DEL ACCIDENT

[Ronnie]

I am not sure if you have been informed but Del took a really bad fall yesterday on the way to the club run.
Our group were waved down by a couple of cyclists who had stopped to assist, just on the A23 near Starbucks.
I understand from Julian who stayed to assist that Del was taken to St, Georges hospital.
It looks like the front forks collapsed, which I have never seen before.
I am sure we all wish him well and hope he is ok.
Can anyone add an update if they know anymore.

[Del]

Thanks for posting up Ron.

I'm still in St George's for observation.

I posted the following on the ACC Facebook page earlier today.

Hi All. Greetings from St George's hospital in Tooting.

Firstly I'd like to thank everybody who helped me, updated others or sent their best wishes. It was really good to read all of that when I came round.

I don't remember anything of the accident. In fact I remember almost nothing of the day until I was aware of having stitches at the hospital. I'm really struggling to remember any of the ride up to the crash.

I only know what others have written that I seem to have suffered a sudden catastrophic fork failure on my Time VXR.

I guess I must have face planted as almost all the damage is there. I'm covered in scabs, stitches and I've lost and chipped a few teeth.

I'm currently very good at drinking tea through a straw, ok at eating porridge and a total failure with cottage pie and mash!

I'm incredibly grateful to those that stopped. I think they were the runners, Mark Cawood, Jon Camden and Julian Gibson . Sorry if I have missed anyone or got that wrong as I really have no memory.

Thanks also to my wife and daughters Maggie Cobb, Laura Cobb and Vicki Cobb who came to see me and my good friends Andy Knight and Pam Knight who also came up.

And finally thanks again for all the messages of support. They really do make a difference.

My latest news is that I slept through the night (hourly checks and questions to confirm no brain damage) and I've delighted the staff by managing to wash and have a poo! How cool is that?

Please share this if you want as I'm aware that some of the people who have sent their wishes are friends of my daughters or other friends.

I hope to be back on the bike soon.......... and this time I hope to stay on it!

[Marcus]

Del, hope you have a quick recovery and are back on your bike (maybe not the Time) soon.
Marcus

[Andrew G]

Sorry to hear Del, all the best.

[Iliya]

Wishing you speedy recovery Del!

[Rogan]

Get well son Del, Sounds like you had a nasty fall… And doubtless you will wondering how a top frame should just fail like that…??!!

[Elliot M]

good grief -- sorry to hear that and hope you're back before too long.

[Del]

Thanks for the kind words guys!

I'm back home now, although the scabs and stitches are still there and I need to get to my dentist to repair some broken teeth.

I've had somebody offer to look at my bike to see if he can diagnose why it failed. It may not work, but it's worth a try.

I still remember absolutely nothing of the accident but am trying to piece it together from people who were on the scene or arrived soon after.

Hopefully I'll be back riding with ACC soon!

[Brian Nolan]

very sorry to read about your accident Del, I hope the recovery & trip to the dentist goes well & that you will be back on your bike soon...

[Elliot M]

Hope you are well on the mend now Del.

I am wondering if you had a GPS on, and if so whether it was able to provide any clues?

[Dombo]

Wishing you a speedy recovery, Del. Definitely have somebody qualified examine the bike - forks/frames shouldn't catastrophically fail.

[Del]

[quote="Elliot M"]Hope you are well on the mend now Del.

I am wondering if you had a GPS on, and if so whether it was able to provide any clues?

[Del]

[quote="Dombo"]Wishing you a speedy recovery, Del. Definitely have somebody qualified examine the bike - forks/frames shouldn't catastrophically fail.

[Del]

[quote="Brian Nolan"]very sorry to read about your accident Del, I hope the recovery & trip to the dentist goes well & that you will be back on your bike soon...

[Brian Nolan]

I have been back on it about 3 weeks after 6 month's off since I had an op at Benenden last August. Want to go on the club run tomorrow - first time in almost 2 years !