Close call: cyclist vs bakkie

[UnfitnessFreak]

So on a morning ride last week I'm riding up

a steep hill minding my own business, when some guy nearly took me out

in his bakkie.

 

 

 

I didn't even know what had happened at first. I just heard a loud bang

like a gun going off next to my ear and a shower of glass and plastic

whooshed past me.

 

 

 

It took me a good 10 seconds to realize a guy had just clipped my elbow

and I had literally ripped his wing mirror off the side of his car.

Couldn't believe it. Didn't feel a thing. I stood on the side of the

road for a minute feeling my arm to see if I had broken anything, but

miraculously I was unharmed - considering the pace he hit me.

 

 

 

I think I was lucky the road was steep and I was standing and my arm was braced against the handlebar at the moment of impact.

 

 

 

Well, to his credit, the driver did stop and was very apologetic. He insisted that he didn't see me as the sun was in his eyes. Not much

consolation.

 

One thing is for sure, if he had been 30cms to the left, I would not have known much about it.

 

[scotty]

You're tougher than me, this happened to me last year and i was out of action for quite a while.

[mikkelz]

Good thing you weren't seriously injured.

 

I've also had the excuse of "the sun was in my eyes" when a motorist cut me off on my bike.

 

[Kansas]

One of the things in cycling safety is never to ride with the sun straight in your eyes you are very lucky and even if the driver is wrong when you are no longer with us nothing can bring you back.

[X-Gear]

Glad you are okay.  That's why I stick to the pavement on my MTB.  Too scared to be a roadie.

[428 others]

I had a &%#*#&% security idiot in his bakkie driving into my lane, round a blind corner on Tuesday morning! Freaking a-hole must have been half asleep @ 04:40! If I was driving in a car, it would have been a head on collision. Luckily I was far left on the road!

[splat]

Glad you are OK.

You must have a cast iron elbow!

[hagar]

good to see you came thru that little nasty in one piece !!!

 

 

 

its so easy to say i did not see you !!!! fork man they just dont look good that is what i say i had a close call saturday too but the jucies came in handy and so did my hand now he can see better

[mudda]

Today at my lunch time ride, I saw a dangerous situation coming up.

 

I was heading down a steep hill. A lawn moving service flat bed had stopped b4 a stop street on my way down. The driver just went, without seeing the speed I was travelling at. I had already seen this happening, and prepared for it.

 

When i past the driver, I shouted a few words.

 

I have realised that when you are on your bike, you must picture a bulls eye on your back. It makes you more alert.

 

[No Name]

On saturday morning i punctured, so we called hubby's dad to come and pick us up. We were on our way back to Ian robbertson pharmacy where my car was parked and we were at the robot of Buffel's Fontein road and the road that goes past the walmer township. The light just turned green for us and we started going over and this idiot on his bike jumped the red robot and gave us a dirty look before going on his merry way. I really thought this guy was a moron cause if there was a car already on speed he would have hit him straight on.

 

Wish i could have given him a piece of my mind.

[DRIVETRAIN]

Gr8 U ok - other's are not so lucky - On Race 4 Victory a 4x4 also came by us very close & we were hugging the edge of the road as it was...........I give up !!!

 

"DT"

[Andyr249]

Tell them to get sunglasses at the next robot! Very cheap!!

[UnfitnessFreak]

Yeah it was a bit of a wake up call. I think you can try be as safe as possible - have lights - wear bright clothing - cycle early to avoid the traffic - try to ride on quiet roads etc ... and you still could get run over. And the thing is the cars drive at full speed no matter what road you're on. What can you do?

 

I don't want to be a MTB rider. I don't like riding the spruit and I don't think it's all that safe if you ride alone like I do most of the time (I can't ride with a group because I usually don't know when I'll get a chance to ride next).

 

It's a lose-lose situation.