Indian Pacific wheel race, one for the dot watchers
Discussion
Race was cancelled this morning following Mike's crash. Friend of mine got as far as Ringwood this morning before being told the bad news.
He's now meeting up with another rider for the sad journey home to Tasmania.
On a lighter note, despite complete exhaustion he still had enough humour to get through last night in bad weather :
From his Facebook page 31 March 10:30am - Stuart Edwards
Keeping it real....
Leaving Melbourne last night it started to rain again, not wanting to bivvy in the wet I looked for somewhere dry to sleep.
Came across Maccas in Ringwood which also has a large indoor kids play area....perfect they'll never see me in there.
About 45min after I lay down...
Macca's employee "Oi you can't sleep here"
Me.."leave me alone, I'm playing"
Macca's employee "No you have to leave"
Get back on bike ride up the 1:20, seriously dozy. Lie down in a shop doorway in the bivvy.
About a hour later an ambulance pulls up
Paramedic" We've had a report of a gentleman huddled in a blanket, are you ok"
Me..."it's f
king cold"
Paramedic "do you need assessing?"
Me " do you have a bacon sandwich and some coffee in your truck?"
Paramedic, laughing "no"
Me " well unless your gonna give me a hug I'd best crack on then"
Dot is slightly fked today...Dot moves very slowly :-(
And then at 12:30 (about an hour before the race was officially cancelled) :
I'm pulling out of the Indian Pacific Wheel Race, this morning Mike Hall the guy coming 2nd in the race (and one of the best ultra endurance riders in the world!) was killed, a few days ago another rider was seriously injured in South Australia, and 2 weeks ago Micky Ina, a super experienced randonneur, president of Audax Japan, and all round nice guy was killed while on a ride in NZ.
I had a heavy heart starting this race after Micky' s death but pushed on. I've decided I won't play with the cars any longer, my days of riding long distance on roads are over I reckon. I've cycled over 4000km since leaving Perth 13 days ago. I'm gonna ride back to Melbourne and catch the ferry back to Tassie.
I'm sitting by the side of the road in tears. Ride in Peace Mike & Micky, thinking of you both
He's now meeting up with another rider for the sad journey home to Tasmania.
On a lighter note, despite complete exhaustion he still had enough humour to get through last night in bad weather :
From his Facebook page 31 March 10:30am - Stuart Edwards
Keeping it real....
Leaving Melbourne last night it started to rain again, not wanting to bivvy in the wet I looked for somewhere dry to sleep.
Came across Maccas in Ringwood which also has a large indoor kids play area....perfect they'll never see me in there.
About 45min after I lay down...
Macca's employee "Oi you can't sleep here"
Me.."leave me alone, I'm playing"
Macca's employee "No you have to leave"
Get back on bike ride up the 1:20, seriously dozy. Lie down in a shop doorway in the bivvy.
About a hour later an ambulance pulls up
Paramedic" We've had a report of a gentleman huddled in a blanket, are you ok"
Me..."it's f
king cold"Paramedic "do you need assessing?"
Me " do you have a bacon sandwich and some coffee in your truck?"
Paramedic, laughing "no"
Me " well unless your gonna give me a hug I'd best crack on then"
Dot is slightly f
ked today...Dot moves very slowly :-(And then at 12:30 (about an hour before the race was officially cancelled) :
I'm pulling out of the Indian Pacific Wheel Race, this morning Mike Hall the guy coming 2nd in the race (and one of the best ultra endurance riders in the world!) was killed, a few days ago another rider was seriously injured in South Australia, and 2 weeks ago Micky Ina, a super experienced randonneur, president of Audax Japan, and all round nice guy was killed while on a ride in NZ.
I had a heavy heart starting this race after Micky' s death but pushed on. I've decided I won't play with the cars any longer, my days of riding long distance on roads are over I reckon. I've cycled over 4000km since leaving Perth 13 days ago. I'm gonna ride back to Melbourne and catch the ferry back to Tassie.
I'm sitting by the side of the road in tears. Ride in Peace Mike & Micky, thinking of you both
smifffymoto said:
Oh dear,not the best end too what is a brilliant race.I bet Mike was so tired he was weaving and weaved into the path of the car.
RIP Mike and my thoughts are with your family and the car driver.
Let's not start the victim blaming just yet ffs. RIP Mike and my thoughts are with your family and the car driver.
Devastating news for his friends and family.
gazza285 said:
smifffymoto said:
Oh dear,not the best end too what is a brilliant race.I bet Mike was so tired he was weaving and weaved into the path of the car.
RIP Mike and my thoughts are with your family and the car driver.
