# How can a experienced cyclist run into a curb? (John Kerry) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 1, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-experienced-cyclist-run-into-a-curb-john-kerry/721370 "2015-06-01T19:05:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-experienced-cyclist-run-into-a-curb-john-kerry/721370/1 "2015-06-01T19:05:37Z")
He’s been riding for decades. A former pro cyclist rode with Kerry and was quite impressed. How can such a experienced guy wipe out on a curb? I ride a vintage Schwinn for fun and exercise. Speed is not a consideration. I have no interest in replicating the speeds I can easily do in a car. Nor do I ride more than 6 to 8 miles. Thats plenty of exercise for me. Bicycling is strictly a relaxing activity on a beautiful, sunny day for me. Not a sport. So, how did Kerry wipe out, break his femur, and end up getting helicoptered to a hospital? > **[John Kerry to stay overnight at Geneva hospital after bike accident | CNN...](https://www.cnn.com/2015/05/31/europe/geneva-john-kerry-bike-accident/)** > > Secretary of State John Kerry had a bicycle accident in France, was taken by helicopter to hospital in nearby Geneva, Switzerland, State Department says. [http://www.wsj.com/articles/john-kerry-not-your-average-cyclist-1433105684](http://www.wsj.com/articles/john-kerry-not-your-average-cyclist-1433105684) > [@](#): > > “A lot of times, you go on rides with executives or dignitaries or VIPs and it’s a very, very casually paced ride,” Vaughters said Sunday. “But Kerry is the real deal—fit, fast, confident. If he raced in his age category, he’d be one of the top riders in the U.S.” ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-experienced-cyclist-run-into-a-curb-john-kerry/721370/2 "2015-06-01T19:11:53Z")
Because shit happens. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-experienced-cyclist-run-into-a-curb-john-kerry/721370/3 "2015-06-01T19:23:13Z")
I was curious if he lost control and skidded into the curb. I Looked around and there’s no reported description of what happened. Why not lay the bike down like a motorcyclist would? Thats better than hitting a curb and risk flipping over the handlebars. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-experienced-cyclist-run-into-a-curb-john-kerry/721370/4 "2015-06-01T19:37:38Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I was curious if he lost control and skidded into the curb. I Looked around and there’s no reported description of what happened. > > **Why not lay the bike down like a motorcyclist would?** Thats better than hitting a curb and risk flipping over the handlebars. That’s called “losing control”. Most likely was debris or a pothole. If he was in a group, such things are not visible unless you’re in the front. Normally, the lead rider warns those behind of such hazards. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-experienced-cyclist-run-into-a-curb-john-kerry/721370/5 "2015-06-01T20:37:52Z")
ok. I just wondered what might have happened. I’ll be sure to avoid any mountain riding. Kerry got a pretty significant injury. Could be 5 months or more before he’s riding again. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-experienced-cyclist-run-into-a-curb-john-kerry/721370/6 "2015-06-01T21:03:04Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Most likely was debris or a pothole. In Switzerland? I hardly think so… 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![sevenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sevenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevenwood)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-experienced-cyclist-run-into-a-curb-john-kerry/721370/7 "2015-06-01T21:11:48Z")
He’s in his 70s. I’m 67, and while I’m pretty fit for my age I will certainly admit that neither my balance nor my reaction time is what it was when I was younger. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-experienced-cyclist-run-into-a-curb-john-kerry/721370/8 "2015-06-01T21:24:53Z")
Kerry is 71, or 72, years old. Shit happens. An old man rides fast (for an old man). An old man hits a curb, and breaks his leg. He’s lucky he didn’t receive more serious injuries. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-experienced-cyclist-run-into-a-curb-john-kerry/721370/9 "2015-06-01T23:32:21Z")
Distracted by papparazzi? ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-experienced-cyclist-run-into-a-curb-john-kerry/721370/10 "2015-06-02T13:07:13Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > In Switzerland? I hardly think so… > > 🆒 They don’t get potholes in Switzerland? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-experienced-cyclist-run-into-a-curb-john-kerry/721370/11 "2015-06-02T13:15:40Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > They don’t get potholes in Switzerland? Just in their cheese. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-experienced-cyclist-run-into-a-curb-john-kerry/721370/12 "2015-06-02T13:52:00Z")
**aceplace** , could you quote the part from your links about his running into a curb? I’m not finding that at either link. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-experienced-cyclist-run-into-a-curb-john-kerry/721370/13 "2015-06-02T15:10:20Z")
Well, as a 54 yr old casual biker who shattered his ankle 3 months ago walking down the steps IN MY OWN FRIGGIN HOUSE! :eek:, I’m with the “shit happens” and “it sucks to get old” brigade. I do a 2.5 hour ride with my sister weekly. Most of it is on a bike path, and we try to go at a decent pace. Tho there is little bike/pedestrian traffic. it is not unheard of for one of us to swerve. Maybe one of us is looking at a bird or a deer, and didn’t realize we were turning our bike as we turned our head. Or a portion of the path will be muddy or washed out, and when we swerve to miss it we realize we are close to riding off the path. Or maybe you just get startled seeing your partner closer to you than you expected. Busted femur is a bitch, tho. Will be tough for a 70 yr old to recover from that. He’s fortunate to be rich w/ access to excellent healthcare, but it would not surprise me if he never is the same afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-experienced-cyclist-run-into-a-curb-john-kerry/721370/14 "2015-06-02T20:18:39Z")
How can a guy who’s been walking for 53 years (me) stumble over his own feet and fall on his face? How can a guy who’s been driving 37 years (me again) lose concentration for a split second and bump into another car? Both those things have happened. It’s not hard to imagine experienced, skilled people in ANY area of life losing focus for a moment, fouling up, and getting into an accident.