Funny old day: deisel

downfader
downfader Posts: 3,686
edited August 2008 in Commuting chat
Ahhh the rain has brought the lunatics back out again, lol! I counted 8 cars this morning in the space of 5 minutes that either cut me up, tried to left hook me or drove too close and fast (it was raining this morning here too)

Then on the way home I'm going at quite a moderately slow speed because of the weather. I'm heading down hill slightly and slowing for a mini roundabout to let the car on the right turn off but realise I cant stop: deisel! The car behind realised what was happening and kept a big distance (cool driver!) and I havent a clue how I managed to stay upright. :o:lol:

This is happening a lot here. The rain got heavier so I walked half way home and I could see loads of rainbows in the water on the roads. Do most cars leak like this?

Comments

  • Underscore
    Underscore Posts: 730
    Yeah, had my back wheel slip in a corner this morning - though thankfully gripped again after an inch or two. I've always put it down to lorries (with their exposed fuel tanks) rather than cars, but maybe I'm wrong.

    _
  • downfader
    downfader Posts: 3,686
    Hmm no lorries down this road.. :? They seem to keep to the main road 200 yards away. :)
  • karl j
    karl j Posts: 517
    i've always assumed it was oil. But then again same question i suppose - why do they leak so much
    Morning route (when i don't get the train)

    Evening route ,
  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    I was always under the impression that they didn't leak a lot....(lorries are the worst culprits because of open tanks.)

    Rather, the diesel get leaked and dragged about by car tyres, where it sinks into the tarmac. Then as soon as it rains, it washes all the diesel out and to the surface where it causes us to slide around. So a little diesel goes a long way! There is one particular S-Bend near me which has opposite cambers on both curves of the S. It is treacherous even for cars when it rains.
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • 10milesfromafan
    10milesfromafan Posts: 20
    There is a massive problem caused by diesel from lorries. Motorcycle publication have long running campaigns for steps to be taken to reduce the problem. It is repoted as being resopnsible for a high number of motorcycle accidents. Same would apply to us I assume.
  • downfader
    downfader Posts: 3,686
    10milesfromafan wrote:
    There is a massive problem caused by diesel from lorries. Motorcycle publication have long running campaigns for steps to be taken to reduce the problem. It is repoted as being resopnsible for a high number of motorcycle accidents. Same would apply to us I assume.

    I have known many motorcyclists who have had a fall thanks to oily roads. I can think of 5 people to hand who have all come off at around 20mph. :? They all had good body armour on thankfully.
  • 2wheelzgood
    2wheelzgood Posts: 373
    Aye I saw a few this morning too.
    It's probably buses. check out the blue pools near the bus stops :shock:
    As a motorbiker too. it's bloody scary and you find the diesel spills on the parts of t hroad you least need them, roundabouts, sharp bends by the nature of the stuff spilling out on sharp bends..

    It's totally avoidable if truckers and bus drivers don't overfill

    grrr
    FCN4: Langster Pro
    FCN8 Dawes Audax
    FCN13: Pompetamine dad and daughter bike

    FCN5 Modded Dawes Hybrid R.I.P.
    FCN6 Fixed beater bike (on loan to brother in law)
  • downfader
    downfader Posts: 3,686
    Nice and dry this morning! :D But you'll love this! :wink:

    I was heading around a corner this morning, checked behind me as the road narrows and nothing at the rear. As soon as I'm centered to avoid the pinch in the the road this fella came shooting up at about 40+ in a 30 zone beeping his horn at me.

    So I looked over to see the guy actually leaning over his passenger at me, pointing at the pavement and swearing at me some garbled rubbish I can barely hear as he's got his windows up. :lol:

    I had the new camera on the helmet but didnt get much other than shots o the road. :( Might see what I can salvage for youtube though.

    Then later I've arrived at work. Get off the bike and walking through the carpark (ped section) and heard a bang behind me. Some woman trying to park her car just drove right at a steel bollard. While I stood laughing at the damage she'd done she reversed to take a second attempt and did it again. :lol:

    I walk 30 yards to the cycle cage and hear ANOTHER bang but louder. As I try and peer over parked cars I can see some driver in panic pressing on the accelerator instead of the brake and shunt the car she'd just hit. This fella came out of a building and was standing in disbeleif telling her off. Then another cyclist arrived so I said to the guy what I'd seen and that I was gutted as i could have had good youtube footage had I not switched the camera off before both "prangs"

    Saw all 3 cars involved on the way out, all looked a sorry state. Glad I wasnt riding near them. :wink:

Categories