"Oh Shit" moments...

Surreal!

Good you are ok

Report that shit.

Can't believe how fucking stupid some people are. Definitely report worthy.

Had a really silly oh shit moment on Friday. I was late so was going a bit too fast along St. Pauls road. I was in the middle of the road filtering between slow moving traffic, but as I passed the dual carriageway bit at Wallace road, there was a lull in traffic and the Range Rover I was about to filter past decided to accelerate quite quickly but also drift right thus blocking me from passing. I tucked in really close behind his off side as I could see the traffic further up so I could tell when it would start slowing down. Or so I thought, I didn't account for the taxi that turned right across the Range Rover forcing the driver to slam on the brakes. Was not expecting it and I don't know how I didn't pile into the back of the Range Rover but I managed to brake and swerve and just avoid it.

OOps.

Had some idiot in a van nearly run me off the road this morning on the East India Dock road heading west. Was in outside lane and white van man begun indicating and simply filtered into lane without even giving me any space. Had about a foot to manouver in. Twat.

Tumble time. Wet road, coming down quite a steep but short hill with lights at the bottom. I see them change whilst still near the top and start feathering the rear as I got close to the bottom I pumped the front a couple of times and then suddenly front wheel locks and skids and I'm on the deck sliding down the road. Luckily no cars too close but I've got a sore arse.
Couldn't believe it, hardly any pressure on the brake, must have hit a leaf or something. Big Apples, thought they were grippy.

Has anyone been hit by a car and have it been completely your fault?
Okay... So it wasn't completely my fault...
I was going full pelt down a road, junction coming up, me having right of way. zebra crossing had just cleared in front of me so I didn't slow down. I was in a rush. White car pulled out from the left, turning left... flipped over the corner of the bonnet, managing to send my bike flying in the air only to have it come down on top of me.
Seat introduced to eye.
The woman was actually quite nice about it, I was going too fast and she didn't look... She also offered up her details without me even asking which was pretty cool.
Welsh people are nice.

This is why everybody should have third party insurance, available with membership from the main cycling organisations. Obviously, I would always recommend the LCC there (declaring a prejudicial interest here, as I'm an LCC Board member :) ), but the CTC and BC also offer third party insurance as part of their membership package, and a few other orgs, too, I think. The ETA? At any rate, if you're a member of one of the above, you can't be accused of not having insurance in case you hit someone else.

If she pulled out in front of you then it's not your fault, you may have been able to avoid it by riding more defensively but it would still be her fault unless you going flat out was well above the speed limit or something.

There is no speed limit for bikes. Although I believe it can be addressed under the reckless (considered spelling that wreckless to keep Oliver entertained) riding law. But if she pulled out, onus is on her to make sure it is safe to do so.

Welsh people are nice.

Thanks.

Where by was it to but?

Had a nice one today. Riding down Ben Johnson road on the way to Mile End. Peak rush hour and back to back traffic so I'm riding down the middle of the road (overtaking position). A car in front of me indicates right and moves towards the centre of the road. I let her go and move to the inside lane only to be greeted by a spring-loaded door swinging wide open. After narrowly missing it, I stopped, berated the driver loudly, then realised it wasn't even worth it. Perhaps if I'd been catapulted over the door she might think to look next time but I'm doubtful...

I went into the back of a car this morning.

I was filtering and a bus on the other side rather than wait for me to finish overtaking the car I was pulled out a fraction blocking my gap so I tucked back in behind the car, she started to move off and so did I but she slammed on her brakes as a car used that momentary gap to back out of their drive. I endoed and sliped down the back of the car in a heap on the ground bashed my knee and my pride.

I just joined LCC because of it.

I'm aware there are mostly no speed limits for bikes, but if they were hurtling down a 20mph road at 40mph then I'd say they could be partially to blame, but it's still up to the person pulling out to check it's properly safe to do so.

They could see you, think 'they're doing 20mph, I've got plenty of time to pull out' and not realise that you are moving way faster than that.

The whole point of obeying the highway code and traffic signs is that it makes all road users more predictable.

Surely as a carriage/road user breaking any speed limit would be an offence?

edit: http://www.astounding.org.uk/ian/cyclelaw/speed_limits.html

I don't think I agree with that . . .

A little oh-shit moment coming out of Manchester tonight. Just left me fuming more than anything, hate that feeling.

Its raining quite a bit, I'm travelling about 20mph, there's lights about 10metres in front of me, I know I'm going through them, they're on green for me and I know the lights well enough to know they won't change for a while.

Theres a car stationary on other side of road waiting to turn right, across it. He suddenly gets itchy feet, starts going for it and pulls across me. I slam on the front brake, it's wet so I'm still moving and just thinking there's no way I'm not going into the side of this fucking 4WD cuntoid.

Luckily, he slammed his break at last second and I went past him. Instead of into him. The fuckstick had the audacity to be shouting at me though. Half tempted to just wait for him tomorrow and help him see how wrong he is.

Rant over.

Front light battery went dead on way home just now. Dressed as ninja in oh shit moment all the way home. Cycled much slower and much more carefully without acting stupid in any way possible.

I f my light dies I ride faster, that way there's less time for something to hit me

SCIENCE

I f my light dies I ride faster, that way there's less time for something to hit me

SCIENCE

Correct.

An accident can only happen in one place, the faster you go the less time you spend in one place so the less chance there is of an accident getting you.

Mine died 10 miles from home tonight, bought some £4 ones from Halfords #safteefirst

Strap iphone to chest, turn flashlight on.

You carry iphone straps around rather than a spare light ?

Lighter init?

You carry iphone straps around rather than a spare light ?

This man knows his lights. On the spiral ride his bike was attracting incoming aircraft, looked a bit like this