Last Saturday John and Rosa had a great party for riders of the whine and dine ride. It was great fun! We started the day with a ride from Los Altos, up Old La Honda to Skyline, across to 84, back down and return to Los Altos. It was one of the most aggressive rides I have done in a long time. You know after the ride and the party, I slept like a rock!
As the after work rides wind down we may start doing more weekend whine and dine rides.
Colorado police officer charged in ACTC cyclist’s death
According to the Cañon City Daily Record, a Colorado newspaper, the Fremont County Colorado district attorney’s office filed charges on July 25 against Cañon City Police Detective Doug Havens in connection with a deadly car vs. bicycle accident June 24 which killed ACTC member Bill Bliss on Colorado highway 67 near Wetmore, Colorado.
Havens, 34, was charged with careless driving causing death, a Class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense in Colorado, and speeding (77 in a 65 mph zone). He was driving a pickup northbound on Colorado state highway 67 — while off-duty — and collided from behind with a bicycle ridden by Bliss. Bliss, 69, died at the scene.
Havens, a Westcliffe Colorado resident, was uninjured in the crash, which took place about 11:25 a.m. a couple miles north of Wetmore. According to Coroner Dorothy Twellman, Havens was traveling about 60 mph when he hit Bliss, who died of a neck fracture at the base of his skull. A long-time ACTC member, Bliss was doing a cross-country bicycle tour.
On Wednesday we rode to the youth hostel on Sanborn, off highway nine. This is a great place to ride too. The hostel is this tranquil quiet place that is way off the beaten path. I can't recommend it enough. Up until the incident with the motorcyclist, that is.
According to former ACTC president Michael Curtis, as well as several witnesses to the incident, Curtis was injured on the evening of Wednesday August third when a motorcyclist shoved him to the ground causing him to crash. Curtis was traveling eastbound on Los Gatos Blvd near Los Gatos Saratoga Road in the bike lane.
Curtis said the motorcyclist entered the bike lane and came close to him. According to Curtis words were exchanged. Then the motorcyclist reached over to him, from his motorbike to Curtis's bicycle while both were in motion, and shoved Curtis to the ground. Curtis was riding from the end of the Wednesday club whine and dine ride to the evening dinner after the ride, also in Los Gatos.
Witnesses stopped and helped Curtis, except for one that followed the motorcycle and got his license plate number. According to police they are investigating.
Steve Sloan came upon the scene and Sloan and Curtis went to the hospital. Curtis was banged up, he had several wounds and some road rash but no broken bones were found.
