Tragic Events

As has been typical of my Summer, I didn't go riding this weekend. I was, however, up in the mountains with my children camping out. We were actually up in American Fork Canyon--significant on this day because both the Tour of Utah and the 1000 Warriors (successor to the 300 Warriors even I rode in last year: here, here and here) were to come through the canyon later in the day.

Actually, the 1000 Warriors (amateurs, of course), were to come through pretty early on in the day. I took the time to warn all those at the campsite with me that they'd be encountering lots and lots of cyclists on their way down that morning and that they ought to yield to the cyclists because they were racing and the cars couldn't possibly keep up with the cyclists' pace.

It turns out that my warnings were almost prophetic.

As I turned on to the road to leave with my three oldest children squished together in the back seat, a cyclist quickly caught up to me. Of course, being a cyclist myself, I found a place to pull off and allow the rider to go past. I tried to keep up with him, but he quickly dropped me.

This continued as we drove down the canyon until I reached some stopped cars in the road and saw someone waving us to stop. My worst fears were realized.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=7636047

After waiting in the car as cyclists coming down queued up around the area and cars stacked up behind me, they managed to get the cyclists off to a hospital and we were on our way.

Then, as we drove past the scene, I saw this:

Photo Courtesy of Dept. of Public Safety and pulled from the Gallery: http://www.ksl.com/?sid=7636047&nid=460&pid=5

For sure, that is a fast canyon to descend, but the force that was required to damage an SUV like that is shocking. My oldest child--knowing that I was in the same ride/race last year--told me she didn't want me doing it again.

As cyclists, we tend to ignore some of the dangers out there. (Otherwise, how could we ever get up the nerve to fly down a mountain pass wearing what essentially amounts to nothing--lycra doesn't count as protection.) I saw cyclists crossing over the centerline when there wasn't much visibility due to the corners up ahead. I saw cyclists following closely behind cars (which makes for great drafting, for sure).

People, we aren't pros. We can't take these kind of risks where cars are involved. The cars we're around aren't being driven by ex-cyclists used to driving through a race. These people (in the cars) don't know how to handle bikes swarming around them.

I wouldn't be surprised if the race were canceled next year, but I think the better move would be if UDOT stepped up to the plate and allowed us to close the road.

Oh, and 1 final note. There were no signs posted anywhere so no one knew there would so many cyclists coming through the canyon that morning.

Have fun out there, but please be safe.