First topic about............................First off

deffler

Ok, flying home last night along a cycle track which for me is downhill then a sharp right bend. The bend is full of potholes therefore always greasy, to take the left hand outside is dangerous as its quite gravelly & deep pothole city so I normally take the inside really tight on the right as Ive never seen a car on that track.
However last night was different, Im doing 20mph much faster than I usually take this bend and find myself on this bend face to face with a car, I try to swerve right into the nettles as I can avoid a headon that way however my tyres gave way under the greasy road, I straight into the front passenger wing, denting that, hit the passenger mirror, my bars have gouged the full length of the front passenger door, then Ive headbutted the rear passenger door denting that, ending up on my back in a puddle with bike on top of me.
Luckily Ive walked away with cuts & bruises, my back wheel needs replacing as its mangled. Driver was ok too
Was just talking to somebody at work yesterday whose husband had an off at the same corner on Saturday breaking his hand. Me thinks I will take it easy on that corner in future.
The driver was more shaken than me, I feel guilty as it was my fault I guess, just got complacent & bad decision making
As this part of the track is the cycle network should I mention how dangerous this corner is as theres no signs, the road is full of potholes and water lies for longer?

Wallace1492

Sue the council for not maintaining it properly, but will be difficult to prove negligence.

daniel_b

Blimey, there's a lesson for us all, I quite often take a bit more risks on what I deem to be super quiet country roads, with little or no traffic, only needs one car though.

At least you got away without injuries, as did they.

What happens with all the car drivers damage, do you have insurance to cover that, or are you going to have to pay it out of your own pocket?

Dan

deffler

Daniel B wrote:

Blimey, there's a lesson for us all, I quite often take a bit more risks on what I deem to be super quiet country roads, with little or no traffic, only needs one car though.

At least you got away without injuries, as did they.

What happens with all the car drivers damage, do you have insurance to cover that, or are you going to have to pay it out of your own pocket?

Dan

I aint got no insurance :oops: , was one of those things Ive put off & put off to buy more 'gear' instead.
The driver was ok with me, as I say he was shook up, tbh he didnt exactly try & get out of the way , must of caught him by surprise. Good job I didnt hit him Head on else I'd problies be still somewhere in the stratosphere
Ive defo been a lucky boy, the bloke was standing over me saying 'are you alright' dead worried and that, im looking at his car behind him and says 'im fine....i think, your cars not tho' cant believe the damage I caused.

amnezia

Wallace1492 wrote:

Sue the council for not maintaining it properly, but will be difficult to prove negligence.

or alternatively don't go round corners too fast. Its not always someone else's fault.

always_tyred

deffler wrote:

Ttbh he didnt exactly try & get out of the way, must of caught him by surprise

It was a single track road, precisely where was he supposed to go?
I take it you'll help the guy establish with his insurance company that it was a no-fault event on his part? To me, if two vehicles are heading towards each other on a single track road, and one stops while the other skids unconrollably into them, I know who I regard as being at fault.
It is a part of the NCN you say?
Is it a one-way part of the NCN? No?
Well, you describe barreling around a blind bend at 20mph on the wrong side. Bloody good job there wasn't another cyclist coming really, isn't it?
What a d!ck.

deffler

Always Tyred wrote:

deffler wrote:

Ttbh he didnt exactly try & get out of the way, must of caught him by surprise

It was a single track road, precisely where was he supposed to go?
I take it you'll help the guy establish with his insurance company that it was a no-fault event on his part? To me, if two vehicles are heading towards each other on a single track road, and one stops while the other skids unconrollably into them, I know who I regard as being at fault.
It is a part of the NCN you say?
Is it a one-way part of the NCN? No?
Well, you describe barreling around a blind bend at 20mph on the wrong side. Bloody good job there wasn't another cyclist coming really, isn't it?
What a d!ck.

Ooooooooooooh T'internet Warrior, god I hate people like you, whats the weather like up there on your soapbox?. Yeah it was my fault, never said it wasnt & yes I gave him my details so his insurance company could contact me so I could verify what happened. The point of my post was to say I was complacent blazing round the corner I take everyday without seeing a car. I certainley dont think Im clever, just relieved neither of us was seriousley hurt

deffler

Daniel B wrote:

Blimey, there's a lesson for us all, I quite often take a bit more risks on what I deem to be super quiet country roads, with little or no traffic, only needs one car though.

At least you got away without injuries, as did they.

What happens with all the car drivers damage, do you have insurance to cover that, or are you going to have to pay it out of your own pocket?

