Well that was sore!!
Discussion
Woke up this morning and looked out of the window to see a damp, grey day and thought to myself 'I'd better get the high-vis trousers out today'.
The ride felt pretty good until I got to the downhill stretch and saw a car that looked like he might pull out on me (slow down a bit) but there is always a car there that looks the same. Then he pops his nose out and stops and I reach for the brakes a bit more (he must see me, I can probably be seen from space), nope the buggar has pulled out on me, high bus kerb to my left and a row of cars to my right (I'm in a bus lane), a hand full of brakes (canti's in the rain, this could take a while), nope I'm gonna hit him, aim for the bonnet, slide over it in a dukes of hazard style and a little bump of the head on the car in front of him to finish it all off.
Luckily I saw it coming from a long way off but I still have a big graze on my leg, a bruise on my backside and something is not right with the front end of the bike. Popped it into my LBS as I walked past on my way to work and the guy has agreed to pay for any damage they find.
So it turns out looking like a glowing banana isn't always going to get you seen and it was a good job I read the road ahead otherwise it could have been a lot worse!
The ride felt pretty good until I got to the downhill stretch and saw a car that looked like he might pull out on me (slow down a bit) but there is always a car there that looks the same. Then he pops his nose out and stops and I reach for the brakes a bit more (he must see me, I can probably be seen from space), nope the buggar has pulled out on me, high bus kerb to my left and a row of cars to my right (I'm in a bus lane), a hand full of brakes (canti's in the rain, this could take a while), nope I'm gonna hit him, aim for the bonnet, slide over it in a dukes of hazard style and a little bump of the head on the car in front of him to finish it all off.
Luckily I saw it coming from a long way off but I still have a big graze on my leg, a bruise on my backside and something is not right with the front end of the bike. Popped it into my LBS as I walked past on my way to work and the guy has agreed to pay for any damage they find.
So it turns out looking like a glowing banana isn't always going to get you seen and it was a good job I read the road ahead otherwise it could have been a lot worse!
Sadly drivers don't 'notice cyclists'
I think that when they come to a junction they give a quick glance for something the size of a small hatchback or larger, anything smaller doesn't register in their brain and they just pull out. Doesn't matter whether you're wearing high viz clothing or not, it just doesn't register in their brain that there's a bike heading for them.
Hope you're not in too much pain, maybe time for a few upgrades if he's admitted liability, that would make him pay more attention
I think that when they come to a junction they give a quick glance for something the size of a small hatchback or larger, anything smaller doesn't register in their brain and they just pull out. Doesn't matter whether you're wearing high viz clothing or not, it just doesn't register in their brain that there's a bike heading for them.
Hope you're not in too much pain, maybe time for a few upgrades if he's admitted liability, that would make him pay more attention
Just out of interest did you have a front light on and was it on flash mode? Not saying this would have helped but I have mine on and see it as just another layer/ opportunity to allow me to be seen. It's strange how certain junction s seem to lend themselves to having cars pull out on you. I have a couple of them on my commute but couldn't tell you the reasons why those junctions and not the others
Well I can at least be very positive about my LBS. They were down to only one mechanic today but they still managed to squeeze it in so that I can get home tonight. Straightened up the wheels (they weren't too bad apparently but rubbing a bit) and threw in some new brake blocks on the back whilst they were at it.
Now I just have to see how I manage to get back home on it tonight, I'll be stiff tomorrow!
Now I just have to see how I manage to get back home on it tonight, I'll be stiff tomorrow!
I've had a few pull out, but luckily without injury or accident.
The worst was a lorry that barged through a roundabout with two mountain bikes on it - still running offroad lights, helmet light as, the works - on a clear night with no other traffic.
We knew he was going to do it....
Haven't had one do it since I implemented the "if they look like they might, strobe em with the crees" policy.
Its very effective but can't run like that all the time, too bright and strobey...
The worst was a lorry that barged through a roundabout with two mountain bikes on it - still running offroad lights, helmet light as, the works - on a clear night with no other traffic.
We knew he was going to do it....
Haven't had one do it since I implemented the "if they look like they might, strobe em with the crees" policy.
Its very effective but can't run like that all the time, too bright and strobey...
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