Wet rims + greasy road = inch perfect braking

[PpPete]

Cold, wet, slimy conditions today and I'm on my hack with the old fashioned single pivot side-pulls. Most efficient brakes in the world...NOT

Lady moton starts to pull out of turning on my left, to turn right across my path. Decides, at last minute, that visibility to her left is after all not quite good enough so slows to a stop broadside across my lane to have a better look.

I had just about had time to hit the anchors and stop in time. But with the moist conditions my braking was "less than optimum".
Raised my heart rate a few notches I can tell you... when I thought I wasn't going to make it I'd already hunched my right shoulder for a roll over the top of the bars.

However finally stopped about 2" from her door... just as lady driver finally turns to check again to her right and finds 6'2" cyclist on 25" frame bike in her personal space (albeit on the other side of a pane of glass). Look on her face was utterly priceless.

I did feel good..... and hopefully she will look for cyclists more carefully in future.

 

[just4fun]

i'm glad you're alright.

 

[Prasad]

when I thought I wasn't going to make it I'd already hunched my right shoulder for a roll over the top of the bars.

I'm in recovery phase from similar mishap. Glad that you are ok.

 

[fossyant]

Now't wrong with single pivot brakes, provided you have good ones.....

Lucky there !

 

[PpPete]

Now't wrong with single pivot brakes, provided you have good ones.....

Lucky there !

Certainly was.... a couple of seconds different timing and it could have been a nasty one.

 

[Tynan]

set off at 7pm in light snow/sleet, all good more or less, brakes about what you;d expect, adjusted them both a bit at the lights, new pads on the front and old on the back that I plan to change this weekend

halfway home, pulled on the front brake, canle snaps inside the brake lever, brill

stopped to wind the fading back brakes as tight as poss

minutes later the happy sound of metal on metal ffs

so ride home slowly, planning ahead and dreading anything like a downward slope, stopped gratefully outside my house with the aid of a foor dragging in the road

fortunately drinks tomorrow and picking the kids up from town so no more riding this week

for anyone else putting off changing pads and not in the habit of checking the front end of the brake cables

 

[fossyant]

Nasty Tynan......