"Oh Shit" moments...

This thread offers the best advice on the matter...

Had an OS today after work riding with Seven04 to Kinoko cycles when this womAn run across the road barely squeezes by the steady flowing stream of traffic on Shaftesbury avenue to make it to the island in the middle when.

Oh shit... Her massive oversized bag caught in my pursuit bars as I was side slipping through the traffic. She yanked, I fell. Swollen elbow knee and pissed off. But shockingly I stayed calm because she apologised profusely about her flailing bag.

Damn that bag was a huge leather bag. Took me out. Lol. Wouldn't have happened on my nitto drops as easily.

Good news is that the time atacs really do unclip quickly when you are yanked from your bike. I think it avoided me doubling a full on superman or also ending up like a front flip. It was somewhere over the rainbow.

I've had two near-misses in the last 24 hours, both involving drivers pulling across T-junctions as I approached. I need to put my compressed air horn back on the bike.

**Yesterday evening **
Car in opposing lane waiting to turn right into side turning. I knew the driver wouldn't see me so I actually accelerated to slip past rather than opt for emergency brake. As I made a zippy turn round the front of the car I looked the driver in the face and saw her mouth drop open as she finally saw me.

**This morning
**Accelerating downhill as a white van ambled across my path from a joining road to my left. I grabbed a handful of brake and actually shouted "OI! OH SHIT!". I felt my rear tyre enter a skid and honestly believed I would hit the van. I imagined the crater I would make in the sheet aluminium. Luckily I scrubbed off enough speed to swerve around him, shouting FUCKING HELL! as I passed the driver's window.

I've come to the conclusion that anyone who posts in this thread frequently either...

a) does a lot of miles
b) is really unlucky
c) should consider cycle training
d) lives in Nairobi

Option D sounds great. nice and sunny.

Maybe option

E) Is honest and shares their experiences in hopes that others avoid them or are more alert in certain instances. Giving each rider more foresight. Which is always a good thing when we make tricky decisions every second.

I love sharing every fall/mishap. Cause rider foresight is amazing when it develops.

it's nice (for drivers) to see you, to see you, nice.

oh foresight...

http://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/article7254907.ece/ALTERNATES/w300/http%3A-img.dailymail.co.uk-i-pix-2008-02_03-bruce1MR2202_468x737.jpg

DadBeard

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?

I love sharing every fall/mishap. Cause rider foresight is amazing when it develops.

Yours isn't very good then is it if you're having so many "oh shit" moments?

In other news, if anyone is travelling down Mortimer towards Seymour, the junction at Portland place has a big ass pothole that seems to have appeared out of nowhere, so be weary. Just about dodged it and had an anus tightening tank slapper which I had no idea how I recovered from it. It's been reported so might get fixed quick.

You have my sympathy PD. Sounds like a much loved bike and I can identify with you not making the guy wait while you fine tooth combed everything. I'm the same, if all seems well I'm keen to draw a line under things as soon as I can.

Had an embarrassing oh shit moment on walworth rd earlier, thankfully OLC was in front and didn't see it. My front wheel clipped a tiny
1 inch bit of kerb on the side and went from under me. I flew into a little cafe sign some bloke had literally just plunked on to the pavement seconds before. No harm done, just a few scratches.

Sorry to hear your OS moment Polka Dot.

Had a near death one today. Coming up from Regent's Park towards Oxford Street. Just before I got on oxford street a bus decides to pull across in front of me because I passed him before when he was stuck in traffic.

He just cranks it to his left and cuts me off. I had to bunny hop by the skin of my teeth onto the curb and get out of the way. Nooo wayyyy. He definitely saw me there.

So I u-turned and came again along the driver's side of the bus. Gave it 3 good hard smacks by the driver window and screamed at the driver. "Won't repeat the angry tirade"

Seems my foresight is improving. LOL.

Why am I not surprised to see you on here again?

You really got to reassert your priority in life.

Had a bit of one on York Way on Friday night. Hill + rain + shit road surface = not happy me.

Why am I not surprised to see you on here again?

You really got to reassert your priority in life.

Long time no hear Scoble.

Let's not get personal.

Long time no hear Scoble.

low

had been trying to not nerg but that deserved it

Long time no hear Scoble.

Absolute cunt.

There may be a chance he's not aware of it before you all jump the gun.

damn, can't rep scoble for his sensible post