Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
Last Saturday Cubette and I cycled along a quietish route, mainly involving sustrans routes. Ever since her accident in December she has been a bit nervous about going out on the road, so i decided to try and boost her confidence a bit. We had to ride a few on-road miles between paths, and I tokk the opportunity to teach her about all-round observation, and signalling.
At one junction we had to cycle from a mini-roundabout up a short stretch to a right turn. The road up to the right turn is lovely and wide, and I showed her how to check behind, signal right and if clear move to the centre line ready to turn right when safe. She was a few yards behind me and as we approached the right turn I saw that there was a car approaching us from behind, and one coming down the hill towards the junction. We paused to let him pass (a track stand of perhaps one second) and turned. The junction has a bollarded island/refuge creating a pinchpoint, so I took a primary line as I turned into the junction, and as I could hear a car engine very close behind I looked back and saw Cubette had been forced right over to the kerb, as a little sporty hatchback had tuned right at the same time as her. He was now sharing the pinchpoint with me.
Infuriated by the fact he had bullied my eleven year old daughter into coming to a complete halt, I looked him in the eye and called him a "Tosser". This was when the fun really began.
Looking straight at me he turned his wheel and his car connected with my shoulder, elbow, his wing mirror hit my right hand and handlebar and his front wing connected with my front wheel. I was forced into the kerb, desperately trying to unclip my feet from the pedals. As the car was now pinning my right foot, I just about managed to get my left down onto the kerb, but I was mighty close to falling off altogether. . His window came down and he told me to "Get a hold of yourself you fat b*stard" before bravely laughing and driving off.
I was left uninjured, but very shaken and so furious I was within a gnat's cock of throwing my bike at his car as he drove off. Sense prevailed however!
I managed to get his number, and have made a statement to the police. Will keep you updated on progress.
Cubette was in floods of tears afterwards, so I am really looking forawrd to him being prosecuted.
At one junction we had to cycle from a mini-roundabout up a short stretch to a right turn. The road up to the right turn is lovely and wide, and I showed her how to check behind, signal right and if clear move to the centre line ready to turn right when safe. She was a few yards behind me and as we approached the right turn I saw that there was a car approaching us from behind, and one coming down the hill towards the junction. We paused to let him pass (a track stand of perhaps one second) and turned. The junction has a bollarded island/refuge creating a pinchpoint, so I took a primary line as I turned into the junction, and as I could hear a car engine very close behind I looked back and saw Cubette had been forced right over to the kerb, as a little sporty hatchback had tuned right at the same time as her. He was now sharing the pinchpoint with me.
Infuriated by the fact he had bullied my eleven year old daughter into coming to a complete halt, I looked him in the eye and called him a "Tosser". This was when the fun really began.
Looking straight at me he turned his wheel and his car connected with my shoulder, elbow, his wing mirror hit my right hand and handlebar and his front wing connected with my front wheel. I was forced into the kerb, desperately trying to unclip my feet from the pedals. As the car was now pinning my right foot, I just about managed to get my left down onto the kerb, but I was mighty close to falling off altogether. . His window came down and he told me to "Get a hold of yourself you fat b*stard" before bravely laughing and driving off.
I was left uninjured, but very shaken and so furious I was within a gnat's cock of throwing my bike at his car as he drove off. Sense prevailed however!
I managed to get his number, and have made a statement to the police. Will keep you updated on progress.
Cubette was in floods of tears afterwards, so I am really looking forawrd to him being prosecuted.
