Life Support on the Mountain Bike Trails

Today we got wrapped up in an attempt to save a life of a mountain biker on the Afan Argoed Trails. We believed at first that he must have fallen or crashed his bike on the singletrack and been knocked unconscious but in fact he was just cycling along the flattish bridleway when he suffered a heart attack and just collapsed off his bike.

So what happened... well we headed out to Afan on Friday night and stayed in the Llynfi B&B. We had a late breakfast and set off at about 10am, after debating which trail to take we decided to head off on the Wall trail first. We were pretty mellow chatting away and relaxed as we pedalled the easy going doubletrack route at the start. We lifted our bikes through the gate at the Rhyslyn car park and started to pedal into the valley when a runner was coming towards us with a panic look on her face and arms flailing. Out of breath from her sprint she told us a biker had fallen off his bike and we could hear the ambulance sirens on the road across the valley, heading the wrong way. She asked us to go and intercept the ambulance as we would be faster on our bikes than her running. So we started off and I looked over my shoulder and said is he unconscious to which she said "Yes". 

Adrenalin kicked in and I sprinted back to the gate, threw my bike over and cycled down to the road and back up to the junction of the A4107 and B4287 at Pontrhydyfen. Of course I did not know any of that detail at the time but as I cycled along I took note of all the signs ahead and behind me.

No sign of the ambulance so I rang 999 and spoke to the call centre to get the Ambulance back to us. The forest warden arrived first and Ken went off to direct him and I stayed for the ambualnce. When that arrived I directed it up and cycled after it,  then I heard the 2nd ambulance so I turned around and pedaled back to them and told them where to go on the bridleway.

Only now did I pedal up to where the casualty was and it was pretty clear to me he had had a heart attack and 3 paramedics were doing CPR. I immediately worried for his survival as it seemed such a long time since we first met the runner and he was still in need of CPR.  

Watching from the side it suddenly brought back memories of the first 2 CPR casualties I had ever dealt with and I welled up with emotion before I quelled it again, feeling helpless now I'd done my bit. I hoped they could revive him but felt it was hardly possible to do so.

The helicopter ambulance came to take him to hospital and suddenly all was gone from the trail and we pedalled off to continue our ride in silence.

Later that day we were able to find out that he never recovered and our mood was very sombre thinking about his family and what he had left behind.

The whole incident has made me revisit my first aid skills and equipment. I am planning to renew my CPR and 1st aid skills and carry a resusci-aid to give my buddies a chance if the same should happen.

This was not an incident caused by mountain biking per se, but the remoteness of mountain bike trails just make it much more important that we mountain bikers can take care of our buddies if an accident or illness arises. I will urge those I ride with to get the skills too.

Here is a checklist of things to be aware of -

1- If an accident happens evaluate the full situation , get a history of what happened

2- Carry a mobile and contact emergency services asap

3- Pay attention to where you are at all times, even mountain bike trails signs have numbers on it that help the emergency service locate the casualty.

4- Carry a first aid kit and know how to use it.

5- Learn how to do basic CPR- you are the ebst chance your buddy has until the emeregency services can get there.

6- Send someone for help but make ure they know where you are excatly and what the incident status is.

I think the guys here did the right things, they sent runners to get help, they called the ambulance, they started CPR. I did the right thing in calling the ambulance again and telling them where to go because I'd look at all the signs around me. I was worried I might be interfering calling again but the more accurate the information I could give the quicker the services can respond. I should have asked for more info from the runner before I rushed off though, as I was unable to answer all the ambulance call centre questions. Easier to think that in retrospect of course.

My thoughts and condolences are currently with the family of this mountain biker, who ever he was, I'll probably never know.

We will remember them.

Nov 11 2008

90 years ago an armistice was signed to end the 1st World War. My Grandfather served int hat war on the western front as a Driver in the Royal Field Artillery 250th Brigade. Part of the 50th Northumbrian division. He was wounded by mustard gas on May 28 1918 and was invalided back to Tooting hospital where he no doubt celebrated the Armistice announcement.

Oddly had he not been gassed he may never have met my grandmother. He met her while sitting on the hospital walls as she and her friends walked to work at a munitions factory. As he was a Wolverhampton boy he probably never would have come to London at all. So in a "sliding doors" kind of way, that nasty evil gas resulted in my Dad and in turn me and the rest of my siblings and offspring being here today.

I will always honour the 11th November and encourage the kids as they grow up to do so too. When I visited the memorial in Ypres to the Northumbrian division it was quite overwhelming to see my grandfathers fallen compatriots in the 250th RFA. So many and so young and many were nameless "A soldier of the Great War - known unto God".

I never knew my Grandfather as he died 6 years before I was born but I wish he had told more of his war story to my father and he to me. For now I have traced his medal record and read the war diaries of the 250th RFA to get a glimpse of the terrible times he strived through to ensure I can have the great lifestyle we live today.

I will again visit France and Belgium to see the places where he fought and pass my respect to all  those who fell who left no descendants to remember them as well as those who were there and came back nursing their wounds be they physical or mental. Theirs was a hard life.

