Winnatts Pass death
Discussion
There is wild speculation and conjecture on other forums
The only certainty is that a tragic accident happened and a cyclist is dead
I would personally be interested in knowing what happened purely as this is a section of road I regularly ride up and down and I am naturally wondering if this could have happened to me or my riding pals
One thread mentioned "failed brakes" although this could be absolutely anything
RIP
numtumfutunch said:
There is wild speculation and conjecture on other forums
The only certainty is that a tragic accident happened and a cyclist is dead
I would personally be interested in knowing what happened purely as this is a section of road I regularly ride up and down and I am naturally wondering if this could have happened to me or my riding pals
One thread mentioned "failed brakes" although this could be absolutely anything
RIP
I would suggest "Brakes failed to function correctly".The only certainty is that a tragic accident happened and a cyclist is dead
I would personally be interested in knowing what happened purely as this is a section of road I regularly ride up and down and I am naturally wondering if this could have happened to me or my riding pals
One thread mentioned "failed brakes" although this could be absolutely anything
RIP
If so, some thing that definitely needs looking into.
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/death-on-w...
Very sad news, she was 22, gulp. It seems another young woman was also killed in a head on collision the same day in the same area.
I've often wondered what I would do if my brakes failed on a steep descent, usually when I'm going down Ditchling Beacon as brake failure there would mean washing wide into oncoming traffic. Unclipping then trying to aim where you throw yourself might be the best bet but it usually happens so fast there's no time for rational thought.
Even when they're working perfectly, cable operated rim brakes and road tyres will never provide an emergency stop on a descent like that. I love descending but you are at the mercy of so many things, brake cables being just one.
Very sad news, she was 22, gulp. It seems another young woman was also killed in a head on collision the same day in the same area.
I've often wondered what I would do if my brakes failed on a steep descent, usually when I'm going down Ditchling Beacon as brake failure there would mean washing wide into oncoming traffic. Unclipping then trying to aim where you throw yourself might be the best bet but it usually happens so fast there's no time for rational thought.
Even when they're working perfectly, cable operated rim brakes and road tyres will never provide an emergency stop on a descent like that. I love descending but you are at the mercy of so many things, brake cables being just one.
Total brake failure front and rear seems unlikely. Winnatts is pretty steep in places, and the surface can be pretty ropey too. For an inexperienced decsender it would be pretty easy to get into trouble. Many of the Lakes passes are the same, and the limited run off area before an unforgiving dry stone wall breaks your fall compounds the issues when it goes wrong.
Birdthom said:
No time for speculation IMO
I never understand posts like this. There is a whole world out there where you can not discuss issues. Feel free to stay in it like the majority of people. One assumes, by virtue of the fact that you've clicked on at least one link to be here, that you have an interest in the subject at hand. It is human nature, and a nature that is exagerated by the advent of the internet, to speculate. If you don't want to be involved then no one is asking you to read the thread, nor to contribute. It's terrible that a young girl has died. Discussion on the internet may be totally fatuous, but ultimately it is harmless, and reading it may contribute to someone taking less risk, or dealing with a situation they find themsleves in differently in the future that saves them from a similar accident.
I had an accident several years ago where (on my road bike) my bars came loose on the stem with the effect being that they rotated forward. Unfortunatey this rotation happened as I was descending on the hill, I had no way of braking and as my weight was too far warward I couldn't move my hands back and on to brakes.
Result?
I had to crash on purpose, thankfully apart from quite a few grazes my injuries weren't too bad and looking back it's the crash that makes me wince the most.
On a positive note I used it as an excuse to buy a new bike the following year.
RIP the poor lass.
Result?
I had to crash on purpose, thankfully apart from quite a few grazes my injuries weren't too bad and looking back it's the crash that makes me wince the most.
On a positive note I used it as an excuse to buy a new bike the following year.
RIP the poor lass.
Paranoidairgbag will likely be along soon, either to tell us this never happened, or to suggest that, on this day, just around the corner on Mam Tor, no less than 57 mountain bikers rode of a cliff to their respective demises; http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Rocksteadyeddie said:
I never understand posts like this. There is a whole world out there where you can not discuss issues. Feel free to stay in it like the majority of people. One assumes, by virtue of the fact that you've clicked on at least one link to be here, that you have an interest in the subject at hand. It is human nature, and a nature that is exagerated by the advent of the internet, to speculate. If you don't want to be involved then no one is asking you to read the thread, nor to contribute.
It's terrible that a young girl has died. Discussion on the internet may be totally fatuous, but ultimately it is harmless, and reading it may contribute to someone taking less risk, or dealing with a situation they find themsleves in differently in the future that saves them from a similar accident.
I just think it's poor taste. Anything typed here is online for years and I'm sure the victim's friends and family wouldn't want to see forums full of speculation. None of us know the facts, so it's pointless to speculate. Just mindless gossip which does no good.It's terrible that a young girl has died. Discussion on the internet may be totally fatuous, but ultimately it is harmless, and reading it may contribute to someone taking less risk, or dealing with a situation they find themsleves in differently in the future that saves them from a similar accident.
Birdthom said:
Rocksteadyeddie said:
I never understand posts like this. There is a whole world out there where you can not discuss issues. Feel free to stay in it like the majority of people. One assumes, by virtue of the fact that you've clicked on at least one link to be here, that you have an interest in the subject at hand. It is human nature, and a nature that is exagerated by the advent of the internet, to speculate. If you don't want to be involved then no one is asking you to read the thread, nor to contribute.
It's terrible that a young girl has died. Discussion on the internet may be totally fatuous, but ultimately it is harmless, and reading it may contribute to someone taking less risk, or dealing with a situation they find themsleves in differently in the future that saves them from a similar accident.
I just think it's poor taste. Anything typed here is online for years and I'm sure the victim's friends and family wouldn't want to see forums full of speculation. None of us know the facts, so it's pointless to speculate. Just mindless gossip which does no good.It's terrible that a young girl has died. Discussion on the internet may be totally fatuous, but ultimately it is harmless, and reading it may contribute to someone taking less risk, or dealing with a situation they find themsleves in differently in the future that saves them from a similar accident.
I have to strongly disagree with you.
Road use is a constant processes of learning. My bike licence goes back fifty one years and my car licence goes back fifty years and I'm still learning. There are many accidents that seem to be inexplicable when you view the scene and discussing them with others, whether witnesses or not, often brings out something you hadn't thought about, thus making you aware of a hazard you hadn't previously perceived and making you a safer driver from that moment on.
The question of victims' families viewing online discussions is pretty remote. If my 22 year old daughter had been killed, the last thing on my mind would be sitting at the computer to see what people are saying.
Road use is a constant processes of learning. My bike licence goes back fifty one years and my car licence goes back fifty years and I'm still learning. There are many accidents that seem to be inexplicable when you view the scene and discussing them with others, whether witnesses or not, often brings out something you hadn't thought about, thus making you aware of a hazard you hadn't previously perceived and making you a safer driver from that moment on.
The question of victims' families viewing online discussions is pretty remote. If my 22 year old daughter had been killed, the last thing on my mind would be sitting at the computer to see what people are saying.
Birdthom said:
mybrainhurts said:
Read the bold bit again.
I don't buy that at all, unless what is being written is based on facts which in this case aren't yet available.Anyway, I've said my piece and it wouldn't be right for me to harp on any further, so I will step away.
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