Yet another close encounter....
emaren
Posts: 934 Member
Last night I went out for a quick/short ride around a 6 mile loop to test out my new pedals.
(back-story: I have been using Wellgo SPD pedals for many, many years, the current ones on my 'fast' bike are ancient multi-use ones that were reaching the end of there life, so I ordered a pair of cheap ($27) Wellgo's from Amazon).
I also wanted to check out 'Map My Ride' to see how it compared to Endomono before my weekend rides.
After a few adjustments to the pedals to account for my old, worn, cleats, I set off.
The pedals passed their tests beautifully - they are easy to get into without looking and they feel secure with enough float to not cause ankle issues - I like them a lot.
Somewhere around mile five I had to stop at a red light. A sliver Nissan pulled up alongside me. It was driven by a youngish woman, perhaps in her late 20's.
As the lights changed I moved fairly quickly, beating most of the cars across the intersection and settling into my cruise speed of about 26mph withing 3-400yds of the lights. The silver Nissan came up alongside me, then accelerated a little to be just a few feet in front of me. At this point I realized that the driver was probably going to turn right in about 80yds. As that realization struck me, I backed off. So did the Nissan driver......
She also moved over a little, then jerked back out of the bike lane then back and we were suddenly door-to-knee.
I was obviously on my brakes at this point.
All the while the turn that she needed to make was getting ever closer, all the time moving into the bike lane and braking......
As we reached the junction, I simply stopped, she simply turned right straight across the front of me - I glanced over my shoulder and powered down the road, straight over a pile of broken glass, wrecking a tubular tire.........
**sigh**
Luckily the walk home was fairly short......
(back-story: I have been using Wellgo SPD pedals for many, many years, the current ones on my 'fast' bike are ancient multi-use ones that were reaching the end of there life, so I ordered a pair of cheap ($27) Wellgo's from Amazon).
I also wanted to check out 'Map My Ride' to see how it compared to Endomono before my weekend rides.
After a few adjustments to the pedals to account for my old, worn, cleats, I set off.
The pedals passed their tests beautifully - they are easy to get into without looking and they feel secure with enough float to not cause ankle issues - I like them a lot.
Somewhere around mile five I had to stop at a red light. A sliver Nissan pulled up alongside me. It was driven by a youngish woman, perhaps in her late 20's.
As the lights changed I moved fairly quickly, beating most of the cars across the intersection and settling into my cruise speed of about 26mph withing 3-400yds of the lights. The silver Nissan came up alongside me, then accelerated a little to be just a few feet in front of me. At this point I realized that the driver was probably going to turn right in about 80yds. As that realization struck me, I backed off. So did the Nissan driver......
She also moved over a little, then jerked back out of the bike lane then back and we were suddenly door-to-knee.
I was obviously on my brakes at this point.
All the while the turn that she needed to make was getting ever closer, all the time moving into the bike lane and braking......
As we reached the junction, I simply stopped, she simply turned right straight across the front of me - I glanced over my shoulder and powered down the road, straight over a pile of broken glass, wrecking a tubular tire.........
**sigh**
Luckily the walk home was fairly short......
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Replies
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this is why i always have a drink (coffee, soda, etc.) chilling in my bottle holder. I would have thrown that **** right at her....**** people like that.0
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http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8967782/Cyclist-freed-from-under-truck
Here's the headlines here today.. it's becoming far too frequent.. last month a guy ploughed into a group of about 14 roadies on the open road, injuring lots and killing one
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Airzound. It's ugly, but it works wonders.0
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Oh I'm glad you weren't hurt though! People can be so friggin stupid about cyclists! I like the airhorn idea.
I wish street cops had the resources available to ticket the jerks who do those unsafe things. Of course, I wish they'd ticket the cyclists who run red lights, etc. too. Did you guys see the story about the San Francisco, Calif. cyclist who just plead guilty to vehicular manslaughter for running down a senior citizen and killing him?
*Sigh* Be safe out there!0 -
I got hit from the rear about 15 months ago while riding in the bicycle lane near my house by an elderly lady who, /sigh, hadn't noticed she was driving in the bicycle lane. The effects of post concussion syndrome eventually faded and I got a new bike out of the deal and I'm now back on my bike (and cutting weight).
I saved the cracked helmet to show my children. Their eyes got big when they saw it. They now wear their helmets every time they get on their bikes.0 -
I didn't realize how dangerous cycling could be on the road. Probably wouldn't have allowed my hubby to buy me a nice bike if I had known. But now I'm hooked and trying my best to be safe and be seen.0
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I saved the cracked helmet to show my children. Their eyes got big when they saw it. They now wear their helmets every time they get on their bikes.
Glad dad is still around. Good idea saving the helmet. Our county in Washington State doesn't require helmets. Can't understand why.0 -
Too bad it's illegal to have a .50 cal machine gun mounted on your handlebars (not to mention somewhat impractical too).
I've resorted to a flashing (Planet Bike 2W LED) white light on the front of my bike and red (Planet Bike SuperFlash) to the rear and use them day and night. Even with them I have to contend with dullards who can't grasp the concept that the bike lane is for bikes.... I've been tempted to rip mirrors off cars but good judgement has prevailed. I am seriously considering getting a GoPro and recording my rides (at least then if someone right hooks me there's a record of it.....)0
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