Cyclists bite the dust

[Beemer]

Be interesting to know if they were actually riding two abreast or if, like many cyclists, they were taking up the whole lane with little or no regard for other road users.

On Stuff this morning:

Four of New Zealand's future cycling stars have been bowled off their bikes on a training ride.


Ryan Wills, 18, was the worst injured, and he is in Waikato Hospital with three broken vertebrae, a suspected broken foot and cuts and bruises on his face and body.

Wills, of Cambridge, rode for New Zealand in the junior world road cycling champs in Belgium this year and was in training for the national champs in Otago next month.

With him were fellow New Zealand cycling reps Brad Carter and Shem Rodger, along with another cyclist, James Morris.

The group was riding on Bailey Rd at Parawera, 13km southeast of Te Awamutu, when they were hit by a utility vehicle about 5.30pm on Thursday.

They were hit from behind and thought the driver may have been temporarily blinded by the setting sun, although police are investigating. Wills said he couldn't remember a thing about being hit.

"I just remember riding and then the next minute I was hopping in the (air ambulance) helicopter," he said. "Apparently I was knocked out for 15 minutes. I don't remember the helicopter ride . . . or coming here (to hospital)."

His mother, Maree, credited his helmet for saving his life. "You're bloody lucky," she told him in Waikato Hospital yesterday. "If you weren't wearing that you would be dead."

In an eerily similar incident, Australian road cyclist Amy Gillett was killed after a car ploughed into her and five teammates during a training ride in Germany last year.

Carter, of Te Awamutu, suffered superficial head and facial injuries and was expected to be discharged from hospital last night.

The cyclists were riding two abreast when they were hit. "Brad was in front on the outside and Ryan was following him. Ryan took the full force of the 100km/h impact," Carter's father, Murray, said.

The other two riders were uninjured.

Wills, Carter and Rodger all rode for New Zealand at the world junior road champs in Belgium this year.

[WINJA]

You Might Remember Me Saying Earlier This Year About Dangerous Waikato Cyclist Is An Accident Waiting To Happen , Fucken Arrogant Cunts

[marty]

the only arrogant cunts around here are winja and beemer.

brad and and ryan are good mates of my son, are really nice guys, and it pains me to hear they have been injured.

[McJim]

You Might Remember Me Saying Earlier This Year About Dangerous Waikato Cyclist Is An Accident Waiting To Happen , Fucken Arrogant Cunts

But not as arrogant as you and Beemer!

Glad to see you guys getting behind the nation's sportsmen.

[bell]

Two sides to any coin eh folks? Taking up the whole lane is asking for trouble from the huge amount of drivers that don't give cyclists enough space when passing....BUT....being assertive about giving yourself room on the road is what a cyclist needs to do. I'm sure lots of us do it on our motorcycles too. It's called riding defensively. You put as much distance between yourself and what is a danger to you. Riding two abreast is fuckwitted anyway, but car drivers who deliberately drive close to cyclists who are riding two (or more) abreast are driving dangerously. I believe there's a law regarding that in this country?

[The Pastor]

Cyclists are two slow for the road. Its alright on the open road where theres not much traffic, but round town they are a big pain.

[WINJA]

But not as arrogant as you and Beemer!

Glad to see you guys getting behind the nation's sportsmen.

I DONT GIVE A FUCK ABOUT NZ SPORTS

[McJim]

I DONT GIVE A FUCK ABOUT NZ SPORTS

Hahahahaha - made you bite!

Just waiting for Beemer to charge back in so I can have a go about things like objectivity, subjectivity and where they fit in with the concept of journalistic integrity.

[u4ea]

.....well call me an arrogant c#@*t too..........those cyclists dont think about the traffic when theyre riding in groups........perhaps if they paid registration for their pushbikes then maybe we will accept that they can ride outside the white line and be part of the traffic flow I DONT THINK SO ........sorry to hear they got hurt but why not take it to the domes instead of expecting the masses to swerve around them!!!!!!!!!!!

[bell]

"Domes"??? Sorry, pls explain. You refer to cyclists in groups and drivers needing to swerve around them....where does that leave the cyclist who just wants to ride to work or the shops or to school and have cars/trucks/buses give them a bit of space so they don't end up like the guys in the story above?

[yungatart]

Cyclists are just as entitled to their share of road as any other road user. Give them some room, have some consideration and try and be a decent human being - I know it is hard for some to do that.
How many of us started out on pushbikes? How many of our kids ride/ rode pushies to school? It is no wonder, with some of the attitudes displayed on here, that parents now won't let their kids ride to school as they see it as too dangerous.
Cycling is great - environmentally friendly, keeps people fit and active, and a cheap way of tackling this country's rising obesity rates.

[bell]

Fair points made there yugatart. The attitudes displayed here are fairly indicative of "mainstream NZ" I think. I see a lot of incredibly unsafe, poor and unskilful driving on the roads in NZ. I see it from the points of view of a cyclist, car driver and motorcyclist. I cringe to think that one day I will get the phone call to hear that my wife has been hit by a cage while on her pushbike, but with the amount of dangerous and inconsiderate drivers out there the odds only increase every time you put your wheels on the road.

[u4ea]

my piont was to the cyclists who do this type of riding for sport....hell i am partial to pushbikes myself but theres no freakn way ill ride out in the road side (outside of the inner white line)or 3-4 abreast like these turkeys do!!!!!

[bell]

Yeah, agree totally. Turkeys is what they'll be after they've done a stint in the spinal unit and spend the rest of their days not forgiving the arsehole that hit them from behind because (a) they "didn't see them" or (b) "they were taking up the whole fuckin' road and I thought I'd show em who belongs on the road......aaahhhh, give up, it's a rant of mine. I think the washing machine has stopped. Domestic bliss on a Saturday morning.

[Sketchy_Racer]

cycling on the road. Great!!!


Cycling in a two or more abreast. You better be ready to be hit.


I still ride my pushbike. But there is no way in hell I go two abreast when traffic is coming.

Over piecock hill, I dont move for them now. Every weekend i ride over there when i can (not now cause its closed) and i meet a bunch of tossas on there bikes that just wont move out off the way even when giving a nice little toot. they motion for me to go around them. No thanks. I pay to use the road, you dont so fuken move.

. They had there chance. Move or get hit.