Ride Leader: Blake Altman
Date: October 2, 2016
Ride Name: Gallant Green (from another direction)
Ride Distance: 51 Miles (planned), ~12 Miles (ridden)
Average Speed of the Ride: Not Important
Ride Class: AA/3 Sport
Mechanical Issues: None
Mishaps: One rider down (see ride report)
Weather: Upper 60’s overcast with some misting rain
Guest Riders: None
Member Riders: Darin King, Matthew Lewandowski
Ride Report:
We started before the B riders and had uneventful and fairly fast ride until the end of Gallant Green road. That is where the ride went badly wrong.
It started misting rain partway down Gallant Green and the road was wet. Darin was leading and I was close behind him; Matthew was a bit back. Darin and I crossed the angled railroad tracks safely but Matthew went down hard. We turned back and found that Matthew had some road rash and was having significant pain in his right arm also his helmet had damage showing that he had taken a head hit.
Darin called Maureen, Matthew’s wife, but did not get an answer. After some back and forth, we decided that I would ride back to the start and get Matthew’s car and drive him to the hospital to have him checked out. By the time I got back, Maureen was there and she took him to be evaluated. I took Matthew’s car and bike and my back my house; Darin continued on alone on his bike. My son Drew was impressed that I left with only a bike but returned with two bikes and a car.
Later in the day, I took Matthew’s car and bike back to his house; Drew followed in his car to give me a ride home. I spoke to Matthew and Maureen and it seems like he will be okay but will be off the bike for a while. I don’t want to comment on the specifics of his injuries without permission, but I invite Matthew to leave a comment on this if he wishes.
Needless to say it was not a good ride. Please be careful out there.
