first commuting crash and it was my fault...
fingerfun
Posts: 82
I have to tell you this cos it is sort of funny - I've been commuting to work for the last 9 years and (touch wood) I've never been knocked off or even nudged; to be fair I don't know how as I get close calls almost on a daily basis. I'm the one always moaning about 'bloody car drivers' and how they don't indicate, turn in or across me, opening car doors on me etc...
I also concede that, while aware of things, i do cycle rather quickly particularly on the carbon roadie :P
Coming back on my 'extended summer route' I was following a knackered 15 yr old white transit flat bed van (erm possibly getting a wee bit of a tow...) now vehicles that age don't stop too quickly, but he must have been to the garage because as we came to a narrowing in the road instead of doing the usual 'white van barge-through technique' he stopped dead.
I didn't.
In the one second I had in slow motion I cursed myself in not ordering the Swisstop green pads I had been planning to buy...
I hit him hard and actually bounced fully backwards while managing to unclip my feet (gawd knows how). He turned to look through his little rear window as it made a right thump, and just looked confused; I sheepishly waved, relieved I didn't end up in his tool collection.
So, other than feeling complete chump, my bike is weirdly ok. The wheel is a bit buckled now but literally only 5mm. Checked headset and forks and all appears ok; guess I scrubbed off enough speed... Or Planet Xs are super strong.
Did make me smile though and, yes, I will be more careful next time...
Marcus
I also concede that, while aware of things, i do cycle rather quickly particularly on the carbon roadie :P
Coming back on my 'extended summer route' I was following a knackered 15 yr old white transit flat bed van (erm possibly getting a wee bit of a tow...) now vehicles that age don't stop too quickly, but he must have been to the garage because as we came to a narrowing in the road instead of doing the usual 'white van barge-through technique' he stopped dead.
I didn't.
In the one second I had in slow motion I cursed myself in not ordering the Swisstop green pads I had been planning to buy...
I hit him hard and actually bounced fully backwards while managing to unclip my feet (gawd knows how). He turned to look through his little rear window as it made a right thump, and just looked confused; I sheepishly waved, relieved I didn't end up in his tool collection.
So, other than feeling complete chump, my bike is weirdly ok. The wheel is a bit buckled now but literally only 5mm. Checked headset and forks and all appears ok; guess I scrubbed off enough speed... Or Planet Xs are super strong.
Did make me smile though and, yes, I will be more careful next time...
Marcus
Question: Why do so many cyclists not stop at red lights? You would if you were in a car...
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Comments
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glad you're ok. do check the bike thoroughly though; I did the same a while back following a car over a busy roundabout and he suddenly decided to stop as he might have stopped on a box junction.
I ended up on his boot, we pulled over and checked ourselves over and it was only later on when the steering started bugging me that I saw the frame had bent around the steerer tube.
I did the same thing a month later on the replacement bike, no damage just a headful of van. :roll:
one lives, one learns...0 -
Should have handbuilts - would have smashed the van.......... :?
Lucky...... I've run into the back of a new Porsche once - as a kid........ fortunately the guy was OK......0
