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Cyclists - be careful out here

1,830 Views | 22 Replies | Last: 13 days ago by Nixter
fc2112
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Two cyclists with Frisco Triathlon Club killed this weekend in Denton County.

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2025/12/21/2-bicyclists-with-the-frisco-triathlon-club-fatally-hit-by-vehicle-in-denton-county/

Quote:

Pilot Point police are investigating the deaths of two bicyclists who were fatally struck by a vehicle Saturday morning.

Police said they began receiving several calls around 8:19 a.m. about two men on bicycles who had been hit by a vehicle on FM 455 East, just east of Fritcher Road.

Both men, identified as Andre Kocher and Scott Mages, were on a group ride with the Frisco Triathlon Club during the incident, according to a social media post shared by the group.

When first responders and officers arrived at the scene, life-saving efforts were made for both bicyclists. The two men were taken to hospitals where they both died, police said.

Investigations determined the driver of the vehicle continued driving for a short distance but quickly returned to the scene, police said. The driver has been cooperative with the investigation, police said.

Investigators did not immediately say if they planned to pursue charges against the driver.


Unknown who was fault. But you're still just as dead even if it wasn't your fault.
Ragoo
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AG
I am 98% trainer rides. Only time I ride outside is closed course or up and down river road in New Braunfels. Low traffic and low speed limit.
AggieOO
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I remember when I was younger saying id never let stuff like this stop me from riding. Two kids later and my road bike rarely gets touched. When I do ride it, its mostly on shared use paths. I still ride my mountain bike on trails, but that's way more fun anyway, so I don't miss the road bike much. If I had a choice between not riding and the trainer, id just not ride.

Sad situation for those two and their families, especially at the holidays.
cadetjay02
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I live in Frisco and drive that road to Pilot Point occasionally. It's reasonably scenic for the boring blackland prairie, but also is curvy, has no shoulder, and cars going 65+. Are you legally allowed to ride on it, sure. However, that choice is an incredibly poor one and unfortunately the last one they made. The boring soulless power line green belts in Plano suck but they're safe.
I'll ride on the east/west roads in Frisco on weekend mornings, but I never touch the north/south roads.
MouthBQ98
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This is why I gravel bike on side roads and in public parks or bike parks. Drivers these days are too reckless.
Hoosegow
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Ok Ragoo, not picking a fight at all. I live in NB, too. I ride River Road quite a bit on my motorcycle. I understand you have every right to be on the road. However, that road is narrow and there are no places to pass. There are 0 legal passing opportunities.

With the road, alcohol, the tourists, etc., bicycles have no business being on that road. None. Zero. Zip. Nada. Many people, after being behind a bike going way under the speed limit... They are going to do something stupid. More than likely, a bicyclist is going to be the one that pays.

Like I said, you have the right, but that doesn't mean you should. I hardly ever ride I35 on my motocycle. I know I have every right too, but no one should. It is way too dangerous.

Still, this situation is awful and there is way too many people getting killed on bicycles.
Ragoo
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I should clarify, I only ride it in the off season. Late fall through early spring. The speed limit is mostly 20-25mph and I am riding near there anyways. I would never attempt to ride it during the summer because I agree the traffic and risk then would be too great.
JDL 96
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Very sad.
Na Zdraví 87
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Same here. Gravel bike on county roads. May see 1 or 2 cars on a 20 mile ride. And they aren't hauling ass.
RustyBoltz
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This whole thing makes me sick to know I could easily have been on that group ride too pre-riding the course. It's all the more gut wrenching to read the hatred and disgusting comments toward cyclists in the article comments and praise for the motorist.

htxag09
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I think I get what you are saying....but the way you put this you're saying bicycles have no business being on that road but people drinking and driving do.....

At the end of the day, I'm responsible for my own safety. So, like others on this thread, I have quit cycling outside. I will sometimes do the hike and bike trails. That being said, just because some cyclists made a different personal decision than me, I won't fault or shame them. At best, these stories always turn into "well they probably shouldn't have been riding there" comments.
jagvocate
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Kids have enough common sense not to ride their bikes along highways. Apparently you have to be grownup with a desk job to make it make sense.

Hoosegow
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That may have been interpreted that way, but no, that is not the way it is meant.

If you have ever driven that road, you know how bad the cyclists are. Sober or not, people are going to make bad decisions. They back traffic up and people do stupid stuff. Unfortunately, it is usually the cyclist who pays for those decisions.

Like I said, bikes have every right to be there. I have every right to walk in Houston's third ward at midnight. Doesn't mean it is a good decision.
Hincemm
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I knew Andre for 10+ years. Helped me sell and buy a house. I don't know if I'd call him a friend, per se, but we saw each other once/year in various capacities. A bit of an aside, but a mutual friend told me it was my wife's Ironman journey that inspired him and his wife to get into fitness (they were both very unhealthy before triathlons).

Do cyclists take a risk riding on the roads? Absolutely.
Does it excuse a distracted/impaired driver from driving responsibly? Absolutely not.

And I consider victim-blamers in situations like this (both here and other places online) some of the most vile POS out there. Maybe a notch above the type of person who blames women who dress seductively for getting raped.

There's a time to talk about how cyclists can behave safely on the roads (along with the drivers around them)...but this ain't it.
fc2112
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As I said in the OP - please be careful. Here is where the accident occurred.



And that road is 2 lanes with no shoulder for many miles. No way one can be careful and ride on this road.
Hoosegow
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They had to accidentally get on than road, right? No one in their right mind would purposefully ride that road, would they?
Na Zdraví 87
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I'm a gravel cyclist and no way I would ride a road like that. Like I said earlier. I ride county backroads with hardly any traffic.
Prayers for their families.
Buford T. Justice
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Same here. My road bike hasn't been ridden in 13 years.
DannyDuberstein
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hbc07
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Hoosegow said:

They had to accidentally get on than road, right? No one in their right mind would purposefully ride that road, would they?

My understanding is that this was a part of the planned route for the ride.

I personally would not feel comfortable on that road, though that's not to say I haven't inadvertently ended up on roads like that when riding in new areas and felt uncomfortable every moment while on it.
FlowCtlr
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It seems like I'm constantly hearing of stories like this. Very sad.

I street-viewed it, and it's definitely a sketchy road to ride on, even in a group ride. I ride on the roads in Qatar where the shoulders are wide with no traffic on weekend mornings, but if I was back home in Texas I'd definitely be putting more miles on the indoor trainer.
fc2112
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hbc07 said:

Hoosegow said:

They had to accidentally get on than road, right? No one in their right mind would purposefully ride that road, would they?

My understanding is that this was a part of the planned route for the ride.

I personally would not feel comfortable on that road, though that's not to say I haven't inadvertently ended up on roads like that when riding in new areas and felt uncomfortable every moment while on it.

I think it was sarcasm. Yeah, many of these groups take the "hey it's our road too" mentality. Yes, it is your toad too. It's your cemetery too. Driver may get fined - maybe even incarcerated - but you got the death penalty.

I guess your tombstone can say "It wasn't my fault!"
Nixter
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Andre was a regular customer at Tri Shop. He was a husband, father, grandfather, business owner, and hard worker. He was a really great guy and an easy guy to like.
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