Bike helmet saved Largo boy's life, police say

Johnathon Ferland, 11, was riding his bike home from school when he was hit in the head by a falling pole.  His mom Tara Bickler (background) always insists her son wear his helmet.   [Jim Damaske  |  Times]

LARGO -- A Largo Middle School sixth-grader is probably alive today because he was wearing his bicycle helmet Tuesday afternoon.

And 11-year-old Johnathon Ferland wasn't even riding his bike when the helmet saved his life.

Instead, police say, he was standing with his bike on the side of the road at Eighth Avenue SW and Ridge Road when a freak accident took place.

A 1979 Chevrolet truck was trying to back into a parking space at the neighboring Fifth Third Bank when its brakes failed. The truck jumped the curb, went across some grass and hit two poles. One of those poles -- a pedestrian crossing sign post about 10 feet tall and four inches thick -- fell on the 93-pound boy's head, knocking him into the pavement.

Johnathon said he remembers the truck rolling backwards toward him and some classmates, and the truck driver, who was later cited for not having proper brakes, yelling for the kids to move.

"I was trying to move out of the way, but I wasn't fast enough," Johnathon said in an interview today.

A crossing guard and a Largo police sergeant who was working an off-duty job at the bank helped treat the until fire rescue arrived.

Johnathon's mother, 36-year-old nurse Tara Bickler, also rushed to the scene after a school resource officer called her at home.

"It was a parent's worst nightmare," she said today.

The impact of the pole cracked Johnathon's bike helmet in several places, and a metal sign attached to the post sliced into his neck near a major artery. He also suffered minor injuries to his face and a concussion, according to Largo police Lt. Mike Loux. He was flown to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, then transferred to All Children's Hospital.

Johnathon said he's afraid of heights, so the idea of flying in the helicopter ambulance scared him. But his mother told him he would be strapped down and wouldn't see how high he was.

Johnathon was released from the hospital today and plans to return to school Monday, wearing a new bicycle helmet. His mother said she would like to wrap him in bubble wrap.

-- Jonathan Abel, Times staff writer

Photo: The impact of the pole cracked Johnathon's bike helmet in several places. Click to enlarge.  [Jim Damaske  |  Times]

Johnathon Ferland, 11, was riding his bike home from school when he was hit in the head by a falling pole.  His mom Tara Bickler (background) always insists her son wear his helmet.   [Jim Damaske  |  Times]

LARGO -- A Largo Middle School sixth-grader is probably alive today because he was wearing his bicycle helmet Tuesday afternoon.

And 11-year-old Johnathon Ferland wasn't even riding his bike when the helmet saved his life.

Instead, police say, he was standing with his bike on the side of the road at Eighth Avenue SW and Ridge Road when a freak accident took place.

A 1979 Chevrolet truck was trying to back into a parking space at the neighboring Fifth Third Bank when its brakes failed. The truck jumped the curb, went across some grass and hit two poles. One of those poles -- a pedestrian crossing sign post about 10 feet tall and four inches thick -- fell on the 93-pound boy's head, knocking him into the pavement.

Johnathon said he remembers the truck rolling backwards toward him and some classmates, and the truck driver, who was later cited for not having proper brakes, yelling for the kids to move.

"I was trying to move out of the way, but I wasn't fast enough," Johnathon said in an interview today.

A crossing guard and a Largo police sergeant who was working an off-duty job at the bank helped treat the until fire rescue arrived.

Johnathon's mother, 36-year-old nurse Tara Bickler, also rushed to the scene after a school resource officer called her at home.

"It was a parent's worst nightmare," she said today.

The impact of the pole cracked Johnathon's bike helmet in several places, and a metal sign attached to the post sliced into his neck near a major artery. He also suffered minor injuries to his face and a concussion, according to Largo police Lt. Mike Loux. He was flown to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, then transferred to All Children's Hospital.

Johnathon said he's afraid of heights, so the idea of flying in the helicopter ambulance scared him. But his mother told him he would be strapped down and wouldn't see how high he was.

Johnathon was released from the hospital today and plans to return to school Monday, wearing a new bicycle helmet. His mother said she would like to wrap him in bubble wrap.