Let's not start the victim blaming just yet ffs. RIP Mike and my thoughts are with your family and the car driver.
Devastating news for his friends and family.
I've not followed this race to be honest, nor this thread.
I only saw this awful news via a Strava buddy in Australia... http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/4568507/indian-...
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cycling/endu...
Lots of comments on Aussie riders' Strava feeds, many along the lines that Mike's sad loss will be "felt around the world". And in this case I feel it may be true. So many achievements, so much determination, so many miles ridden.
His death will no doubt be most keenly felt (outside family and friends of course) by the ultra distance cycling community. But even if you aren't 'into' ultra cycling, it's hard not to admire those that take part at the extreme edge of our sport. And with our very own Gruffy involved in the TCR, it kinda brings home the risks those long distance riders are taking, often simply for the achievement, and cetainly not for glory and prize money.
It's always deeply saddening to hear of a death, there's always going to be a group of people whose lives will be directly affected by the void left in their lives by such a loss, but the loss of such a prominent member of the long distance cycling community reaches further in a case like this. It would seem that a number of competitors are now re-assessing the risks they expose themselves to in such events too.
It's sad to say it, but we have to accept an element of risk every time we get on a bike. For these ultra-riders, the odds may be similar per mile of being involved in an accident or collision, but they do so many miles that the risk seems greater to those of us who watch from afar. It's even sadder when you think that often, as a cyclist, there's absolutely nothing (aside from not riding at all) that you can realistically do to prevent some incidents.
It has certainly led me to pause for thought. I won't be hanging up my SPDs as a result of this news, but I shall certainly be re-assessing my attitude to the risks of riding on busier roads, and in the short term at least I think I shall be even more 'aware' of what's going on around me than usual. A bit more risk averse than usual, if you will.
Finally, and I realise that this may not go down terribly well with everyone, but 'at least he died doing something he loved'. I've long said that "Every man has to die of something. It might as well be something he enjoys". And even in the light of this dreadful news, I stand by it. Whether it's over-consumption of port and red meat, or ultra distance road cycling, I'd sooner a habit i enjoyed led to my demise than die doing something I despised...
RIP Mike Hall. A sad loss, especially of such a young man. And to the TCR family, long distance cyclists, and I suppose humanity everywhere - peace and long life be yours if it is your wish.
I only saw this awful news via a Strava buddy in Australia... http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/4568507/indian-...
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cycling/endu...
Lots of comments on Aussie riders' Strava feeds, many along the lines that Mike's sad loss will be "felt around the world". And in this case I feel it may be true. So many achievements, so much determination, so many miles ridden.
His death will no doubt be most keenly felt (outside family and friends of course) by the ultra distance cycling community. But even if you aren't 'into' ultra cycling, it's hard not to admire those that take part at the extreme edge of our sport. And with our very own Gruffy involved in the TCR, it kinda brings home the risks those long distance riders are taking, often simply for the achievement, and cetainly not for glory and prize money.
It's always deeply saddening to hear of a death, there's always going to be a group of people whose lives will be directly affected by the void left in their lives by such a loss, but the loss of such a prominent member of the long distance cycling community reaches further in a case like this. It would seem that a number of competitors are now re-assessing the risks they expose themselves to in such events too.
It's sad to say it, but we have to accept an element of risk every time we get on a bike. For these ultra-riders, the odds may be similar per mile of being involved in an accident or collision, but they do so many miles that the risk seems greater to those of us who watch from afar. It's even sadder when you think that often, as a cyclist, there's absolutely nothing (aside from not riding at all) that you can realistically do to prevent some incidents.
It has certainly led me to pause for thought. I won't be hanging up my SPDs as a result of this news, but I shall certainly be re-assessing my attitude to the risks of riding on busier roads, and in the short term at least I think I shall be even more 'aware' of what's going on around me than usual. A bit more risk averse than usual, if you will.
Finally, and I realise that this may not go down terribly well with everyone, but 'at least he died doing something he loved'. I've long said that "Every man has to die of something. It might as well be something he enjoys". And even in the light of this dreadful news, I stand by it. Whether it's over-consumption of port and red meat, or ultra distance road cycling, I'd sooner a habit i enjoyed led to my demise than die doing something I despised...
RIP Mike Hall. A sad loss, especially of such a young man. And to the TCR family, long distance cyclists, and I suppose humanity everywhere - peace and long life be yours if it is your wish.
Edited by yellowjack on Friday 31st March 08:12
James Hayden has set up a Just Giving page to help Mike's family.
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Mikehall
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Mikehall
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