Chiltern 100 serious crash today

[anonymous-user]

En route outside Frieth/Marlow a rider collided head on with a Land Rover. He was airlifted to hospital.

TBH its the first bad crash I have seen. It made me feel a bit sick TBH seeing a bike in three pieces and a windscreen caved in. We were told that three riders had been hacking down this single track lane, it is a fairly quick descent and they were riding in a line. The Landy had pulled over and was stationary at the point of impact. I cant comment or judge them but please be careful and remember not to take the piss if you cant see the road ahead guys. Horrible.

[PGM]

Sounds nasty.

Having done a few big rides recently it's easy to see how it can happen.

Hope its not as serious as it sounds and the person recovers OK.

[MadDad]

Chilterns are my local haunt, rode 65 miles solo around them yesterday and can confirm that the single track roads are lethal at the moment.

The main issue is the amount of debris that has been washed off the banks onto the road, in places the mud from the banks has completely covered the Tarmac from one side to the other. The top of most of the descents are generally quite clear, it's not until you are carrying quite a bit of speed things become quite sketchy - if you do hit a section of mud for god sake don't grab for the brakes - get through it and then temper your speed.

Hope the unfortunate rider who crashed is ok, but if you are planning on riding the Chilterns don't be fooled by the top sections of the descents, the bottom end and corners are nasty at the moment.

[anonymous-user]

MadDad said:

Chilterns are my local haunt, rode 65 miles solo around them yesterday and can confirm that the single track roads are lethal at the moment.

The main issue is the amount of debris that has been washed off the banks onto the road, in places the mud from the banks has completely covered the Tarmac from one side to the other. The top of most of the descents are generally quite clear, it's not until you are carrying quite a bit of speed things become quite sketchy - if you do hit a section of mud for god sake don't grab for the brakes - get through it and then temper your speed.

Hope the unfortunate rider who crashed is ok, but if you are planning on riding the Chilterns don't be fooled by the top sections of the descents, the bottom end and corners are nasty at the moment.

The route was st. Roads flooded almost to the BB, three of us punctured and our bikes looked like CX kit.

[MadDad]

Saturday was not great either, took me a good couple of hours to clean my bike yesterday and pick the flint out of my tyres!

The lanes around the Chilterns are a great place to get the adrenalin pumping, very fast, very twisty but there are very few places to bail and scrub speed. I regularly hit 40+ mph on the descents in the lanes, and have always been aware of the potential consequences – but I went to bed last night thinking about your post, and made a bit of a policy decision to temper my speed on some of the narrower lanes. Thinking about it, I have been very lucky so far…..

The only close shave I have had was towards the end of last summer with a gaggle of ramblers who were taking up the entire road. I rounded a bend and they were no more than 50 or 60 yds in front, I was probably in the early 40’s, getting faster, and holding the left hand tyre track (with a lot of dust and debris in the middle of the road). There was no way of scrubbing the speed so I simply screamed at them – thankfully there were only about 6 or 7 and they all made it out of the way in time……..don’t want to think about what would have happened otherwise.

Any news on the poor bugger who crashed?

[anonymous-user]

I haven't seen anything on the website but will keep an eye out.

[oyster]

MadDad said:

The only close shave I have had was towards the end of last summer with a gaggle of ramblers who were taking up the entire road. I rounded a bend and they were no more than 50 or 60 yds in front, I was probably in the early 40’s, getting faster, and holding the left hand tyre track (with a lot of dust and debris in the middle of the road). There was no way of scrubbing the speed so I simply screamed at them – thankfully there were only about 6 or 7 and they all made it out of the way in time……..don’t want to think about what would have happened otherwise.

I note that you said you're going to temper things a bit, but nonetheless if you did the above in a car you'd rightly get banned if you were caught.

[daz3210]

oyster said:

MadDad said:

The only close shave I have had was towards the end of last summer with a gaggle of ramblers who were taking up the entire road. I rounded a bend and they were no more than 50 or 60 yds in front, I was probably in the early 40’s, getting faster, and holding the left hand tyre track (with a lot of dust and debris in the middle of the road). There was no way of scrubbing the speed so I simply screamed at them – thankfully there were only about 6 or 7 and they all made it out of the way in time……..don’t want to think about what would have happened otherwise.

