this breedlove?
Posted on 06/23/2005 6:38:53 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Colorado authorities are trying to figure out why the bike of a well-known Des Moines doctor and cyclist would have headed into oncoming traffic.
Dr. Robert Breedlove, an orthopedic surgeon from Des Moines, died Thursday while cycling in a nationwide bike race.
Breedlove was competing in the 24th Annual Race Across America endurance race, which takes just over a week to complete. Breedlove holds the RAAM tandem record. The race began on June 19.
The accident happened at about 11:30 a.m. Thursday about 26 miles west of Trinidad, Colo.
The driver of that truck said he saw Breedlove slump over the wheel of his bike shortly before crossing into his path. Witnesses said Breedlove's bike veered over the centerline as it headed east and that he had appeared to slump down on his bike before a vehicle hit him.
He died instantly.
Jim Pitre, the director of RAAM, told NewsChannel 8 that he was shocked when he heard the news. Breedlove was one of 26 solo racers this year in RAAM.
Breedlove was a familiar and respected figure in the cycling community. This was to be his fifth solo ride across the country. His brother was in a car about five minutes behind him when the crash happened.
An autopsy is scheduled to be performed within the next 24 hours to try and figure whether some kind of medical condition could have led to him crossing into oncoming traffic.
Riders are being given the option of continuing the race.
Breedlove was an active promoter of safe cycling for fitness and fun. Among his exploits was riding an entire Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) route in just one day.
He was 53 years old.
What? The Bike now has a mind of it's own? Like an SUV? Or maybe it's just that this guy so exhausted himself he literally fell asleep on the bike and rolled into oncoming traffic.
Totally different cat, but I got to admit, I grew up in the 60s and thought of Craig first.
Come to think of it, where is Art Arfons these days?
Now, this bike accident sure sounds like a heart attack or stroke. The poor guy, and his poor brother. On the plus side, he died doing what he loved, and how many people get to go like that?
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
"Sounds like the doctor might have suffered from exhaustion and became disoriented..."
I bet you're right about that. Did you see NBC's coverage of this last year; it was a sort of documentary about the whole thing. The event is insanely challenging; these riders literally almost kill themselves trying to win. They get virtually no sleep. Some were using rope to hold their heads up because their neck and back muscles were shot. Some were riding on serious injuries. Some were suffering serious circulation problems.
Yule Gibbons redux.
"I quit years ago after being run off the road one too many times"
I quit in 1952, the day I turned 16, and started driving my 1940 Ford coupe street racer and put my bicycle out for the trash collector!
Pity this happened. A prayer for his family. But there's something to be said for a death doing something you truly enjoy.
Heat exhaustion was my first thought. Upper 80's to 90 at that time today in Trinidad, elevation over 5700. Sun is brutal at those higher elevations.
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