-- Jonathan Abel, Times staff writer

Photo: The impact of the pole cracked Johnathon's bike helmet in several places. Click to enlarge.  [Jim Damaske  |  Times]

Alan Snel's Bike Stories blog out of order

As many of you have noticed over the past few days, popular cycling blogger Alan Snel's site has not been functioning. I contacted Alan about the issue and here's what he wanted to say to his loyal readers:

"I'm still cycling the Tampa Bay area and snapping away photos. But unfortunately, Bike Stories is experiencing technical difficulties. And a friend who helps me with the technical aspects of Bike Stories can't seem to find the problem. Now he's reaching out to his web guru to diagnose the glitch and get Bike Stories up and running.

 

I do have a big announcement. I'm teaming up with fellow Seminole Heights resident Mike Limerick to create the Seminole Heights Bicycle Club that will focus on short rides on local streets in Seminole Heights, while also having longer rides of 10-30 miles that start and end in Seminole Heights. We also plan to stage some community bicycle events that celebrate will Seminole Heights.

 

An organizing meeting is scheduled for 7:30 PM on Monday February 4 at my house. You can email me at alansnel@yahoo.com if you want further information."

We all hope Alan can get things back up and running soon.

       

Photo of the day

Click for more

Ride Without Limits featured in Bicycling

St. Petersburg Times photographer Carrie Pratt recently completed the two-day, 200-mile Ride Without Limits to benefit cerebral palsy. During the ride, she and her husband Hank from Florida Bicycle Sports employee, began chatting with another rider. Turns out it was Stephen Madden, the editor of Bicycling magazine. He called it the "best-run, most rider-friendly charity event I've ever participated in."

The best part wasn't even the great times had by all the participants, it was the $125,000 raised to fight cerebral palsy. To read more of what Madden had to say, click on the thumbnail above or check out the current issue of Bicycling.

Nominations needed for Fla. Cycling Hall of Fame

Recently some concerned cyclists have realized that many of our state's greatest personalities have gone unrecognized for their contributions to cycling and other cyclists. They are the ones who were insturmental in founding cycling clubs, building mountain bike trails, promoting races and events and representing the state around the world.

The Florida Cycling Hall of Fame intends to gather this information and create a system to identify and preserve the history of Florida cycling with an upcoming 2008-2009 Hall of Fame inductee process.
Right now the categories are not set in stone and no formal structure has been announced. If you'd like to nominate someone or get involved, visit the HOF website above and download a nomination form.

The first, and most obvious, honorary inductee is John Sinibaldi of St. Petersburg. A two-time Olympian and 18-time national champion, his career spanned seven decades. John passed away two years ago at 92 having rightfully earned his nickname "The Legend."

Riders needed to help the homeless

by Times staff writers

Jericho Road Ministries is seeking bike riders in Hernando County to participate in the Joy FM Bike Ride for the Homeless, a two-day ride from Brooksville to Bradenton on Feb. 15 and 16.

The ride will include about 60 miles each day and will have three to four breaks daily, including lunch, dinner and entertainment each day.

A practice ride will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, starting at State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway in Pasco County. Meet in the parking lot across from Target. The group will ride up the trail to Brooksville and back, which is about 50 miles.

The registration fee is $150, which includes a jersey, sag stops (for water, Gatorade and snacks), lunch both days, dinner both days and transportation to the starting point.

Registration will be accepted through Monday.

The event is sponsored by Joy FM. For information, call Pat Augustyniak at (813) 453-1804 or visit the Joy FM Web site at www.thejoyfm.com and download a contribution form.

Critical Mass Friday in St. Pete

I'm not sure if clogging the streets, yelling at drivers and making a scene is the best way to demonstrate cyclists' rights on the road, but if you're into that sort of thing, Critical Mass returns to St. Petersburg on Friday. Sure, you can come out to "protest pollution caused by car-culture", or you can just show up to ride your bike.

Whatever your reason, be at Williams Park at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

After the success of last month's ride, I wouldn't be surprised to see an even bigger crowd this time around.

Ride safe everyone.

