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Things I've learnt from commuting


zeabre

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And then it happened. .... I was taken out by a car this morning on my way to work.

 

I can say that I've never really been scared of that happening. Where and how it happened just makes it so much worse cause there was no way I thought anyone couldn't see me clearly. She jumped a round about claiming she didn't see me because of misty windows... I wasn't even going fast and was well into the circle that she actually side impacted me.

 

Guess this will mentally take a while to get over now.

 

Hayley, I hope you're alright.

As for the mental aspect, it'll be a while. I was taken out while commuting about 1km from my house about a year back, and had another fall in almost exactly the same spot because of another car (no jokes, it was literally almost the same spot) and ever since then every time I go through there I am ultra cautious. You'll be hyper-sensitive to the cars in that area forever now.

 

Terrible news. Hope the injuries aren't to bad?

 

Jaws, you forgot the most important question...how's the bike? ;)

Edited by Lurch the stalker
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And then it happened. .... I was taken out by a car this morning on my way to work.

 

I can say that I've never really been scared of that happening. Where and how it happened just makes it so much worse cause there was no way I thought anyone couldn't see me clearly. She jumped a round about claiming she didn't see me because of misty windows... I wasn't even going fast and was well into the circle that she actually side impacted me.

 

Guess this will mentally take a while to get over now.

Hope you're OK physically.

 

Your confidence will be reduced, but hopefully it'll manifest as over cautiousness which is not terrible post accident.

Try and keep riding I know it's going to be difficult and it's easy to say. But to get past any traumatic stress it's worth keeping on.

 

Now, the driver: HOW CAN SHE USE THE EXCUSE OF MISTED UP WINDOWS?

 

As a driver you have the responsibility towards other road users to ensure you have maximum visibility. It's against the law to drive with obscured vision.

 

Dammit!

 

Anyway I hope you heal quickly and get back as soon as you're ready.

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Sorry to hear Hayley.

 

It will take time to get over it but as said the sooner you get back on the bike the better.

 

I hope you tried to report to the police and make sure you put it in the report what you she said.

 

Heal quickly.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Didn't see one bicycle commuter between Milnerton and Cape Town CBD this morning (around 7:30 am). Where's everyone?

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Didn't see one bicycle commuter between Milnerton and Cape Town CBD this morning (around 7:30 am). Where's everyone?

well I took the day off work and took the wife for a slow breakfast on the beachfront .... sorry you were on the way to work :P

 

our usual group was still riding.

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And then it happened. .... I was taken out by a car this morning on my way to work.

 

I can say that I've never really been scared of that happening. Where and how it happened just makes it so much worse cause there was no way I thought anyone couldn't see me clearly. She jumped a round about claiming she didn't see me because of misty windows... I wasn't even going fast and was well into the circle that she actually side impacted me.

 

Guess this will mentally take a while to get over now.

Glad you are alive!!! 

 

A lesson I learnt from my first impact with a car was to keep my cell phone near.

 

If an unfortunate incident should happen I'll start taking pictures and ask for proof of a drivers licence. Then start asking about insurance and contact details. 

 

Drivers don't consider hitting no motored vehicles an accident! 

Edited by J∆kk∆ls
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I have decided to ride to work (20 steps from my back door) i walk out the front door make a small 50 km detour to the coffee guys next to ushaka then head back up the hill to the office...i dont need to worry about forgetting my work clothes ;)

 

a few things i have learnt...

 

dont get in the way of a motorist who is 5 min late for work...

 

ride as defensively as you can...no matter what it takes.

 

a municipal bus is rated my number most dangerous vehicle when riding a bicycle...there are a list of reasons which can be discussed another time.

 

motorists heading to work in the morning are far more dangerous than when they leaving work...especially if they are running late...or you are holding them up while they are waiting at a stop street...except if they have been out to lunch at the local pub.

 

find a coffee shop higher than your place of work...it is easier to ride down to work after the cuppa :)

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MTB slicks are what I use for commuting..., they last a LONG time, and allow HIGH pressures...

 

the Harbour railway lines - there are lots - do NOT like racing bike tyres....!

 

I use tyre liners - since my MTB is heavy in any case - DRAMATICALLY reduces the puncture rate...!

 

punctures whilst fun-riding, no problem, punctures whilst commuting IN to work - major hassle, so tyre liners -for me - are the way to go!

 

with an electric motor fitted, what South Easter are you guys talking about...  :blush:

 

Chris

 

 

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.................the Harbour railway lines - there are lots - do NOT like racing bike tyres....!................

How do you get through the harbour?

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MTB slicks are what I use for commuting..., they last a LONG time, and allow HIGH pressures...

 

the Harbour railway lines - there are lots - do NOT like racing bike tyres....!

 

I use tyre liners - since my MTB is heavy in any case - DRAMATICALLY reduces the puncture rate...!

 

punctures whilst fun-riding, no problem, punctures whilst commuting IN to work - major hassle, so tyre liners -for me - are the way to go!

 

with an electric motor fitted, what South Easter are you guys talking about... :blush:

 

Chris

I think I know you. ....your bike has a throttle/lever control if I recall, so you do not have to pedal?
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'RE the harbour, before they closed it if I managed to get a rear wheel slip into the rails (wet rainy day) and snapped the rim. ...would not have been fun on a roadie bike

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  • 3 weeks later...

My commuter bike celebrates is 10th birthday today. We have done almost 42 000km together. It is a Silverback Reno, 2007 model. Bought at the LBS the moment it landed on the floor. Still my favourite bike. I have 4 at the moment. I changed a few components over the years but the frame, brakes, front derailleur, wheels and shifters are still original. Some of the best money ever spent.

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Saltriver Circle is not my favourite traffic circle especially in peak hour traffic.Then you have strollers also crossing the road,ear phones in and slowing down when they cross the green cycle lane.

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Hope the bloke is a hubber...

 

A commuter on a road bike that cycled direction north on Solomon Mahlangu this morning at 06h05.

 

You utter twat!

 

In 100 meters you almost committed suicide. And not once, but 3 times!

 

What took place was the bloke turned out of Bendeman Road right, but lets think... if you turn right, where do you stand? Left of the cars or on the right?

 

Lets look at it this way, you are on the right hand side of the road. You are an idiot with road pedals, and you have no idea how to clip in and get away from the cars.

 

So what did you do... move into the path of a car, but wait, the car is next to you, so you swerve out of the way... only to realize that you were on the edge of the road, where still trying to clip in, you swerve into the lane again, and almost got taken out by an BMW. And the cycle started again.

 

Just be glad that my wife was in the car, or I would have given you a bit of my mind!

 

Think what you are doing! You pissed off more than 3 people in less tan 100 meters! What great picture do you paint for people in their cars? That cyclists are IDIOTS!

 

Wake up you darn fool, you are a blood stain on the road waiting to happen!

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

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