Cycle News Thursday, September 08, 2005

006 The importance of wearing a cycle helmet

Thought the statistics were beginning to add up against me and figured I'd be in for a bike crash sometime. Hopefully by having this one I've paid my dues and wont have any others. While I was cycling down Porth hill on Thursday evening a lady in her late 70's driving a big Rover 800 turned right across the road to pull into a side lane and slammed straight into me when I was tucked into my drops going down the hill. I managed to brake for a split second but then slammed into the front of her car, went over the bonnet and into the windscreen then over the roof and onto the road below. All that time I think my bike was still attached to my bike shoes, then finally came off when I hit the road below. When the ambulance arrived I was immobilised and taken to hospital. After 4 hours of being strapped down motionless, when all the various tests, x-raying most of my body etc. was completed, I was able to go home. Miraculously I haven't broken anything (touch wood !). The Police came round to my house on Friday and told me that there were 3 Police cars, 2 ambulances and even the coastguard at the scene (I can remember lots of flashing lights). They thought they'd have to close the road (scary thought ?!).

Check out the photos below....The Lady in the car said didn't see me until I hit the windscreen, when you see where she would have been sitting, that must have been a surprise ! Luckily she didn't have a heart attack.

The important message is that I was wearing an expensive cycle helmet. It's split in 6 places and the paramedics, Dr's and police all said how amazed they are that I'm ok. I certainly wouldn't be here now if I wasn't wearing it and had it done up tight around my neck as I hit my head several times.

Well battered and bruised though.

As for my bike...well I may be able to re-use some of the old carbon bits as BBQ charcoal

Stephen Marks