Bicyclist hospitalized after getting crushed by van

TAMPA -- A Tampa man is in critical condition after he was struck and run over by a minivan on Hillsborough Avenue Saturday night, according to a Florida Highway Patrol release.

The man, who has not been identified by FHP investigators, was stopped on the south side of the eastbound lane of Hillsborough, just west of 56th Street. He attempted to dismount his bike and fell into the road just as a 2004 Ford Freestar was approaching, followed by a 1994 Ford Explorer.

The driver of the Freestar, 46-year-old Ida M. Finley, attempted to brake but struck the cyclist, who landed on the hood of the van. At the same time, the Explorer's driver, 22-year-old William W. Bassett, rear-ended the van, which caused the cyclist to fall off the van's hood and into the street. The impact of the Explorer's crash pushed the van forward, causing Finley to run over the cyclist.

-- Times staff writer

TAMPA -- A Tampa man is in critical condition after he was struck and run over by a minivan on Hillsborough Avenue Saturday night, according to a Florida Highway Patrol release.

The man, who has not been identified by FHP investigators, was stopped on the south side of the eastbound lane of Hillsborough, just west of 56th Street. He attempted to dismount his bike and fell into the road just as a 2004 Ford Freestar was approaching, followed by a 1994 Ford Explorer.

The driver of the Freestar, 46-year-old Ida M. Finley, attempted to brake but struck the cyclist, who landed on the hood of the van. At the same time, the Explorer's driver, 22-year-old William W. Bassett, rear-ended the van, which caused the cyclist to fall off the van's hood and into the street. The impact of the Explorer's crash pushed the van forward, causing Finley to run over the cyclist.

-- Times staff writer

Cyclocross comes to Tampa Bay

The first of two consecutive weekends of cyclocross is all wrapped up. Fans, racers and organizers braved the "cold" for some of the toughest action of the year.

Lance Riddle was back in town from North Carolina to put together a long, twisting course around the Largo library. The stormy weather on Saturday night only added to the challenge for the riders with two large mud sections. Now that is real cyclocross!

Check out some pics in the slideshow below. Got any photos you'd like to share? Send 'em in or forward a link!!

Mountain Bike One

The Washington Post recently had a cool article about the nation's First Mountainbiker: President Bush. As many of you probably know, Bush wore out his knees running and couldn't possibly have enough roadway secure for road riding, so he took up mountain biking. And he's no slouch either. Bush is easily considered one of the most fit presidents ever.

"It's a great outlet for him - he gets outside. He relieves stress. He cranks up the iPod," legislative aide Barrett Karr said. "It seems like a good way to balance the stress of the Oval Office."

While it's great to see the president taking an interest in cycling, it's a shame that he hasn't done more as an advocate for the sport.

[AP photo]

Such a thing as too much riding?

Saw an interesting column on BikeRadar today about health issues concerning cyclists. While it's true that, in general, they are fitter and healthier than sedentary folks, they are often exposed to or aggravate health conditions by riding.

These can include:

1. Piles
2. Varicose veins
3. Erectile dysfunction
4. Eating disorders
5. Exercise addiction

In the past I've been guilty of pushing myself too hard and taken my riding a bit too seriously. I'm sure many of us have. The best thing to remember that if it isn't fun, don't do it. Riding should never been "work" or a chore. That's what jobs are for!

[via BikeRadar.com]

Innovate or Die winners announced

Back in September I mentioned the Innovate or Die contest, sponsored by Google, Specialized and Goodby Silverstein & Partners. The contest asked participants to submit YouTube videos of pedal-powered ways to better the world. According to Google, "the contest encouraged people to evaluate environmental issues and develop ingenious solutions surrounding climate change."

Team Aquaduct of San Bruno, Ca., has been declared the winner for their trike that provides filtering and transportation of drinking water for impoverished areas. You can check out their amazing video below and see the other entries at this special YouTube page.

New Lance ads for Dick's Sporting Goods

Feed the warrior!

Earth friendly chain lube

Remember awhile back I showed you why it's not a good idea to use WD-40 as a chain lube? Well here's something to try instead: Ernesto Lube's Biodegradable Bike Lube.

