Pannier grazed.

[BlackPanther]

Heading through heavy traffic today I was waiting for the car in front to move forward (he was 6 inches from the kerb) so I could take the bus lane to my left. I'd signalled my intention before stopping, and was in no hurry (Saturday shopping mission completed) so I waited patiently. I saw a car in my mirror coming past me very close but I had nowhere to go and then I felt a slight nudge as he passed by me and grazed my right pannier! Now he's stopped bang along side me, and I believe 100% that he just had not seen me! I gave a (rather hard) knock on his window and he looked startled.....he definitely had not seen me. Anyway, his window came down, I told him what he'd done and he did apologise which diffused the situation as I did feel well wound up.

It's not happened before and I think that panniers usually make drivers give you more space. What I'd really like to do is attach some kind of metal rod, specifically designed to scratch cars which pass too close, whilst being flexible enough not to cause any effect on the bike. Now that's a pitch I'd like to see on Dragons Den.

 

[BentMikey]

It's target fixation mate, your fault for wearing a hiviz vest.

 

[Matthames]

It's not happened before and I think that panniers usually make drivers give you more space. What I'd really like to do is attach some kind of metal rod, specifically designed to scratch cars which pass too close, whilst being flexible enough not to cause any effect on the bike. Now that's a pitch I'd like to see on Dragons Den.

I sometimes carry 12 of these metal rods which are flexible enough to not cause any effect on the bike. They are 30" long and have a nasty point on the end. Although I don't use them to ward off car drivers wanting to get a bit too close. I use them mainly for hurling into a bit of foam or straw set somewhere between 20-100 yards away with some skill and accuracy.

 

[chillyuk]

It's not happened before and I think that panniers usually make drivers give you more space. What I'd really like to do is attach some kind of metal rod, specifically designed to scratch cars which pass too close, whilst being flexible enough not to cause any effect on the bike. Now that's a pitch I'd like to see on Dragons Den.

Already been done many years ago. We used to be able to get flags on the end of a horizontal rod that was attached to the bike via a spring. A ground down nail, ground to a needle sharp point and taped to the end of the rod would cause a lovely scratch to a car who came too close. We had to be careful when filtering not to catch a car.

Probably get nicked nowadays for having an offensive weapon.

 

[cyberknight]

Glad it was not more serious.

I read on a cycle forum about a father attached the old style compass so the point would graze a car if it passed to close to the end of those little flags that stick out at right angles

 

[Orange]

Dangerous ploy - right or wrong, if I was the car driver and my car got scratched that way, I'd want to beat the crap out of the cyclist... and as for drivers without sympathy for cyclists...

 

[cyberknight]

Dangerous ploy - right or wrong, if I was the car driver and my car got scratched that way, I'd want to beat the crap out of the cyclist... and as for drivers without sympathy for cyclists...

I do not think anyone is supporting property damage ,we all know that it would probably be a misguided way to stop other drivers running you over but your reply is very much the stereotypical response whereby the driver of the vehicle is more concerned about some minor damage to the vehicle rather than the life they have either endangered or taken by the either careless,reckless or even malicious driving that can be found .

 

[BentMikey]

"Scratched? You drove into me and hit my vehicle..."

 

[dawesome]

Endangering a cyclist is more serious than scratched paintwork because a life is worth more than some T cut.

 

[Orange]

Difficult to disagree with, rationally. How many drivers do you think would react that way though? A very small percentage I guess.

Your risk anyone that wants to try.

 

[jonny jeez]

Spikes on rods?!!...Bloody hell how many close passes do you lot get, if you get enough to feel the need to do that then I suggest you are riding incorrectly.

I would most definitely cause more damage to others than they would to me if I had poles with bloody spike's attached to my bike.

We filter past slow/stationary cars all the time, so is it ok to just scratch them all up as we see fit?

BP As for being nudged in stationary traffic...get over it, cyclist do it all the time to each other, should I attack the next one who does it with a spiked pole?

 

[cyberknight]

Spikes on rods?!!...Bloody hell how many close passes do you lot get, if you get enough to feel the need to do that then I suggest you are riding incorrectly.

I would most definitely cause more damage to others than they would to me if I had poles with bloody spike's attached to my bike.

We filter past slow/stationary cars all the time, so is it ok to just scratch them all up as we see fit?

BP As for being nudged in stationary traffic...get over it, cyclist do it all the time to each other, should I attack the next one who does it with a spiked pole?

It was the OP who suggested it , my comment was merely to relate a story i had read ( on the CTC forum i think ) .

No its not ok to scratch cars as we see fit although would you still be telling Panther to get over it if the driver had knocked them over ?

 

[XmisterIS]

I don't see any problem at all with fixing something to the side of your pannier/end of handlebars. If it leaves a scratch in the car, so what? That's their fault! If they decided to run their car down the side of another car, it would be covered in scratches. What's the difference? I see it as perfectly justifiable!

 

[summerdays]

I saw a cyclist with a golfing umbrella strapped horizontally across their pannier rack (point facing to the right) and decided that it must be good for getting them some extra space! But felt it wasn't for me as I'd forget it was there and try to go through a small gap, and remember the hard way!!!

 

[BentMikey]

BP As for being nudged in stationary traffic...get over it, cyclist do it all the time to each other, should I attack the next one who does it with a spiked pole?

You can't be serious about this bit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!