While taking a test run of the route for Sunday's 2012 CycleFest, Bethel First Selectmen Matthew Knickerbocker, who was 25 miles into the route, fell and broke his collar bone, according to Roger Snow, Chairman of Cyclefest.
Snow said that he was also part of the group that was testing the route, and that many were with Knickebocker when the ambulance arrived.
"We were halfway through the route, we were in Sherman when I must have hit a rock," Knickerbocker said from his home. "The helmet did it's job, though. It's destroyed."
Knickerbocker said that he never saw the rock, and that he was riding when he suddenly, "rolled, tumbled and skidded," all of which resulted in extensive road rash. His collar bone is broken, but he said he was not in too much pain. "Long as I don't move it, it's okay," he said.
Knickerbocker will be seeing a surgeon from Danbury Hospital sometime Monday and that he will be returning to work immediately.
The cycling clubs have seen some serious accidents this year, and Knickerbocker said that an accident like this is unfortunately not uncommon.
Knickerbocker said he has had a lot of phone calls and said, "Thank you everyone, for your concern and good wishes. I know that I was really lucky."
CycleFest is sponsored by Hat City Cyclists, an annual event that is held each year to help raise money for Danbury Youth's Earn-A-Bike program. The Cyclefest is a self-paced ride over various scenic roads of Western Connecticut. Riders have a choice of 14,23,54,80 and 104 mile routes.
This story will be updated.