Ernesto's is... "a readily & renewable biodegradable soy-based metal lubricating fluid made for your bike chain...and for you to not feel guilty about the environment." What does that mean? I'm not sure, but it offers these amazing features:

• Made from renewable USA-grown crop-based vegetable oils
• Biodegradable – Friendly to the environment
• Non-staining formula
• Better adhesion-reduces amount of product required
• No need to apply excessive amounts unless you want an oily mess
• Out-performs conventional petroleum-based oils
• Smells good...for good application
• Contains no toxic chlorine or sulfur or regulated chemicals
• Vegetable oil base reduces dermatitis
• Petroleum is dirty and harmful for the environment
• Easy clean-up (Soap & Water)

A 4 oz. tube is $6 and, environmentally friendly as they are, a refill is $3.

Hats off to Ernesto's for walking the walk (riding the ride?) when it comes to green living.

[via Get Outdoors]

Gettin' those tires dirty with Terry Tomlin

St. Petersburg Times outdoors editor Terry Tomlin recently took a trip to the Morris Bridge and Flatwoods areas of Wilderness Park in Tampa. If you're a total beginner in the mountain bike world, this is a great place to start. The area is mostly flat and you could easily have a great time exploring on a hybrid or cruiser.

As for more, I'll let Terry tell it:

Forty years ago, when I swapped the skinny tires off my Sting-Ray-style bicycle for fat ones, I didn't think twice about jumping over logs. My banana seat was well padded, and when you're a kid, landing never really hurt that much.

Today, I'm old, a little gray and a tad overweight. Falling doesn't feel so good, even if you land in the mud and miss the cypress knees.

However, as my riding companion Aaron Freedman explained, when mountain biking, it is best to remain seated.

"Are you all right?" he asked, as I slowly picked myself up off the ground. "Watch out for those roots. They will get you every time."

With the wind knocked out of me, I climbed back in the saddle and headed off down the trail - cautious and slow - but ready for anything. The off-road bicycling trails here at Wilderness Park, which is actually three separate riding areas, would hardly be called "technical" by die-hard, fat-tire devotees.

But for this aging outdoorsman, the trails were challenging enough to prompt me to embark on a fitness plan, or at least, wear a catcher-style cup next time I get on a mountain bike.

Trail maintenance

Volunteers play a big role in keeping Hillsborough County's mountain biking trails open to riders and hikers. Members of the Wilderness Trails Association (WTA) meet at the Morris Bridge boat ramp on the third Saturday of every month at 9 a.m. then hit the woods for trail maintenance. To help, contact Sharon Noll at Noll2@juno.com or Joe Humble at jrhumble@aol.com You can also call the WTA at (813) 987-6211.

SWAMP mountain biking club

There's safety in numbers, and the Southwest Association of Mountainbike Pedalers (SWAMP) host regular group rides and clinics for everybody from the novice to the expert. The club's Web site has a wealth of information for fat-tire enthusiasts. You can find out everything from local trail conditions to upcoming mountain biking festivals. To learn more, call the SWAMP hotline at (813) 689-5109.

Morris Bridge site

Place names such as The Pits, Misery, Gator Bait and Grandpa, give you some idea what to expect on this stretch of trail. The miles of single track (trail wide enough for just one bike), the Morris Bridge site is a workout for both mind and body. The terrain varies between hard-packed dirt to soft, sugar sand and everything in between. Experienced riders will love the exposed roots - they will send you flying - but beginners should beware. You will learn how to land after a fall. With plenty of pine and oak trees, the shade makes this a fun ride anytime of the year. But be careful. No matter how many times I have taken this trail, I still manage to get lost.

Flatwoods site

Ideal for beginners, the Flatwoods site has a 7-mile paved loop that is favorite spot for "roadies" and in-line skaters. But Flatwoods also has great double track (dirt access roads that are wide enough for cyclists to ride side by side) and a network of single track as well. Like Morris Bridge, this area has plenty of shade and varied terrain to keep you interested. When combined with the other two riding areas, you can cover 15 miles of trail.

Trout Creek site

The smallest of the three riding areas, Trout Creek is a great place to introduce kids to off-road riding. The trail winds around two lakes. The double track section is easy to master. A bridge over the Hillsborough River at Trout Creek links the other sections of Wilderness Park. There are several tables on the water, so pack a picnic lunch for after the ride. Another added benefit is the park's canoe launch. Bring along your favorite paddlecraft. Ride in the morning and explore the river in the afternoon.

