Watch out for yourselves......

mudflapgirl

Hi,
My name is Linda. My husband Jude was killed last Thursday off his bike. It happened on the 13th (for the google people out there) He was one of two bikers who died on Thursday. To be honest I don't know much about the other lad, I know he was 27 and from Kilkenny past that I don't know.

I know a majority of you out there probably are safe drivers like Jude. But I know from experience, both while following Jude on his bike and obviously what happened last Thursday, that it's not yourselves you need to be watching. You need to watch everybody on the road. They're probably not looking for you.

The mornings currently are darker, the roads colder and your wheels won't heat up a quick so your grip is less. Being extra diligent might be the thing that saves you.

Jude had a thing. When he saw an accident happening he dropped the bike to minimize the damage to anybody else. On Thursday, he tried the same thing but this time it didn't work. He WAS overtaking but it was on a wide stretch and a broken line so a legal manouvere. The car involved turned into a driveway while he was overtaking. Whether she used an indicator is up for debate but it's fairly obvious that she did NOT look properly in her mirrors. The usual way people do probably - 'No Cars, grand' She wouldn't have been looking for a bike.

I've been told the RSA started a campaign the same day for raise awareness of bikes on the road but I know from painful experience that car divers will probably not change for you guys. I've seen people hesitate at junctions and then pull out anyway in front of Jude, not realising that even though a bike is smaller and the engine smaller that the weight ratio is less so he could travel quicker. I've seen people cut him off on roundabouts. I've seen people overtake from behind my car and pull in in front of me - nearly putting him in ditches.

Basically, I'm asking for everyone to be extra diligent. Jude used to say it wasn't him he had to worry about it was the other drivers. So True. Car drivers assume they're the more powerful vehicle so can do/make the manouvere before a bike gets to them. I may have a reason for knowing and being aware of bikes when I'm in the car but others DON'T.

Give yourself the extra few metres between you and the cars. Make sure you know what's going on around you. Cars generally are not looking out for you. Make sure your family doesn't have to go through what me and my daughter have to. Don't let your wife, girlfriend, mother, daughter, sister, whatever have to explain where daddy, brother, uncle has gone. I know it's going to be the hardest conversation for me. How do I tell a 2 year old her daddy is gone because of lack of observation, on whoevers part? How do I tell her she never gets to see him again? How will she explain it to people when she's older?

I'm sure you're all aware of what you need to do but...

Look after yourselves boys (and girls) - not everyone on the road is.

Linda.

webels

So sorry for you and your little girls terrible loss. You have just written one of the most amazing posts i have ever read here. RIP

chasm

I am so sorry to hear of your loss Linda. I'm sure i'm not the only one here who appreciates the time that you have taken at this difficult time to write such an altruistic post.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your Daughter at this time. RIP

Niall06

Sorry for your loss, thank you for the post.
I'm sure Jude is looking down and is very proud of you.

madrab

Sorry for your loss, i cant imagine what you are going through. My thoughts are with you and your Daughter at this time.

Dubit10

So sorry for you and your familys loss.No words to be said.Just terrible terrible news.May he rest in peace and i for one think your post is brave beyond words.I will be taking it extra careful out there in the future as i have two little girls myself and this really hits home.Sorry once again

rgfuller

Thank you for posting. My deepest condolences go out to you and your young family.

Mjedl

Linda, my sincere sympathy to you and your family on your loss.

Interceptor

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. This thread should be mandatory reading for all drivers (bikes, cars, trucks, whatever) so that people take the extra couple of seconds to watch what they are doing.

Bike drivers - make yourselves seen, blip your throttle, flash your lights or beep your horn as you prepare to overtake. Constantly change position in traffic for visiblity and safety, sweep their mirrors, stay out of blind spots and always, always remind yourself that other road users are guaranteed to do the unexpected.

R.I.P Jude.

'cptr

Idleater

Terribly sad to hear of incidents like this happening, and all too often it is the people who are doing nothing wrong that things happen to.

Sorry for your loss, and may you cherish the memories of your husband for ever more.

It is important for all of us bikers, to read the post, and to be aware of this, sadly because we are the ones that come off worst in these incidents, regardless of what happens to cause them.

Wossack

Thank you for taking the time to share this with us Linda. My thoughts and prayers go out to both you and your daughter.

