My ride buddy wiped out

[hambones]

It happened Monday night, 11pm. My regular ride buddy was over at Highgate Hill doing some hill repeats. I would normally be with him but with the house to myself this week I've had other things to do

He'd just done his first climb and was heading back down following a sporty number. The said car apparently pulled to the left and my mate assumed (wrongly) he was turning left. This, however, was not the case! The car did a U-turn leaving my mate to brake hard but not enough to prevent him slamming into the driver's door. One very battered friend left stricken on the road, thankfully right outside Whittington Hospital A&E!!

He was discharged yesterday afternoon - thankfully no bones broken but lots of bruising and a damaged left knee meaning he's not expecting to be riding again for some considerable time

I wish him the speediest of recoveries and am relieved it wasn't far worse. Bike's a goner of course (carbon frame didn't appreciate the impact, nor did the new Mavic Carbone wheelset!).

 

[BentMikey]

Oh bugger! Did he get the driver's details for insurance?

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

AN U - TURN RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM??

From that description, I hope the driver gets the book thrown at him, that is just shocking!!

 

[slugonabike]

Wishing your friend a speedy recovery.

 

[Origamist]

Bugger. I used to do hill reps up Highgate Hill many years ago and going down was always more "eventful" than going up.

Dealing with U-turning vehicles is a real problem as it is instinctive to maintain momentum and move right to pass the vehicle (even more so with free flowing traffic) and as U-turns happen infrequently (when compared to vehicles pulling in to the left) you're less likely to predict them. Sometimes the turning arc is a give away and taxis are always ones to watch out for, but at other times you just have to assume this might happen - however, nearly everyone gets caught out eventually, be it a near miss or collision.

Hope your mate heals up quick and can claim on the driver's insurance (I'm assuming it wasn't a H&R).

 

[sarahpink]

oh no I hope your friends gets well soon.

 

[citybabe]

Hope your mate's better soon

 

[hackbike 666]

I didn't like the thread title.

At least he is ok though.

 

[downfader]

I didn't like the thread title.

At least he is ok though.

Same here. Thought the poor s*d had died.

Really glad he;s relatively unscathed. U-turns are a PITA for anyone to predict - I dont know why people just dont find a junction and reroute back on themselves normally.

 

[hambones]

Same here. Thought the poor s*d had died.

Really glad he;s relatively unscathed. U-turns are a PITA for anyone to predict - I dont know why people just dont find a junction and reroute back on themselves normally.

Apologies for thread title - in hindsight not the best!

 

[BentMikey]

Wiped out? Just means he crashed, nothing more, surely?

 

[Origamist]

Wiped out? Just means he crashed, nothing more, surely?

It's also slang for murder. However, given the context of the thread, I interpreted it the same way as you.

 

[BentMikey]

Perhaps if used as "was wiped out", but not with the title as is.

 

[Globalti]

Hill repeats on Highgate Hill?

Oh sad, sad claustrophobic Londoners.

*smug mode on*

Our local hill:

 

[HLaB]

Hambones, I wish your mate a speedy recovery and thank god wiped out meant less than I was thinking.

I almost similarly close call with a u turner a while back but fortunately I had enough brakes and it was dry. I wrongly assumed that a car was turning right at this junction but it was performing an illegal u turn despite the fact that since the photo was taken the council have added a no u turn sign