First Bike Accident Today

raymondo60

Almost unbelievably, after more than 5 years of commuting from Epsom to Vauxhall about 2/3 times per week, I had my first proper shunt today. A guy on a Motor Scooter hit me square on the back wheel, shunting me forward and off, destroying my rear Fulcrum 5 and generally shaking me up. The guy could not have been more apologetic - I think he was more shocked than I was - and immediately asked if I was OK and offered to pay for any damage etc. We exchanged numbers and went on our way - me unfortunately having to wheel the last mile or so up the Wandsworth Road. Nobody was hurt - nobody got angry - nobody was anything other than sorry it happened.

Lessons? Well, it proves that, even though I consider myself to be a very careful/aware cyclist, it can happen to anyone. It also made me glad I was wearing a Helmet, even though I didn't land directly on my head, but a scuff along the side of my Bell Slant means there must have been some contact with the road. And it helped me to understand that accidents don't have to be 'disasters'; I could see the other guy just waiting for me to go into a rant, but I didn't feel that way. It wasn't an accident caused by his lack of care or attention; he wasn't a kid screaming around like a lunatic; it was a poor road service and I could hear his tyre scraping the gravel behind me. OK, so he should have stopped, but we've all been there, and the fact that he did manage to reduce his contact speed meant it wasn't a huge impact. Yes I was fortunate; yes it could have been worse, but it wasn't.

Be careful out there people!

Twostage

Glad you are OK. I think you were right to handle it as you did. Might be worth getting the bike checked over.

I've been shunted in the car twice. First time was like your incident, nothing she could do and I felt sorry for her (and her mam (passenger in the front) who was obviously relieved when I asked her if she was ok).

Second time I could have turned violent as she was too busy looking at the sat nav to notice the traffic had stopped. I sat there helplessly looking at her in the rear mirror, hoping she was going to look forward in time. She then went on to shout at her kid who was crying due to the shock of the accident. I do not have a very positive opinion of her.

raymondo60

Have now checked the bike at home and it really is the rear wheel only. Guess I can count myself fortunate. I too have experienced the 'looking in the rear mirror' as somone crashes into the back of your car - not a pleasant experience and I will NOT be fitting rear view mirrors on the bike!

shouldbeinbed

Raymondo60 wrote:

Have now checked the bike at home and it really is the rear wheel only. Guess I can count myself fortunate. I too have experienced the 'looking in the rear mirror' as somone crashes into the back of your car - not a pleasant experience and I will NOT be fitting rear view mirrors on the bike!

I'd suggest you get it checked out professionally, you don't know what cracks there may be hiding under tha paintwork now just waiting to go pop when you least expect it. don't take a chance on your safety and whilst there sounds like the opportunity to get a legitimate insurance settlement then do it, no good going back to them in 6 months if your rear triangle collapses.

M1 1996 hit at the tail end of another accident and could see it coming from ages away, worst was having the kids in the car and telling them to brace themselves.

odd comment, why not? you might well have found you had spotted the likely outcome sooner and been able to hop out of the way. you'd maybe have seen the scooter off line and the spidey sense would have tingled, by the time you've relied on your ears its definitely too late to do anything about it! Bikes are manouverable in the way cars aren't you know, I've used my mirror to adjust my road position before now to alert/avoid cars in my presence both moving and not. I honestly don't understand the knee jerk prejudice to (decent) mirrors on bikes.

raymondo60

Fair comment actually shouldbeinbed - that's one of the values of these forums - getting a different viewpoint etc. Appreciate the feedback x

raymondo60

Last note on this one. I did get the bike checked out by my reliable LBS as advised (thanks again shouldbeinbed) and it came back unscathed. Another point in the favour of my trusty Cube Aerial. And I got a beautiful set of DT Swiss wheels as replacements, so all's well that ends well and I count myself as very fortunate.

Ride safe everyone.

suffolk rider

It's so much easier not to get cross when the person causing the accident at least says sorry. Last week I rounded a corner by a pedestrian crossing. There was a whole crowd of pedestrians waiting patiently [makes a change!] for the red light to change, apart from one fellow (African, as it happens) who stepped out. I went smack in to him, fell off bike, fortunately no damage bar a bruised chin. He made a profuse apology, which rather prevented me getting very cross with him - although he deserved an ear full...

_Brun_

suffolk rider wrote:

It's so much easier not to get cross when the person causing the accident at least says sorry. Last week I rounded a corner by a pedestrian crossing. There was a whole crowd of pedestrians waiting patiently [makes a change!] for the red light to change, apart from one fellow (African, as it happens) who stepped out. I went smack in to him, fell off bike, fortunately no damage bar a bruised chin. He made a profuse apology, which rather prevented me getting very cross with him - although he deserved an ear full...

Oh dear.

raymondo60

In my extremely humble opinion, pedestrians are the biggest danger to daytime/commuting cyclists. My commuting route takes me through Tooting High St in South London - the cyclists there call it the 'tunnel of death' as the pedestrians/shoppers just wander into the road without a care in the world. I actually think there are cultural issues involved; many people are just not aware of the dangers and intracacies of modern urban living - the classic 'American Tourist looking the wrong way for traffic' etc. That's why it's up to us, the cyclists, to be ultra-aware, ultra-safe and uber-cool

Safe journeys out there peeps x

optimisticbiker

I agree... I nearly came a cropper last night on the way home up at Old St - its heaving there on a Friday night - classic case of Ped not wanting to make the effort to use a crossing point and misunderstanding how fast a bike can go... shouted a warning but all I got was a hail of abuse from his mates , all with cans in their hands...

dilemna

How about buying an AIrzound?

Mark Bom

Glad to hear that you are ok Raymondo, and your bike is ok and good to hear your positive attitude.

AndyManc

There's nothing worse than having "a scuff along the side of my Bell Slant"..

Your GP should be able to prescribe antibiotics, after he's finished laughing.


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