2000 miles a bump and (nearly) a fight

[lozcs]

Todays commute took me over 2000 miles since starting in mid June last year...



Slighly marred by a bump on the way home...



Guy in late twenties approached a give way looks directly into my eye as I'm approaching at 21mph then decides to pull out right in front of me.. Absolutly no chance to stop in time and skidded sideways into the rear quarter of his car whilst swearing as loud as I could - I don't think any part of my bike made contact with his car as I half jumped off the bike at the last second and ended up shoulder barging his rear quarter - I managed to stay on my feet.

Lost my temper and 'tapped' on his rear window, scooted up to the front of the car to see him sitting there giving me a W sign... well... 'polietly' asked him (let's just say I made sure he could hear me thorough the galss) if he'd like to get out and do that and he drove off. Funny thing was he only moved about 25 metres because of traffic and then had to really crawl for another 20 and there was quite a few people about that all stopped to look after hearing me 'talk' to him - they all watched me following him for the next few metres to see what would happen - (same route not on purpose although made sure I stayed behind) and then for about a mile in traffic as he kept looking in rear view mirror.

Think I'll practise some emergency stops - even though think I stopped pretty well controling a pretty big slide - surely it's like a car in that I'd have stopped better not locking up a wheel and maybe moving weight back and lower more. Does anybody practise these?

Also try and not confront drivers - the only bit that hurts me is my knuckles from tapping the window - I know, I know, could have ended up much worse...

 

[davehann]

as soon as you start swearing at them you loose!
i know it makes us feel better, but, really its much better to remain polite and piont out the error of their ways.
that way if they really DO turn out to be peanuts you can call in to the police and get an incident number for their dangerious driving and road rage.

i have managed to keep my cool several times now and, onnce reported, sevral of the incedents i have reported in my 5000 miles of commuting have resulted in a police officer calling round to have a word with the driver. in 3 cases out of the actual 15 that got a visit i belive the driver has genuinely apologised and is likely to change thir driving habits.

of corse i have blown up at many more idiot drivers, and had instant gratification.

though as i said earlier, it is much better to maintain your cool.

lets hope for better road sharing i future

 

[Hip Priest]

Congrats on the mileage.

Don't beat yourself up about the incident - you're only human.

 

[BSRU]

Don't worry about swearing in such situations, sometimes it cannot be helped

 

[steve52]

its prob not to be recomended but i find the center of a car panel, door,wing ect, to be impact absorbing, and quite forgiveing, has helped me stay calm as i look at the dent then at then an say well that hurt.

 

[Arjimlad]

Yup - a Volvo driver parked at the side of the road decided to reverse into a drive as I slowly passed by one night, with no warning, slamming the car into reverse and turning out into my path. I was well illuminated at the time.

The front wing of a Volvo is quite crumply, should one stick out a boot to steady oneself as one swerves out to avoid being crushed.

 

[jonny jeez]

Had a similar event this week. The event wasnt the thing that peed me off, it was the reaction of the other party who felt it correct to shout abuse... at me, for cycling along the road perfectly correctly.

V. Frustrating.

Put it behind you...I have.

 

[Primal Scream]

I really admire the pragmatic response to being put in danger that some of you guys have and the ability to shrug it off however if some one does that me and then gives me verbals and blames me for their stupidity they are likely to get a D lock dent in their cars.

I have done stupid things whilst driving my car however I accept the blame and apologise, I would never try to blame the other driver/rider.

That said I dont commute and only ride for social and fitness reasons and mostly weekends so maybe I have not had a chance to get used to twats on the road.

I dont advocate violence but some things you do need to put up with.

 

[Defy78]

It's all been said about the idiot car driver so won't repeat...
...about the braking, never hurts to practice but basically it's all reflex and takes a lot to over come that. Theoretically the best things to do is to put as much weight over your back wheel as possible (especially on a road bike as you are naturally more over the front wheel) otherwise your back wheel lifts off the ground in an emergency stop and the brake is then useless. Skidding is harder to stop as pumping the brakes (or modulating) might be more useful but very hard to get right IMO. Although I know to sit back over the rear wheel and have put it into practice when thinking about it, in the heat of the moment when I have needed to brake suddenly it's been a reflex action and my back wheel has lifted and I've basically just had a front brake to stop me.