Other places to ride

Alafia River State Park, southeast of Brandon, is one of the top mountain biking destinations in the state. You will get your fill of big drops, hairpin turns and white-knuckle ridge rides on the park's 20 miles of trails. For information, go to www.floridastateparks.org or call (813) 672-5320.

Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve in South Brandon has 4,900 acres of wild scrubland peppered with a dozen or more lakes. This Hillsborough County park has nearly 20 miles of challenging trails. For information, go to www.hillsboroughcounty.org/parks or call (813) 672-7876.

The Croom Tract in Withlacoochee State forest has Florida's longest contiguous single-track bike trail. This off-road network forms two loops of 12 and 35 miles. The actual trail length, including connectors, is more than 55 miles. For information, visit http://www.fl-dof.com/state_forests/withlacoochee_trails.html or call (352) 754-6896.

At top: Left to right, Darry Jackson; Aaron Freedman, who rides for the Bill Jackson Shop for Adventure Racing Team; Times Outdoors Editor Terry Tomalin; and Hank Campbell, who rides for Florida Bicycle Sports, cruise along a wide portion of the Morris Bridge trail area in the Wilderness Park cycling area. More grueling single-track trails came later. Photo by Carrie Pratt/Times.

 

Is Performance coming to Tampa Bay?

Word on the street - actually according to Tampa blogger Alan Snel - is that Performance Inc. is looking at the Tampa Bay market to open a new location for its chain of bicycle superstores.

The North Carolina based chain already has locations in 15 states and offers a massive online catalog and discounted prices. Consider it a "big-box" version of a bike shop.

What this means for local retailers remains to be seen. The chain could seriously undercut the already fragile entry-level market, as independent shops must competing with sporting goods stores and online retailers.

If a Performance shop opened near you, would you shop there?

[via Alan Snel | Bike Stories]

Wardrobe malfunction

Roll those cuffs!

Last night I was riding home from work in St. Petersburg and didn't bother to roll up the cuffs on my jeans far enough. I wasn't going very far, and figured it was no big deal.

I was wrong.

The chain sucked in the cuff and tore my jeans all the way to the knee. Since I was on my fixed gear I couldn't coast. All I could do was try to stop while the crank arm made 3-4 more rotations.

My jeans became so entangled that I simply could not get myself out. I was praying no one would walk by and see me stuck. I was scrambling for some way to cut my way out. After about 10 minutes of ripping and pulling, I manged to free myself. "Ok," I thought, "Now I have a new pair of shorts."

No luck. Riding in these jeans so much had worn them so thin that when I started off again I ripped the whole crotch out.

I'm glad I was on my way home!

Reminder: Giro d'Tampa on Saturday

I want one!

This is the new bicycle parking structure that will start appearing on the streets of New York in the next month. It is manufactured by the same company that has installed the new bus stop shelters. The ad panel features a bike map of the city.

From the looks of it, your bike still has a good chance of getting wet when it rains, but it's still a great step by a city that's really investing in cycling infrastructure.

St. Pete? Tampa? Your move!

[Photo via New York Department of Transportation.]

[Item via New York.]

How cold is too cold?

It's cold out there!

Finally, we get to break out those wool jerseys and winter wear that seem to get so little use here in Florida. I wasn't sure what to wear on my ride today and ended up expecting the worst but being somewhat overdressed. As they say, if you're not cold for the first 15 minutes, you're wearing too much. The bright sun felt good but the wind was brutal. Anyone have some cold ride stories to share?

This congressman lives life in the bike lane

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) doesn't just fight for cyclists' rights in the halls of the Capitol in Washington, he lives the cycling lifestyle. He rides so often that he didn't even bother applying for a parking permit. After being elected to Congress in 1996 he founded the Congressional Bike Caucus, a non-partisan group of more than 170 members who support cycling advocacy. In his time in office, spending on bicycle projects has more than doubled. 

Check out this great profile of Blumenauer in the Wall Street Journal.