A coroner’s inquest has said that a British cyclist’s inability to unclip from his pedals led to him being killed after he lost his balance and was hit by a van while on holiday on Jersey in the Channel Islands. The coroner says he will be writing to Shimano, the manufacturers of the pedals, to raise his concerns.
Neil Blood, aged 42 and from Stoke-on-Trent, had not used clipless pedals prior to his holiday in July last year, where he was riding a new bike fitted with them.
Mr Blood was cycling with his cousin, Ruth, in St Helier and after turning to look at her, he hit a lamp post, causing him to lose his balance and fall under a passing van, reports the BBC.
His father, Geoff Blood, told the inquest that shortly before his son departed on his holiday he had urged him not to use clipless pedals, which he believes are dangerous.
“What happens with those cleats is you can’t pull your foot in and out,” he said, quoted in the Stoke Sentinel.
“You have to do a motion and when Neil or anybody is involved in an accident you don’t think logically.
“Your brain becomes a bit scrambled and to get your foot out of cleats you have got to think clearly.”
Mr Blood, a father of three who ran his own engineering business, received medical treatment at the scene but died in hospital shortly afterwards.
According to Home Office pathologist Dr Amanda Jeffrey, he sustained “extremely severe” injuries to his chest after being run over by the van.
The inquest heard that there was nothing the vehicle’s driver could have done to avoid hitting the cyclist.
Deputy Viscount Advocate Mark Harris said that Mr Blood’s death was a “tragic accident,” adding that he intended to write to Shimano to “bring this verdict to their attention.”
We have contacted both Shimano and UK distributor Madison for their reaction and will let you know their response.
Well there's no need to leave in a huff - take your time, leave in a minute and a huff.
I'd say this is only tangentially related to cycling – the fact that it happened to someone on a bike is just chance. It's more a policing story.
Thanks for the link. I love watching Dudley Moore trying not to laugh.
And less than a plurality of brain cells.
Unfortunately this sounds like multiple factors combining:...
I've got a 2020 Scultura 7000e which cost £3,000 (slightly reduced) and came with Shimano Ultegra Di2. It's a fabulous bike - especially now with a...
The most common cause of fatal collisions in Norfolk in 2022 was loss of control (26%), closely followed by failing to look properly (21%).
Then you should report it to DVLA using this link - https://contact.dvla.gov.uk/report-untaxed-vehicle
Once again Rendel you miss the point spectacularly....
They'll never solve those roads with this bridge, it just gets you round the wet dock across the lock gates, they need another bridge to get across...