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@Polka_Dot
Not an oh shit, something is about to happen, but an oh shit, something has just happened, just happened. Oh shit.
Riding along on the good old Raleigh Superbe coming to a cross roads, I have right of way, some fella starts to drive across instead of waiting as he should have. I rode into the side of his car. I was completely fine and hopped of my bike, opened the passenger door and started, somewhat forcefully asking him what the hell he thought he was doing. 'I thought you'd stop.' He said. 'Why should I stop?' I said. 'The bikes around here usually go slowly' he said. 'Why should I stop?! You should have stopped! I have right of way.' He agreed completely, admitted complete fault and apologised. With my old fashioned English nature, any ideas of claims didn't come to mind at first. I just gave him a good telling off. I told him, 'Well it's a good thing everyone is ok, isn't it.' I closed the door, stepped back and yelled at him with a frown 'On your way!'
Because I was completely fine it didn't cross my mind for a moment that there would be any damage to my one ton, super durable bike. However when I picked it up and went to get on, I noticed that something really wasn't right. The front mudguard was catching on the brake rod under the downtube. The steering felt stiff. I knelt and had a look at it. Oh shit. The downtube is bent and the toptube is bent, both just behind their respective lugs. A chap who was riding behind me had stopped and observered me ram the car and yell at the driver. I looked at him and he looked like he would be a willing witness then I looked to see if I could still see the car. No. It was gone. I was already angry. Now I was furious. I've done a bazillion miles on that bike. I've given it so much attention. I made some special lights for it with LEDs all the way from HongKong and a homemade standlight circuit. I got a pair of keys made for the steering lock. A nos Brooks matress saddle. I've rebuilt the AG hub too many times. I thought it would last forever and now I have the gut wrenching, stomach churning feeling that this is the end. I feel like weeping at my loss and smashing the hell out of something for someone else having caused this. A little part of me feels annoyed with myself for acting in an adolescent way and not taking evasive action and avoiding the car despite him being at fault.
Lessons? Always take the plate, whether you think you need it or not. If someone drives in front of you, despite you having right of way, driving/riding into them isn't necessarily the best course of action; you should probably try to avoid a collision if you can, it's infuriating, but less hassle in the long run. Actually I avoid collisions like this very often, but somehow this time it went the other way and I lost.
Sympathy?