Off-Road Cycling Detours for May 25, 2016

Three more bicycle things which crossed our desks this week.  No endorsement should be inferred or implied…

We just liked them and thought you might too.
Enjoy and ride safe!

1. On being a woman who’s riding a bike from NYC to San Francisco – You can read Chloe Leb’s article here or follow posts and updates yonder.
2. A former bicycle thief has revealed the tricks of the trade in an interview, which clearly and shockingly shows the extent that thieves will go to in order to steal a bike.
3. This one is a bit more of a story than a quick link:
   Several months ago, MCBC member Fredde Foster was commuting home from her job at UCSF where she works as a registered nurse. What started as a routine bike ride home, quickly escalated into something much more serious.Fredde started experiencing shortness of breath and chest pains. She was stopping frequently to catch her breath and deal with agonizing pain. Having finally crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and now in Marin, she could go no further and could only hunch over her bicycle.Enter our hero, Mattias Behrens who also happens to work as UCSF as an anesthesiologist, noticed Fredde’s issue and stopped.
   He offered to call an ambulance, but she declined. So instead Mattias, pushed Fredde back to Mill Valley even though she needed to stop frequently to catch her breath. It’s worth mentioning that during all of these stops, no one even asked her if she was ok, let alone offer to help.

   As they rode, Mattias felt that her symptoms suggested pleurisy – a painful inflammation of the tissue layers (pleura) lining the lungs and inner chest wall that often causes chest pain

   Once back to Mill Valley, Mattias had his wife come and pick then up. When Fredde was treated by her doctor, it indeed turned out to be pleurisy. The physical effort of riding a bike had aggravated her condition.

   Mattias continued to follow-up and check on her well after their encounter.

   It’s not often that we find ourselves in need of help, but it’s a comforting thought that there are people on bikes who are willing to stop and help when needed. Even if they don’t wear a cape!