It is with a lot of
sadness that I write this blog and a ride I would rather forget. I
will however give some details to record the ride.
Today the ride starts
from the Gallery Tea Rooms at Hawarden and the forecast was warm and
dry. There were more riders
out for coffee than taking part. Clive, Ken, Trevor, Bryan and John W
were doing their own thing. Clive is up to 10K per session on a turbo
trainer, and has ridden his road bike around Mollington, so well done
and keep up the progress.
A ride to Dyserth and
the waterfalls was proposed and three brisk riders – John M, Steve T
and myself set off from the café. We rode out via Wood
Lane to crossing the A494 Mold road and up Pioneer Rd. As we neared
the top John shouted "flat". We stopped and replaced tube then carried
on. We continued over the Halkyns via Rhes-y-cae and Lixwm.
The ride onwards to
Dyserth was uneventful, and we arrived at the Waterfalls for a photo
shoot.Lunch was at the New
Inn and it was very busy. The landlord and lady are from Rossett so a
return trip with Ken might be arranged.
.
We rode back to Chester
going around the back of the town and up Alit y Graig which had 20%
gradient but we achieved the ride over and on to Llanasa. It is then
the usual route back via Whitford and Pantasaph and again over the
Halkyns.
When proceeding down
Middle Hill lane passing over the cattle grid, Steve was leading when
a red landrover pulling a trailer drove passed us. In the next instance Steve
had tumbled off his bike and was lying on the floor. John took charge
and we were surrounded by the local community of farmers who called
for an ambulance.
Steve was unconscious, but John new what to do and within 30 to 120 seconds he had given
vital resuscitation to Steve who was able to tell us where he hurt. An ambulance did not
arrive, but the Air Rescue Helicopter, dispatched from Welshpool, came
to the rescue with three doctors on board. They soon had Steve wired up to monitors and a decision to take him to Stoke on Trent hospital was agreed between the
HQ and the doctors.
We do not know what
happened as it was all too quick. I am not blaming the car driver, although
he didn’t give us much consideration on a very narrow lane. He wouldn’t have known that a
rider had fallen. The road surface is as per rural road condition with loose gravel but no serious pot holes which
are more prevalent on main roads. After the rescue
chopper took off, John and I continued our journey to Chester.
ID
