Lucas Brunelle falls through ice on while cycling on frozen Charles River

[fiamme red]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbGvK_lOr_4

Not a very good idea.

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by fiamme red

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbGvK_lOr_4

Not a very good idea.

Huh. Didn't realize it was Lucas.

He should have been riding his sofa bike...

[zzy]

Those picks probably saved his life. Especially if there was a current under the ice. People don't realize how hard it is to pull yourself out of the water when surrounded by ice, and how quickly your muscles start to seize up. I'm also kinda amazed how many people are casually travelling these days and broadcasting it..

[wc1934]

At least the Charles is clean now. Years ago if you fell in you would need a tetanus shot.

[FlashUNC]

I'm glad he's okay, but play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

[benb]

The Charles has been clean enough for kayaking and stuff for a long long time.. it was close to 10 years ago they started debating allowing swimming in that area again.. never heard if they did.

This was a really really stupid stunt.. I love how he talks like he's some kind of expert. Good for carrying the picks but with how likely it was for him to fall through I'm surprised he didn't wear a life preserver and/or try and rig up a line between him and his riding partner or something. It seems like there was a really high chance of falling through. In that water with the clothes he's wearing and the temp of the water there's no amount of swimming skill that will matter.

[Hilltopperny]

As somebody who does ride on frozen lakes I do not understand why anybody would ride on a river given there is running water underneath preventing it from properly freezing. We carry spikes as well, but I have never ridden on anything less than 6" of ice confirmed by the ice auger. Glad it didn't end worse!

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by benb

This was a really really stupid stunt.. I love how he talks like he's some kind of expert.

Google him. You'll understand.

[OtayBW]

I've done a fair bit of 4 season sea kayaking up in that neck of the woods, and I can tell you that it's not so much the hyperthermia that gets you, but rather it's drowning as a result of the gasp reflex when your face hits that cold water....

[benb]

Yah I did.. can't believe I've been riding around the area this long and never heard of him.

And I have also been silly enough to ride my bike across ice... but not in a warm spell and I don't go anywhere near river ice.

There are plenty of places around where you can ride on the ice if you absolutely can't stop yourself and know that even if you fall through the water's only 2-3 feet deep so you're going to be somewhat OK.

I gotta say, it sounds like he's pushing 50 and this is pretty impressive imitation of a teenager for someone that old.

[echelon_john]

Yep. He's a 'polarizing figure' which in this case is another word for as...le.

Originally Posted by C40_guy

Google him. You'll understand.

[raygunner]

I'm sorry, I usually wouldn't post on something like this because I find that it's best just to ignore this guy.

But I thought the description of the video was humorous:

"A cyclist experienced in taking chances and taking his bike out onto icy waters says it’s a stunt he doesn’t recommend after his plunge into the Charles River."

[KJMUNC]

Am I the only one who thinks this was 100% a publicity stunt and completely planned?

Totally fits this guy's MO....and for someone who is allegedly that experienced with riding on frozen water, he should've known exactly where to ride/not-ride. The fact that he had a camera following him perfectly, one rigged on the bike, and was clearly well equipped to extricate himself tells me it was all to get clicks/eyeballs.

Seems like it worked.

[DeBike]

A very dangerous situation that could have been tragic. I shudder if I think about how many times I crossed the Rock River in Loves Park, IL. Every couple of years someone would break through the ice, resulting in death.

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by OtayBW

I've done a fair bit of 4 season sea kayaking up in that neck of the woods, and I can tell you that it's not so much the hyperthermia that gets you, but rather it's drowning as a result of the gasp reflex when your face hits that cold water....

I spend a fair amount of time on forums.paddling.com, and what you state above is reiterated by other knowledgeable paddlers. I would prefer not to validate that for you

In my case, I'm a fair weather paddler.

If the snow tires are on the quattro and the outdoor shower has been winterized:

• Tthe kayaks are stored for the winter in the garage.

• The mountain bike and the cyclocross bikes are ready to get dirty.

• The mesh trail shoes are stashed, and the winter trail shoes are by the door.

• The water skis are (um, never owned any) and the cross country skis are waxed or lubricated.

• The Fiskar is ready to chop wood (well, that's true year round)