Nikki had a crash yesterday. Badly smashed ankle and lower leg. Sounds like she is in quite a bit of pain. Shocking.
It is a terrible way for our challenge to finish. It has really motivated me in my training.
Best wishes to Nikki for the quickest possible (never speedy) and complete recovery.
Gooner provided this link yesterday. A message that is timely given summer but too late for Nikki.
This is very shocking indeed Mr Mallard. Two incidents involving both competitors in just a few days. My sympathies go to Miss Kaye and I guess it’s a relief that injuries weren’t more severe.
I suppose it gives you both another year to work on your cycling competition.
Gooner makes some really good points. I cycle 3-4 times a week, often on main roads. I think the vast majority of our motorists are very considerate when it comes to cycling, but there are a very angry minority who go out of their way to rev their cars as they pass, wind down the windows and yell abuse, or drive in a way designed to intimidate.
It’s no wonder so many parents are becoming reluctant to let their kids bike to school. Right up until I got my drivers licence my bike was my primary means of transport. Did me the world of good. Stopped me turning into a chubby little couch potato and gave me a bunch of freedom I wouldn’t have otherwise had. Shame this generation are missing out.
I hope Nikki Kaye has a speedy and uncomplicated recovery, and is ready for Taupo next year.
It’s the narrow roads in Wellington that keeps me jogging rather than biking.
That’s really crap, poor Nikki!
Here in Nelson, there seems to be a growing amount of discontent between cars and cyclists. Having been a cycler and walker until I finally got my drivers licence this year, I’ve mostly taken the cyclists side. Especially after years of taking buses in Auckland and Wellington and seeing very aggressive bus drivers treat cyclists really badly.
Now though, I’m starting to understand the frustrations of cyclists whizzing through blind spots, and how unnerving it can be knowing that they are there but you can’t see them.
I had a “road rage” situation myself last week – I was turning right and I’d pulled out ever so slightly because large SUVs (let’s ban them) were blocking my vision. I then had a cyclist abuse me for having pulled out. He decided to be a munter and sit in the middle of the intersection, choosing not to go past me even though there was plenty of room to do so. A few cars turning left off the main road into the street almost hit him.
The situation was really scary for me – I felt a lot of pressure to then take my turn, even though traffic was busy and turning was risky. It was also really sh*t because I’d deliberately pulled out a little further so I could see and AVOID cyclists etc.
How can we bring drivers and cyclists together and help ease some of the discontent? I can only see the situation getting worse at the moment….the small number of munters (on both sides) are ruining it for the rest of us who want to share the road and be safe….
Luckily for her, and all New Zealanders, ACC provides universal no-fault fully-funded accident coverage.
But for how much longer?
That’s unfortunate news re Nikki Kaye. I fractured my leg about this time last year too – not a good space to be in.
Regarding the cyclist/motorist dilemma. I am constantly amazed and frustrated by the sheer number of motorists who don’t put a second thought to charging past cyclists.
The southern coast road around Wellington has a particularly high show of morons behind the wheel.
How hard is it, really, to slow down, keep a good distance behind the cyclist and wait until you’re around a corner and able to see far ahead to know that you can pass?
Why then are there idiots, like the person I encountered the other day, who put no thought as to the safety of the cyclist, themselves, their passengers, the others on the road when they decide to pass a cyclist while another car approaches them from the other direction?
How is half a foot of separation their preferred option over slowing down for half a minute?
…crush their cars?
I have a lot of sympathy for cyclists on the road. I try to take care when passing cyclists and generally find that a bit of courtesy doesn’t go astray. A friendly toot to let a group know I’m behind them and a wave as I’m passing goes down pretty well.
I have noticed that courier cyclists in Wellington seem to have a death wish though.
When the cyclists ALLWAYS travel in single file, the motorists
might have less to complain about.
As another aside, children have completely disappeared from bikes in Auckland , only leaving the fitness brigade
Well maybe you should all move to Dunedin, because Lonely Planet has named us as the best cycling city, in partiuclar the Otago peninsula, where I live.
http://www.odt.co.nz/your-town/dunedin/80370/ratings-make-tails-wag
Can’t say I do much road cyling. Have a mountain bike. Haven’t done it for a while, but might get back into it soon.
Oh and Dunedin’s rated for watching birds (feathered ones) and walkign the dog too.
There’s something about Dunedin…. (especially Dunedin South)
I cycled for many years round Auckland, but gave up in the face of imminent death every time I rode on anything like a significant road. There was a palpable increase in risk as trhe ‘cheap car from Japan’ market developed. Ease of access to cars produced, in my view, increased risks for cyclists
If one combines a lack of cycleways with a significant minority of drivers who behave quite deliberately in a dangerous manner when they see cyclists, the risk of serious injury become too great.
Oh and meant to say sorry about Nikki.
Shows the issues are very real for cyclists.
Hope you’ll still go like the clappers Trevor and achieve the time you want.
John Key will be quite relaxed about cylist safety, but if it seems that there is a popular uprising he could pass Law under urgency, which bans cars on roads where cyclist wish to ride.
I also would like to express my sympathy for Nikki, I wish her a speedy recovery.
I’ll say this for Dunedin too Clare, it has a cycle path running alongside the motorway which goes right through town. It’s really good for commuting. Streets ahead of Wellington in that respect. We need more of them.
