Knocked off at a roundabout

ben@31

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19708128#p19708128]diy[/url] wrote:

you're jammed full of adrenalin when you get knocked off, you feel almost nothing. Its often a week or so before you release you've caused some lasting damage.

I still have a dodgy wrist from a motorbike accident more than 5 years ago.

Once had a bad fall on a cross country run and managed to limp on to the nearest road 200m away. I sat down and then the pain and swelling hit me, went to hospital and then I found I had a fracture in one leg ! I was mostly gutted about not being able to run for several weeks.

I also had a fall MTB'ing and carried on fine, like nothing happened. Then hours later that night, while out for a meal, my wrist suddenly flared up into the most painful experience ever, so painful I had to leave the restaurant before the food arrived and spend 4 hours in A&E with my friend. By which time all restaurants had closed, it ruined our night. The A&E receptionist said you'll be surprised how many MTB'ers they get coming through.

ben@31

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19709853#p19709853]Slowbike[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19709844#p19709844]huskie69[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19709840#p19709840]Slowbike[/url] wrote:

It might just be the camera angle - but it looks like you're riding in the door zone when you go past parked cars ....

You're right, but I can see they're empty. I don't like swerving to avoid parked cars as there's quite often traffic behind me. I do give them a good 2-3ft clearance too (so yes, partly the effect of the camera lens).

you shouldn't swerve - a smooth move out in plenty of time - if there are vehicles behind and you're moving into their path then you should indicate - btw - how do you suck eggs?

Don't forget looking over your right shoulder! It makes me cringe seeing cyclists pull out into the middle of the road without checking its safe to do so first. Its only because I cycle I anticipated a woman cyclist swerving in front of my car without looking. Motorcyclists have a name for that check...

huskie69

Don't forget looking over your right shoulder! It makes me cringe seeing cyclists pull out into the middle of the road without checking its safe to do so first. Its only because I cycle I anticipated a woman cyclist swerving in front of my car without looking. Motorcyclists have a name for that check...

Yep, it's called the "life saver" - I don't move off or into the road without one

diy

And not just the right shoulder - the number of other motorcyclist who will sit in the inside blind spot while you pass junction after junction, without any ability to stop if you were to turn late without indicating.

Basic rule is look in to the space you intend to occupy, before you commit to occupy it. But getting in the habit of doing a half life saver a couple of times a minute will certainly help you maintain a good map of what is going on behind you.