Lost it when left hooked

flybywire

This situation has occurred lots of times before where you look over your shoulder check behind, indicate left and scan to the right and left when approaching a t-junction when turning left..
Car is miles back, you're approaching with a constant 20mph and slow within last 10metres - All of a sudden the vehicle is there where it's accelerated in an attempt to take the junction before you obscuring your view and closing you into the kerb/verge. (usually without indicating and then they turn left).

Last week on way to work the above situation took place, rural road on to b.road - straight good visiability - car behind was about 40metres back when I was in the last 10. You guessed it; accelerated (you hear the engine) - no indicator, pulls to left - I have nowhere to go other than verge, with drainage holes (on mtb fortunately).I ride along verge and smack the tw@ts nearside mirror off. Let the old git make the turn and then give verbals, he stops and where no other cars about I pick up my bike in a controlled rage prepare to throw it through it's rear screen .. Suddenly realise the gravity of the situation decide to cool down and ride off into woodland - not happy. :evil:

I've had this happen lots of times and always back off at the pinch point, but sometimes it requires heavy braking and can be dicey in rain etc. One time I was turning left (not a t-junction) into a residential road from main road and car took bend same time as me (!) carved me into kerb, which I clipped - lost control and went over the back of the vehicle .. Driver slowed to see if I was ok & then drove off.. furtunately was ok but bike wasn't & couldn't get reg.no.

Any advise what to do in this situation? I don't want anger to take over .. If you ride to work does anyone's employer provide helmet cameras for there recording/warning sticker displayed?

nielsamd

Take a much more primary position on approach to a junction/turn.
Even if they still insist on still coming round they will have a harder time pinching you.

flybywire

Yes, thanks - I'm out by about 1 metre.. Is that enough?

CyclingBantam

I try and ride a bit further out if I think I am coming to a dicey corner. The problem is though, the times it is dicey are due to the cars there so you struggle to get out enough sometimes. I just try and anticipate the corner as much as possible.

flybywire

As always it's about anticipation & keeping your cool..

Are motorists committing an offence when "cutting you up" - Is it reportable & do police endorse license if proven? > it just happens so often in the south east where it's such a busy rush (driver's mindset).

downfader

flybywire wrote:

As always it's about anticipation & keeping your cool..

Are motorists committing an offence when "cutting you up" - Is it reportable & do police endorse license if proven? > it just happens so often in the south east where it's such a busy rush (driver's mindset).

In theory yes, its without due care and attention.. practical terms - well its hard to prove (camera will help, and I have met one or two people online who have been taken more seriously by the police due to the reg and incident being on camera). If its REALLY bad and they knock you off you will need witnesses.

Sadly witnesses rarely want to stop thesedays. Frankly I'm disgusted by that.

I sympathise, have been there several times myself over the course of a week, plus one really dangerous one on friday, all despite taking a prominant position in the road and being clear and visible to other road users.

flybywire

DF Good advice, although after 20years + of commuting by bike on road. I'm actively seeking taking more off road routes to work - driver behaviour appears to have worsened considerably in the last 5years.. Sustrans need to build more links to routes 23 & 4 near to where I live !!

downfader

flybywire wrote:

DF Good advice, although after 20years + of commuting by bike on road. I'm actively seeking taking more off road routes to work - driver behaviour appears to have worsened considerably in the last 5years.. Sustrans need to build more links to routes 23 & 4 near to where I live !!

I honestly feel that if I give up or take another route (if there was one) then those that know I cycle would feel dissuaded from doing so. :? Not that I'm saying I have a personal influence, but I have been banging on about how effective cycling is for a variety of reasons. :oops:

Keep with it, if its really bad then report them. Sometimes you can find cheap cams on ebay, dogcam sports sometimes do offers on end of line, or bodge an old digicam in place with a bit of careful DIY. Cams aint cheap though and are often a massive faff.

flybywire

yeah you're right mate.. it just pisses you off with the lazy/inconsiderate driving.

is it me or is it this time of year it happens more regularly?

downfader

flybywire wrote:

yeah you're right mate.. it just pisses you off with the lazy/inconsiderate driving.

is it me or is it this time of year it happens more regularly?

I call it the "Funny Friday" myself as it always seems to happen:

-last friday of the month (pay related)
-people thinking about the weekend instead of the road
-last day before the bank hols
-or simply a change in the weather, or that it s very hot, very wet, etc (even if its not a friday)

We've all been there. Actually I used to have a punchbag years back. Used to wreck that thing after the commute home. Would love to have the space for one now.

flybywire

cheers for the support DF
National Bike Week next week = more cyclists going to work etc .. :arrow:

you feel better when you're not the only one

nielsamd

flybywire wrote:

Yes, thanks - I'm out by about 1 metre.. Is that enough?

Well sometimes if you want them to treat you like another vehicle...even one they would normally hate, like a tractor, you have to take the whole lane.

I agree it is wierd sometimes acting `unusually' assertively, but a side-benefit can be that you don't get that `I'll-throw-my-bike-through-your-windscreen' feeling when they aren't `considerate' back at you. If that makes sense.

There is no escaping the real nuts/psychopaths but they are out there affecting other road users as well... you just happen to be a cyclist. I was once splashed while running on a pavement, facing the traffic, by a white van man who deliberately veered into a filled puddle to do it. He then stopped 100 yards away to make sure I could see him laughing at me. I was mad at the time but in retrospect, all you can do for non-reportable events is relax in the near-certain knowledge that eventually two psychopaths will meet each other......

teagar

Always keep your cool, and never take it personally. It vary rarely is personal.

