Comments on: Weeeeee!!! Oops…. Ouch. The Ravensdale Road Race.

By: Pastry Powered T(o)uring Machines » Blog Archive » Dropped in 10 minutes

Wed, 20 May 2009 08:12:38 +0000

[...] the race, I’m 45 / 63. Wow, that’s a third after me? Turns out there was a wicked crash at the descent on the 4th lap. Ben Collins, a pro TT (but Cat-4 racer), was moving up on the left to the front of the pack, and [...]

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 12 May 2009 22:23:18 +0000

I think we’ve heard enough on this. There are a couple more comments in moderation, but I’d rather stop the name calling and malicious content. Thank you all for your comments, especially Big Dirty, next up is a blog about drinking stinky cheese water to regulate your colon. Try fighting over that!!

By: Ramie Clagg

Ramie Clagg — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:49:39 +0000

Wow, I just thought Id get in on this action. sounds like an exciting race at least exciting aftermath. Anyway anyone can talk poo bout it being someones fault. Heck it could of been a lil kids toy car that rolled out into the street and caused a 20 bike pile up and some riders would still get bent out of shape and scold that lil boy and scar him for life because it made them feel better.

Bottom line.. Someone is always gona be blamed.
I’m with ya Ben… keep on, keep’n on.
and Don’t worry bout it…past is past.

By: Big DiRtY

Big DiRtY — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:54:41 +0000

Ok, Ok….
We all know that crashes happen. It sucks, but even the Pros go down…actually quite often. Ben was racing bikes, as we all were, and anyone else that day could’ve caused a crash as well…it was a 4’s race for eff’s sake.
Lets just say I think I got the worst of it and after a couple days of healing, I, as well as everyone else, need to understand that that’s bike racin’.
Coulda been worse. I could be in the hospital and some guy that is an asshole could have been ungracious and said that it was someone else’s fault. But that’s not the case. I’ll heal. I’ll rob a liquor store for the cash for a new whip. And Ben was anything but an asshole about the whole affair.

go about your biznass, everyone. Isn’t there a race you should all be getting ready for?

By: del

del — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:23:55 +0000

“If he’s in front of you - it’s your job to respond to his line no matter what he does.”

No matter what he does?! Not true and scary ignorant. See USAC rules 1O6, 1O7, 3B10, etc. I don’t know anything about the crash you all are discussing, but you can’t interfere with another rider’s line even if you are in front.

By: am

am — Tue, 12 May 2009 06:14:47 +0000

“All I know is that if I had not been passing him at that moment, The Cucina guy would not have clipped my bars and about 15 guys would not have hit the pavement. I would like to believe I was holding my line and that my fault was simply in not communicating my presence as I was passing, but either way I feel really bad about the whole thing.”

You were overtaking the rider who’s bars clipped you. If he’s in front of you - it’s your job to respond to his line no matter what he does. Seems like this one is on you. I know of at least 4 full-carbon bikes being replaced.

By: William

William — Tue, 12 May 2009 06:08:17 +0000

Ben,
Considering probably only zero-3 riders actually know exactly what happened in the crash (no Versus or Universal Sports to show the replay) and accidents happen in a bike race, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt on fault. Actually, even if it was your fault, plenty of bike racers who can’t swim or run cause crashes, so let’s forget about fault altogether.
Problem is, bike racers are so strangely self important, euro-cool and neo-pro, that of course it was the triathlete’s fault. If only you couldn’t swim well or run fast you might actually be a good bike handler. Of course, all your training, group rides and races don’t contribute to your bike handling because you race triathlons and aren’t on a cool bike racing team.
Now I am on a cool bike racing team and have raced plenty of triathlons and bike races. No way the Cat 5 crew, in general, are all better bike handlers than recreational triathletes.
Just a bunch of BS because you wear a sleeveless jersey and spend a lot of time on a TT bike (or if only ITU races, with snubby areo bars on your road bike). Keep racing, kick some a$$, and that is all you have to say. Just remember, any crash you’re in will always be the triathletes fault…

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:12:14 +0000

I think to upgrade I have to race with the intention of winning, rather than just trying to prep my legs for a triathlon. I probably also have to demonstrate some safety skills to about 15 new found skeptics

By: Brandon

Brandon — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:11:39 +0000

I think perhaps I should have incorporated lots of smiley faces into my post so it was obvious I was joking . After reading Craig’s overly friendly post I want to make sure that I am not accidentaly lumped in with him . In fact after reading Craig’s post I feel saddened by all the hatred in the world and will probably go paint pictures of rainbows and kittens to cheer myself up . Finger painting most likely .

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:07:06 +0000

“you have to qualify to race Cat 4 with some experience or winning some Cat 5 bike races” - Thanks for the info! You can also sign up for a 4 hour class at Cycle U and upgrade without ever racing. I did the winning one for my upgrade.

“not sure the point of your blog” - Maybe I’ll write a mission statement.