HELP ME TO SUPPORT THE PARALYMPIC ATHLETES

PARRABUDDY.BLOGSPOT was started to help find a way for “Adaptive / Physically Challenged / Paralympic Cyclists ” to enjoy riding their bikes on the Daily Route of the famous Pro Tour Race Routes such as the “ Giro d’Italia " and the " Tour de France " !


Through lack of support i have been unable to achieve that goal and unless people decide to assist there is little chance that my 22nd season will be any more successful !


Tokyo2020 Paralympics was amazing for ALL , not just those participating but those who followed via the Media !


Since 2009 several other Blogs have been created to cover various other subjects !

Below is a guide to their separate purposes :

In the main Parrabuddy is about “Adaptive / Physically Challenged Sport” and Health Issues.


Skippi-cyclist is about personal issues and Road Safety Issues.


SkippyAus is about matters relating to Oz and some personal memories from my life there.


Tourdafarce & Tourdafrance are about matters relating to the Pro Tour , Racers and some personal experiences during my various visits to ride the Pro Tour routes .


Skippy (blogging) is about a variety of issues on the Internet .


NOT ALL postings arrive in their correct area but I will generally try to separate my views on Doping and Sporting Fraud from Road Safety Issues .



Comments ARE WELCOMED since this shows that those reading are interested in the subject matter ! Enjoy comments made to other blogs so wonder why only " anonymous " posts here !

Over the period of these "Blogs" I have had visibility on Twitter as “Skippydetour” and on Facebook as “Skippy Mc Carthy” where Google usually advise postings on the Blogs as they occur .

When any of you visit these Blogs I hope I am able to add value to your day and provide a source of information if not inspiration . Please consider asking your friends and contacts to add their support as many of the Para Athletes are struggling to find the resources to compete in Events at regional Levels let alone National Levels .


You the reader have the possibility to help these Amazing Athletes in your own way and contacting your National Paralympic Internet Site for relevant info is a good start !

May 14, 2014

RECENT EVENTS

17 days ago i departed my Austrian residence on the way to the " Tour de Romandie " and Giro d'Italia .
Yet even before i was through Brixlegg i was subjected to an example of Austrian Traffic Violence . As i was about 30M from the giveway line on the " Alpbach Roundabout " on the B171 , i had a 4x4 come alongside, no doubt thinking i would VANISH?

With no traffic in the roundabout  i was able to continue through , though the 4x4 had to slow , but within 100M he was alongside once again , hurling " Dialect german  " through the passenger window . Not content with mee ignoring him , he narrowed the space of less than 1/2M , which was the " dooring zone " to the point where i had to jam on the brakes to avoid touching his vehicle . Luckily i did this , as he was towing a
trailor , which had i continued at the same speed would have hit me , as it was wider than the vehicle . It appears that this behaviour is covered under " Para 89 of the Austrian Justice code " , yet when i tried to report this to the Strass Polizei Post , they told me that i would have to wait several hours until an interpreter became available .

As the weather was iffy and already drizzling and the plan was to ride to Feldkirch that day , i asked they copy the page with the written detail i supplied . It finished up with me leaving both items with them , since i had already lost 15+ minutes and was losing the argument . Doubt that any there would consider riding a bike to Schwaz , let alone to the Swiss Border ?  As promised them , i called into the " Richter Office " in Schwaz where i was advised to address the matter on return to the Tirol .  After a visit to " Pro Bike " who had supplied a Cycling Suit last month and pumping the Tyres i headed into Innsbruck and the OSV for a much needed Coffee Break . Several of the Austrian Ski Hierachy are keen Cyclists with " Marco Pantani Marque " bikes .

Having arrived in Feldkirch earlier than anticipated , i decided to press on for the San Bernadino Pass and Bellinzona . Arriving near Thusis in sleeting weather , i was happy to accept a lift from a Local , who even provided refreshment in a Cafe along the way . Depositing me at the south end of the San B. tunnel in near freezing weather , i was extrememly careful in the corners as i descended . As it was the rear twitched a few times , which on an evening where there was no traffic , did little for my confidence . Would not have liked to be found as an icikle in the morning .

 The previous week i had a blowout as i descended from Brontonico Finish of the Giro del Trentino , to Mori with plenty of traffic competing to get past . That puncturewas likely caused by my hitting a kerbside pothole as an impatient " Accredited Motorcycle BASTARD " blew by !   When the RACE is over , the road reverts to COMMON USE with the Italian Road Code being applicable . Something which i reinforced the next morning as i passed out the " 1 1/2M Placard ( Italian version ) to ALL . Since the Mori Commune were kind enough to print 50+ , even the Market stalls got a copy .

With the descent to Bellinzona taking about 50Km , i arrived about 2100hrs , well after dark and set about finding the Ostello and a HOT Shower to warm the bod . Another shared room with a couple of people that think imitating the farmyard noises entertains the others sharing . When will people learn that alcohol and sleeping flat on the back is a choice better served by taking a single room ?

Tuesday dawned bright and clear , so the ride to Ascona passed quickly . Rode the course with several of the Racers and enjoyed chats with others . About 1600hrs whilst chatting with Jens Voight ,
we were informed that the next days race was reduced to the Swiss section since there was snow on the Simplon Pass . With this news , i set out immediately to ride through and because the heavy clouds were threatening a major dump . The road was a nightmare , 20% climbs near tthe outset and narrow windy roads through tunnels with " No Cycling " signs , competing with Italian Drivers who were rushing home , intent on beating their " Strava record "?

