RAAM Racer Diego Ballesteros Struck by Car

Diego Ballesteros of Spanish team Coanfi Desafio Aspanoa was struck by a car this morning near Maize, Kansas and is in critical condition, local news station KAKE reports. The 36-year old Spaniard is a part of a 4-man team. When he's not racing, he is a lawyer and teacher.

Teammate Cesar Velilla said in his racer bio that he found out about Race Across America four years ago and was excited to race as a team. "The reason that definitely pushed us to take part in this was the possibility to help other people and "give" our effort in the name of ASPANOA," wrote Velilla, "a local organization where parents of children with cancer join together and try to give them a solution and a better quality of life during the treatment."

This is a link to Ballesteros' blog.

(Ballesteros)

Local Triathlete Hit by RV Suffers Broken Pelvis

What was supposed to be an easy Saturday training ride turned into a nightmare for local triathlete, Heather Gillespie. Riding north on PCH with a group of about 7 other triathletes, Gillespie was struck on the side by an erratically driving RV. The group was just past Gladstone's when the accident occurred. The four riders behind Gillespie reported nearly being struck by the RV, as did members of the Los Angeles Triathlon Club, who were riding further south at the time of the accident.

The RV driver pulled over a quarter mile down the road and kept his mouth shut while triathlete Jim Davidson reamed him. Emergency crews and the California Highway Patrol attended Gillespie, who suffered a broken pelvis, and extreme road rash. She thankfully is expected to make a full recovery.

PCH is notoriously dangerous for cyclists, especially at this time while several construction projects are underway along the stretch of PCH through Malibu. The roads (as of yesterday) were scored for pavement, making this already sketchy road practically unridable for cyclists.

For more information about construction on PCH, go here. And to bitch CalTrans out for not taking the time to create proper bike lanes during this phase of construction (when it would've been so easy), contact Senator Sheila Kuehl, who helped create the PCH Bicycle Advisory Committee.

Those "share the road" signs (see above) aren't enough. The road needs to have a separate bike lane, because idiots like that RV driver obviously can't share the road, and unfortunately he is ot the only person on PCH who drives like a selfish maniac.

What to Do if You Witness a Bike Crash

As the saying goes, there are two types of cyclists: Those who have crashed and those who will. So chances are, at some point in your triathlon career, you will witness the one thing cyclists fear most: the crash. Whether it be with a car, in a pace line, or from hitting something in the road, the crash is a scary scary thing. Here's what to do:

If it's YOU:

• Assuming you're still conscious (yes, that's pessimistic, but let's hope you are!), GET OFF THE ROAD. You know how in Roadrunner and Coyote cartoons, after something really bad already happens to the coyote, an anvil falls on his head? You don't want a car running you over because you were lying in the road after you've already broken your collar bone .


• If you were riding with a buddy, let them handle the rest. Your adrenaline is pumping and you're probably not in your right mind to handle the situation with much finesse.


• If it was a car-cyclist accident, your buddy should make sure to get all the driver's information. Do not admit to anything.


• In the case of possible head trauma, DON'T MOVE (that is, once you're off the road, if you could get off). That's why the paramedics strap you to a hard board and immobilize your head. They don't want anything to possibly shift and do damage to your head and neck.


• Get a Road ID. (Clearly, do it now before you crash.)

If it's your BUDDY:

• Try not to freak out. Really really hard. Seeing you freak out will only freak your buddy out and then he/she'll probably start fidgeting when he/she shouldn't move. (Yes, even if there is lots of blood. Heads bleed a lot--even if they're not cut too deep, so don't immediately assume your buddy's brain is contemplating leaping out of his/her head.)


• Call 911. If there are any injuries more than a scraped knee, your friend needs to be checked out. Especially if it was an accident involving a driver, even if your friend seems fine, it's good to have that documentation for later.ALWAYS CARRY A CELL PHONE on your rides.


• DON'T FREAK OUT! If you're a serious cyclist, chances are if your friend goes down, it will be at a pretty high speed. Think descending at 28+ mph, not falling over in a driveway. The results can be quite unpleasant. You will be no help to your buddy if they are still conscious and ask you "How bad is it?", which they probably will. Your answer? "You'll be fine, it's not too bad." NOT: HOLY Sh!#! Your head is gushing blood! Oh my God! Oh my God!

Remember: It's fine to freak out when everything is said and done. Maybe you won't feel it right away, but it is very taxing to witness a friend in such a state of pain. Your body is stressed enough mentally and emotionally. And don't worry about making up your missed workout. Return to your rides only when you're up to it! (Same goes for you if you were the victim. Don't push getting back on your bike!)

This article was a bit gruesome, but the crash is a fact of trilife. If you're prepared, you have a good chance of helping the outcome positively, and not making it worse.

Happy safe & alert training!

Bike Crash- Unexpected Accident

Well that's kind of redundant. Aren't all accidents unexpected? Look back Friday for a new post to TriathleteDiva.com. An accident victim (he's going to be ok!) needs her full attention right now. Thank you!

Happy safe training!

Unbelievable Crash Photo of the Day

It's something nobody likes to talk about, but everybody has at the back of their mind. As the saying goes, there are two types of cyclists: those who have crashed and those who will crash. If you're lucky enough to be in the latter category (as of today!), go knock on wood or rub your bald uncle's head for good luck, or something.

The non-drafting rule of most amateur triathlons eliminates a lot of potential crash situations. So count yourself lucky you chose this sport instead of road racing like these guys:

Is that a flying bike?

Warning: Don't do this at home...or ever!