Am I an addictive personality?

So first it was Battlestar Gallactica- once Tom introduced me to that I could not stop watching and yearning for the next episode until I had made it through to the last episode of Season 4. Once I'd finished that one I worried about withdrawal symptoms until the rest of season 4 is aired. Solution? If I watch them all again it might just take me through to January and also I'll learn more bits I never saw first time right?

But I'm no Sci Fi trekkie fan! What's happening? Luckily youtube fills the gap with some snippets and stories about the actors  while I wait for Season4.5(?) but I needed another outlet.

After all I'm not travelling for the rest of the year, I'm home alone a lot,  I mountain bike but the weather and dark nights mean I don't go out there as much these days.

So along comes Guitar Hero on the Wii. It took me a while to give in and buy it

but boy now I can't put the thing down. In fact I'm only writing this now to give my fingers a rest from the guitar and RSI!

I NEVER thought I would get so addicted to playing musical instruments. OK well I don't play an instrument but this is the nearest I'll get to playing one! It's so de-stressing, and at the same time frustrating, after all I'm competitive and a perfectionist right? So I'm trying to unlock all the other songs as I progress in my career at the same time as trying to hit 100% of notes on 1 or 2 fave songs!

Well I sound like I'm mastering it but I admit I'm still on easy! I have only been playing for 3 days now (and don't worry I don't mean ALL day, one has to work and mountain bike, oh and eat and see the kids for fireworks etc, hmm did I sleep at any point? I don't recall. If I did I was humming Barracuda in my sleep).

Right! Withdrawal symptoms setting in. I'm off for another hit! Barr-a-cuda!

Woooh Ahhhh look at those fireworks!

Woooh Ahhhh look at those fireworks!, originally uploaded by kendyck1.

Nov 8th- Bonfire Night

Bangers and mash with the kids before we loaded up, 3 in my car and Cal with Garerth and Jules and headed to fireworks at Bramley.

We arrived just in time to get 4 torches and light them for the Torchlight parade. They were tin can's stuffed with petrol soaked tinder and wired on to a stick. 4 under 7's carrying them was worrying so we ended up carrying them with or for them!

A massive crowd paraded to the green through the deep mud. Ella lost a welly at one point and was rescued by a man behind her. Once on the green we threw our torches on the huge bonfire to burn many many guys at the stake! Then we waded through the mud to queue for hot dogs and roasted chestnuts.

At last the fireworks were set off just as the rain started (a typical British bonfire night then) and the oohs and ahhs rumbled through the crowds as the bangs in the air made our hearts thump faster. The sky was lit up completely by an array of colours one after another and the kids were loving it, looks of delight and amazement on their faces although some hands on ears were required.

There were even 2 cyclists lit up chasing one another and some tanks/ships shooting.

Just when we thought it was over another mass of fireworks shot up and lit the sky for a grand finale, one dropping into the crowd near us, but quickly stamped out.

What a great display! And so we walked back to the cars through the village and the mud, a little damper, but thrilled by the spectacle!

2nd night ride of the year

Nov 5th-

Unbelievable I know but I went back for more! It took quite some effort to get me off the couch and shut down my PC. A flat tyre almost gave me a get out excuse but I disciplined myself and fixed it.

The guys were also amazed thatI had come back for more but it was said with an element of respect, I think. Simon introduced himself and I felt like I was less of an outsider this week.

Still the pace was furious as we set off and I quickly got dropped as we headed towards Redlands and up a huge off-road climb that killed me at that pace. Being on a hardtail took a bit of getting used to I was bouncing on my seat a lot and felt very inefficient. The Fenix headtorch works great but once we got on the singletrack this week I had my supercharged up Lumicycle HID and that made a big difference to the speed I could go.

The ride was very boggy and again I wondered what on earth was I doing chasing these guys around from the back. They stopped and waited for me and set off as soon as I arrived so I really went non-stop for over 2.5hrs until we got to the top of Leith tower where we set off a couple of fireworks. One never made it off teh ground so we all scarpered for cover of the tower itself as it exploded on its stick. The other did not have a stick so we duck taped one on and set it alight eventually and it shot in the sky and exploded several times whilst we all still cowered behind the tower! Very funny moments!

We stopped at th Plough and I felt accepoted more as jokes at my expense and teasing started. After a couple of drinks we shot down summer lightening and Rookery at a fair pace and back in our cars.

Both my Fenix torch adn my Lumicycle HID with Lithium Ion battery lasted the whole ride. Pretty good going! It shows that reading reviews online really helps you choose the best products.

30km and 3.5 hrs- exahusted again but feeling good about myself for doing it!

First Night Ride of the year!

October 29th

I must be the queen of procrastination this year. I've been looking for people to ride with for ages, I've been surfing the web and seeing group rides being advertised but never getting the motivation enough to get out there and join them, preferring to go ride (and play on my bike) on my own at a time and place only I have to agree with myself. But... I've yearned to do a night ride and I just am sensible enough to realise I really should not go night riding on my own.