Dan

Hopefully my foolishness refreshes peoples minds............it certainley has mine...........and like you say it only takes one car

jjojjas

Not sure which bit you mean? The gravel coverd wate land bit just off the waterfowl carpark? Upstream, or the long straight bit nearer nissn side of the track?
I know it well, I'm on it most weeks with the kids.
Jas

deffler

jjojjas wrote:

Not sure which bit you mean? The gravel coverd wate land bit just off the waterfowl carpark? Upstream, or the long straight bit nearer nissn side of the track?
I know it well, I'm on it most weeks with the kids.
Jas

yeah, the waste land bit I think, Im not even sure if its officially a road are cycle route or shared. Ive seen cars parked along it on a morning however theyve all gone by the time I commute back. Once I finished early the cars where still there & they all has police warnings on them.

always_tyred

deffler wrote:

Ooooooooooooh T'internet Warrior, god I hate people like you, whats the weather like up there on your soapbox?. Yeah it was my fault, never said it wasnt & yes I gave him my details so his insurance company could contact me so I could verify what happened. The point of my post was to say I was complacent blazing round the corner I take everyday without seeing a car. I certainley dont think Im clever, just relieved neither of us was seriousley hurt

Glad we are clear on that. :roll:
I don't appear to be the only person who regards reference to crap road surface, the driver not getting out of the way and general lack of traffic as somehow hinting at mitigation. Thought it might be worth emphasising that hammering around a blind bend on the wrong side of the road is a fairly basic act of cycling stupidity and that the result was not in the least suprising.

soy_sauce

lucky that you were wearing a helmet. 8)

deffler

Always Tyred wrote:

deffler wrote:

Thought it might be worth emphasising that hammering around a blind bend on the wrong side of the road is a fairly basic act of cycling stupidity and that the result was not in the least suprising.

Yeah well done on that.

Kieran_Burns

I think people lambasting deffler for posting about his admitted mistake should maybe calm down a bit.

He has actually admitted it was a stupid thing to do, and that he made a mistake. He actually didn't have to post about the incident at all. :roll:

What he's actually done is discuss his own error to remind others not to do the same. Leaping down his throat and calling him a "d1ck" is hardly a mature response. :?

At worst a response along the lines of "you were lucky not to come off worse" would be suitable, not publically slag him off for an error.



Yeesh.


It's not as if we're all perfect beings that make no mistakes. god knows I've committed a few howlers and thought afterwards I was lucky to get away with it.

[/soapbox]

deffler

He has actually admitted it was a stupid thing to do, and that he made a mistake. He actually didn't have to post about the incident at all. :roll:
[/soapbox][/quote]

Wish I hadnt bothered mate or maybe I should have just wrote a pack of lies to blame the driver. My comment about the driver not getting out of the way was my attempt at humour.

This part of the cycle route Im not even sure if its classed as a road or what. Regardless of my stupid decision making the surface doesnt help, the guy with the broken hand I spoke of earlier was just pootling down & hit the potholes and it is the exact same place. This isnt mitigation just me pointing out how strange it was I had heard of an accident then had one in exact same placed

always_tyred

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I think people lambasting deffler for posting about his admitted mistake should maybe calm down a bit.

He has actually admitted it was a stupid thing to do, and that he made a mistake. He actually didn't have to post about the incident at all. :roll:

What he's actually done is discuss his own error to remind others not to do the same. Leaping down his throat and calling him a "d1ck" is hardly a mature response. :?

At worst a response along the lines of "you were lucky not to come off worse" would be suitable, not publically slag him off for an error.



Yeesh.


It's not as if we're all perfect beings that make no mistakes. god knows I've committed a few howlers and thought afterwards I was lucky to get away with it.

[/soapbox]

Perhaps I got the wrong end of the stick - but I was irritated by the reference to the other guy having an accident there, the bad road surface, implied criticism of the driver, the good fortune of not having been hurt, etc. Really, to me, the sense of "wow, I'm a massive tool" didn't come across strongly. Therefore, I interpreted the post to be at least in part fishing for sympathy and "oh dear, bad council/driver/luck mate". I've read it again, and I think I was right.

deffler

Always Tyred wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I think people lambasting deffler for posting about his admitted mistake should maybe calm down a bit.

He has actually admitted it was a stupid thing to do, and that he made a mistake. He actually didn't have to post about the incident at all. :roll:

What he's actually done is discuss his own error to remind others not to do the same. Leaping down his throat and calling him a "d1ck" is hardly a mature response. :?

