Scores of cyclists have crashed at the Red Hook Criterium Race in New York after a motorcycle stalled – in the middle of the road.
The motorbike was meant to set the pace of the meeting in Brooklyn, but instead caused a mass pile-up. Video footage shows the rider frantically trying to start his engine before the oncoming cycles reach him. The first few waves of cyclists successfully avoid the motorbike, but one hapless rider eventually hits the marooned motorbike, triggering an event which sets “a new standard for mayhem” according to Velonews.
Despite the shocking scenes, mercifully nobody was seriously hurt in the pile up. A number of riders required medical attention for minor injuries.
Rider Antoine Fabry captured the incident on his on-bike camera, which can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/3tVreQyv1ZQ
The Red Hook Criterium takes place each year on track bikes. Once an underground event, the race is now hugely popular having become "what is possibly the country's coolest bike race,” according to Bicycling.com.
Stalling a motorcycle tends to be the preserve of newcomers. However, the fact that a pacer at a big cycle race stalled his machine means that it could be a problem faced by any rider, as many of our motorcycle breakdown cover customers can attest.
It is of course relatively easy to stall – but it's also straightforward to grow out of. The key is mastering your clutch lever. In general you need to get a feel for your friction zone, then get used to applying enough throttle as you let the clutch out fully.
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