North Wales Cyclists Killed

Thoughts and prayers from Ohio...be safe.

Carrera said:

Some club cyclists have been killed during a training run in North Wales (a route I plan to be doing this summer). It happened when a car lost control on an icy road near Abergele.
Just one more example of how dangerous winter training can be for cyclists and I confess I've already had one or two close calls myself with trucks and lorries:
"Four cyclists killed in crash
From correspondents in London
January 09, 2006
FOUR people, including a teenage boy, were killed today when a car collided with a group of cyclists in icy conditions on a road in north Wales.
Police said three men and a 14-year-old boy, part of a group of 12 from the Rhyl Cycling Club, died at the scene after the accident.
Three other boys were being treated for shock and a man suffered a broken leg, police said.
The driver of the car was being treated for a minor injury.
The accident occurred shortly after 10 am on the A547 at Abergele on an icy road in sub-zero temperatures, according to Chief Inspector Lyn Adams.
"It seems the driver lost control on an icy bend and collided with the cyclists. This caused carnage," Adams said in a statement.
"At this stage there is nothing to suggest that the driver did anything but lose control and on the face of it this seems to have been a terrible accident."
The road has now been closed while a full police investigation is carried out.
News reports said the A547 in the Abergele area was among the 11 most deadly roads in north Wales in a police list last September."

U.K. residents should have seen this item on the news today. There was footage of the road bikes they surrounded by cones to investigate the incident. This was a group of riders from the Rhyl area who just got hit out of the blue on an icy road.
All of you folks out there on winter training, heed my advice. Make sure you have reflective, bright clothing and your lights are working well. Avoid slippy, treacherous main roads if you can. Always be prepared to react to an unexpected incident and wear a helmet always.

Spokeman said:

Thoughts and prayers from Ohio...be safe.

Carrera said:

Some club cyclists have been killed during a training run in North Wales...

That's terrible news, Carrera. It sounds like it would have been very difficult to avoid, except by not being there.

Carrera said:

U.K. residents should have seen this item on the news today. There was footage of the road bikes they surrounded by cones to investigate the incident. This was a group of riders from the Rhyl area who just got hit out of the blue on an icy road.
All of you folks out there on winter training, heed my advice. Make sure you have reflective, bright clothing and your lights are working well. Avoid slippy, treacherous main roads if you can. Always be prepared to react to an unexpected incident and wear a helmet always.

It was the Rhyl CC Sunday morning 60 mile spin.

It is dreadful news - BBC, SKY, ITN carried this story.
A dreadful tragedy.
Seeing the footage of the mangled bikes on the road is just heart breaking.
All four died instantly.

As cyclists, we are all very very vulnerable.

May they rest in peace.

As Limerickman states, we cyclists are a vulnerable group. I recall various instances when I'd be riding my bike with full right of way and suddenly you hear a squeal of brakes from some car that swerved just in time.
Only the other week, my concentration lapsed a touch and I was suddenly faced with a car going at high speed towards me on the wrong side of the road. It happens so sudden, of course.
I too saw the pile of scrapped roadbikes on the film footage of the incident. Some of my family lives in that area too.

EoinC said:

That's terrible news, Carrera. It sounds like it would have been very difficult to avoid, except by not being there.

[quote="Carrera"]Some club cyclists have been killed during a training run in North Wales (a route I plan to be doing this summer). It happened when a car lost control on an icy road near Abergele.

Unfortunately it is a world wide phenomenon, we wear the brightest gaudy coloured, highly visible shirts/jersey's/lycra kit and still we are the target for some motorists. The usual excuse "I just didn't see you".

It goes to prove cycles and cars don't mix and it ain't likely to get any better in the near future.

"Mercedes Benz", even provide a sight on the bonnet of the car just to line us up for the hit....?

So sad...thoughts and prayers to all.