Today was the memorial ride for Steve Hancock. He was a 58-year-old married father of three children and represented Great Britain in kayaking in the 1980 Summer Olympics. He was struck down by a motor vehicle on 7 June while he rode his bike on Britannia Road in Mississauga, near Pearson Airport, and died from his injuries on 24 June. As per our custom, the ride starts at Bloor and Spadina.
Three people from Steve’s cycling club, Chain Reaction Cycles, rode with us from the beginning. Several others joined us along the way.
The ride starts down Spadina.
Dave is our bearer of the ghost bike today. Thanks Dave! Also thanks to Geoffrey for making the ghost bike on very short notice.
Across the Humber.
Regrouping at Eglinton and Scarlett.
Riding down Eglinton on the bike path.
One less car.
Entering Mississauga.
Regrouping again at Eglinton and Renforth.
Skirting the airport, Joey and Nick off the front.
Approaching the crash site.
Installing the ghost bike.
Friends of the deceased.
Preparing for a minute of silence.
Afterwards, several people were kind enough to share some words about Steve, who was described as a devoted family man, a wonderful friend both on and off the bike, a very strong cyclist, and as someone with a very posh accent. The owner of Chain Reaction Cycles was also in attendance. He had known Steve for 15 years, as a customer, fellow club member and friend.
This father and daughter who rode with us sang a Georgian lullaby that in this context sounded like a beautiful lament.
Two of the people that were riding with Steve that day were there as well. They were in a group of nine cyclists, headed south on Britannia, when a northbound car suddenly turned left in front of them. The first cyclist managed somehow to avoid the car, but Steve was second and was stuck. He was thrown into the ditch and he never regained consciousness.
Tailwinds on the ride back.
Joey leads the way.
Not much Canada Day evening traffic on Bloor crossing the Humber River.
Thanks to everyone who rode with us. Ride safe everyone!
My heart goes out to the family and his cyclist-family…..such a sad day, and please know those of us who aren’t cyclists grieve for all of you.