closing speed

freddiegrubb
freddiegrubb Posts: 448
edited October 2012 in The cake stop
Nearly got wiped out at the w/end, I was on the main road doing approx. 17 mph. on the crown & clearly indicating to turn right, car approaches main road from the side road that I intended to turn into ,the passenger & I make eye contact this distance was approx. 20 yards. I drop my arm to hold the bars for brakes & turning when the car pulls out & we both stop on the crown of the road. The car was given a heavy duty WHOA & the driver mouthed the words "sorry mate", as this is not my first near miss it has set me on this train of thought - do some motorists completely underestimate a roadies "closing speed"? (lets be honest 17 mph. isn't really legging it)

Comments

  • sadlybiggins
    sadlybiggins Posts: 158
    In my experience, they often do underestimate how quickly you can move on a bike. Pedestrians are often the same.
  • Cleat Eastwood
    Cleat Eastwood Posts: 7,508
    All too common that one - it does tend to make the next few miles adrenalin fuelled - so not all bad. :D
    The dissenter is every human being at those moments of his life when he resigns
    momentarily from the herd and thinks for himself.
  • thecrofter
    thecrofter Posts: 734
    Lucky to get a "sorry mate". Usually it's just a mouthful of abuse.
    You've no won the Big Cup since 1902!
  • peat
    peat Posts: 1,242
    On my ride out on Saturday, i had 2 near misses in similar circumstances.

    1st was a ped in a small village crossing the road - glances over her shoulder and sees/doesn't see me about 100yds away. Walks straight out infront of me, i take evasive action with a 'whoa' too. She froze on the spot.

    2nd was coming along a main road - Skip truck comes to T-junction from the left onto the main road. Quite clearly see's me and thinks 'Oh, i wanna get out infront of that bike so he doesn't hold me up' and pulls out. I was doing 25mph at the time so had to anchor up as he accelerated slowly (due to the nature of the vehicle) while covering me in thick black exhaust fumes. Prrrrrrrrk.

    Basically its a combination of people underestimating your speed and generally being douchebags. Don't take it personally.
  • freddiegrubb
    freddiegrubb Posts: 448
    Cleat, you never fail, I felt like hoofing the car but I didn't know how big the driver was. As I was wearing a red top my blood wouldn't have shown.
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,430
    yep, many seem to assume cycles move at no more than 5mph

    i think pedestrians are worse than most drivers in this respect

    but i've seen people do it in front of trucks too

    evolution in action
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny

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