Steve Lafferty, the 59-year-old cyclist injured on a group ride with the Reston Bike Club, has died from his injuries, according to the Reston Bike Club.

Lafferty collided with another rider along Claiborne Parkway near Harvest Green Terrace in Ashburn around 6 p.m. Thursday, April 26. The bicyclists were part of the Reston Bike Club on a group ride, according to reports from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.

Lafferty was airlifted to Inova Fairfax Hospital. The other rider, a 36-year-old woman, had non-life-threatening injuries.

Funeral information is not yet available.

The Potomac Pedalers, another group Lafferty rode with near his Olney, MD, home, said there has been an education fund set up for Lafferty's 14-year-old daughter, Katie.

Riders in Potomac Pedalers will be donating this weekend's Spring Century to Lafferty's memory. There are 50, 75, and 100 mile routes available. For more information, click here: http://fulton.sandglass.com/. Additional information about the ride can also be found at www.potomacpedalers.org in the ride schedule section.

One less biker to clog up the roads.

I admit that was my first thought. That guy couldn't even ride in a staight line.

dehydration, fatigue, low blood sugar, or any number of causes. Most likely, Claiborne Pkwy near two major arteries is not a good place to ride during rush hour.

You'd be better off driving your Mini Cooper on the runway at Dulles than riding a bicycle on Fairfax County roads.

just saw a cyclist on Compton Road - and not the wide part near Union Mill but way down near the creek where the old one-laner used to be. Always wonder why you'd risk yr life like that................

prayers to the fam of the dead guy

That dude looked like shit in spandex.

At least he died doing what he loved! P.S. Did someone put a blanket over him?

@Floyd +1 :)
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Why do the cyclist think they can hog up a two lane road? They are just asking for it. This weekend a cyclist almost killed himself while on a two lane road off of Henderson. It was his fault. If you want to ride so bad take your bike by car to a park.

The only place I can imagine cyclists being excused for riding in the middle of the roadway would be over in Great Falls/McLean, where there isn't a single path or walkway alongside many of the roadways. I think it's about time that they built some paths over in the aforementioned areas, but other than that I'd appreciate seeing them using the well established paths instead of riding down the County Pkwy, and other busy routes. What sucks, however, is that the guy who died probably obeyed the laws and courtesies. The folks who die usually aren't the same clowns who wreak havoc.

I'll be out mountain biking tomorrow, hopefully all goes well in this insane area (Yes, I always use paths btw, no roadway incursions for me (Except for crossings)).

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"And if any women or children get their legs torn off, or faces caved in, well, it's tough shit for them." -2LT. Bert Stiles, 505th, 339th (On Berlin Bombardier Mission, 1944).

Floyd Landis Wrote:
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> At least he died doing what he loved! P.S. Did
> someone put a blanket over him?

A blanket? no. it was that aluminum foil stuff.

A person died here. The traffic was light to non-existent. It was in Loudoun County, not Fairfax. The cyclists were riding single file on a 4 lane road. He crashed most likely due to mechanical failure ... his fork appeared to have failed on a brand new bike.

Scott B Wrote:
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> A person died here. The traffic was light to
> non-existent. It was in Loudoun County, not
> Fairfax. The cyclists were riding single file on a
> 4 lane road. He crashed most likely due to
> mechanical failure ... his fork appeared to have
> failed on a brand new bike.

So what's the bad news?

Wow. I'm just reading this now and terribly offended by the lack of respect for a great guy. Steve was a friend of mine and several of these comments are just offensive. And the story is largely incorrect. To correct some of these mistaken thoughts. He was 55, a very strong and experienced rider. He did not collide with another cyclist. His front fork broke and he fell straight into the pavement going about 20 miles an hour. I guess I'll agree that biking in Fairfax is generally not a pleasant experience because some of these same folks are driving their cars.

^^^^
I think the OP was a copy and paste. I wouldnt get too upset with the reporting, they go by what they are told.

