(10-08-2014, 07:44 AM)Insolentsquid_imp Wrote: As my old bike trainer used to say..."ride like every other bugger on the road is out to kill you" and some days it feels like he's spot on.

My close(st) shave came on my beloved first bike, a battered but lively VF500 on a roundabout.

I was on the roundabout intending to go straight across, and to my left, waiting to enter the roundabout was an elderly gent and his wife on a Sunday afternoon drive, and yes, he had a flat cloth cap on (Brit stereotype).

In best defensive riding mode, I made eye contact with him to be sure he'd seen me, and just as I'm straightening up, yes, he pulls out in front of me.

You've heard the expression 'time slowed down' and it really did.

I cranked the bike hard over, and distinctly remember my brain coolly working out that I was going to hit the driver's door (and serve the daft old git right if I ended up in his lap), then I cranked the bike even further over, and again my brain's moving the point of impact, past the 'A' pillar, onto the front wing (at which point it's telling me to stand up just before impact so as to have a chance of going over and skipping down the road beyond)

I'd like to say I missed him by a whisker, but I can't as I distinctly remember some part of my bike made contact with some part of his car, and then I was past, still upright.

He drove on, and I pulled over.

The irrational, non-calculating part of my brain is now screaming "get after him and ....show him the error of his ways..ahem". But I was just so glad to be still in one piece that I just sat there with a stupid grin on my face.

(10-08-2014, 03:42 AM)Guth_imp Wrote: I don't enjoy making posts such as this one. You guys have probably noticed that I don't post here during the weekdays while I'm at work. But today I had an exceptionally close call and just wanted to remind everyone to stay alert out there.

On my commute to work this morning I was headed into an intersection and I had the green light. There were cars stopped in both directions at the red light on the crossing street. Out of the blue, the car to my right decides to blow the light and cross — right in front of me. I hit the brakes hard and fortunately they did an amazing job of hauling the bike down to a quick stop. Luckily there was plenty of room between me and the car behind me.

There were witnesses screaming at the woman driving the car, and I probably could have chased her down and obtained a license plate number but frankly I was a bit dazed at that point and just wanted to move along rather than continue to be a sitting duck in the middle of the street.

So whether you're just out riding for pleasure or commuting like me, take note and take care.


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(10-08-2014, 06:23 PM)Cormanus_imp Wrote:

(10-08-2014, 07:44 AM)Insolentsquid_imp Wrote: As my old bike trainer used to say..."ride like every other bugger on the road is out to kill you" and some days it feels like he's spot on.

My close(st) shave came on my beloved first bike, a battered but lively VF500 on a roundabout.

I was on the roundabout intending to go straight across, and to my left, waiting to enter the roundabout was an elderly gent and his wife on a Sunday afternoon drive, and yes, he had a flat cloth cap on (Brit stereotype).

In best defensive riding mode, I made eye contact with him to be sure he'd seen me, and just as I'm straightening up, yes, he pulls out in front of me.

You've heard the expression 'time slowed down' and it really did.

I cranked the bike hard over, and distinctly remember my brain coolly working out that I was going to hit the driver's door (and serve the daft old git right if I ended up in his lap), then I cranked the bike even further over, and again my brain's moving the point of impact, past the 'A' pillar, onto the front wing (at which point it's telling me to stand up just before impact so as to have a chance of going over and skipping down the road beyond)

I'd like to say I missed him by a whisker, but I can't as I distinctly remember some part of my bike made contact with some part of his car, and then I was past, still upright.

He drove on, and I pulled over.

The irrational, non-calculating part of my brain is now screaming "get after him and ....show him the error of his ways..ahem". But I was just so glad to be still in one piece that I just sat there with a stupid grin on my face.

Interesting. I won an advanced riding course on a poker run. Couple of years ago. I'm very glad I took it, but that's not the point. The instructor told me, 'Forget the eye contact as there's no real guarantee they've seen you. Watch the front wheels.'

(10-10-2014, 09:11 AM)Insolentsquid_imp Wrote:

(10-08-2014, 06:23 PM)Cormanus_imp Wrote:

(10-08-2014, 07:44 AM)Insolentsquid_imp Wrote: As my old bike trainer used to say..."ride like every other bugger on the road is out to kill you" and some days it feels like he's spot on.

My close(st) shave came on my beloved first bike, a battered but lively VF500 on a roundabout.

I was on the roundabout intending to go straight across, and to my left, waiting to enter the roundabout was an elderly gent and his wife on a Sunday afternoon drive, and yes, he had a flat cloth cap on (Brit stereotype).

In best defensive riding mode, I made eye contact with him to be sure he'd seen me, and just as I'm straightening up, yes, he pulls out in front of me.

You've heard the expression 'time slowed down' and it really did.

I cranked the bike hard over, and distinctly remember my brain coolly working out that I was going to hit the driver's door (and serve the daft old git right if I ended up in his lap), then I cranked the bike even further over, and again my brain's moving the point of impact, past the 'A' pillar, onto the front wing (at which point it's telling me to stand up just before impact so as to have a chance of going over and skipping down the road beyond)

I'd like to say I missed him by a whisker, but I can't as I distinctly remember some part of my bike made contact with some part of his car, and then I was past, still upright.

He drove on, and I pulled over.

The irrational, non-calculating part of my brain is now screaming "get after him and ....show him the error of his ways..ahem". But I was just so glad to be still in one piece that I just sat there with a stupid grin on my face.

Interesting. I won an advanced riding course on a poker run. Couple of years ago. I'm very glad I took it, but that's not the point. The instructor told me, 'Forget the eye contact as there's no real guarantee they've seen you. Watch the front wheels.'

Interesting. I won an advanced riding course on a poker run. Couple of years ago. I'm very glad I took it, but that's not the point. The einstructor told me, 'Forget the eye contact as there's no real guarantee they've seen you. Watch the front wheels.'

Ah, yes, now when I say that I was riding in defensive mode, I make no claims to be an advanced rider - never was, and by current performance, never will be; but, sometimes I ride in defensive mode, sometimes I ride in 'rebel without a cause' mode 'responsible police rider' mode, or 'Top Gun' mode..and I sure aint Marlon Brando, Or CHips material, and I don't think I have sh@@@ed Kelly McGillis (I'm sure I would have remembered)

..but one can live one's fantasy... If only when on two wheels....!

(10-10-2014, 11:04 AM)Flynrider_imp Wrote: Had one of those rides today on my 5 mile ride home from work. First, some goofball in a truck nearly ran me over in the crosswalk on my way to the bike (I was already wearing my day-glo yellow helmet!). Two minutes later, some lady in an SUV (talking on her phone) ran the 4-way stop and missed me by about 2 ft. A mile down the road a gal in a white Nissan pulled out of a parking lot right into my lane. Thankfully, that street has a bike lane, which was the only collision-free escape route. For the rest of the ride home, I was eyeing all the other drivers like they were suspected serial killers