I thought I would post what someone had written to a Trirudy article recently. He was part of the “Kanata 5″, a group of cyclists that was struck down by a drunk driver. Fortunatley none of them died, but many had to undero months of rehabiliation to get back to normal every-day life. This tragedy even inspired some comments from Lance Armstrong himself. Here is his thoughts on his first bike-ride (one year after the accident):

Author: Mark White
——————-

20. A RETURN TO RIDING AFTER A YEAR.

Not a race report by any means, but a report that may interest some of your readers.

My first bike ride in one year. My name is Mark White, a fellow TriRudy member and one of the Kanata 5. Humbly, I thought I would share a report on a ride I took July 19th, on the anniversary of an event that affected many of my friends and the community.

I postponed this ride because the forecast called for thunderstorms. However, I could still see blue sky at 2pm, so I decided to get my ride in after all. I was full of adrenaline and excitement, but still thinking straight and went over my checklist. I’m reading “The Checklist Manifesto” and a simple checklist has really helped with my poor memory.
Tire pressure, check. Helmet, check. Bell, check. Clip in and out of pedals, check. Perform shoulder check and maintaining a straight line, check. And 30 mins circling the parking lot proved that you really don’t forget how to ride a bike. That was a wonderful surprise. I remember working with my physiotherapist 10 months ago and trying to get my balance and equilibrium back. I’m proud to say I only fell face-first onto the gym floor, once! After that, I learned to fall better. And then to not fall down at all.

With relative confidence, I heading down Carling Ave towards Kanata. Keeping to the right hand side, the traffic was fairly light and courteous to a cyclist sharing the road. I past a fellow cyclists who was not wearing a helmet and I wanted to stop him and show him the scar that runs from the top of my head to my forehead. Thankfully, just a scar because I was wearing a helmet. Without one, death would have been a certainty.

Past Moodie Drive, Carling has a wide, well paved shoulder which is a delight to ride along. Approaching Rifle road, I had to cross over a right turning lane. A shoulder check, showed an SUV with it’s turning signal on about 500m back, the SUV approached and yielded to allow me to continue along Carling Ave, past Rifle Rd. Wow! That was a great driver.

Approaching the railway bridge, I was not so fortunate. After the lights, there is a road sign that states “Do not pass cyclists”, because the roadway narrows under a railway bridge. Two cars apparently decided it was worth the chance of seriously injuring a cyclist to squeeze into the space between myself and oncoming traffic, than slowing down and taking 45 sec longer to drive home. I admit, I was a little offended that someone thought a persons life was worth risking to save themselves ‘45 sec.’

Proceeding farther along Carling, without any more excitement, I turned onto March Rd and into the designated bike lane. So many thoughts struck me at once. Wow, there is so much space here, this road is huge. Will a memory surface as I get closer to the actual spot? Will I keep looking over my shoulder? How lucky/unlucky do I think I am? How long, if ever, before I get to do this again with the 5 of my friends?

Memories? Yes, many wonderful ones of the 6 of us on previous rides and runs, training for summer events. A flood of those memories was a welcome treat. The fact that I remembered nothing of that day one year ago and never will, is a blessing.

The only ‘out-of-place’ anomaly while riding down that stretch of road, was a tingling/vibration sensation between my shoulder blades and down my spine. I attribute that to wanting to look over my shoulder but knowing that someone was watching my back for me.

Turning right onto Terry Fox and heading back home. This time along the pathway that runs parallel to Carling Ave and comes out at Moodie Rd. It started to rain and I felt safer riding along the pathway. My first bike ride since a year ago and many, many more to come. The next one on Saturday. Of course, it will be preceded by a short swim and followed by a run.

Mark White

Rudy Says: Awesome… what an excellent report…tkx Mark

I would like to introduce you to Marvel. For those are Facebook…yep, same images are there, but for those not in Facebook, please see the image gallery below.

Having been a Saab driver for a number of years, I am happy to report that Saab will live on. Was I premature in my decision to dump my V6 AERO. Not really….it was heavy on fuel and cost more in insurance for a number of reasons.

Here is the article regarding the deal (source: Left Lane News):

After months of intense negotiations with various parties, General Motors has finally reached a binding agreement to sell Saab to Dutch supercar manufacturer Spyker. The deal, which would save nearly 10,000 direct and related jobs in Sweden and abroad, awaits only regulatory issues in Europe and the United States, as well as confirmation of a loan from the European Investment Bank.

Early reports suggest that the deal is worth $74 million in cash and $326 million in preferred stocks from the new Saab Spyker Automobiles that Spyker intends to form. GM says it expects to complete the sale in mid-February.

“Today’s announcement is great news for Saab employees, dealers and suppliers, great news for millions of Saab customers and fans worldwide, and great news for GM,” said John Smith, GM vice president for corporate planning and alliances, said in a statement. “General Motors, Spyker Cars, and the Swedish government worked very hard and creatively for a deal that would secure a sustainable future for this unique and iconic brand, and we’re all happy for the positive outcome.”

In an ever-consolidating auto industry, Spyker’s decision to purchase Saab is considered a major gamble by many.

“Marginal players will continue to be marginalized,” Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne told reporters at a separate event in Stockholm.

Marchionne has long been a proponent of creating fewer brands controlled by a handful of dominant players, a business plan he has continued to execute with moves like Fiat’s acquisition of Chrysler last year.

Spyker itself was a late entrant into the bidding for Saab; the automaker’s CEO’s interest in the brand only became public after Koenigsegg’s failed bid late last year. GM and Spyker were initially unable to reach an agreement, prompting the Detroit automaker to begin winding down Saab’s operations. Yet Spyker CEO Victor Muller was persistent in his efforts and finally reached terms of agreement that worked for GM – and terms that defied doubt cast by new GM CEO Ed Whitacre Jr.

“Throughout the negotiations, GM has always had the hope to find a solution for Saab that would avoid a wind down of the brand,” said Nick Reilly, president, GM Europe, in a release. “We’ve worked with many parties over the past year, including governments and investors, and I’m very pleased that we could come to such a good conclusion, one that preserves jobs in Sweden and elsewhere. GM will continue to support Saab and Spyker on their way forward.”

It’s expected that more news on Spyker’s business plan for Saab will emerge in the coming weeks prior to the sale’s closure in mid-February.