Blinded by the Light

[Mac66]

Well after 3 years of commuting a 99% minor road route, had my first incident tonight on the way home.

My commute is basically pitch black, no street lights, houses etc. As I approach a sweeping bend in the road I can indirectly see what looks like Encounters of the Third Kind, a short way off in the distance. The light gets brighter and brighter.

I then find my self confronted by the horror of a Chelsea tractor/monster truck not only with full beam on, but also a dazzling array of search lights on top of the cab, giving our local star a run for its money.

Result is that my retinas are burnt out, the inside of my skull turns bright white and I have very little idea of my road position as the bend is still bending and the road is narrow. I err on the side of caution and keep to the left, deciding that bruises are better than ending up as strawberry jam.

I hit the verge and went over the handlebars, which suprised me as i wasn't going very fast by this point. Thigh hurts like a hurty thing. But the bike is OK. Driver oblivious!

Back in the saddle tomorrow.

 

[Sam Kennedy]

Ouch....
I've never went over the handlebars...
Oh, crap, I've jinxed myself now

 

[hackbike 666]

Au Contraire I have flown over the handlebars quite a few times.

Hope you are ok OP.

 

[Keith Oates]

That's bad luck Mac66, hope the soreness goes quickly. I know what you mean about being blinded by the oncoming lights, out here it seems that nobody has been told about a dip switch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[fossyant]

Bad luck...... I used to commute in dark lanes, when cycle lighting technology wasn't quite as good as now (on cars and bikes)....

Console yourself and spend your life savings on a Lupine Betty 14....that will get 'em.

 

[just4fun]

I hope you mend soon, on a slightly connected note, does any one else think that modern cars lights are too bright?

 

[Cab]

I hope you mend soon, on a slightly connected note, does any one else think that modern cars lights are too bright?

Not so much too bright as very often too high. Bigger vehicles with high up headlights more or less shining right in to your face (if you're on a bike) seem to be almost the norm now.

 

[JiMBR]

that and as Keith said, drivers 'forgetting' to dip the beams

 

[GrasB]

There's a tendency for car manufactures & also service stations to set the lights right at the top of the upper limit of pattern adjustment, with vehicles that have high lights this simply exacerbates the problem. My view is you should be aiming for the middle of the legal adjustment range, either way you're compromising your ability to see with dipped beams or dazzling motorists far more than you should be. Remember you will dazzle other road users at some point with correctly adjusted dipped beams, but with them adjusted properly other road users should be aware of potential dazzling situations (hump back bridges, crests on right hand bends, etc)

 

[jonny jeez]

ouch!

well done for getting back in the saddle tho.

I have to say that this would be something that would wind me up more than the general "rubbing" that goes on in town. Driving along, oblivious to others is totally arrogant and unthinking.

I would have been seething, top marks for keeping your composure (and spirits)

 

[Bollo]

Bad luck...... I used to commute in dark lanes, when cycle lighting technology wasn't quite as good as now (on cars and bikes)....

Console yourself and spend your life savings on a Lupine Betty 14....that will get 'em.

As an owner of the aforementioned Betty, I can confirm its persuasiveness when encouraging oncoming drivers to dip their beam .

Owners of 'big' lights - be good and dip lights yourselves or you're just as bad as them.