I note that you said you're going to temper things a bit, but nonetheless if you did the above in a car you'd rightly get banned if you were caught.

And also do yourself far less damage in the process.

BUt to some degree it is also the ramblers responsibility to not stand in the middle of the road.

[KrazyIvan]

daz3210 said:

And also do yourself far less damage in the process.

BUt to some degree it is also the ramblers responsibility to not stand in the middle of the road.

They have as much right to the road as the Cyclist, so lets not start going down that road.

[MadDad]

oyster said:

MadDad said:

The only close shave I have had was towards the end of last summer with a gaggle of ramblers who were taking up the entire road. I rounded a bend and they were no more than 50 or 60 yds in front, I was probably in the early 40’s, getting faster, and holding the left hand tyre track (with a lot of dust and debris in the middle of the road). There was no way of scrubbing the speed so I simply screamed at them – thankfully there were only about 6 or 7 and they all made it out of the way in time……..don’t want to think about what would have happened otherwise.

I note that you said you're going to temper things a bit, but nonetheless if you did the above in a car you'd rightly get banned if you were caught.

Pardon my ignorance but what is illegal about doing 42/43mph in a national speed limit zone, rounding a bend and warning people walking the entire breadth of the road of my imminent arrival? I don't see what difference the above situation would have regardless of the mode of transport or method of warning, bet it via a bell, horn, or scream of 'Passing left'............

For the record I have no axe to grind with ramblers, horse riders, or any of the other common 'hate' figures with whom we share the roads (although I make an exception for cabs), but if I were to be critical of the group of ramblers they were 5 or 6 abreast across the road blocking the lane, situation would probably have been the same at 20/25mph!

Anyhow, kinda misses the point a bit - I was not talking about breaking the law, my reference was to the risks that are an inherent part of our chosen sport. My reference to 'tempering' or 'moderating' was about reducing my risk of an accident in what are quite exhilarating descents, but as the rider on Sunday found out to his peril they are also dangerous descents with a lot of hidden hazards.

[crisisjez]

Had my first nasty moment this afternoon, 30+mph at the top of a pretty steep descent down a lane and the back tyre go's off like a pistol shot. Needless to say it was a little hairy coming to a stop. Will be taking the tyre in to the LBS for their expert opinion as to why it went as its only done about 600 easy miles and really looks like new. If they can't shed any light on the cause its going to have an effect on my downhill speed from now on cos that just wasn't nice.

[SirBlade]

oyster said:

MadDad said:

The only close shave I have had was towards the end of last summer with a gaggle of ramblers who were taking up the entire road. I rounded a bend and they were no more than 50 or 60 yds in front, I was probably in the early 40’s, getting faster, and holding the left hand tyre track (with a lot of dust and debris in the middle of the road). There was no way of scrubbing the speed so I simply screamed at them – thankfully there were only about 6 or 7 and they all made it out of the way in time……..don’t want to think about what would have happened otherwise.

I note that you said you're going to temper things a bit, but nonetheless if you did the above in a car you'd rightly get banned if you were caught.

If you did that on a motorcycle you'd be banned and considered a complete a-hole.
If you did that on a bike, you'd just be considered an a$$ hat on wheels.

And to the lads who crashed into a stationary vehicle, what happens if that were a family out walking? not just the muppet on the bike going to hospitable, probably a child going to a morgue.

[anonymous-user]

SirBlade said:

If you did that on a motorcycle you'd be banned and considered a complete a-hole.
If you did that on a bike, you'd just be considered an a$$ hat on wheels.

And to the lads who crashed into a stationary vehicle, what happens if that were a family out walking? not just the muppet on the bike going to hospitable, probably a child going to a morgue.

The point of the thread is to awaken people to the risks nothing more. Can we stop joining the dots and trying to attack this guy who has been nothing but honest about his riding. So many people ready to judge others. How do you know it was lads, how do you know the rider is not dead as we speak? Perhaps we can stay on the subject and stop trying to score points over others?

