WHO'S WORLD OF FANTASY WILL YOU DIVE INTO NEXT?

I DOUBT there is any other sport as unpredicatble as cycling. There is only a 50/50 chance that one will make it back home after they throw themselves on their bikes. And even on the good 50% side, one could make it back in a terrible state. Trust me, I would know.

Anything could happen while out on a ride: get knocked down by a car; hit a pebble with your front wheel, causing one to lose control and crash; ram into a stalled vehicle; run over a crossing animal such as a squirrel or even deer; hit a pedestrian; a crash in the peleton;….

All those scenarios (and others) could lead to fractured limbs, broken collar bones, tarmac rash, damaged bikes, missing skin, and in extreme cases, death.

This week, we lost a young, talented cyclist at Stage 3 of the Tour of Poland. Bjorg Lambretch, 22, was on the brink of writing history when Fate and Destiny pulled the strings the wrong way. I think it was rather unfair of them, and if I could, I’d give them a piece of my mind, and it certainly would not be pretty.

Does that imply that one should stop riding because of the dangers involved?

No! That is not the idea of this piece. Quite the contrary, one should embrace them as part and parcel of the sport. And in many ways, we hardly ever think about them while out riding.

Nevertheless, one should give thanks when they do make it back home in one piece. We have taken getting back home for granted so much that we don’t even think about it.

Even if it is to the stars, whisper a small “Thank you”. It does make all the difference, trust me.