[RBW] Tom Milton of Selle Anatomica

[Joe Bartoe]

Hi Everyone,

Some of you may already know this, but Tom Milton died this weekend while riding a double century in Northern California:

http://www.velocipedesalon.com/forum/showthread.php?14779-My-Deepest-Appreciation-to-Vlad-and-Watoni

I thought some of you may have known Tom or had interactions with him so I thought I'd pass on this sad bit of news.

Best,

Joe

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[CycloFiend]

The California Triple Crown blog has created an entry for folks to share
stories and reminisces -
http://caltriplecrown.blogspot.com/2010/04/tom-milton-you-will-be-missed.htm

or

http://tinyurl.com/tom-milton

--
Jim Edgar
Cyclo...@earthlink.net

[Me]

It's a troubling thing, and I am troubled by it.

Reading the account of the fella who rode a good part of the double
century with Tom, I am left thinking a few things:

1. I should try one of his saddles [if for no other reason, than
tribute and homage].
2. People should know CPR.
3. People say strange things when under extreme stress [but that's
understandable and thusly, forgivable].
4. That those that didn't stop and/or were concerned with their
finishing times: what has gone so incredibly wrong with humanity that
the idea of "Schedule" and "Deadline" in the day to day of the
workplace has infected 'weekend activities' to the point where a
fallen cyclist, a few other cyclists bent over him, a helicopter
sitting nearby, various policemen and a couple nurses wouldn't -at
minimum- pique the other double century riders to stop?

That's the one biggie that's really left me troubled. I can see
stopping and being told to "move on" by the police, but it seems most
didn't even do that... and no, it wouldn't have saved Tom it seems,
but jeez, is a finishing card, a personal 'best' time, a jersey, an
anything- really worth not being concerned or even just plain
downright curious?

Kinda Bugged, Really Sad-

-Scott

On Apr 25, 7:29 pm, happyriding <happyrid...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Here's a detailed account of the events:
>
> http://bikeridestories.blogspot.com/

[rcnute]

The fellow who made that remark explained it in a comment to the blog
entry. Don't lose your faith in humanity just yet.

Ryan

[Me]

I know, I read that too... which is why I said it was understandable &
forgivable.

But the riders riding by part, that's a rough one for me.

-Scott

[James Valiensi]

Hi,
It is sad that Tom died. Maybe he was doing what he loved best when he pasted.
If I was dying on the side of the road, I'm not sure I'd want everyone stopping by to watch.

James Valiensi, PE
Northridge, CA
H818.775.1847 M.818.585.1796

[Anne Paulson]

On Tue, Apr 27, 2010 at 12:28 PM, Me <clot...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I know, I read that too... which is why I said it was understandable &
> forgivable.
>
> But the riders riding by part, that's a rough one for me.
>

We know that one cyclist, who had just been doing CPR for ten minutes,
made an awkward comment that he later apologized for. But do we know
that anyone rode past who could have made any difference, or who
should have stopped? This was on an uphill, so the riders weren't
going fast and had time to assess the situation. Should they have
stopped, or did they correctly think that one more cyclist would just
be a rubbernecker in the way? I don't see bad behavior here, only a
sad story.


--
-- Anne Paulson

My hovercraft is full of eels

[Seth Vidal]

On Tue, Apr 27, 2010 at 3:36 PM, Anne Paulson <anne.p...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tue, Apr 27, 2010 at 12:28 PM, Me <clot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I know, I read that too... which is why I said it was understandable &
>> forgivable.
>>
>> But the riders riding by part, that's a rough one for me.
>>
>
> We know that one cyclist, who had just been doing CPR for ten minutes,
> made an awkward comment that he later apologized for. But do we know
> that anyone rode past who could have made any difference, or who
> should have stopped? This was on an uphill, so the riders weren't
> going fast and had time to assess the situation. Should they have
> stopped, or did they correctly think that one more cyclist would just
> be a rubbernecker in the way? I don't see bad behavior here, only a
> sad story.
>

+1 for the rubberneckers, if there is help being given and I cannot
add anything I tend to stay out of the way.

