Readiness to forgive chaps in cycle crash (8)
I believe the answer is:
clemency
'readiness to forgive' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'chaps in cycle crash' is the wordplay.
'chaps' becomes 'men' (chap means a man).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'crash' indicates anagramming the letters.
'cycle' with letters rearranged gives 'clecy'.
'men' going into 'clecy' is 'CLEMENCY'.
(Other definitions for clemency that I've seen before include "Leniency and compassion towards offenders" , "The quality of mercy" , "Quality of being merciful" , "Mercifulness" , "Mercy or charity" .)