very very very smooth actions, especially when you get out front.. one of the key skills is to actually use your body to brake.. try, insofar as possible not to use the calipers but edge out of the slipstream of the guy in front and sit up to use drag to slow you down..

and keep the difference between the fast and the slow lines minimal, as the guy in front of you peels off and you feel the wind bite bring up the power to  keep the speed and smoothly move across and then drop the effort only slightly.. worst thing is going from hammering to coasting..

and good thing is with a strong group the effort of fighting the wind moderates the whole thing MUCH nicer.. when you are moving at 30MPH on the flat you are hanging on for dear life when you are up front and the guy moving over is a blessed relief, and you barely have enough time to recover before you are up there again.. a hammer line like that is very Darwinian, you hang on till you can not.. 

I am only a novice at this so anyone else feel free to jump in!

[Larry Grubart]

Good stuff Scott. Rotating lines are tough and it takes practice. Couple of points that are crucial. 1) if your in the fast line maintain your fast pace DON'T

Accelerate. 2) as soon as you pull off drop your speed a bit either by dropping your cadence or dropping a gear and keeping your cadence the same. 3) try as best as you can to not

Let big gaps occur. Drafting- less work.

Hills up/down are really tough. Maybe Paul has some ideas on this. Last year Paul had the stronger hill riders stay on the front and maintain a certain pace.Then resume the rotating line after the hill.

IMO the last time out the Pedalheads 

Did a great job. As the group gets more comfortable riding with one another we will get better. You guys are doing much better then i ever did.

Larry

Sent from my iPhone

[Jan Waichunas]

Vicky,

I finally watched the video - Very Good. Thanks.

Jan

From: Victoria Tate <vicky....@gmail.com>
To: Craig McKenzie <cmcke...@comcast.net>
Cc: Lonster56 <lons...@aol.com>; Jorge Moré <mo...@mcs.anl.gov>; Pedalheads <pedal...@googlegroups.com>; DGBC google groups <downers-grove...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, May 6, 2013 8:45 AM
Subject: Re: Saturday accident