very near miss tonight - considering calling it a day !

[kingrollo]

On my commute on the way home tonight. I was about descend a steep but straight hill, was preparing to go down on the drops but then for some reason decided not to - spotted a car start of to pull out and start a 3 point turn I was literally shouting "no, no, no," I braced for impact - I was going into the side of that f...r - slammed the anchors on, god knows how I didn't go over the bars - amazingly I stopped millimetres from the car (i may even have touched it) a heated exchange of words followed, I didn't get the usual smidsy, what I think she was trying to say was that 'she was looking the other way' - she wouldn't wind her window down - an apology may have been good.
I rolled down the hill - stopped and got my shoot together - cycled home.
Im contemplating chucking TBH - Im 53 now and have had 30 good years cycling - I have booked a closed road sportive for September - what I was (am) really looking forward to - but that might be it...

 

[Drago]

Bye then.

 

[fossyant]

They missed !!!!

I've packed in road cycling despite being a bit of a hard nut road cyclist for 30 years (club cyclist, raced, city commuted yadda yadda). Unfortunately, getting ones spine broken and being repeatedly told 'I was very very lucky and I'm not sure you appreciate that' by numerous specialists, I'm keeping away from idiot drivers. It was also too much stress on the family. Commuting into Manchester is hard work on a bike.

MTB from now on, at least that's my fault and I've already fallen off a few times.

 

[classic33]

I'd a manager who thought it'd be fun to stop without warning on a hill.

I'd to go past on his left to avoid him. Words were had that night, and his pride & joy(which he was in) "sufferred a few oil leaks" that cost him to have checked over the next six weeks.

 

[winjim]

I've been in exactly the same situation only there was no heated exchange of words. I gave the driver a quizzical and somewhat critical look, he waved in apology and we both carried on our separate ways. It was a beautiful thing.

I know what it's like when the adrenaline's up, but if you started a heated exchange of words with me, I probably wouldn't wind my window down either.

 

[User32269]

I'm 51 and recently managed to NOT stop millimetres from an Astra. Escaped lightly myself, my bike didn't. It really shakes you up.
I've no intention of ever stopping cycling, despite the pressure from family members who seem to think going out on your bike presents the same risks as dancing blindfolded wearing big boots across a minefield.
One concession I've made as I've got older is with route planning. I will put an extra few miles onto a journey in order to avoid heavy traffic or dangerous stretches.
Don't let one knob head stop you riding, and, you didn't get you or your bike smashed up! Let the shock and anger subside, see how you feel then.

 

[Drago]

You're many, many times more likely to die through illness brought about by lack of exercise.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

On my commute on the way home tonight. I was about descend a steep but straight hill, was preparing to go down on the drops but then for some reason decided not to - spotted a car start of to pull out and start a 3 point turn I was literally shouting "no, no, no," I braced for impact - I was going into the side of that f...r - slammed the anchors on, god knows how I didn't go over the bars - amazingly I stopped millimetres from the car (i may even have touched it) a heated exchange of words followed, I didn't get the usual smidsy, what I think she was trying to say was that 'she was looking the other way' - she wouldn't wind her window down - an apology may have been good.
I rolled down the hill - stopped and got my shoot together - cycled home.
Im contemplating chucking TBH - Im 53 now and have had 30 good years cycling - I have booked a closed road sportive for September - what I was (am) really looking forward to - but that might be it...

Well, that's then the end of your discussion on whether to get cheap carbon wheels or not. Had you had carbon wheels on that bike, you would not have stopped in time. If in fact you did have them on, you could have stopped many meters earlier.

 

[Welsh wheels]

Glad you're ok. Cycling can be dangerous but you have to weigh up the risks against how much you enjoy it. On the other hand, I have been cycling for seven years and the only accidents I've had in life was hitting my head on a mantlepiece and flying over the handlebars on a push scooter. Personally I reckon that one is just likely to have an accident at home as they are on a bike.

 

[smutchin]

was preparing to go down on the drops but then for some reason decided not to

Could it perhaps have been something in the back of your mind telling you that maybe it wasn't the right time or place for it?

Im contemplating chucking TBH - Im 53 now and have had 30 good years cycling - I have booked a closed road sportive for September - what I was (am) really looking forward to - but that might be it...

Note that closed roads may protect you from motorists, but they don't protect other cyclists from you.

Try to remember that you're riding in the real world, not a bubble, and you should be able to continue riding for maybe as much as another 30 years.

 

[fossyant]

I can't even say I'll commute off road, as the section of road I got hit on was a residential road, my off rod commute uses the same bit as it's unavoidable.

Commuting is a different kettle of fish to normal road riding, and I'd said about 10 years ago to my wife about going back to cycle commuting, I'll get hit again. I've had a few unfortunately. Nothing that takes you out of work for 8 months, and only just managing full time after nearly a year.

 

[mjr]

Don't give in to motorised terrorism. Keep calm and carry on cycling.

 

[kingrollo]

Well, that's then the end of your discussion on whether to get cheap carbon wheels or not. Had you had carbon wheels on that bike, you would not have stopped in time. If in fact you did have them on, you could have stopped many meters earlier.

Ah - but the cheap carbon fibres were never going on the commuting bike.
Weird range of emotions, sort of "oh shoot, no" "This is it my turn is now" "bloody ell I've dodged it" "what the f were you looking at" "what the hell am doing on a push bike at 5.30 in Birmingham - you're asking for it kingrollo"

 

[Brains]

Over the years I've perfected a car free route

I can get from the Tower of London to the far side of Greenwich, a 7 mile route, through the middle London without having to deal with a single car (sometimes).
even on a busy days I number cars in dozens not thousands

 

[Racing roadkill]

One who doesn't learn to anticipate traffic, will get hurt sooner or later.

愚蠢的龟儿子.