First two close calls

[Domus]

Out on the bike yesterday, first time for weeks, (bad weather and a stinking cold)
At the bottom of a long hill into a slight left coasting down at about 22mph a chap walking parallel to me about 10 yards in front, stepped out to cross the road without looking, I screamed WHOAAAH he froze and I went round him.......just. Sorry mate he said as my heart was pounding in my chest.
10 minutes later climbing up the other side, down at about 6 mph I came on a pinch point with a pedestrian refuge in the middle of the road, I glanced in my mirror to see a white Fiat 500 coming up I worked out we would both be there at the same time, he won't try a pass here I thought. Wrong his mirror bashed into mine knocking me towards the kerb, due to my slow speed I managed to stay upright and unclipped to get my foot down, he just carried on. The bang was loud enough for a woman walking on the other side of the road to turn round and look.

Be careful out there

 

[Elswick Cotterpin]

Yep, you can never anticipate what other road users or pedestrians are going to do; just assume it'll be something dumb or dangerous and try to be prepared to respond accordingly.

 

[Globalti]

On Saturday GtiJunior and I almost got takem out by a Sainsbury's delivery van, which overtook us, got in front then jammed on his brakes and shot right into a farm entrance. I wasn't concentrating and had to grab a handful of brake, meaning I almost lost control of the bike.

 

[Ajax Bay]

I came on a pinch point with a pedestrian refuge in the middle of the road, . . car coming up [behind] . . . , he won't try a pass here I thought.

Very glad you stayed upright: well done for doing so. If in doubt (even if just a scintilla thereof) must admit I assume primary position at those pinch points. Maybe if you didn't have a mirror he/she would have caught your bar or elbow (or maybe missed you) and it must be more difficult to judge distance and speed of car behind through a mirror rather than looking round. Just saying. Hope I'm not tempting fate.