Every time I got on my bike to train for Ironman I was nervous. I have never been a cyclist, and in fact, have never had a ride I could completely relax on and enjoy. Nobody would ever accuse me of being a risk taker in the first place, and propelling oneself on two wheels alongside a road in a town notorious for bike accidents is not my cup of tea. The risk of an accident was always there, and being a mother and business owner I was always aware of it. I had so much responsibility if something were to happen to me I had to be extremely careful.
But to train for a race it is necessary to get on and ride. You can't do triathlon without the middle leg, and doing triathlon is fun, rewarding, an
d addicting. Why do I bring up the bike now? I haven't actually even been on mine since October (it still has the stickers from the Big Day). It's to remind everyone to BE SAFE.
There have been 3 separate bike accidents in Kona in 9 days. The first one was a good friend of ours and has a long road ahead toward recovery from head trauma. Yesterday one of the Coffee Talk Riders was apparently hit from behind and has a broken hip and pelvis. Today during a Mango Race on Alii Dr. someone was hit by a woman parking at church. There is road construction, more tourists milling about than usual, and it's prime time to start really training for olympic distance Lavaman Triathlon (http://www.lavamantriathlon.com/waikoloa/) happening March 25th. If my tips help anyone prevent another bike accident, I have to give them. Motorists stay aware, and cyclists follow the safety rules to keep yourself out of harms way. It CAN happen to you, so be prepared.
1. Check your bike and have your gear. Never ride your bike without your helmet on and clipped. Turn on a flashing light (better on front and back of bike). Make sure your tires are inflated and you're prepared for a flat. Carry ID on your person just in case.
2. Never go alone. While not always practical, having a buddy ride with you (but not side by side) will ensure you're never left stranded. If you do decide to venture out alone, make sure you tell someone your plan including when you should be back, and don't change it without notice.
3. Follow the rules of the road. If you expect a car at every driveway, every intersection, every time you won't be caught off guard when one is actually there. Signal like you are supposed to, ride on the correct side of the road (with traffic), and follow signs and stop lights. Use bike lanes and be aware that motorists might not see you. Make SURE they do!
4. Be careful when you are tired. Don't try and maneuver in sticky situations at the end of a long ride. Even though it was very convenient to leave from Trunk Trainers in the morning, returning from a 2+ hour ride had me trying to navigate the Hina Lani intersection tired. Big trucks, construction, and me with my little bike in the middle of all of it (and turning only to climb the biggest hill of the ride) while tired was not a good mix. I only did it twice before skipping the risk for the rest of training.
5. Choose your
route wisely. I would train indoors on an upright cycle whenever I could get away with it, but it is nothing like the real deal. So I would ride at NELHA for sprint intervals or the road to Palamanui which has a one mile incline, over and over. Boring but safe. Only once per week I went out on the highway, and usually drove out to Veteran's Cemetery, Scenic or Waikoloa and did laps in the safest zones. If I did go for a long long ride I had someone on call or literally driving with me in case of emergency. I know a lot of people would never take this much precaution. To me, I couldn't afford not to. I had to make it to race day, and not get injured fulfilling my dream. I had too much at stake. Even the most professional cyclist can still have an accident. Just look at race day where one of the pros had a terrible collision with a motor vehicle ON THE COURSE DURING THE RACE!
http://www.triathlete.com/2017/10/news/van-collides-pro-matt-russell-ironman-world-championship_307533
For more safety tips visit our local advocacy group for safe roads and trails: https://pathhawaii.org
I'm not sure when I'll get back on my bike. I've enjoyed focusing on running and spending time with my boys. When I do start back up I will most likely stick to the safe streets and take my time. Until then, I'll look out for you guys on the road and remind everyone else to do the same. Stay safe!
But to train for a race it is necessary to get on and ride. You can't do triathlon without the middle leg, and doing triathlon is fun, rewarding, an
d addicting. Why do I bring up the bike now? I haven't actually even been on mine since October (it still has the stickers from the Big Day). It's to remind everyone to BE SAFE.There have been 3 separate bike accidents in Kona in 9 days. The first one was a good friend of ours and has a long road ahead toward recovery from head trauma. Yesterday one of the Coffee Talk Riders was apparently hit from behind and has a broken hip and pelvis. Today during a Mango Race on Alii Dr. someone was hit by a woman parking at church. There is road construction, more tourists milling about than usual, and it's prime time to start really training for olympic distance Lavaman Triathlon (http://www.lavamantriathlon.com/waikoloa/) happening March 25th. If my tips help anyone prevent another bike accident, I have to give them. Motorists stay aware, and cyclists follow the safety rules to keep yourself out of harms way. It CAN happen to you, so be prepared.
1. Check your bike and have your gear. Never ride your bike without your helmet on and clipped. Turn on a flashing light (better on front and back of bike). Make sure your tires are inflated and you're prepared for a flat. Carry ID on your person just in case.
2. Never go alone. While not always practical, having a buddy ride with you (but not side by side) will ensure you're never left stranded. If you do decide to venture out alone, make sure you tell someone your plan including when you should be back, and don't change it without notice.
3. Follow the rules of the road. If you expect a car at every driveway, every intersection, every time you won't be caught off guard when one is actually there. Signal like you are supposed to, ride on the correct side of the road (with traffic), and follow signs and stop lights. Use bike lanes and be aware that motorists might not see you. Make SURE they do!
4. Be careful when you are tired. Don't try and maneuver in sticky situations at the end of a long ride. Even though it was very convenient to leave from Trunk Trainers in the morning, returning from a 2+ hour ride had me trying to navigate the Hina Lani intersection tired. Big trucks, construction, and me with my little bike in the middle of all of it (and turning only to climb the biggest hill of the ride) while tired was not a good mix. I only did it twice before skipping the risk for the rest of training.
route wisely. I would train indoors on an upright cycle whenever I could get away with it, but it is nothing like the real deal. So I would ride at NELHA for sprint intervals or the road to Palamanui which has a one mile incline, over and over. Boring but safe. Only once per week I went out on the highway, and usually drove out to Veteran's Cemetery, Scenic or Waikoloa and did laps in the safest zones. If I did go for a long long ride I had someone on call or literally driving with me in case of emergency. I know a lot of people would never take this much precaution. To me, I couldn't afford not to. I had to make it to race day, and not get injured fulfilling my dream. I had too much at stake. Even the most professional cyclist can still have an accident. Just look at race day where one of the pros had a terrible collision with a motor vehicle ON THE COURSE DURING THE RACE!
http://www.triathlete.com/2017/10/news/van-collides-pro-matt-russell-ironman-world-championship_307533
For more safety tips visit our local advocacy group for safe roads and trails: https://pathhawaii.org
I'm not sure when I'll get back on my bike. I've enjoyed focusing on running and spending time with my boys. When I do start back up I will most likely stick to the safe streets and take my time. Until then, I'll look out for you guys on the road and remind everyone else to do the same. Stay safe!
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