General Discussion Triathlon Talk » They died doing what the love... Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2013-02-18 1:12 PM

User image

Veteran
241
10010025
Subject: They died doing what the love...

It's so sad this keeps happening.  These two are very inspiring and they died doing what they love...

I'm truly scared to cycle outdoors....RIP Peter and Mary

http://news.yahoo.com/round-world-uk-cyclists-killed-thailand-161455377.html



2013-02-18 1:20 PM
in reply to: #4627024

User image

Pro
5755
50005001001002525
Subject: RE: They died doing what the love...
zaugfear - 2013-02-18 2:12 PM

It's so sad this keeps happening.  These two are very inspiring and they died doing what they love...

I'm truly scared to cycle outdoors....RIP Peter and Mary

http://news.yahoo.com/round-world-uk-cyclists-killed-thailand-161455377.html

I just read this on the bike club listserve. Very sad. They were killed when the driver was reaching down to the floor of his truck to pick up something.

2013-02-18 1:44 PM
in reply to: #4627024

User image

Melon Presser
52116
50005000500050005000500050005000500050002000100
Subject: RE: They died doing what the love...

Heartbreaking. Any sudden tragic death is heartbreaking but these two are rightly our own, among us, and did what many of us secretly dream of. My heart and prayers go out to their families.

A good friend of mine, an author, is cycling across Indonesia and writing a book about it. He, too, is super-road-savvy as well as very Indonesia-savvy, but I do worry.

It is only on very rare occasions, generally involving a police escort and SAG wagons (plural), that I'll cycle on the open road here. Lord knows there are many and awful cycling deaths in the developed world, but here, there just are very few traffic laws and only a tiny fraction of those enforced. Thailand is fairly similar, a little bit better, but not much. We're still in transition regarding helmets (most folks motorbike here) and having seat belts at all ... things like driver awareness and not smoking/texting/motorcycling at the same time is not even on the radar, much less distraction.

2013-02-18 5:56 PM
in reply to: #4627024

User image

Master
8247
50002000100010010025
Eugene, Oregon
Bronze member
Subject: RE: They died doing what the love...

Be careful out there, Yanti. Similar safety issues here in Vietnam--basic driving knowledge is low (many just pay a bribe to "pass" the tests) and bikes aren't even on the radar. My only road cycling now is 5 km down a parkway to a pretty traffic-free industrial park and back, and I've seriously considered eliminating even that after being hit a month ago (thank God with just bumps and bruises) by a motorbike running a red light. A colleague was hit two weeks ago from the back while stopped at a red light and spent two weeks on crutches from her injuries. Last year a student riding his bike to school was thrown ten meters and probably escaped death only because he was wearing a helmet.  The only reason I still ride the roads here at all is fear that I might lose my bike control skills and be more likely to crash in a race, esp. in aero.

The same day this couple was killed, I was cycling in Laos and ran into another couple (I believe South African) on a RTW ride.  Their bike and what they've done so far (36,000+ km) is amazing.We also did two days of riding with an older American couple who are riding the world in stages on yearly vacations. (They were riding Bangkok--Chiang Mai--Luang Prabang--Vientiane) I'm in awe of those who dare to follow their dreams like that--they have far more courage than I do.

2013-02-19 11:02 AM
in reply to: #4627024

User image

Master
2500
2000500
Crab Cake City
Subject: RE: They died doing what the love...
Very sad news and my thoughts and prayers are with the families. I hate hearing stories like this and its why I continue to ride the trainer instead of outside. Last time I rode outside I was riding around a business park at like 6pm with about 30 other cyclists and almost got ran over by a guy who was texting. He was the only car on the road and I was in the shoulder and close to the curb. that about did it for me for a while.
2013-02-19 11:31 AM
in reply to: #4627024

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.


2013-02-19 12:15 PM
in reply to: #4628417

Member
44
25
Subject: RE: They died doing what the love...
DrLeah - 2013-02-19 12:31 PM

Tragic.

