When I got into riding my boy came over to my house, threw me a pair of shorts and a jersey and we were off. It was my first big ride around the city. That day we covered about 65miles from Hollywood to Redondo Beach and back. Being a weekend we saw lots of cyclists out and about, riding in groups, riding with friends... everyone enjoying the joy of riding their bicycle. On the ride my boy went through some cycling etiquette... how to point out potential hazards to those behind you, calling out dangers up ahead, basically teaching me how to communicate and watch out for my fellow rider when out on the road.
In the beginning I did not really see the value in this, but as I rode with more and more people I noticed all riders call out to some degree.... and actually it helps you avoid shitty things like glass in the street. I was always taken back by the overall respect that a cyclist would give one another on the road. Every time you pass someone pulled off on the side of the road, you ask them if they need help. I have stopped in the past to offer a tube to a rider with a flat, and have even been on the receiving end. In fact, one day on a dangerous mountain road, ANGELES CREST, I saw a guy get a flat and start walking down the side of the road. I was in my car, but I pulled over, loaded up his bike and drove him back home... because I knew how whack it is to be stuck in that position.
So why am I ranting about cycling etiquette, respect, and the nurturing I have found in my years in the sport? Well, I do it so that you can have perspective on an incident that changed the way I view cycling forever. Something I do not plan to let go easily.
But before I jump into that, let me first and foremost thank everyone, friend and stranger, who in time of need has come to my side and helped me. It is because of these people I am still able to climb on a bike and feel safe.
Cue the Saturday ride...
For those of you unfamiliar, my Saturday ride is also known as the MONTROSE RIDE. It starts at Descanso Gardens and heads out for a loop that ultimately ends in Sierra Madre. Its popularity is hard to match, I have seen this group swell to 150 plus pretty often. I have always been impressed by this ride and love the experience afforded to me by getting to ride along side professional riders like Tyler Hamilton, Iban Dominguez, Rashan Bahati and many more. I have done this ride innumerable times over that past two years. Although I do not ride with a crew or in a team kit, and brag about my latest VO2 max test... I have always thoroughly enjoyed participating as pack fill. On many a day when the legs feel good, I even go up to the front to really push myself.
The front of this group is not a place for the inexperienced... you are expected to understand peloton rules and etiquette. Know how to take a pull and then pull off. I have been in this position several times at this ride and at several sanctioned races, so for me it is pretty natural to be driving the front when the legs allow. The first 10 miles of this ride is just an absolute blast... those who have done it know how fun it really is. Swooping turns, small rollers and tree covered backstreets define this route.
So what happened???
Well, as we came off the climb out of the Rosebowl on to Arroyo the peloton, as usual, was stretched out and we were forming a nice paceline up at the front. I had taken one pull at the front already and I was out there again. As I finished my pull at the front I gave the customary elbow flick to my left and slowly pulled to the right to make room for the group coming through.
It was right at that moment that some asshole fancied himself Daniele Bennati in a TDF stage sprint and came up on my right side, in the gutter of the side walk. The gap was not even wide enough for a bike to pass and there was a large guard rail, blocking against going over the cliff side. Well as he came around he smashed right into the drive side of my bike and started leaning into me... as he came around he snagged my handle bars at about 35mph, and that sent me clear into the guard rail. I flipped up and over the front of the bike but luckily forward movement and a bush kept me from flying off the side. I hit the ground hard...
similar to my crash at the MBGP last year. Pain shooting through my whole body, I was laying on the ground only to see the entire group fly by.
MBGP Last Year
HOLD ON DID YOU GET THAT?
The entire group flew right by me... They all saw me go down in a pretty horrific crash and NOT A SINGLE DAMN PERSON STOPPED TO SEE IF I WAS INJURED. What kind of piece of shit people are on this ride. I MEAN FOR REAL, NOT ONE PERSON? Are you going to win the race at the end? Do you get bragging rights for the shit climbs that come later on? Do you want to be the first to get to the red light at Trader Joes? I gotta keep my heart rate in zone 4, I can't stop. All I have to say is that on this Saturday, everyone made me sick to my stomach. For those of you that somehow missed that crash, I guess I can buy that... although I only give one person that credit.
I could have easily broken a bone or smashed in my skull and no one even looked back or stopped for just a quick second to see if I was OK. Oh and I have a news flash... the group isn't that fast, you want a work out you can always just ride back on.
I ended up getting back on my feet and hopped back on the bike and rode with one arm for a bit, mostly because I wasn't sure if had broken something or sprained the hell out of my shoulder. I rode through the discomfort and met up with another rider that had shown up late to this part of the ride... we decided to chase and get back on to the group. I was determined not to let one idiot ruin my Saturday ride. If it hadn't been for my new buddy Eric I wouldn't have kept going, but riding with him was motivating and got my mind off the fact that my entire left side was killing me. It took a while but we finally got back on to the ride at the perfect time, and finished off the final climbs with the front of the group.
When we reached the top of the climbs in Sierra Madre, I believe a REMAX Bicycle John's rider came up to me and said, "looks like you came out of your spill alright." Now I know what your thinking... this is where the fight broke out... sadly no. If I was just a couple years younger this guy would have eaten my chain ring. Instead I just mustered out, "good thing nothing happen to the bike." These people made me so sick that I couldn't even bring myself to really lay in to him. I think he saw the disgust in my face.
I used to feel really safe riding in the Montrose ride... but I guess since I don't know enough people nobody gives a crap if I would have smashed my face into the curb or flown over the guard rail. I know this is a big rant but this single moment has redefined the way I look at the sport... I have never ridden or done any high risk activity with such selfish people. The fact that you can watch someone get hurt and just look the other way is just gross. It doesn't even bug me that the guy that took me down didn't stop, but rather the fact that NOT ONE PERSON could give up there training ride for a couple mins and see if a fellow rider was injured or needed medical attention.
To the guy that took me down:
1. Learn to Ride
2. KARMA
I will stop here... I think my point is clear.
"When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking." - Arthur Conan Doyle
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