This hurts. Labour had nine years to invest in cycling infrastructure and instead we got “New Zealand’s largest ever road building programme.” [http://www.beehive.govt.nz/node/29351]
It’s not enough to just be MPs who cycle and get hurt like the rest of us but do nothing to change the one-track emphasis of our transport budget. The Greens, of course, will change that. Start working with them…
Robert, have you seen the cycle- walkway alongside the North Western motorway in Auckland, or even the newly opened Mt Roskill motorway , which has a separate cycle friendly path alongside. Those are just what Im aware of .
Dont you just love when these people start with ‘ they have had 9 years’ when they know nothing of what they complain about and then say ‘no new ideas’
Yeah man, Labour did lots of good stuff!
I am sure the northwest cycleway has been around since the 1990s. GWW, don’t bother defending Labour’s car-centric transport policies, I have spoken to a number of Labour MPs who all agree they were far too slow on the uptake regarding public transport, walking & cycling etc.
Oh really … too slow.
EXPECTED ACTIVITY IN NOVEMBER 2007 All remaining works in the Rotokauri Roundabout area including footpaths and cycleways will be completed …
SH20..A new cycle lane will also be marked out on the bridge, allowing cyclists to continue down a circular ramp to meet the existing path at the park. This path will then link with cycleways planned between Hillsborough Road and Dominion Road.
16 March 2007. Transit New Zealand and Wellington City Council will be providing daily updates on how traffic is moving on the Inner …ldquo It’ s about improved bus services better cycleways better options on Vivian Street for pedestrians including the physically disabled …
What will it include in Stage 1 and Stage 2. Stage 1 included the four-laning of Hewletts Rd on the Mount Maunganui side of the harbour from Jean Batten Dr …Hewletts Rd has been widened to four lanes with bus lanes and cycleways. …
Walking and Cycling The existing cycleways on Cumberland and Castle Streets are currently being extended from Fredrick Street to St …
Design is also underway for cycleways to be attached to the Karamu Stream Bridge near Hastings …
Cycleways are also being considered for the remainder of SH18 as part of the SH18 Corridor Study and by the ..
Auckland is consistenly rated as one of the least cycle friendly cities in the world…
Putting a couple of cycleways down SHs in 9 years is kinda like polishing a turd…
Isn’t it sad that a civilized post, offering a message of sympathy to a member of your enemy gets turned into a shit fight about who built the best cycleways?
Grow up, people.
I told my bike story weeks ago, the most recent was last week .. these incidents will not stop .. unfortunately.
Many are talking about where cycle paths can be added but they will only help those in the specific area.
I used to bike everywhere in Wanganui (Meads Cup Champs) both as a kid and later when working. The roads are fairly wide and the city is a bike racing place as well. I don’t know the answer other than, once again, tell the riders to be more careful and courteous and for drivers to be FAR more aware.
Hope Nikki recovers soon.
Thanks Adolf – thinking it myself – not that I think of Nikki as an enemy, more an opponent, someone who has the potential to make a good intelligent contribution even if there will be plenty of times we disagree.
But I was surprised at the venom developing from individuals who are normally more reasonable.
Geoff will have a post that doesn’t need to be threadjacked up in the morning. Can you comment there please. Trevor
TV3 60 mins has a piece on the subject .. the start of the piece showed a couple of crazy guys weaving in and out of traffic .. victims waiting for an accident. Also showed a large group going 3-4 abreast, not too clever.
Some bloke counted 52 cyclists in a single group on Tamaki Drive .. goodness me. Now showing another group riding illegally.
If I go back to riding, it will be on a mountain bike though our local forrest.
Goodness .. just showed John Bridges being followed by a guy with no helmet!!!!
well said guys, no matter what we think of our friends and foes political views – they are still our friends and neighbours. Wishing Nikki a comfortable recovery and that your sporting challenge is renewed!
The accident, along with what I see with kids in our rural town, brings back to mind the cycling proficiency classes we had at school in Scotland (a good few years ago now!). The school, police and parents taught safe riding to kids and I’m sure that is in my mind as I take care around cyclists when I am driving.
Perhaps that is something you parliamentarians could look at campaigning for?
Honesty call Trevor – did you breathe a sigh of relief when you heard that the challenge wasn’t happening?
All the best to Nikki, and I hope that you are still motivated to keep up your training – you certainly put me to shame in that regard
Heard of the Tortoise and the Hare IV2 ?
Inventory2
I had never got to the point where I thought I would win and I’ve biked enough not to get upset by being beaten by a woman roughly half my age. Or even closer to my age than that and there are a few good friends that have done that regularly and don’t hesitate to remind me.
No my reaction was more around worry for Nikki’s leg. It does sound really nasty and some of those serious breaks can cause real damage in later life.
I do however appreciate the fact that Nikki issued the challenge. It did provide the motivation to get out of bed at 5.30 three times a week. I’m a few kilos lighter but much stronger when cycling – did a good 100k fun ride in Chippie’s electorate yesterday – again in the sort of time that should get me a pb in Taupo.
I’m pretty confident that I can get in the 5.10 – 5.25 window given decent conditions and no punctures. And maybe even a bit faster if I got in a good hard working bunch as I did yesterday.
Not the best way to win a bet. Lets wait a while to see if Nikki will be in shape to renew the challenge for a race that is 56 weeks away.
Goodluck Trevor