Oh no, got hit last night -rear wheel toast

[Nigeyy]

Could have been worse, rear ended with the rear wheel toast. I managed to tumble off OK.

I think the guy was just in a hurry and didn't see me -despite the Superflash, 4 reflectors, reflective shoes, and reflective vest. Of course you relive the moment, and it happened on a bit of road that I am most cautious of on my commute (2 lanes go down to one, then to 2 lanes to a traffic light where I need to cross over traffic to take a left (or right to you folks in the UK). I'd done a mirror check, looked behind me and saw the guy what I thought was a safe distance away and was moving out into the turning lane, indicating with my arm. It happened so fast -heard the screech of brakes and tyres, saw his lights in my mirror really close and then knew I was going to be hit. It's not a pleasant moment!

I spent all last night thinking about it (as I'm sure anyone who's been hit by a car does) and I've realized that in retrospect I have some thoughts:

1. At night, even with all the light (and the Superflash is bright!) and reflectors, I wonder if I'm as visible as I thought I was
2. Being hit is a sober reminder of how vulnerable you are as a cyclist -maybe I'd become a bit blase about the risks -see my next point....
3. 30 years of cycling, this is the first time I've been hit seriously by a car (was hit just one other time about 10 years ago by what looked like a 95 year old fellow driving a large slab of gas guzzling toast at a red light -but it was at most a gentle nudge and I don't think he had any idea he was rolling forward till I shouted at him)
4. Can't help second guessing if I'd left enough space to move out safely. I think I did, but you know how it is, you do start wondering. In the darkness it is harder to judge speeds accurately.
5. Perhaps given the darkness I should have just stopped at the junction, and walked over.
6. Finally, I know in the past I've deliberately waited until the light is at red to move over (on the premise that cars will be slowing down, and of course, you're vulnerable in the middle of the road.) For the life of me, I can't remember the moments before the collision if I did that -again, a bit of doubt in my mind.

I really thought commuting at night would be just as safe as cycling in the daytime, due to the fact my theory was that if someone can't see you in all your reflective and lit up glory, they aren't going to see you in the day time either. But I'm rethinking that one, I might give up commuting until the day time hours. Or maybe it's a crisis of confidence in me, I don;'t know. Still a bit sore this morning.

 

[thnurg]

Get back on as soon as the pain dies away.

I know it's easy for me to say as I've never been hit, but I have had a couple of nasty accidents in my time. You may feel nervous on your next ride but you'll soon start to wonder why you were so nervous after a few days trouble free riding.

I'm rooting for you as I'm sure will most other folks here.

 

[wanda2010]

Sorry to read about your incident, but glad you are ok. I may be wrong but it seems you need more lights. Do you have only the one back light? I googled it and couldn't help thinking at least two would be better, or upgrade to more powerful lights if the budget allows.

I have 3 x 1/2 watt rear lights and two (noideawhatwattage) on the front, plus reflective spokes. Currently I'm not riding at night so only have one front and one rear switched on my journey home. In a few more weeks, all will be firing plus I have spokelits on standby. I like the Christmas tree effect

, especially in traffic.

I might even swop one of the front lights for my, as yet unused, Hope Vision 1 which is a tad powerful and may confuse drivers into thinking I'm a car

.

If you're a cycling Christmas tree I'm not sure they can use the SMIDSY* line and conceivably get away with it.


*Sorry mate I didn't see you


Heal up.

Forgot to add: Don't let this put you off getting back on the bike. Maybe proceed with a bit more caution on that particular stretch, but you've had a lot of incident-free years cycling. That counts for a whole lot in my book

 

[fossyant]

Don't over calculate what happened - crap driving was the issue. Two incident's in 30 years, you are doing well. I work on an incident about every 3 when commuting, and , unfortunately, it's been proved correct. By incident, I don't mean falling off - I mean a bike/vehicle interaction and usually damage to me and the bike.

I've had 2 in the last 3 years (my big off nearly 3 years ago and a recent taxi head butt) so think I'm safe for another 3

 

[Nigeyy]

Still ruminating..... But I think I might give up on night time commuting. I've always been wary of this stretch of road where it happened -fyi: Kendrick/Hunting Rd intersection

It probably looks fairly innocuous on Google, but the road actually goes down from 2 lanes to 1 lane (which you have to take a strong strong primary on as it's just big enough for 2 cars -but not for 2 cars and a cyclist safely! I'm definitely thinking I don't want to be out in primary -even well lit up -in the dark), then back to 2 lanes, all on an uphill, and people tend to race the light. Besides which, it won't be long now before it will be icy or snowy, so I'm not missing out huge amounts of commute riding time. It really would be nice to avoid this bit of the commute altogether, but it really isn't a possibility as I'm sort of bounded in by the Charles River, and anyway, there still are bad roads going the other ways I can go before I join up to my normal commute.

I would entertain more lights, but can't shake the feeling that short of being on an elephant with London Heathrow's Landing lights strapped on its ar$e, I'm not sure it would have made that much of a difference. And yes, I think I'm guilty of over calculating, but I think in the light of day I could have easily been killed, and I think I'd be a fool not to reassess everything to see what I might have been able to do. There's no doubt it has shaken my confidence noticeably, but I will be back on the bike, just during day light hours for commutes.

A very good wake up call to me -better this than something more serious.

 

[fossyant]

Get a couple of magicshine 818's from geomangear. That will teach 'em.

 

[DCLane]

Pleased to hear you're OK.

My thoughts ... I don't think it'd matter how much you were lit up. He'd still not have seen you even if you were like a Christmas tree. Some drivers just aren't looking out for anything except their next bit of road and whether the lights are red or green.

 

[bicyclos]

Have you ever thought of changing your route to avoid certain unpleasent parts of your commute. I changed my commute to work totaly and in a different direction plus only short of 2 miles longer to travel but so pleasant to ride. I havent had one bit of hassle in 5 years since I sorted this route.

Hope your on the mend....

 

[wanda2010]

Two Magicshines and stop at the junction to walk across.

Don't give up on night-time commuting just yet. Try some alternatives then decide.

All the best.

 

[Davidc]

Some drivers wouldn't see what's in front of them if it was lit up with industrial lasers so don't blame yourself or your riding. Just get a good solicitor and sue the b**g*r.

 

[Crankarm]

Ouch, don't get mad, get even. Sue the b*****d.

Did you call the police, did you go to hospital?

Have you seen your GP yet?

I had x4 1/2 watt RSP Astriums on the back of my bike and x2 Smart 35 Lux on full beam plus reflective patches on panniers and reflective jacket and I shouted, twice, at the knuckle dragging chav before he drove into the back of me taking me and my bike down. If you had a security flood light shining at some drivers, the feckers would still claim they didn't see it.

GWS.

 

[small fish]

Hundreds* of drivers crash into the car in front of them every day.
(*made up statistic but probably right!)
Sounds like you did everything you could to protect yourself - No amount of lights and looking can make you 100% safe!

 

[BSRU]

The crash could have also happened during the day, not really related to the night just poor driving. I have seen cars drive into the back of other cars in broad daylight, in very slow moving traffic because the driver was not paying attention.

Statistically for some reason, the most dangerous months for a cyclist are May and October.