So... I blocked out my Wed night work diary so no-one could book a call, I charged up my lights (or so I thought) and packed my muddy bike in the car. After my last work call I grabbed my lights, tested them, aaaagh one works but the best one does not! How come? It's been charging for 8hrs! Surf to www.lumicycle.com check charging instructions- ah- should have plugged battery into charger before plug charger into socket. Let's try that, yep its working but too late for tonight, I'll just have to survive on backup light from Fenix, strapped on helmet.

Arrive at Nirvana 15 mins early. 3 other riders there but gradually that builds to 12 riders, all blokes and all regular riders with mainly light XC bikes or hardtails. mmmm my idea that we would play on Singletrack for a couple of hours may not be realised! We leave sometime around 6:45/7 and sprint off into the cold night. There is snow around in places remnants from the sudden drop in temp last night and snow storm.

The pace is fast but George hangs back with me and keeps me chatting. My bike and its extra pound of mud seems inappropriate for this riding style and I start to worry. We pick up Dave at Abinger and continue on up to Holmbury. I'm always at the back with someone, the pack always waits for us but as soon as I arrive we head off so I really get no breaks.

It's dark and I'm chasing lights so its tough to realise where we are in the Downs but I soon realise we are approaching Peaslake. Now I'm worried if I'll have the stamina and pace to make it back! I drop my saddle to ride Golden Birdies for the first time in the dark at least I know where the diagonal roots are as its pretty wet and slushy with melting snow.

But we go further and soon I can see we are over at Winterfold woods and there is talk starting of stopping at the pub (I realise I forgot my wallet- I'll be popular!). We lose the rest of the group at a singletrack turn we missed so we scoot around our own trails to try and regroup. Someone comes and finds us and leads us on. We're back in Peaslake and climbing to Holmbury, down Yoghurt pots which is surprisingly drier than I expected and then the off camber bit under Telegraph. Finally arriving at the Kings Head in Holmbury for a drink after George took a tumble off a climb.

Getting cold in the pub and pulling on that fleece and buff that I threw in my pack as an afterthought (thankfully). We still had to get back to Westcott! Now its only 1 degree outside and my clothes are wet. My teeth start to chatter as we ride down the road and I cannot control them however hard I try, my whole upper body is shivering uncontrollably. George, Hugh and I cut off up a climb which helped warm us a little and by the time we got to the A25 we were ahead of the pack. At Wotton Hatch we cut off road again and no more climbs to Nirvana and said my goodbyes - quickly packing my bike in teh car and whacking the heater on high for the drive home. Home by 11:15- a bit more of an epic than I thought.

Will I go back? I thought not at first but then it will be good for my fitness, so maybe I will build up my hardtail so I can ride a lighter bike around and not hold the back so much.

Glad I finally got out there though.

North Downs with Pete and Lee

October 18th

Wow people to ride with at last! Pete actually made it out on a bike and Lee came down from Oxford for his first tour of the North Downs singletrack.

Pete ahd a route in mind rather than just playing on singletrack. Recently I've been riding on my own a lot so I've started just playing and sessioning the best singletrack routes. Parking at the Holmbury village CP climbing up to Homlmbury hill viewpoint and heading over to the reservoir via black hole and then sessioning "Golden Birdies" 4 or 5 times (takes about 5 mins to get down and 10-15 to climb up) and "I should coco" a couple of times, then back via "Yoghurt pots" and "Telegraph" back down to the CP. Dry trails and fast tracks.

So anyway today we start in Peaslake and climb up Pitch hill and play on some of the singletrack that I think is called "T1, T2" which has been logged a bit but the route is coming back now and then down "Baptista" which has been logged a little too but is still fun, twisty and challenging but not so much to manoeuvre your handlebars through nowadays and back down to Peaslake.

Too early for tea so we climbed up to the reservoir and top of Holmbury, yoghurt pots, then the off camber parallaling Telegraph and the new stuff Dave showed us (nameless). Took the bridelway past the school until we climbed almost to Leith. At Leith Tower we had tea and sandwiches and cake of course and bumped into Simon from Nirvana, reminding me I must ride with him again.

"Windy Willows" was the usual fun but a bit muddy over the log jumps at the end!
Scuttled down the steep descent towards Friday street then climbed up via Simons Copse and back down the bottom of Summer lightning to Rookery. Cross the A25 and along white Down back across A25 and climb up near Abinger to Holmbury.

Lee thought we were done but we pointed towards Peaslake and how much further we still had to go. He was sprinting ahead on his light 24lbs Specialized hard tail and I steadily did leg presses on my 33lb Hustler FR set-up to climb on up to the top of Holmbury.

Finally we had the fun fast fling down Golden Birdies which was massive fun as usual such sweet singletrack! And of course tea at the bus shelter at the bottom and cake AGAIN!

40km done, 6.5 hrs out, moving for 4.5 hrs (so lots of chat and tea breaks going on!)

Back at Pete's Is had cooked a Vegan meal for us and Lockey came round so it was good to catch up after a few years absence!