[MadDad]

SirBlade said:

oyster said:

MadDad said:

The only close shave I have had was towards the end of last summer with a gaggle of ramblers who were taking up the entire road. I rounded a bend and they were no more than 50 or 60 yds in front, I was probably in the early 40’s, getting faster, and holding the left hand tyre track (with a lot of dust and debris in the middle of the road). There was no way of scrubbing the speed so I simply screamed at them – thankfully there were only about 6 or 7 and they all made it out of the way in time……..don’t want to think about what would have happened otherwise.

I note that you said you're going to temper things a bit, but nonetheless if you did the above in a car you'd rightly get banned if you were caught.

If you did that on a motorcycle you'd be banned and considered a complete a-hole.
If you did that on a bike, you'd just be considered an a$$ hat on wheels.

And to the lads who crashed into a stationary vehicle, what happens if that were a family out walking? not just the muppet on the bike going to hospitable, probably a child going to a morgue.

Thank you for you considered, well rounded, well thought out contribution - and your fact based reasoning.............

Still struggling to understand what is illegal about descending a hill within the speed limit and coming across a herd of people taking up all of the road who clearly had no consideration for road users.

Given the numerous bridleways and footpaths that criss-cross that part of the Chilterns there is an argument that says there are plenty of significantly safer alternative routes walkers could take, and that by deciding to use narrow, national speed limit roads they are actually putting themselves at a considered risk.

If you were a parent who decided to walk your kids up one of the hills I am referring to, I think there is a very strong argument to say you are neglecting your duty of care to your children! There is no way on earth I would walk my family along one of these lanes.

Back to the point. We all take risks regardless of our chosen mode of transport, some of us consider the consequences - others don't, mostly they get away with it by the grace of God, or Allah, or ManU or whoever else they worship.

My personal point was; I take considered risks in that area, I know the roads well - the dual lane roads I ride as fast as my legs will allow, for the single track lanes I still ride fast and in a couple of years of riding have only ever had one close shave that probably made the ramblers think a little about taking the entire road up in the future. Having read the original post made me think about tempering my downhill speed further, especially given the state of the roads at the moment - not because I break the law, or am an a@@ hat (must try to remember that one), because I have reassessed the risk factor based on some poor unfortunate person who set out to take part in a sporting event and misread the risk profile.

Edited by MadDad on Monday 25th June 23:29

[MadDad]

@ Yonex - wish I had read your profile strap line before contributing, might have made me think twice!

[Bacon Is Proof]

Always be able to stop in the distance that you can see is, and can reasonably expect to remain, clear.

Car or bike, makes no odds. Legality is irrelevant.

[davepoth]

MadDad said:

Pardon my ignorance but what is illegal about doing 42/43mph in a national speed limit zone, rounding a bend and warning people walking the entire breadth of the road of my imminent arrival? I don't see what difference the above situation would have regardless of the mode of transport or method of warning, bet it via a bell, horn, or scream of 'Passing left'............

First rule of country lanes is ensure you can stop in the distance you can see. I can't remember the last time I hit 60 on a country lane in a car, because there's always the chance of a tractor, cow, rambler, mud on the road, fallen tree and so forth. As has been said by other posters you shouldn't have been going that fast if you couldn't see the road ahead. It's a limit, not a target.

[daz3210]

KrazyIvan said:

They have as much right to the road as the Cyclist, so lets not start going down that road.

I'm not saying they don't have a right to use the road, but there are rules to the road, none of which say use it several abreast.

[Bacon Is Proof]

daz3210 said:

I'm not saying they don't have a right to use the road, but there are rules to the road, none of which say use it several abreast.

That's because rules generally only state what not to do.
Rule 53 says: horses; no more than two abreast.
Rule 66 says: cyclists; no more than two abreast.
No rule says: pedestrians; no more than several abreast.

[BOR]

MadDad said:

Still struggling to understand what is illegal about descending a hill within the speed limit and coming across a herd of people taking up all of the road who clearly had no consideration for road users.

Your attitude comes across as pretty strange, in my opinion. If you can't stop in time you are going too fast. This time it might have been ramblers wombling about as they do, next time, what's stopping it from being two cyclists who are on the ground because of a collision, or a stopped tractor cutting a hedge?

You are coming across as pretty stupid here.