I felt compelled to respond to this tragedy. Riding across Canada was one of the greatest adventures of my life and I love reading about people doing the same thing. More recently having been hit while cycling, I know how easy it would have been to be fatal. I suppose those two influences together draw me to this.
I don’t know Graeme Loader but having ridden the Trans-Canada highway and experienced the shit roads in Manitoba I can imagine what happened. Here is what I wrote in 2006,
Manitobas roads are crap too. Shit, even China has better highways. Like what the hell is the Manitoban government spending their tax dollars on? The Tranny doesn’t even have paved shoulders for God sake! I spent a lot of time in the road forcing traffic into the left-hand lane. A few times I had to hurl myself onto the shoulder to avoid the trucks as they came by passing each other shoulder to shoulder. This was tough to control as loose gravel and a heavy bike are not conducive to safe biking.
I am deeply sorry for Graeme’s family to lose someone so young during what should have been a fun and memorable experience. A lot of people are posting about cycling being unsafe and stuff. Sometimes it is, but crossing the street can be dangerous too. Graeme was raising money for the WWF and I was happy to donate. I’m just sorry it was this tragedy which brought it to my attention.
Rest in peace fellow randonneur, may the wind always be at your back.