This morning's commute and other commuting stories

I just got creamed on Farringdon road. First crash in my adult cycling career. In the bike lane at fairly decent commuting speed, guy blaring out Samba from his hooptay Audi A3 pulls out from the side road straight across the lane I'm in and just sits there!! I only have time to brake as hard as I can and slam into the rear side, shattering his light and flying off, landing knee fucking first on the kind of road that is laid with concrete made out of big stones. Stand up, realise how lucky I am to not be waist-deep into his windscreen, then my knee starts spewing. City type comes over and says he saw what happened and hands me his card. John Badman is his name apparently. Driver fumbles for insurance, I take pics of his car and number plate, take his number and call him on the spot so I know it's his. He finds his insurance details so I take a picture of it and get his name. Did I miss anything? This hasn't happened to me before...

3 Attachments

Photos of damage to bike.

Will post later, it's only really scuffed bar tape. What extent of damage constitutes something claim-worthy?

Any, the point of it is to restore your bike to the same condition it was before the crash and compensate for any injury and stuff that happens as a result.

Danke sir.
That's way past my presence around here, thanks for the pointer.

I wasn't being touchy (this is LFGSS my friend), just pointing out that this:

it makes sense that a higher tooth count will be better to trackstand
on, because the chain covers a higher surface area within the
drivetrain the more teeth there are, making it more responsive to any
force put on the pedals

makes no sense. At all.

Also by not mentioning the ratio of chainring to sprocket size, you were missing the key point about gear ratios.

Factors such as high tooth count come in to play in minimising the risk of chain jump at any given gear ratio when putting epic loads through the drive chain*, the higher tooth count has no influence on the delicate amount of force used in a track stand.

*eg. it's better to use 50x20 than 42x17 if you are grinding up Swains lane

Had to check this morning! I'm running 49:17

Pedal strap related hell update: only put my foot down three times in 6 or so miles. Once to walk over the River Lea (did use bridge - am not jesus) and twice at lights. Many, many green lights and judicious use of speed when clear of cyclists behind.

9/10 and would accidentally provoke debate about gear ratios again :)

@ajo1989 Sorry to hear about about your crash this morning, man. Heal up!

that must be a fucking giant stride to only put your foot down once whilst crossing the bridge. you may not be Jesus, but you are incredibly tall

I am. Gigantic in all directions. And too giddy with all the constant pedalling to write coherently. Sorry!

I never noticed that - cheers

Any way, drop @Skülly a note, he is tha man with the stamps and done loads of saddles on the forum. He also has started putting in either mobiles or postcodes too on the bottom so if they do get nicked easier to find

I've just been thru similar in the last 3 months. Go to doc or AnE and get formally checked out. Every bruise should be noted. Take pics. Email this lady Nicola Hynes (NHynes@leighday.co.uk) She looked after me after a bump in Feb this year. 3 months later I have over £5k in the bank from the jerk in the Merc's insurers - Admiral. It was a no win no pay deal and totally awesome.

I really need to renew my British Cycling sub. All the lawyer stuff is included,I think.

3 mouth's is a great result, just shows that the Ministry of Justice reforms have helped speed up personal injury claims.

I've just this morning sorted that out. Less than £30 if you pay by DD

Thanks for the reminder, finally signed up for Ride membership for British cycling, paying by DD for 10% discount with the new member code as well.. £14.85!

Oh is there a new member code? Do share.

ch33psk8

50d0ff ;)

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/clubs/article/20120607-club-static-Club-member-joining-British-Cycling-for-the-first-time--0

You need to be affiliated to a club as well.. like LFGSS..

^^These don't work.

Wonderful!

I'm so glad I took out my membership in January and paid full price. :-(

Got to see some guy go nuts at a bus driver, got out his car spat at the bus driver and all sorts before reversing up the high road a bit and escaping down a side turn. Fun times.

Addison lee cab conked out at a junction while I was on my way home so gave him a push onto a side road, no doubt when he's back at hq he'll tell all the lads about how great cyclists are and it'll go some way to repair relationships.