Driving in Nova is awful. Riding a bike is just a silly death wish.

People will say at least Steve went out doing what he loved. LOL!

I want to go out drunk and stoned.

Peace!

Fork failure on a new bike? Anyone know what brand bike/fork? This should make a fortune for some lucky personal injury attorney!

@George - I dunno..................sounds more like a Failure to Maintain Equipment charge if the dude hadnt died. Doubt it was that new a bike or else we would have heard about it by now.

Was he married? maybe his wife or kids loosened the bolts. How much insurance did he have?

Bill Anderson Wrote:
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> Wow. I'm just reading this now and terribly
> offended by the lack of respect for a great guy.
> Steve was a friend of mine and several of these
> comments are just offensive. And the story is
> largely incorrect. To correct some of these
> mistaken thoughts. He was 55, a very strong and
> experienced rider. He did not collide with
> another cyclist. His front fork broke and he fell
> straight into the pavement going about 20 miles an
> hour. I guess I'll agree that biking in Fairfax
> is generally not a pleasant experience because
> some of these same folks are driving their cars.


He died because he hit the ground at 20mph? Seriously? So, if this dude fell off a 1 story building he would have died. Sounds like he was quite fragile and shouldn't have been biking on the road or that fast.

Confucius say:

Man who ride with loosened handle bars will surely be forked.

meh Wrote:
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> He died because he hit the ground at 20mph?
> Seriously? So, if this dude fell off a 1 story
> building he would have died. Sounds like he was
> quite fragile and shouldn't have been biking on
> the road or that fast.


A face plant at 20MPH will kill you, it doesn't matter if your 15 or 55 years old.

I'm going to guess he was riding a carbon fiber cycle. I think you're going to see more accidents like this as carbon fiber bicycle frames (and forks) trickle down to the masses and become more commonplace. I'd be willing to bet the bicycle shop that sold him the fancy carbon fiber bicycle didn't warn him of the catastrophic failure potential of carbon forks.

Fuck that, I'll take aluminum and the extra 8 ounces of weight.

I can't believe how shallow people can be. You will know what goes around comes around. May you come to realize ther is a lot more to a person than what he looks like.

Laura Wrote:
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> I can't believe how shallow people can be. You
> will know what goes around comes around. May you
> come to realize ther is a lot more to a person
> than what he looks like.


Laura you numb cunt, this guy is nothing but worms and bones by now. Chill the fuck out.

Biker gangs are very cruel to each other.

Cyclists have just as much right to be on the roads as you do. Maybe you should get your fat ass out of your car and try riding a cycle before you drop dead of a stroke or heart attack.


Two lane roads Wrote:
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> Why do the cyclist think they can hog up a two
> lane road? They are just asking for it. This
> weekend a cyclist almost killed himself while on a
> two lane road off of Henderson. It was his fault.
> If you want to ride so bad take your bike by car
> to a park.

I can't believe the word "karma" hasn't come up yet.

katiesmith Wrote:
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> Cyclists have just as much right to be on the
> roads as you do. Maybe you should get your fat
> ass out of your car and try riding a cycle before
> you drop dead of a stroke or heart attack.
>
>
> Two lane roads Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Why do the cyclist think they can hog up a two
> > lane road? They are just asking for it. This
> > weekend a cyclist almost killed himself while on
> a
> > two lane road off of Henderson. It was his
> fault.
> > If you want to ride so bad take your bike by
> car
> > to a park.

Bullshit. Cyclist clutter up the roads and create a safety hazard for drivers. They should be banned from any road 35 or over.

Sometimes, the roads aren't in the best shape and you have to use the right lane. Potholes. Road salt makes the road slippery. The amount of time which a car driver encounters a cyclist or a scooter may amount to a few minutes in a month. Drivers need to get over it. If they can't handle cyclists, pedestrians, schoolbuses, and other users, go ride a bus.

Did I read this right...the dude died APRIL 26th???

My bad..I meant the accident happened on APRIL 26?????