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Some guy just got hit outside of my office...

Prettym1k3

Turbo Monkey
Aug 21, 2006
2,864
0
In your pants
So, after my daily run to Target, I'm making a right hand turn into my office when I see a guy with what looks to be a nice road bike limping around, screaming into his phone. Obviously, he got hit by a car, I think to myself.

So I walk over to him, and ask him if he needs help. He says he's fine, it was a hit and run, and he'll be okay. Police were already in route, but he was too dazed to grab the license plate off of the silver Lexus that hit him.

Anyway, he asks if I can take a look at his bike which has Mavic Cosmo wheels, and a full Ultegra package. He tells me he's pissed because he just bought the bike. I look closer, and it looks to be a LOOK 585 frame with a newly cracked seat-stay on the non-drive side. "Looks like you're in for a new frame, man," I say... feeling bad for having to break the bad news to him.

Dang... everyone... be careful on the road please.
 

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
We had a drive-by in front of my old office once, dude was in the exit lane on the 91 freeway, and they got him with an AK47. He coasted to a stop right in front of our building. Ah, LA...
 

MTBstud12

Monkey
Jan 24, 2008
484
0
Tejas
That's the one thing i fear more than anything when out on my road bike... Drivers are just ignorant to the fact they do NOT own the road... I have had my close calls and it's not fun... The trails are so much safer, well to an extent. If you get injured it's more than likely operator error!
 

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
That's the one thing i fear more than anything when out on my road bike...
Take the lane. Be visible. Assume you're invisible.

I've logged 1000s of miles, had close calls, but you don't have to be afraid or get hit.

Want to improve your road biking safety? Take a motorcycle class.
 

MTBstud12

Monkey
Jan 24, 2008
484
0
Tejas
Take the lane. Be visible. Assume you're invisible.

I've logged 1000s of miles, had close calls, but you don't have to be afraid or get hit.

Want to improve your road biking safety? Take a motorcycle class.
Thanks man! Never really thought of it that way. I always feel like I need to move out of there way!
 

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
Thanks man! Never really thought of it that way. I always feel like I need to move out of there way!
Another way to think of it is this...

If you're in their way, they'll notice you. The only way they'll hit you, if they see you, is on purpose. So few people on the planet will intentionally run you down.

Conversely, you've got a 1000x as many people who'll hit you cuz they didn't notice you.
 

MTBstud12

Monkey
Jan 24, 2008
484
0
Tejas
Another way to think of it is this...

If you're in their way, they'll notice you. The only way they'll hit you, if they see you, is on purpose. So few people on the planet will intentionally run you down.

Conversely, you've got a 1000x as many people who'll hit you cuz they didn't notice you.
Very good point, I wanna say every article I read about a car/bike accident the persons excuse is "I didn't even see them"
 
Another way to think of it is this...

If you're in their way, they'll notice you. The only way they'll hit you, if they see you, is on purpose. So few people on the planet will intentionally run you down.

Conversely, you've got a 1000x as many people who'll hit you cuz they didn't notice you.
This made me far less scared to ride road. Make them go around. I have a friend whose gotten hit twice and both times were hit and runs and he was riding the side line of the road, right at the edge and probably wasnt seen.
 

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
Very good point, I wanna say every article I read about a car/bike accident the persons excuse is "I didn't even see them"
Wanna be super safe? Get a very powerful tail light and set it to pulse-flash.

I got...



You can find it regularly for $125 on Nashbar.

It's powerful enough to illuminate the area around curves, buildings, hills. I use it during the day too and notice that cars consistently give me more room.
 

MTBstud12

Monkey
Jan 24, 2008
484
0
Tejas
Wanna be super safe? Get a very powerful tail light and set it to pulse-flash.

I got...



You can find it regularly for $125 on Nashbar.

It's powerful enough to illuminate the area around curves, buildings, hills. I use it during the day too and notice that cars consistently give me more room.
awesome man! so do you put it on your seatpost?
 

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
Very good point, I wanna say every article I read about a car/bike accident the persons excuse is "I didn't even see them"
This made me far less scared to ride road. Make them go around. I have a friend whose gotten hit twice and both times were hit and runs and he was riding the side line of the road, right at the edge and probably wasnt seen.

Oh, I want to emphasize... if you're riding close to the edge of the road, most accidents are NOT because they didn't see you, but rather, they miss judged spacing. This is especially true on two-lane roads or in heavier traffic.