-sv

[Sean Whelan]

Scott- It probably seems more bleak in your mind than it did on the road. When there is an accident or emergency on a ride, and the police or other folks have arrived, no riders are encouraged to stop. A bunch of people standing around can only make the situation worse. I was on a century where someone was hit by a car and they made it very clear that we were to keep going. They certainly didn't have sag wagons enough to ferry everyone to the end. I don't think there is anyone in the randonneur crowd who would not help to stop a cyclist in trouble. (Even people who were trying to ride to a schedule.) But.. once people had stopped and were helping, no one else short of a medical professional could have helped. I am sad to hear of his loss. Sean --- On Tue, 4/27/10, Me <clot...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Bill Connell]

On Tue, Apr 27, 2010 at 2:36 PM, Anne Paulson <anne.p...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tue, Apr 27, 2010 at 12:28 PM, Me <clot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I know, I read that too... which is why I said it was understandable &
>> forgivable.
>>
>> But the riders riding by part, that's a rough one for me.
>>
>
> We know that one cyclist, who had just been doing CPR for ten minutes,
> made an awkward comment that he later apologized for. But do we know
> that anyone rode past who could have made any difference, or who
> should have stopped? This was on an uphill, so the riders weren't
> going fast and had time to assess the situation. Should they have
> stopped, or did they correctly think that one more cyclist would just
> be a rubbernecker in the way? I don't see bad behavior here, only a
> sad story.

I had a similar situation last week when 2 cars collided just after i
exited an intersection (not due to me, i certainly hope), rolling one
of them onto its side. I was not a witness (it happened behind me),
and there were at least a dozen people who did see it happen, and at
least 2 others were calling 911 before i even had my phone out. While
i wanted to do what i could to help, I don't have any special medical
skills beyond pretty old CPR training, and my kids would be getting
off the bus any minute. It's hard to leave when someone needs
assistance, but i felt i would be more a help by clearing out and
meeting my kids at home.

It's a good reminder to get back up to speed on my CPR skills though,
it's important to know.

--
Bill Connell
St. Paul, MN

[Shaun Meehan]

I was on an organized charity ride where a rider went down in front of
us right out of the gate, on a fairly short but steep climb. Our
initial reaction was to stop and try to help, so we stopped
immediately. However some ride officials that arrived on the scene at
the same time we did, just as immediately told us to keep moving. This
incident was in a relatively populated and accessible area, but even
so, we found out later that the guy didn't make it. He'd had a massive
heart attack. So it's possible that Tom may not have made it even if
professional help were able to get to him sooner. Very sad indeed.

Shaun Meehan

[Eric Norris]

This is an interesting thread.  I have appalled in the past to see riders on long-distance events (double centuries, not brevets) continue on without even slowing down or offering to help.  

A few years ago, I was riding in the same event that Tom Milton died on.  A group of us were riding on a long, gentle upgrade early in the day when wheels touched and a rider went down ... hard.  I stopped and rendered aid, helping bandage a badly cut arm with a bandana.  The only other person to stop was involved in the two-rider crash; all of the other riders continued on, apparently more concerned with their overall time than with making sure everyone was OK.

--Eric

Sent from my iPad

[Steve Palincsar]

On Tue, 2010-04-27 at 12:38 -0700, Sean Whelan wrote:
>
>
> I don't think there is anyone in the randonneur crowd who would not
> help to stop a cyclist in trouble. (Even people who were trying to
> ride to a schedule.) But.. once people had stopped and were helping,
> no one else short of a medical professional could have helped.
>

And often they can't help either.

