RIP Doug Preston

tonyzackery said:

A long-time cyclist in and aroung the lower mainland of British Columbia, Doug Preston, was killed yesterday while on a training ride. Apparently a motorist fell asleep at the wheel and crossed the centerline striking him. I don't have any other details.

I knew Doug personally and he always had a kind word for me. He will be missed by many. My condolences to his family.

That is sad, and it is also scary. As I have gotten older I think more and more about getting taken out while riding. It has altered my behavior so I try not to ride at certain times of the day and on certain roads.

Bro Deal said:

That is sad, and it is also scary. As I have gotten older I think more and more about getting taken out while riding. It has altered my behavior so I try not to ride at certain times of the day and on certain roads.

I couldn't agree more, Bro. This incident has caused me to also reflect and think just a little more about where and when I ride in the future. I'm a firm believer that we all have a particular time when we'll be called, and Doug's number was up. I hope I can go doing something that I love; just wouldn't want to see it coming at me, however. Apparently he was killed instantly though...

Sad it is...sad it is...

Bro Deal said:

That is sad, and it is also scary. As I have gotten older I think more and more about getting taken out while riding. It has altered my behavior so I try not to ride at certain times of the day and on certain roads.

+1. It's sad when a fellow cyclist is killed or anyone for that matter. I, too, am worried about being taken out especially considering all the drivers not only on the phone, but also texting, which is just incredibly stupid and dangerous. Back to the topic on hand, my sympathy and prayers go out to his family.

I'm very sorry to hear that, Tony. In the past year I've limited my riding on the open road as much as possible, and done the bulk of my training on a newly opened multi-use paved rails-to-trail. As someone else mentioned here, texting while driving was kind of the last straw for me. In addition to driving while drunk, stoned, asleep, talking, blind, insane, and stupid.

My optometrist told me that he stopped biking on the road years ago when he saw some of his near-blind patients leave his office and drive away.

Sometimes I wonder about anonymity the net allows - does it cause people to be even more rude and callous than they would be if their identity was not hidden?

Regardless, the responses of you gentlemen to this untimely incident go a long way in demonstrating to me that compassion has not been jettisoned in cyberspace. Thanks.

I don't know this poor chap, but my thoughts go out to his friends and family. It's a terrible thing to happen.

(I also worry about riding on the road now too. Last year I was hit twice but I got off very lucky).

that's so sad