Truely sorry for your loss

RIP Jude

SuprSi

So unbelievably sorry to read this post Linda, my thoughts are with you and your daughter.

MonkeyTennis

Thanks and god bless you.

charlieIRL

very sorry to hear of your loss, deepest sympathies to you and your family.

murphaph

Thanks Linda. Genuinely saddened to read your post. Can't imagine what you're going through but I'll be extra careful for the muppets having read your post.

Take care of yourselves-Philip.

kippy

Hi Linda,
May Jude rest in peace.
My thoughts are with you and your daughter at this time.
I hope everyone who uses this site gets a chance to read your post.
Kippy

jellikit

I'm so sorry for your terrible loss. Please accept my deepest sympathies and also my thanks. Thanks for sparing the time to write your very moving post. It says a lot for your strength of character that you can take a little time to
worry about Jude's fellow bikers while you are trying to come to terms with your bereavement. I'm sure I can speak for bikers everywhere when I say our thoughts are with you and your little girl.

Horatio

So sorry for your loss Linda, my heart goes out to you and your daughter tonight, your post was incredibly brave and hartfelt and I just hope more people heed it and avert tradigies like this in the future

carsQhere

My deepest sympathies to you and your family. I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been to put together a post like that, and I sincerely hope some good comes of this tragedy. God bless.

alanlouthzzr

Thanks for the post Linda. It takes some effort to put that together. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the rest of your family.

Alan.

bogman

Very sorry for you and your daughter's loss Linda, what you say makes sense and I will try to pay more attention.
God bless you over Christmas Linda
R.I.P Jude

Krusty_Clown

I'm so sorry for your loss Linda. A very heart-moving and poignant post.
Thank you for sharing it with us. I will remember your caution and this post for a long time.

RIP Jude.

Wolfman-2

I'm terribly sorry for both yourself and your young daughter. I have read posts from Jude's friends who hold him in the highest esteem as a human being, a life partner & parent.

A tragic loss like this makes no sense, but it took tremendous courage on your behalf, Linda, to write such a moving piece.

You both were blessed to have had Jude in your lives for the short time allowed, may God & Jude look over you both in the days & months ahead.

Conor

Kaos Theory

Linda, thank you for taking the time to post a very important message. I can only imagine the strength it took to put that together, I consider myself a careful rider however your words will stay with when I climb onto my bike tomorrow morning. Take care of yourself and the little ones and may Jude rest in peace.

Kaos

Run_to_da_hills

Thanks for the post and my sincere sympathy to you and your family on your loss.

hillybilly

Linda your tragic loss has really toucherd me . I too lost a loved one in a bikeing accident in the same circumstances .My thoughts and prayers are with you and your little one.

Fr Dougal

Duplicate post, apologies.

Fr Dougal

Very sorry for your loss Linda.

Thank you very much for the post and the safety wishes.

F

Rippy

It is deeply touching that you can see beyond this terrible personal tragedy and
think of others at a time such as this.
As a biker , driver and father-to-be of twins, I appreciate your warning ,and will do my upmost to stay safe.
You bought a tear to my eye.
I am very sorry for your loss.
RIP Jude

gipi

Linda,

I am so very sorry to hear of your loss, my condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to you, your daughter and all of Jude's friends and relations.

Thank you for thinking of us in your time of grief. If your post saves even one of us here, Jude's sad loss will not have been in vain.

RIP.

Q_Ball

Sorry for your loss linda, you have my deepest sympathies.

RIP.

Sputnik

You have my condolences. I hope christmas passed with at least a little bit of cheer.

DonkeyRhubarb

You have my deepest sympathies and I'm amazed at your selflessness in posting at this time.

As a new person to biking, I can put new things into my habit of driving at an early stage. I will remember this post always and keep your words in mind when driving my bike and also be extra observant when in my car.

Again, deepest sympathies. I'm willing for you to have all the strength you need for everything that you will experience.

demosuzki

Linda

not that it is much help toyou or your little girl
but I'd like to extend my sympathy and to thank you for taking the time to post the warning to us all.

-DS

Lorddrakul

Thank you Linda for taking the time, and what must have been an enormous effort on your part, to post here. As a long biker with small children myself, I must admit it has hit hard.

My deepest sympathies are with you and yours.

LD

Voodoo_Crazy

Reading that was one of the hardest things i"ve had to do in awhile!!
Really sorry for your loss. Honestly can"t think of anything else to say.