yello said:
That really is horrific footage to watch Andy. Made worse by the sense (and one that you must have had 10 fold!) of what is about to happen. Seeing the car move forward and knowing you're going to hit it. I'm darned pleased you came out of it relatively unscathed.
To change tack a little, in hindsight do you think there's anything you could have done to avoid the incident? (Short of not having gotten on the bike that morning!) Was there any tell tale signs that you recall, any spider-sense or uncertainty about that car? I think if you have any insights, or things you'd do differently next time, it'd be really really useful if you could share them.
It's my biggest fear at junctions... if I can't make eye-contact with a driver (for whatever reason), I become uncertain as to their intentions... and even when I DO make eye-contact, I'm not always sure!
I have looked at video, trying to second guess myself and see what I would do differently. My speed was a factor in how far I flew, but I had what looked like a clear run? The car that hit me was too far back for any eye contact at the time I started going around the roundabout. I guess a car could do that sort of thing at any T-junction?
By the time he crossed over the give way, I was infront of him, so even if I had stopped, he would probably have scooped me up regardless.
His speed was significant too, he doesn't appear to slow down and if anything seems to be accelerating, maybe to try to get on before the black Audi who was already entering the roundabout at that time?
However had I not been doing 20, i may have been looking at a shattered leg as my left pedal had gouged out a chunk of foam from the bumper and the crank arm had been bent inwards so that it now strikes the chain stays! If my foot had been clipped in...?
My cycling glasses sustained a crack and four deep gouges in the left lens from the road surface. I have also split the hard soles of my cycling shoes horizontally just behind the toe box but in front of the SPD cleat!
I walked past the location yesterday and it is a very elongated roundabout, like a stretched X shape. It was a good 6m from the impact point to where I landed.
Location is
here on google maps.