I used to be a bit of a road-rage addict on the bike, but I've learnt to set off 5 mins earlier (so I'm not riding on the limit constantly), and just don't take anything personally. I found myself setting off in an almost combative mentality, thinking it's some kind of battle or war, flipping out at the first little incident, calling people all sorts, banging on wing-mirrors, deliberately slowing traffic down etc etc.

Drivers never "learn the lesson" from anyone telling them what to do on the road, however politely, epsecially not from someone on a bike, so it's no use. I don't like getting told what to do on the bike, and it's the same in the car.

Just try and stay cool, when everyone else is being a dickhead. Keep the stress out of it. When you're calm and not on the limit you also make better choices so you ride more safely anyway, so you anticipate bad driving earlier. You look much better for staying cool as well!

I've also learnt to forget a lot of the rules of the road of right of way and things. Just ride to avoid incidents, rather than exactly according to the rules. I found myself riding so close to the rules that any infringement would set me off, since I felt I was genuinely aggrived, and I felt I somehow had a moral high ground. Using the road is really just about getting there incident free, and doing that is a judgement call rather than sticking to any one rule...

iclestu

nielsamd wrote:

relax in the near-certain knowledge that eventually two psychopaths will meet each other......

Lol - that is a classy way of looking at it.

OldSkoolKona

teagar wrote:

Always keep your cool, and never take it personally. It vary rarely is personal.

I used to be a bit of a road-rage addict on the bike, but I've learnt to set off 5 mins earlier (so I'm not riding on the limit constantly), and just don't take anything personally. I found myself setting off in an almost combative mentality, thinking it's some kind of battle or war, flipping out at the first little incident, calling people all sorts, banging on wing-mirrors, deliberately slowing traffic down etc etc.

Drivers never "learn the lesson" from anyone telling them what to do on the road, however politely, epsecially not from someone on a bike, so it's no use. I don't like getting told what to do on the bike, and it's the same in the car.

Just try and stay cool, when everyone else is being a dickhead. Keep the stress out of it. When you're calm and not on the limit you also make better choices so you ride more safely anyway, so you anticipate bad driving earlier. You look much better for staying cool as well!

I've also learnt to forget a lot of the rules of the road of right of way and things. Just ride to avoid incidents, rather than exactly according to the rules. I found myself riding so close to the rules that any infringement would set me off, since I felt I was genuinely aggrived, and I felt I somehow had a moral high ground. Using the road is really just about getting there incident free, and doing that is a judgement call rather than sticking to any one rule...

+1

Brilliant post teagar, I couldn't put it better myself.

Keep your cool, ride assertively and Princess Kharma will look after you. Lose your rag, and you're the only loser, in terms of losing your concentration and increasing your general stress levels. You'll notice that you'll actually end up having less negative road experiences as a result.

teagar

OldSkoolKona wrote:

+1

Brilliant post teagar, I couldn't put it better myself.

Keep your cool, ride assertively and Princess Kharma will look after you. Lose your rag, and you're the only loser, in terms of losing your concentration and increasing your general stress levels. You'll notice that you'll actually end up having less negative road experiences as a result.

Cheers mate.

When I said I was a bit of a road-rage addict, I wasn't being truthful. I was a nutter..! Ended up in tears one late evening so worried about it all. Was worried I'd end up in prison or something. Now I'm cooler than a chilled beer on a hot day. 8)

flybywire

your posts have been positive accounts, thanks for that

I am a level headed cool person that always considers my actions. it's interesting when someone in a motor vehicle is just completely reckless/blaze or ignorant to road manners/ laws .. You wouldn't do it to another roaduser would you as a cyclist when you drive your car!?

You tend to think, What if I didn't look over my shoulder like every 10seconds / position virtually in the middle of the road when turning left or taking a bend to make sure there nobody coming around in the middle of the road! appropriately .. You shouldn't have to because when you ride your bike you should be relaxed & it should enjoyable. (when in low traffic).

Regularly I ride along secluded lanes when you hear a high revving engine & an idiot flies around the corner .. What if there were horses on the road - the car/4x4 driver gives NO consideration. It is more than frustrating :!: Or there is one hill that I ride that is hedge lined but quite narrow - I'm not hanging about going up it and it takes 20seconds max to get to the top where impatient drivers overtake and several times make oncoming vehicles stop.. the road widens at the top with a long straight for overtaking.. It is not as though don't know the road either.

apologies for the rant

Stone Glider

Good rant. Best place for it. Now you can move on

flybywire

consider matter closed.. needed to get off my chest!

graeme_s-2

I had my second ever proper left hook on the way home from work last week. I was riding down a slight hill at about 20 mph. As the hill levels out there is a junction with a left hand turn. I was continuing straight ahead.

As I come down the hill, a driver passes me, and then turns left at the bottom of the hill. I thought the pass was a bit unnecessary, but it didn't impede me. A Renault Espace then begins to overtake me, and as he does so indicates left. I immediately realise what the plonker is about to do, and brake as hard as I can. The driver then turns left across me and I have no choice but to also turn left. Luckily the driver does seem to allow for my presence at this point and leaves me enough room to make the turn.

I followed him round a couple of corners intending to have a nice chat with him (he was heading into the railway station car park), but I quickly cooled off and decided to just leave it and ride home. I've never had a discussion with a driver after an incident like this that was in any way useful or satisfying (for either of us).

Some people are just so un-f'ing-believably stupid. Just today I had someone pull in towards me as he came off a roundabout in the wrong lane, someone coming the other way pull out onto my side of the road to overtake a broken down lorry while I was oncoming and a guy overtake me within 10 metres of a stationary queue of traffic. I only cycled 11 miles in total!