MS-150 Cyclist Killed

[like2bike]

This weekend will be forever remembered not just because we again rode the MS-150, but a fellow cyclist lost his life in the ride.

http://www.meadvilletribune.com/story.asp?id=3820

We witnessed the paramedics doing chest compressions on Francis "Drew" Andrews, just 36 years old. He was not responding. We stood and watched, hoping, praying, that he would start breathing. That they would get a pulse. We were told to continue on. With heavy hearts and tears in our eyes, we forced ourselves to continue riding. Hoping, praying, that he was going to make it. Thoughts of him never left us that day. We found out late Saturday night that he lost the battle. It was devastating.

The roads were wet from the rain the night before. We were only 2 hours into the tour when this tragedy happened. The descent he was tackling was wet , slick and steep and there have been accidents there during other tours of previous years. None as serious as this one, but it was still a known area for accidents.

I post this as a gentle reminder that this can happen to any of us, at any time.

And today with this in mind, I ask you to embrace your loved ones. Tell them that you love them. Let them know you care about them. You never know if today could be your last day.

Lori

[Mia]

Thanks for the website Lori. Your are right. One can never tell. I ride the MS 150 every year and have seen accidents and have even rode in rain (which I refuse to do anymore) and have never heard of something so tragic. I have experienced too many people that have been struck by vehicles and have been killed or severely injured. My girlfriends husband was struck by a vehicle and suffered a major head injury being in the hospital with a coma for two weeks. By only a miracle he is doing well and riding again. Sometimes I think I'll just stay inside and keep Spinning.
Mia

[like2bike]

Mia,
Thanks for the reply. It's nice to hear from a fellow MS-150 Rider. Which one do you do?

Yes, this was so very tragic. It really hit home to see a fellow cyclist lying in the road, near death, fighting for his life. It could have been any one of us.

I am happy to hear your girlfriend's husband has recovered from a very frightening occurrence in his life. I'm glad that he is back on the bike. That's the best thing to do.

Celebrate Life Today. Tomorrow. All Day Every Day.

Or, as they said in Spinal Tap, Have a good time ALL the time.

Indeed.

Lori

[Bike4ale]

Lori,

I thought of you, as I just heard about this tragedy yesterday. I knew to come here for the story...sorry I've been away too, too long.

My wife and I did the MS-150 here in Central PA for the 8th year a few weeks ago. I've seen some bad accidents but nothing like that. I guess we have to look at how many lives have been saved in 20 years riding for Multiple Sclerosis.

My thoughts and prayers go out to anyone involved.

[AC]

Why on Earth were they continuing a non-competitive ride in inclement weather on a dangerous road?

[like2bike]

The weather was actually sunny. It was just that the night before it had rained, and this particular grade is aligned with huge trees which didn't allow any sunshine to hit the road and dry it out, so the road was still wet.

The rider's (Drew) helmet cracked upon impact with the road. Share that with anyone who refuses to wear a helmet. Be they a cyclist or a motorcyclist.

[JFK]

I'm as pro-helmet as they come, but I don't think the fact that he was wearing a helmet and died anyway is going to convince the skeptics. It's when your "lid" cracks and you walk away with your intellectual capacities intact that the story is most compelling.

Bike riding has unavoidable risks, but it beats spending your life on the couch!

[AC]

I'm as pro-helmet, pro-seat belt, and anti-smoking (along with being for Motherhood and against sin) as the next person, but I always sense a climate of false bravado whenever I read about people thinking that getting killed is might be "unavoidable". If the motorists are reckless on the roads you travel, if the road is unsafe due to elements, and if the descent is beyond your own skill level, get off the bike and walk until it's safe. You don't have to go right from there to the sofa. Make up the workout time indoors or make better choices in deciding your venues. It's not inevitable that you have an accident and it's not cowardice to want to make it home to the sofa. It's smart and responsible.

And don't compare yourself to some pro cyclist who gets killed in the French Alps. You're supposed to show up for work on Monday...it's not your job.

[JFK]

AC, I didn't say getting killed on the road was "unavoidable" (I sure hope that's not the case), just that cycling, like exercising, has risks. IMO, it's all about the risk/benefit ratio. I don't ride in crappy weather for exactly that reason. OTOH, if some nut is out on the road, it's going to be hard for me to know this in advance (like, say, the truck driver with the suspended license who hit a friend of mine. Friend is okay, btw). That's a risk I'm willing to take. However, I try to minimize my risks by riding intelligently, using a helmet, lights, reflectors, etc.

What I was trying to get at (and I think you know this) is that there's risk in getting up off the couch, just like there's risk in staying there. And you forgot about apple pie. If you're not for apple pie I have no respect for you. :wink:

[AC]

There's always going to be nuts on the road, you just find road with fewer nuts (easier said than done...I know). The real thing to qualify is, are you the nut for going into risky conditions, or is it just some random act of chance? It's very sad that on a charitable event that there was this kind of accident. Having ridden in several MS events in NJ, the one thing I recall was how well they mapped out the courses and how nice and quiet the roads were and how many volunteers they had along the way.

[JFK]

Agreed. The only ride I know that goes off in truly lousy conditions is the Mt. Washington hill climb. Then again, there aren't any cars on the road, and the mountain is known for its unbelievably bad weather. I think they only cancel for electrical activity, having ridden it in pouring rain, winds of >60mph and sideways, frozen precipitation. We're T - 10...wonder what the mountain will dish up this year? (Hey, I know, for a change - nice weather!)

[Pax]

Jennifer - Mt. Washington is a great climb isn't it? Just think...some people are proud of the fact that they climb it in their car!
Meg :lol:

[JFK]

Great? Um, yeah, after I'm done. :wink: It does define steep and relentless, so yes, in that way it's great. I always laugh at the car bumper stickers. Heck, if your car can't climb Mt. W. you should consider a different car. If your bike can't climb it, well, you can re-work the engine I guess (even then, you have to induce the sickness that makes you want to do it).

[RaffCycles]

I ride in an area that seem like the "game of the week" is scored by how many cyclists are run off the road. You just never know. You'll never catch me out on the road without a helmet.