But I really despise it when people say "s/he died doing what s/he loved".  Yah, when I go out on my bike I'm thinking "I hope I die today because I really love riding my bike".  

It's just a sad attempt to make "us" feel better about the loss.

   Seriously?  People want to be doing what they love, God willing, until it's their time to go . Beats wasting away in bed. That's what people mean , IMHO.. 
2013-02-19 12:21 PM
in reply to: #4628417

Extreme Veteran
406
100100100100
Subject: RE: They died doing what the love...
DrLeah - 2013-02-19 12:31 PM

Tragic.

But I really despise it when people say "s/he died doing what s/he loved".  Yah, when I go out on my bike I'm thinking "I hope I die today because I really love riding my bike".  

It's just a sad attempt to make "us" feel better about the loss.

 

Would you prefer we do something to feel worse about the loss?

2013-02-19 12:36 PM
in reply to: #4628417

Sensei
Sin City
Subject: RE: They died doing what the love...
DrLeah - 2013-02-19 9:31 AM

Tragic.

But I really despise it when people say "s/he died doing what s/he loved".  Yah, when I go out on my bike I'm thinking "I hope I die today because I really love riding my bike".  

It's just a sad attempt to make "us" feel better about the loss.

My prayers to the families of those we lost.

 

"Despise" and "sad attempt"?  Wow, pretty harsh for expressing some basic words of comfort and trying to make SOME sense out of a senseless loss.

2013-02-19 2:05 PM
in reply to: #4628417

Expert
962
5001001001001002525
Subject: RE: They died doing what the love...
DrLeah - 2013-02-19 11:31 AM

Tragic.

But I really despise it when people say "s/he died doing what s/he loved".  Yah, when I go out on my bike I'm thinking "I hope I die today because I really love riding my bike".  

It's just a sad attempt to make "us" feel better about the loss.

True...but everything following a loss is an attempt to make "us" feel better about a loss.  Funerals, memorials services, headstones, everything is for the living, because the dead no longer care.

...and when the last grain of sand runs through my hourglass it would be a real tragedy for me if I was at work or something like that, I'd much rather it happen while biking, running, hunting, or fishing.

2013-02-19 2:56 PM
in reply to: #4627024


489
100100100100252525
Subject: RE: They died doing what the love...

It's a tragic event when two people who have the courage and love for each other to do what the vast majority wouldn't get taken like this.

I don't think it's logical to make you scared to cycle outdoors on the back of the story though.  Many more people in the world got killed in car wrecks and as pedestrians yet we all get in our cars and take a walk without giving it a second thought most of the time.



2013-02-20 8:02 AM
in reply to: #4627024

Expert
1263
10001001002525
Wendell, NC
Subject: RE: They died doing what the love...
I witness unexpected tragedy every day working in an ER.  It, and this, is a constant reminder that tomorrow is not a promise.  What I take away from that is to do what I love, with whom I love and make sure they know I love them as often as I can.
2013-02-20 8:29 AM
in reply to: #4628417

Member
103
100
Harare
Subject: RE: They died doing what the love...
DrLeah - 2013-02-19 7:31 PM

Tragic.

But I really despise it when people say "s/he died doing what s/he loved".  Yah, when I go out on my bike I'm thinking "I hope I die today because I really love riding my bike".  

It's just a sad attempt to make "us" feel better about the loss.

It's not that I think "I hope I die" every time I get on my bike. But as another poster mentioned, every activity carries certain risks. In the long run sitting on the couch with a 6 pack and some taco bell is probably more dangerous than getting on your bike for a couple hours.

When I strap on my helmet and head onto the road I accept that I might crash, might break some bones, or worse. For me, the risks are worth the benefits. I do what I can to minimize those risks, but I'd rather my obituary say I met my end cycling across Thailand than choking on a taco.

New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » They died doing what the love... Rss Feed