At worst a response along the lines of "you were lucky not to come off worse" would be suitable, not publically slag him off for an error.



Yeesh.


It's not as if we're all perfect beings that make no mistakes. god knows I've committed a few howlers and thought afterwards I was lucky to get away with it.

[/soapbox]

Perhaps I got the wrong end of the stick - but I was irritated by the reference to the other guy having an accident there, the bad road surface, implied criticism of the driver, the good fortune of not having been hurt, etc. Really, to me, the sense of "wow, I'm a massive tool" didn't come across strongly. Therefore, I interpreted the post to be at least in part fishing for sympathy and "oh dear, bad council/driver/luck mate". I've read it again, and I think I was right.

that irritation must be off coming into contact with the soap powder as you climb on your big box

always_tyred

Yeah, look, I got the subtle reference the first time.

Are you honestly saying that you thought it was worth pointing out, in case anyone had forgotten, that being on the wrong side of the road at full speed on a crap road surface and a blind bend is inadvisible? Thanks for the public service announcement - phew.

Or, as you said again about half way down, are you still ever so slightly blaming the road surface for not somehow enabling you to avoid the situation you got yourself into?

It was nothing whatsoever to do with the road surface. Its like saying that you would have been able to get out of the way if there'd been another lane, or that you would have been able to see the car if there hadn't been that bend.

Fair - probably an over reaction. Good that you are not hurt. But the only sympathy I have is for the driver.

Kieran_Burns

AT - I really do think you have got the wrong end of the stick...

Was just talking to somebody at work yesterday whose husband had an off at the same corner on Saturday breaking his hand. Me thinks I will take it easy on that corner in future.
The driver was more shaken than me, I feel guilty as it was my fault I guess, just got complacent & bad decision making As this part of the track is the cycle network should I mention how dangerous this corner is as theres no signs, the road is full of potholes and water lies for longer?

Maybe you missed this part?

deffler - in answer to your question: yes you can report it on the sustrans site (or ctc?)

I have reported a fallen hedge in the past and it got cleared pretty sharpish

always_tyred

Kieran_Burns wrote:

AT - I really do think you have got the wrong end of the stick...

Was just talking to somebody at work yesterday whose husband had an off at the same corner on Saturday breaking his hand. Me thinks I will take it easy on that corner in future.
The driver was more shaken than me, I feel guilty as it was my fault I guess, just got complacent & bad decision making As this part of the track is the cycle network should I mention how dangerous this corner is as theres no signs, the road is full of potholes and water lies for longer?

Maybe you missed this part?

deffler - in answer to your question: yes you can report it on the sustrans site (or ctc?)

I have reported a fallen hedge in the past and it got cleared pretty sharpish

No, I read it. I also read the post, and subsequent posts, as a whole.

"It was my fault I guess..rhubarb rhubarb... road surface... rhubarb, rhubarb.... cycle route.. rhubarb... cars... rhubarb... no signs... " isn't quite commensurate with an acknowledgement of galactic stupidity.

I think sustrans have better things to do. Just mtfu and stop looking for excuses.

deffler

Always Tyred wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

AT - I really do think you have got the wrong end of the stick...

Was just talking to somebody at work yesterday whose husband had an off at the same corner on Saturday breaking his hand. Me thinks I will take it easy on that corner in future.
The driver was more shaken than me, I feel guilty as it was my fault I guess, just got complacent & bad decision making As this part of the track is the cycle network should I mention how dangerous this corner is as theres no signs, the road is full of potholes and water lies for longer?

Maybe you missed this part?

deffler - in answer to your question: yes you can report it on the sustrans site (or ctc?)

I have reported a fallen hedge in the past and it got cleared pretty sharpish

No, I read it. I also read the post, and subsequent posts, as a whole.

"It was my fault I guess..rhubarb rhubarb... road surface... rhubarb, rhubarb.... cycle route.. rhubarb... cars... rhubarb... no signs... " isn't quite commensurate with an acknowledgement of galactic stupidity.

I think sustrans have better things to do.

You've got me

deffler

Ok to put this to bed, Im a stupid idiot whose learnt a valuable lesson & hopefully wont put myself or anyone else into a similar position again :idea:
And its a bad idea to let whoever cares know of an area that could be improved upon, possibley preventing a fatal accident as they have better things to do.

Wallace1492

Deffler, good on you for posting. You know you were wrong, deserve no sympathy. However, it is a valuable lesson that everyone can relate to. I know I get a bit cocky and take the occassional risk, so a story like that puts it in perspective that you don't always get away with it, though as you know it could have ben worse.

