Also taken out by a car last night

Heckler1974

Cycling up hill in Brighton, fair pace, getting dark so all reflectives on and eye melting Exposure front light on, approaching a junction at right angles that a car is stopped at, no indicators on the car so I'm guessing car is intending to cut straight across to junction opposite, cover my brakes (just in case), lady in car looks away from me, looks back, looks at me,pauses, by which time I am in front of her and no longer covering brakes. She then pulls out into the side of me and takes me out.

I go flying over the side of my bike and land hard on the road.

Cut a long story short, I have plenty of bruises down one side, bike amazingly is fine, I managed to painfully ride it home and other than scratches on it is undamaged even my clothes are undamaged. The woman was shaking like a leaf and almost in tears, offering to drive to the hospital, offering to drive me and bike home, me I'm on the verge of smiling as I can't believe how lucky I've been.

Not quite sure how much more visible I could've been, when someone looks at you and still doesn't see you, they aren't looking for you so you won't register even if you were Liberace riding a christmas tree. Ultimately I've put this one down to experience and counted my blessings.

Bunneh

You lucky bugger and at least she was aware what she'd done afterwards, she may look harder next time. Glad you're okay dude!

STEFANOS4784

I have 2 lights on my bike now, evertime i see a car turning from the side i point a light at them. I thin k having lights pointing forward isn't enough as people aren't really looking out for it. Not ideal but haven't had someone pull out on me since doing this and it used to happen frighteningly often. (actually i also now have one of these which also might help)

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/1 ... n=pid12887



PS, glad you and the bikw are ok

what brakes

you lucky sod!

although i have no visible marks from mine well apart from a fat lip! lol im in sooo much pain from head to toe.

My bike looked fine. had a buckled rear wheel untill i started looking closer! because everything is carbon its reall hard to tell if there is any damage! seat post is broken! etc etc The insurers say that a carbon frame has to be written off as they can not guarentee that its integrity is sound. So i would advise you if yours is carbon to make a claim for at least the frame!

Glad you got away lighly. although bruises do blinking hurt and the aches n pains will seep out over time! I felt fine yesterday but today i can hardly move.

deptfordmarmoset

Bad luck, Heckler, I hope the bruises heal quickly.

Not quite sure how much more visible I could've been, when someone looks at you and still doesn't see you, they aren't looking for you so you won't register even if you were Liberace riding a christmas tree. Ultimately I've put this one down to experience and counted my blessings.

I guess the current TV ad is probably about right - the more you look for something the more obvious it becomes. The driver's radar is most likely directed at big objects (that might take them out) while missing the smaller bits. I narrowly avoided an accident with a car pulling out from the left last week - and yet the driver looked my way (hi-vis stuff on). I only avoided it because the driver had that ''rat-run'' look about him and arrived at the junction looking as though he was trying to save time (and brake wear!) so I began to slow before he pulled out.

Bike awareness and driver training, eh....

Heckler1974

The weather made a lucky decision for me, I was planning to take my carbon bike out but then it started raining so I took out my winter Alu bike instead as it had mud guards. It used to be a London commuter (in it's flat bar previous incarnation) so it's no stranger to hitting the deck.

Hope you're feeling better soon mate and if you have an understanding partner, don't forget to leverage your discomfort for a bit of TLC and sympathetic treatment....

MadammeMarie

Heckler1974 wrote:

Cycling up hill in Brighton, fair pace, getting dark so all reflectives on and eye melting Exposure front light on, approaching a junction at right angles that a car is stopped at, no indicators on the car so I'm guessing car is intending to cut straight across to junction opposite, cover my brakes (just in case), lady in car looks away from me, looks back, looks at me,pauses, by which time I am in front of her and no longer covering brakes. She then pulls out into the side of me and takes me out.

I go flying over the side of my bike and land hard on the road.

Cut a long story short, I have plenty of bruises down one side, bike amazingly is fine, I managed to painfully ride it home and other than scratches on it is undamaged even my clothes are undamaged. The woman was shaking like a leaf and almost in tears, offering to drive to the hospital, offering to drive me and bike home, me I'm on the verge of smiling as I can't believe how lucky I've been.

Not quite sure how much more visible I could've been, when someone looks at you and still doesn't see you, they aren't looking for you so you won't register even if you were Liberace riding a christmas tree. Ultimately I've put this one down to experience and counted my blessings.

Glad you are OK! And she will be more careful next time, that's for sure!

bompington

Heckler1974 wrote:

I took out my winter Alu bike instead

You don't need to tell your insurance company that... :twisted:






No, I didn't say that, this forum does not condone insurance fraud etc. etc...