When this UpRider went over the bars on a routine group ride, nobody could work out what went wrong. A seasoned cyclist, travelling on a familiar cycle path, it just didn’t add up. It wasn’t until they reviewed the Cycliq footage that the answer revealed itself. Here is his story.
UpRide turns daily rides into data that drives change.
Every UpRider has a story. Here is Gordon’s.
What happened prior to this incident and why do you record your ride?
I never thought my Cycliq would ever be used for anything more than recording close passes or roundabout near misses. But here is how it came into its own and solved a genuine puzzle.
Group ride. 28km/h. Hooker Road cycle path. Sixth wheel. No warning from the front when everything stopped, and over I went, landing heavily on my right shoulder. I was smashed up badly, taken away by ambulance, and spent five days in hospital. I am now eleven weeks into rehab.
Everyone on the ride was baffled as to how a seasoned cyclist could have gone down like that. Thanks to the video footage, we found the answer, a camouflaged log on the path, barely visible even on camera. The rider in front of me missed it by millimetres. I wasn’t so lucky. Heavy rain and flooding the day before had washed mud across the path, completely concealing the log. Nobody saw it coming.
When do you feel most vulnerable as a cyclist?
In built-up areas with roundabouts. Fortunately, the growing number of dedicated cycle paths means cars are less of a problem than they used to be.
What do you think are the most important things that can be done to improve safety for cyclists on the road?
Education at the time of obtaining a driver’s licence. Cyclists approach much faster than most drivers realise, the message needs to be simple: wait for them to pass.
Did you report your incident? What was the reporting process?
As this incident involved a hazard on a cycle path rather than a vehicle, a formal police report was not made. The footage has been shared to help other cyclists identify the same hazard.
What is your advice for other cyclists?
Head on a swivel, always. And don’t hesitate to pull up a driver who, through ignorance or arrogance, decides to strafe you. It’s fun catching them! 😁
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