I think it will make me be more careful for a while, but hell, life is for living!!

My risk taking will eventually increase..... but everyday on Maryhill Road is a risk, especially on way home when the swathes of work dodging, buckie drinking scallies have risen from their drunken slumbers.....

always_tyred

Wallace1492 wrote:

However, it is a valuable lesson that everyone can relate to.

Honestly, I didn't relate to it, sorry.

As regards the "alerting the authorities to the danger" sentiment - look is it necessary? Are we to have mirrors, chevrons, warning signs at ever corner to help to save us from ourselves?
We don't need "danger - do not step off cliff" signs.
We don't need "warning contents may be hot" stickers.
We don't need "caution, oncoming traffic in middle of road" signs on a single track lane.
These things are self evident.

deffler

Wallace1492 wrote:

Deffler, good on you for posting. You know you were wrong, deserve no sympathy. However, it is a valuable lesson that everyone can relate to. I know I get a bit cocky and take the occassional risk, so a story like that puts it in perspective that you don't always get away with it, though as you know it could have ben worse.

I think it will make me be more careful for a while, but hell, life is for living!!

My risk taking will eventually increase..... but everyday on Maryhill Road is a risk, especially on way home when the swathes of work dodging, buckie drinking scallies have risen from their drunken slumbers.....

Yeah thinking about it its a good job it was a car I hit & not a walker or child or as said earlier another cyclist. Least hitting the car the way I did it was only going to be me that got physically hurt. Would be gutted if someone else had came off worse physically.

jjojjas

usual supportive internet chat I see..... :roll: .
Anyway, Deffler. I know the area you mean, its not clear what it is from riding through it, but I know its not a public access area for cars. The tickets are often put on the vehicles that stop there, they work at the wharehouse behind that field and its been going on for years. The problem seems to be its now a bit of wasteland that once had a through road on it, then the road was blocked off so it was just left to grow over with weeds etc.. but because its next to the waterfowl car park people used to spill over into it once they were full. Then the guys from the wharehouse started parking on the waterfowl land and then they got the police involved to move them away from the carpark back to their wharehouse (not enough parking you see).
The c2c rout does pass through it, but its not maintained in any way shape or form from what I can see. Its just a bit odd that the few miles upstream are all neat & tidy, as are the few miles down stream.... but that 60yard bendy stretch is just a bit of a tipping ground. If you go through in the winter its under 4 inched of water.......
Jas

Wallace1492

OK, a valuable lesson that everyone except Always Tyred can relate to.
He must not ever take any risks, and never have unfortunate consequences from his own actions. No speeding down an inviting hill with a bend, no heart pumping single track, no edgy spining of wheels....

Still each to their own. Hope you are healing nicely Deffler....

always_tyred

Wallace1492 wrote:

OK, a valuable lesson that everyone except Always Tyred can relate to.
He must not ever take any risks, and never have unfortunate consequences from his own actions. No speeding down an inviting hill with a bend, no heart pumping single track, no edgy spining of wheels....

Still each to their own. Hope you are healing nicely Deffler....

It wasn't unfortunate. It was fortunate.

No, I don't speed down a hill with a blind bend, because that's not inviting.

If I am riding any single track and I have a head on collision with a car, I would indeed regard myself as unfortunate.

deffler

Your dead right Jas, its a really weird stretch of uncared for route. Im on that route for about 4-5 miles from sunderland to fatfield and its a great route except that part. If its not for car Access, thats possibley why I never seen a car travelling through there.
Thats what I was saying about signage, if cars shouldnt be cutting through it should say so or vice versa.
Ive only used that route for past 4 month & cant recall seeing it completeley dry so it must be bad in winter as you say. My mate reckons its a common dogging spot???


It was fortunate, very fortunate

soy_sauce

Always Tyred wrote:

Wallace1492 wrote:

....

It wasn't unfortunate. It was fortunate.

....

+1

tbh, the guy know he was in the wrong but this can happen to everyone specially if you have done it alot of time and get away with it. confidence does kills.

surely he learned the lesson and will be caution from now on.

deffler

Wallace1492 wrote:

OK, a valuable lesson that everyone except Always Tyred can relate to.
He must not ever take any risks, and never have unfortunate consequences from his own actions. No speeding down an inviting hill with a bend, no heart pumping single track, no edgy spining of wheels....

Still each to their own. Hope you are healing nicely Deffler....

I'll live & luckily so.