Champion cyclist Christina Mackenzie is finally back in the saddle more than four months after a horror collision with a car on a country road – and is eyeing up her first competition after believing she’d never ride again.
The popular cyclist was left with a devastating pelvis injury that has kept her off the region’s roads since she was hit by a car whilst out on a training ride.
Christina had been cycling along the B822, at the Kippen roundabout, shortly after 5pm on September 27 last year when a black car which was towing a trailer hit her, leaving her lying by the roadside in agony.
She was later diagnosed with multiple agonising fractures to her pelvis and underwent a gruelling physiotherapy schedule in her battle to get back to full fitness.
She was able to get on her bike for light training sessions from the comfort of her own home but this week she was finally able to cycle on public roads for the first time since the harrowing ordeal.
Christina, from Cambusbarron, has this week revealed how “daunting” it was to finally get back on her bike for the first time since the shocking collision.
The time trial specialist, originally from Stornoway, was able to go on a weekend ride to properly test her recovery from the gruesome injury.
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She made her way through the city’s roads – including cycling past the location of the horror crash – whilst on a two-and-a-half hour 40-mile long ride.
Speaking to the Observer this week, Christina said: “It was really daunting initially.
“It was a massive thing for me to get back on the road on the bike. At one point I thought I would never ride ever again because I was in so much pain.
“I did have reservations and I even cycled the reverse route and came past where the accident happened.
“To begin with, I just felt twitchy, looking over my shoulders the whole time.”
Christina, a swimming development officer, admitted that the collision had knocked her confidence and during her tough physiotherapy program she says she “had to learn how to walk again”.
She has been undergoing intense physio and was able to ride her turbo bike at home, but after finally getting back out on the road, she is now eyeing up a return to competitive action.
She is training for the International Island Games, being held in Guernsey in July. She is hoping to represent her native Western Isles squad at the event.
She added: “It was good to just get back to riding again and my legs actually felt ok afterwards.
“I’m planning on competing in July because it give me something to train towards and gives me that bit extra motivation.”
In October, police released CCTV images of a car towing a agricultural trailer whom they wish to speak to in connection with the crash.
The vehicle failed to stop, leaving the 45-year-old lying on the road in agony.
The driver has never been traced and police this week confirmed to the Observer that enquiries are continuing.
The cyclist said she was approaching the roundabout from the direction of Stirling and indicated to turn right with her arm and moved to the right-hand side of the carriageway. It was at that point that the vehicle came up on her right side, colliding with her before the trailer it was towing also hit her.
Anyone with information that could help is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting reference 2444 of Tuesday, September 27, 2022.
