RichardB
Slightly retro
- Location
- West Wales
Last weekend, I took my newly-acquired Carlton Corsair out for the afternoon. I had a great ride, loving the old-school bike, and getting used to riding a bike with drop handlebars again. I passed a group of club riders having a break, and a few minutes later they passed me on a minor road. I sped up to keep pace with the last guy, but they were much fitter than I was and I got dropped. No problem, having a great day. The road took a fairly steep downhill gradient and I watched them ahead of me as they went out of sight. The road bent right at the bottom of the hill, and there was a huge 4x4 tractor parked on the corner on the opposite side, facing me (it's a farm entrance and I thought he was waiting to go into the yard, but he was parked - it's a *very* quiet road). The club riders disappeared round the corner about 100m ahead of me, and I let the bike run down the hill, gathering speed. I think I thought in my head 'they have got round the corner, the road must be clear'. I was riding on the hoods and was probably descending at about 25 mph. As I leant into the corner, going past the tractor, I came face to face with a small car which was in my lane, coming directly for me. The road was narrow, and the car took up the whole lane. I squeezed the brakes, but it was impossible to brake hard from the hoods, and to avoid a head-on collision I baled to my left and hit the grass verge. Luckily, it was just grass and I was shaken and soaked, but not damaged. The car accelerated away and didn't stop, although the driver must have been aware of me, as we were face to face for a second or two. After a lot of extremely bad language, I remounted and went home.
I never blame anyone else for incidents on the road, as I believe we are all responsible for our own safety. So my three takeaway lessons from this are:
1. 40-year-old Weinmann centre-pulls are great for slowing down, but less good at actual stopping. Bear this in mind.
2. Ride your own ride, not the ride of the guy in front (a relic from my motorcycling days).
3. If you think you are going to need the brakes, get down on the hooks BEFORE to need to. The brakes are good enough if used correctly. (I may have been spoilt by the exceptionally good hydro discs on my electric bike.)
No criticism needed - I am harder on myself than anyone else could be. It would not have happened if I had been in the car or a on a motorbike - the whole scene (hill, corner, parked vehicle making it blind) would have shouted 'caution' at me. Wall rather than grass verge, car going faster, I'd be in hospital or dead.
Just venting really. Thank you for listening.
I never blame anyone else for incidents on the road, as I believe we are all responsible for our own safety. So my three takeaway lessons from this are:
1. 40-year-old Weinmann centre-pulls are great for slowing down, but less good at actual stopping. Bear this in mind.
2. Ride your own ride, not the ride of the guy in front (a relic from my motorcycling days).
3. If you think you are going to need the brakes, get down on the hooks BEFORE to need to. The brakes are good enough if used correctly. (I may have been spoilt by the exceptionally good hydro discs on my electric bike.)
No criticism needed - I am harder on myself than anyone else could be. It would not have happened if I had been in the car or a on a motorbike - the whole scene (hill, corner, parked vehicle making it blind) would have shouted 'caution' at me. Wall rather than grass verge, car going faster, I'd be in hospital or dead.
Just venting really. Thank you for listening.