Land's End to John O'Groats cyclist dies in Cumbria crash

Bad weather thought to be a factor in woman's death

2 comments

by tony_farrelly on September 12, 2011 - 09:46

road.cc news

A woman riding from Land's End to John O'Groats died at the weekend when she crashed in heavy rain on a road in Cumbria. The incident happened early on Saturday evening near Sedbergh in Cumbria when she failed to negotiate a bend on Thornton Lane – according to local news reports it is not thought that any other vehicles were involved.

The 40-year old woman was doing the ride as part of a group of cyclists. Despite the efforts of paramedics she was pronounced dead at the scene from her injuries. Cumbrian Police are working to inform her relatives.

Since 2008 at least one cyclist a year has died riding the LEJOG route, this weekend's incident was unusual in that no other vehicle seems to have been involved and the road in question was not a fast A road. In terms of fatalities the roads of the South West and Midlands have been the most dangerous part of the Land's End to John O'Groats route in recent years.

2008 Graham Lees killed on the A38 near Taunton as he neared end of ride from John O'Groats to Lands End
2009 Simon Evans killed on A30 near Tedburn St Mary - driver claimed she was frightened by spider
2010 - Arthur Platt killed on A442 in Telford on ride to raise money for Help for Heroes

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Did she wear proper helmet? Well either way it's a sad event

posted by DofeDome [16 posts] 12th September 2011 - 10:41

On that road myself on Saturday afternoon in the pouring rain. It's a 9m mile road between Ingleton and Dent which climbs a valley passing through closed gates. The drop into Deepdale has to be seen to be believed. It must be a 20% decline for 50 metres into a left hander at the top followed by a couple more nasty bends and finishing with a sharp left then right at the bottom which immediately meets a closed gate...

I can imagine how the poor woman came to grief on that road. I was relieved to get down it myself - and I was on a road bike with no extra stuff. It's a beautiful cycling road but definitely tough enough in the dry when you're not tired and carrying lots of stuff.

Terrible accident. My thoughts go to her family and friends on the journey.

MercuryOne