Hate to get all maudlin, but saw the worst of sights yesterday on my cycle to work. Was happily freewheeling down the Otley Road into Headingley, then just past Woodies there it was – some poor guy over the bonnet of a VW Polo, sheet over him, ambulance staff not doing much of anything, pedestrians pale and crying.
It was his cleats that got me – shiny new red Look cleats on his shoes, the only part of his body which was visible from under the sheet. He must have started out that morning, fussing over how new and awkward they felt on his pedals, maybe worrying he’d aligned them wrong and they were screwing up his knees. Then it all changed.
Easy to see what had happened. He must have been bombing down the bus lane, and a car coming the other way had turned right; neither had seen each other due to the heavy stationary traffic.
It doesn’t half hit you hard seeing something like that. I felt naked and exposed after it, and looked at other cyclists on the road like we belonged to some sort of fraternity.
Anyway, be careful out there roadies. Slow down for those blind junctions, and assume everyone else on the road is an idiot.
Lots of nice comments, then this:
Just to say hello and i was they guy on the bonnet of this crash, i am ok, not dead, it was just a suspected back break hence the blanket and non movement - bikes bugged, but i am fine now.
Then this a bit further down from someone else:
Must be weird reading on the internet that you're dead. Pity about the bike.
I found it quite extraordinary - but the tone of the forum seemed to be that it's pretty standard stuff to come back from the dead! Have a look yourself, if you like, at Bike Radar
