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The ups and downs of cycling

morstarmorstar Posts: 6,171
in Road general
Raced a CX race in September 2019 shortly before getting ill with Covid like symptoms (yes, I know) and basically struggled to get back to any sort of fitness until early this year
Been gradually feeling better and did a TT on Thursday which was a grand return to competing. Very slow compared to my best but felt good and beat my predictions.
Today, stacked it on a training ride after some shenanigans with cars all slamming the anchors on at a mini roundabout. A van from the opposite direction decided to do a no indicators 180 degree turn which caught everybody out on the fast downhill approach.
Quite philosophical about two points. If I’d been more alert, I probably could have avoided it and that it was nearly considerably worse than what actually transpired.
Lots of things hurt and I have no point to make, I just want to share.
Be careful out there folks.

Posts

  • MattFalleMattFalle Posts: 11,644
    How's the bike?
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • nibnob21nibnob21 Posts: 207
    Wishing you a speedy mend, you'll bounce back.

    I'm assuming many of the vehicles overtook you just before hitting brakes at the roundabout too?
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 11,634
    Trust your not to bad and bike is repairable. Sadly a lot of us make this mistake, just remember to treat all motorists as potential threats until proven otherwise and avoid like the plague if possible. Always expect the unexpected and anything else is a bonus. Take care and wish you a quick recovery.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • veronese68veronese68 Posts: 26,723 Lives Here
    Hope you're not too sore come the morning, but glad it wasn't worse.
    I know what you mean about anticipating things better, I often wonder if I could have avoided my last off. Probably, but I didn't so no point dwelling on it. But I am a little more careful nowadays, the constant reminder of a sore wrist helps remind me.
    Kinesis Pro6
    Marin Nail Trail
    Cotic Solaris
  • DeVlaeminckDeVlaeminck Posts: 8,643
    Glad you can take it philosophically
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • elbowlohelbowloh Posts: 7,078
    censored .

    Hope you're not too bad Mortar and the bike is serviceable.

    Felt F1 2014
    Felt Z6 2012
    Red Arthur Caygill steel frame
    Tall....
    www.seewildlife.co.uk
  • N0bodyOfTheGoatN0bodyOfTheGoat Posts: 5,756
    GWS, learn from the experience and get back on the metaphorical horse as soon as practical.
    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • morstarmorstar Posts: 6,171
    nibnob21 said:

    Wishing you a speedy mend, you'll bounce back.

    I'm assuming many of the vehicles overtook you just before hitting brakes at the roundabout too?

    Thanks. And were you there? Yes, exactly what happened.
  • morstarmorstar Posts: 6,171
    Thanks all for comments.

    A couple of things come to mind since.

    1. Bike appears to be OK. Due to where contact was and how I flew through the air. Saddle and rear wheel took direct floor contact and rest of bike was protected by me. Rear wheel slightly out of shape but will straighten and due for renewal soon anyway. No excuse to buy a new bike but I did look just in case.

    2. Annoying factor. I was in primary position to stop more cars passing as I turn right immediately after roundabout. Had I been riding less proactively, I’d have just shot down the inside of the cars.

    In summary, it has been a bit of a wake up call where I got off lightly. Other than it not happening, all the other scenarios I’ve run through were a lot worse.
    Got out this morning nice and early to beat the traffic. Things hurt but function.
  • Dorset_BoyDorset_Boy Posts: 6,536
    Good to hear you're straight back on the horse!
  • nibnob21nibnob21 Posts: 207
    morstar said:

    nibnob21 said:

    Wishing you a speedy mend, you'll bounce back.

    I'm assuming many of the vehicles overtook you just before hitting brakes at the roundabout too?

    Thanks. And were you there? Yes, exactly what happened.
    Haha yeah I was driving the van. It's one of my many irritations with a lot of motorists and I experience similar on a far too regular basis (as I'm sure we all do) of motorists failing to acknowledge what's going on a few metres down the road. You're viewed only as an inanimate obstacle that must be overtaken even if that means instantly having to hit the brakes. Because once overtaken you've completely disappeared right?

    One particular occasion springs to mind of a motorist overtaking me approaching a roundabout but she started braking and squeezing to the side before she'd even got passed me. She'd just accelerated alongside and assumed I'd magically disappeared behind her. Had to whack the side of her car to wake her up as I was pincered into an ever decreasing gap between curb and car. Spoke to her at traffic lights just down the road and she was baffled as 'my husband cycles and I always give cyclists space'. She didn't seem to understand that she never actually got passed me and it took a lot of simple explaining before she apologised...still don't think she quite got it though. That's just one example of many, as primary road position (as useful as it is) can only go so far in certain situations.

    Main thing is you're ok!
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