Take the lane:
-- when it's narrow.
-- when a right-turn lane is opening in front of you
-- when there's debris, obstacles or broken road ahead.
-- when you're approaching parked cars and a car door may open up
-- when cars are tailgating each other... a car will pass you safely, next car has less reaction time so he barely misses you. Third car has zero reaction time and he hits you.

you get the idea :)
 

MTBstud12

Monkey
Jan 24, 2008
484
0
Tejas
Oh, I want to emphasize... if you're riding close to the edge of the road, most accidents are NOT because they didn't see you, but rather, they miss judged spacing. This is especially true on two-lane roads or in heavier traffic.

Take the lane:
-- when it's narrow.
-- when a right-turn lane is opening in front of you
-- when there's debris, obstacles or broken road ahead.
-- when you're approaching parked cars and a car door may open up
-- when cars are tailgating each other... a car will pass you safely, next car has less reaction time so he barely misses you. Third car has zero reaction time and he hits you.

you get the idea :)

Thanks so much for the advice dude! much appreciated! Ride Hard! Ride Safe!
 

G-Cracker

Monkey
May 2, 2002
528
0
Tucson, beatch!
I agree to this. Just yesterday I had a close call with a semi. Damn thing passed by so close I almost browned my shorts. He passed at EXACTLY the tightest spot on the road, where a turn lane merges with the thru traffic. No bike lane, and I was ON the white line, with a 4" inch drop off the pavement and a broken "hole" of pavement extending into the road. Worst possible moment for a car, let alone an 18-wheeler, to pass.

Next time, I'm going to be IN the lane through that section.
 

MTBstud12

Monkey
Jan 24, 2008
484
0
Tejas
I agree to this. Just yesterday I had a close call with a semi. Damn thing passed by so close I almost browned my shorts. He passed at EXACTLY the tightest spot on the road, where a turn lane merges with the thru traffic. No bike lane, and I was ON the white line, with a 4" inch drop off the pavement and a broken "hole" of pavement extending into the road. Worst possible moment for a car, let alone an 18-wheeler, to pass.

Next time, I'm going to be IN the lane through that section.
Wow! Thats insane! I had a semi force me to ride the rummble strips one day he was so close, after honking at me... Maybe he was jealous he couldn't fit into tights...period
 

DirtyMike

Turbo Fluffer
Aug 8, 2005
14,437
1,017
My own world inside my head
Take the lane. Be visible. Assume you're invisible.

I've logged 1000s of miles, had close calls, but you don't have to be afraid or get hit.

Want to improve your road biking safety? Take a motorcycle class.
Agreed, remember the four golden rules of Two wheels on roadways.

1. You ARE invisible. PERIOD

2. If they can, They WILL....

3. Always Have two escape paths....

4. you are the ONLY one responsible for your own safety
 

CRoss

Turbo Monkey
Nov 20, 2006
1,329
0
The Ranch
You want to be more than just visible. You want to be recognizable. If look confusing to the driver of a car they will look at you longer trying to figure out what they are looking at. We all no what happens on a trail when we look or stare at something...you hit it. This is more of a problem at dusk and at night. So take the lane or make your self something that is seen and quickly recognized so the driver can go back to watching where they really want to be going.
 

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
Agreed, remember the four golden rules of Two wheels on roadways.

1. You ARE invisible. PERIOD

2. If they can, They WILL....

3. Always Have two escape paths....

4. you are the ONLY one responsible for your own safety
Spoken like someone who also rides a motorcycle :)
 

Wumpus

makes avatars better
Dec 25, 2003
8,161
153
Six Shooter Junction
I agree to this. Just yesterday I had a close call with a semi. Damn thing passed by so close I almost browned my shorts. He passed at EXACTLY the tightest spot on the road, where a turn lane merges with the thru traffic. No bike lane, and I was ON the white line, with a 4" inch drop off the pavement and a broken "hole" of pavement extending into the road. Worst possible moment for a car, let alone an 18-wheeler, to pass.

Next time, I'm going to be IN the lane through that section.

I think the scariest moment(in hindsight) that I've had on a bike was two semis side by side passing me in the rain. The shoulder in that section was only about a foot at most.* The wind from the one in my 'lane' blew me off the road. I had to lock up the rear and ended plowing through a wet anthill about 8" high. I ended up saving it and kept on riding.



*It is amazing in Texas that when you cross a county line how the road changes. It went from a 6' wide shoulder to 12" in a foot.
 

MTBstud12

Monkey
Jan 24, 2008
484
0
Tejas
*It is amazing in Texas that when you cross a county line how the road changes. It went from a 6' wide shoulder to 12" in a foot.
That same thing happens coming into walker county on Highway 30. You go from having literally to be on the paint or the rumble strips to a nice smooooooth 6 foot wide shoulder