[Steve Palincsar]

On Tue, 2010-04-27 at 16:09 -0500, Shaun Meehan wrote:
> I was on an organized charity ride where a rider went down in front of
> us right out of the gate, on a fairly short but steep climb. Our
> initial reaction was to stop and try to help, so we stopped
> immediately. However some ride officials that arrived on the scene at
> the same time we did, just as immediately told us to keep moving. This
> incident was in a relatively populated and accessible area, but even
> so, we found out later that the guy didn't make it. He'd had a massive
> heart attack. So it's possible that Tom may not have made it even if
> professional help were able to get to him sooner.

Some years ago I was on a club ride where I was riding along with an ER
nurse and her friend. We stopped at a corner to oil her chain (the
squeaking every time she shifted was driving me nuts) and in the minute
or two we were stopped this guy passed us. We continued down the road,
up a series of moderately steep rollers and at the top of the last rise
saw the guy down on the road, laying on top of his bike.

He couldn't have been down more than 2 minutes before she was giving him
CPR. I called 911 and walked up to the to of the last rise to stop
traffic, and as I got there a woman who lived in the housing area at the
top of the hill came out and asked what was going on. She called her
brother in law, who was visiting. He was an ER doc and had his full kit
with him. By around 4 min after we saw him, the ER doc was working on
him. Another 2 min later the EMTs arrived and took over.

We learned he'd had a heart attack, and according to the ER doc it was
not surprising: first nice day of spring, and right after that series of
tough rollers, the toughest hills in the area. Happens all the time on
a day like that, he said.

We learned later he didn't make it.

[CycloFiend]

on 4/27/10 12:36 PM, Anne Paulson at anne.p...@gmail.com wrote:

> On Tue, Apr 27, 2010 at 12:28 PM, Me <clot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I know, I read that too... which is why I said it was understandable &
>> forgivable.
>>
>> But the riders riding by part, that's a rough one for me.
>>
>
> We know that one cyclist, who had just been doing CPR for ten minutes,
> made an awkward comment that he later apologized for. But do we know
> that anyone rode past who could have made any difference, or who
> should have stopped? This was on an uphill, so the riders weren't
> going fast and had time to assess the situation. Should they have
> stopped, or did they correctly think that one more cyclist would just
> be a rubbernecker in the way? I don't see bad behavior here, only a
> sad story.

I've been first, 2nd and 3rd on scene, plus somewhere in the pack on scene
to many accidents, bike, ped and car related over the years. I think there's
appropriate involvement at each stage, but unless I can offer direct help, I
clear out. Sometimes I can tell that without stopping. But, unless I knew
the person, I'd tend to move on to stay out of the way.

If it was unclear, I've asked if help was needed or if there was anything I
could do (go back and slow traffic, call for help, relieve/carry on for a
tiring person), but if the professionals are on the scene, I like to let 'em
do their jobs.

- J


--
Jim Edgar
Cyclo...@earthlink.net

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it."
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[MichaelH]

Steve, your experience is not unusual. For the past 13 years I have
been a chaplain at a major medical center and have witnessed many,
many crises situations. Unlike what you might see on TV the success
rate for CPR is very low. Outside of a hospital, the survival rate,
long term, is about 2%. Inside a hospital it rises to about 17%, but
in the long term about 4% return to their previous lifestyle. Our
grief can lead us to feel people have acted callously, and sometimes
this may be true. But unless you have some professional training your
chances of changing the outcome are very low. Of course that doesn't
stop us from grieving. I own a pair of Toms's saddles, and had the
opportunity to chat with him on the phone. We are left with a sense
of helplessness, that we cannot change. I feel stunned. My prayers go
out to his family and friends.

Michael

[Roadmaster]

Michael

Your contact with Tom is similar to mine. I called him about bent
rails on one of my saddles. After about a 45 min delightful
conversation, he said just send the saddle back and he would replace
it. I made a mental note at the time that this is a guy I would like
to meet and possibly ride with. His death hit me hard. We are about
the same age and although it sounds like he was a much stronger rider
than I am, I keep pushing myself to go faster and climb higher. This
is the danger of the older rider, but it is hard to back off

Bruce