Commonwealth medallist pleads for less aggression
EVEN one of the Gold Coast’s most elite cyclists has been injured riding her bike on our roads.
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Katrin Garfoot was hit by a car when pulling out of her Helensvale driveway in February.
Ms Garfoot, who won the medal at Glasgow in 2014, injured her back as a result of the accident.
She said traffic on the Coast was “very aggressive” and “getting worse every year”.
“I know some cyclists are no angels on the roads, but there is also a false sense of ownership of the road by drivers,” she said.
“I sustained a spinal injury, bruising from the handlebars on my legs and burns that kept me away from training for a few weeks.
“It impacted my training program at a crucial time of the year – just before the racing season begins in Europe.”
Ms Garfoot said the injury also forced her to pull out of a race overseas.
“Psychologically the accident had a significant effect on me and not just due to lack of training,” she said.
“I was scheduled to race in Europe a week after the accident and I was forced to miss my first competition.
“Also my time trial bike was destroyed.
“It was Olympic standard, so it was expensive.
“It was tough not knowing how to cover the cost of a replacement bike as well all the medical bills and other out of pocket expenses.”