So close, I left a clean patch

[chthonic]

Approaching a crossroads on Caledonian Road this morning intending to go straight ahead, doing about 15mph as it was windy and I've been off the bike for a few days.
Life saver check behind me for idiots turning left reveals a light blue car indicating left that is positioned such that its left wing is actually rubbing against my right pannier. The pannier is actually full of soft clothing, so it has squashed in and out rather than transfer the car movements to my rear wheel.
I'm afraid I got rather hysterical with the old hand signals. Driver backed off. With a nice clean patch on their wing.
I'm still rather gobsmacked. Strange thing is that at no time did I actually feel the contact. Clearly a very skilled driver

 

[benborp]

An inch away from one of the most unpleasant ways to get run over. I'd be livid if it happened to me.

 

[fossyant]

Very dangerous.....had they come into more contact, you'd be flipped in front of the car........ eek. I thought panniers had the 'wide load' effect with cars..........

 

[BentMikey]

Sweaty palms close escape moment!!!

 

[cyberknight]

Very dangerous.....had they come into more contact, you'd be flipped in front of the car........ eek. I thought panniers had the 'wide load' effect with cars..........

I wish i have flashers on each bag as well as seat post ones and people still think it is wise to overtake about a foot away (or less) .I will be glad when my country road commute has been resurfaced and i can get off the main roads again.

 

[fossyant]

I wish i have flashers on each bag as well as seat post ones and people still think it is wise to overtake about a foot away (or less) .I will be glad when my country road commute has been resurfaced and i can get off the main roads again.

Smart 'Superflash' or what ever they are now just about clip anywhere...secure with an elastic band (for knocks) and they are very good - I use two on my rucksack facing sideways after my 'fibreflares' broke...

Fibre flares are well worth looking at, but stock was short when mine broke..... they are excellent all round...just make sure the button (on/off) section is at the top - i.e. no rain collection on the switch section

 

[potsy]

Very dangerous.....had they come into more contact, you'd be flipped in front of the car........ eek. I thought panniers had the 'wide load' effect with cars..........

I had always 'worn' my panier on the left side until I read on here that putting it on the right hand side will make cars give you more room,made sense I thought-1st ride with it like that-bang silly f*c*er overtook me so close they knocked my bar-end mirror.So next day it went back on the left.

 

[sheddy]

I am tempted to bike to our local Heartland Forest 'plant a tree' day with a shovel strapped on the rack 90deg to the road just to see how much extra room I get !
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/support-us/plant-a-tree/Pages/new-forest.aspx

 

[fossyant]

Sheesh...I think I am coming to a rucksack/pannier debate myself, because I doubt wearing a rucksack, despite it being a good one, is doing my shoulder any good....argh.....

Pannier mounted sidewinders anyone ?

 

[cyberknight]

maybe we need one of these.....

 

[Black Sheep]

I wish i have flashers on each bag as well as seat post ones and people still think it is wise to overtake about a foot away (or less) .I will be glad when my country road commute has been resurfaced and i can get off the main roads again.

attach spikes to the pannier covers

 

[Black Sheep]

I am tempted to bike to our local Heartland Forest 'plant a tree' day with a shovel strapped on the rack 90deg to the road just to see how much extra room I get !
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/support-us/plant-a-tree/Pages/new-forest.aspx

i had a kids balance bike i needed to deliver, fixed it to the side of the rack and it got hit by a merc squeezing past

 

[chthonic]

Very dangerous.....had they come into more contact, you'd be flipped in front of the car........ eek. I thought panniers had the 'wide load' effect with cars..........

My thoughts too - but in the last year I've also had someone shunt me a few inched forward after they (gently) drove into my panniers from behind whilst I was stopped waiting to move out from a side road.

On the way home on Friday night, I came past where that morning's incident had taken place and there was a motorcylist on the road and a car on top of his bike.

Shudder. Could have been me...