Accidents do happen, but according to billionaire businessman Sir Richard Branson, they're just tumbles life throws at the brave. So far, he's had more than a few, including four serious bicycle accidents.
Sir Richard Branson might be 73 years old, but he's in better shape than most millennials, with an impressive resume that includes all manners of outdoor sports and hobbies. Over the years, he's cultivated an image of a daredevil/adventurer, and he seems determined to live up to it even in his seventies.
He's also a passionate cyclist, as he made sure to point out at the 2021 historic launch of the Unity 22 spaceplane of the now-defunct Virgin Galactic spinoff company, which had Trek as one of the big sponsors. Because of this, livestream of the launch was preceded by footage of Branson riding a custom Trek bike to Spaceport America in New Mexico.
The man loves to ride, and that's putting it lightly. He's been riding for years, and he's been riding hard, so he has also been racking up accidents. This is his fourth serious one in recent years, and it happened the other day as he was out cycling with a friend in the British Virgin Islands. Both "crashed hard" after hitting a pothole in the road, suffering cuts, abrasions, and bruises.
Photo: Virgin Galactic
The good news is that there was nothing broken in either cyclist, at least according to Branson himself, who shared the news on his social media. Branson had been wearing his helmet, a piece of safety gear he never goes riding without.
Wearing a helmet saved him from more serious injury on the previous three occasions he crashed, in 2016, 2018, and 2021, when he was thrown over the handlebars and required on-site medical assistance and hospitalization.
The 2016 accident was by far the most serious, resulting in torn ligaments and a cracked cheek. He made sure to turn his experiences into unpaid PSAs (public service announcement) for the need to wear a helmet when cycling.
Despite the injuries sustained on any one of these occasions, Branson has no intention of stopping. It's true that, by comparison, the most recent crash was also the lightest, but it reaffirmed his belief that one must pursue one's passions.
The way he sees it, the brave might not have a long life, "but the cautious do not live at all." Life without the stuff you love is no life at all.
He's also "counting [himself] very lucky, and thankful for keeping myself active and healthy," which is the most positive spin on a negative experience you'll see this week – and an inspirational one, if that's what you need right now.
Sir Richard Branson: billionaire businessman, adventurer, diehard cyclist, and now every cyclist's wise motivational speaker.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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