At the top of the Simplon the snow had started to fall but i doubt that a heavy fall would have occured . The views over Swiss countryside were spectacular even though the gloom detracted from the enjoyment . With road works and a broken up road and the impatient drivers , it is not a road that you can enjoy riding .

Sion has an Ostello / YHA so i headed there for Tuesday night . Wednesday , as predicted was wet and cold so i headed for Aigle and had the hope of seeing Brian Cookson . As expected his secretary decided to run interferance . Not good since she took note of little i said , although recorded my email address . In the Cafe i passed time with a German Guy that i recognised but could not place at the time . Later a Tweet by Brian brought back the name and where we had previously met .

Whilst looking through the UCI Trackside Museum , i spotted Brian heading to the Cafe for " Elevenses ". We chatted a while , then ajourned to the Cafe where many of my ideas got an airing and Brian revealed a few that he had already exposed to the Media .  It would be fair to say that he listens a lot more than the previous occupants of his post at UCI .  More will be revealed as the " Commissions " that have been put in place , reveal their findings . Another of his Guests that day was formerly in the German Government and though i had met him at many Cycling Events , i did not get to greet him .

Whilst in Geneva i visited the Australian Mission , whose New Building sits across from the New Zealand Mission and also has enhanced security , unlike the building i visited years back , where you could just about walk in off the street .  Getting out of Geneva , i thought would be straight forward , but i was many miles down the road and suffered several rain storms before i got to Nantua and eventually to Lyon for the night at yet another YHA . thursday morning brought blue skies but as i was driven around the East & North of Paris, Monsoonal Rain hit and the exits from the Motorways became canals .

Friday morning dawned wet and windy and i Cycled in from Walton along the ITT route to Hampton Court and then through Richmond Park to the City . With necessary visits to the Bank & Oz House completed i headed to City Hall , better known as the day time kennel of Bozo !  To get into the building it is necessary to go through " Airport screening " . With my Cycling shirt loaded with a pump & coins , it was necessary to undress and remove the Cycling shoes . With 2 trays full of discarded items and the bike parked , leaning against the outside , it came as a " F##k YOU " , when i was told that i had to leave the building , find a phone and RING for an appointment with " media relations dept "!

IT appears that using an Internal phone was a step TOO FAR !  Effectively , the PUBLIC are unwelcome , unless by appointment ! So much for the " Media Savvy donkey that tries to kid Cyclists , that he is THEIR FRIEND !  On face value , there is a lot of HOT AIR that Cyclists are exposed to , but NO desire to implement those proposals . Everybody knows that David Cameron , is surrounded by Sub Machine Gun toting security at No 10 downing Street , which i saw as i rode upto that gate earlier in the day , BUT , "Lovable mop head " , aspiring to be the Prime Minister , does not come over as the " Real Deal " when surrounded by those that would prefer to disrupt/hinder rather than assist ?

With ALL that i had considered necessary done , i headed west with the intent to get as far up the road to Eire possible . Having passed through Nine Elms Junction , i was heading along the narrow Cycle lane towards Battersea Dogs Home ( used to be there ) when as i rode through a " pinch point " caused by a traffic island i got an assist from behind .  On reflection , it appears that the RED Double Decker caught the REAR Derailleur , thus propelling me clear of the kerb and dumping me on my left side on the pavement .

Whilst motionless on the ground a lady came to my side . She stated that she was a Doctor and required me to stay prone . Having done my own survey i then sat up in time to hear a man dressed in a set of overalls say , " Good you are stting up "!  Last i saw of him , but as a Police Incident Van passed , i caught their attention and one of their officers claiming Paramedic training , gave me a thorough examination and was able to give the AMBO Ladies a detailed report , when they arrived .One thing that annoyed me was the need to move the bike before i had a chance to have photos taken . As it was i used my own !  With ALL the resources that these Vans carry , WHY , is there no Video/ Camera Facilities available ?  Once again i had people tell me they saw or heard what took place , but so far all i have is a " CAD # "!

The Ambo could not carry my bike , so i declined the Hospital ride and signed the waiver . When in a previous incident during a TDF , i was parted from my bike by the French Gendarmerie , it finished up 20#km away , thus the whole day lost whilst it was located and brought to the Hospital . I was not about to risk a repeat or an even worse result , on this occasion .  The Police Van deposited me at " Apex Cycles" near Clapham Common . Whilst the Inspector Beresford and the sargeant both claim to be Cyclists , i have yet to see any indication of whether any CCTV ( if any ) resources have been scrutinised . In this day & age when the VICTIM is on their travels , one would HOPE , that Email would be the prime source of contact ?

Whilst i have rendered a variety of " comments " on the " StopKillingCyclists " Facebook page AND passed my email address any number of times , nobody , has seen fit to reply to those requests .  Many of the members of S K C have added a comment on the page , BUT , there is a great deal that needs to be done , outside the scrutiny of bystanders .

ONCE AGAIN , it would be appreciated if those asked , could render that access .

More of the events after this incident will appear in Skippi-Cyclist , but i would add now , that i continue to suffer pain and inconvenience , even though i grit my teeth and continue to ride my bike !

The level of pain & discomfort necessitated my attending A & E on Sunday Night and departing at 0530am on Monday after Xrays and other consultations .



















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