Cycling UK Forum

[XAP]Bob wrote:

Single lane bridge, controlled by lights.
On the approach to the bridge the driver overtook me over double white lines, then stopped 50 yards up the road for the red light and the van which was already stopped.
I pulled alongside the drivers window of the van and let him go when the lights changed, making sure I was in the middle of the narrowing road.
She then tries to overtake, but once pretty much alongside me realises that she can't so sits behind me revving her engine.
I stop at the top of the bridge* to ask her where she thinks she can overtake / why she is revving her engine so aggressively and she is sufficiently close that she simply drives into the back of me. I got nudged a few inches, no more.

So a minor collision really, v low speed. Basic driver impatience/incompetence.

She then asked what I was doing as "she was trying to stop, the road is icy". I wish I'd had the presence of mind to say "so why were you driving so close behind me" but I didn't.
Not that the road was icy at all, a bit damp, but it's a fairly busy road so it was all melted...


Bob

* I remembered another thread (not searching for it though) where someone did this and left a car facing an oncoming line of traffic on a similar bridge...

Bob
I'm trying to picture this situation,you're approaching a traffic light controlled single lane bridge with a van waiting at the red light when with 50 yds to go a car overtakes you and stops behind the van at the lights.You then overtake the car and stop on the offside of the van near the drivers window.Then when the lights change you let the van go and then stop on top of the bridge and the car rear ends you.
Why didn't you wait behind the car that had overtaken you?(which, if I'm correct was the one that rear ended you).
If you look at it from the driver of the car's POV it was you who was being impatient.Unless I'm missing something here.

hav'nt rode the steed since new years eve

i want the white stuff to go !!
need to get back in the saddle

for LEJOG training

reohn2 wrote:Bob
I'm trying to picture this situation,you're approaching a traffic light controlled single lane bridge with a van waiting at the red light when with 50 yds to go a car overtakes you and stops behind the van at the lights.You then overtake the car and stop on the offside of the van near the drivers window.Then when the lights change you let the van go and then stop on top of the bridge and the car rear ends you.
Why didn't you wait behind the car that had overtaken you?(which, if I'm correct was the one that rear ended you).
If you look at it from the driver of the car's POV it was you who was being impatient.Unless I'm missing something here.

Not sure I suggested anyone was being impatient - The lights had been red for a while, I was hoping not to have to stop and unclip at all especially as the sensor controls for these lights are quite aggressive, they'll drop to red very quickly if they think there is a gap in the traffic and I only have one magnet on my front wheel so I don't always register as a vehicle - it's not unusual for them to drop to red if I am in the line of traffic, so I generally take the other lane and merge back in after the sensors.

fossil wrote:hav'nt rode the steed since new years eve

i want the white stuff to go !!
need to get back in the saddle

for LEJOG training

Having experienced three weeks of ice, followed by three weeks of snow, a miracle happened last night. Temperatures soared, with the result that the 6-12" of frozen slush on the cleared roads vanished overnight. BLACK TARMAC was seen, creating the best riding conditions since the end of November . Though did follow one road where the ploughing had obviously been suspended - it was absolutely clear and dry for a mile, the remaining two miles were under 6' drifts and impassable.

Following nine days marooned, bus services having been suspended, postal services suspended and roads to the town virtually blocked, it's been fantastic. While I've had no major issues following the main road into town at walking pace, carrying the bike where necessary, normal riding speeds,or using any road except the main road have been out of the question.

The neighbours even felt able to dig their respective 4WD Land Rover Discoveries, Toyota and Ford 4WD vehicles out of the drifts today. I was under the impression that the rationale for owning a two ton metalbox on wheels with a V8 engine and 4WD,was precisely to meet the conditions we've just experienced Ironic then,that my 2WD town bike built out of second hand parts always made it through, while not a single 4WD vehicle has left the village during the last nine days

gbnz wrote: Ironic then,that my 2WD town bike built out of second hand parts always made it through, while not a single 4WD vehicle has left the village during the last nine days

2WD?
Front electric?

[XAP]Bob wrote:

gbnz wrote: Ironic then,that my 2WD town bike built out of second hand parts always made it through, while not a single 4WD vehicle has left the village during the last nine days

2WD?
Front electric?

Oop's

1WD

Though some members of the public, have confused the dynamo in operation, as an electric motor

Just makes it all the more ironic really...

[XAP]Bob wrote:

gbnz wrote: Ironic then,that my 2WD town bike built out of second hand parts always made it through, while not a single 4WD vehicle has left the village during the last nine days

?

........on the subject of 2WD, I reckon that a tricycle with differential drive to both rear wheels would probably be a useful machine at the moment.

Yesterday roads nearly clear, just a bit of slush. This morning totally thawed out, wet and very windy so normal service resumed in West Cornwall

I walked some slush this morning, but bizarrely one of my concerns on one road was the amount of grit on the road. It was like a fine layer of sand all over the road which, which didn't look particularly grippy either!

Some drifts of grit on my way in today as well but the main thing I had to contend with was an upside down Peugeot in the middle of the road on the first hill, road was closed off with cones and sign but I was able to get past without any real difficulty, just took care to avoid the broken glass. Apart from being inverted the car looked relatively undamaged so hopefully the occupant(s) were in equally good shape. It looked like it had skidded into the stone wall, probably on black ice during the night/early morning.

More snow falling today - Ski goggles came out - brilliant things, reduce the glare from car headlights, stop my glasses fogging and seemed to pretty much repel the snow.

Really refreshing ride, arrived in work with a BIG grin!

I probably looked a right plonker though.

As with yesterday it was much quicker to do ten miles on the bike than car - even without any special measures (tyres still running hard, the roads are OK round here IMHO).
Bit slower than good weather, but that's mostly due to having to slow down to overtake all the cars and 4x4s (by riding through the slush in the middle of the road - yuck)

Been off the bike since before christmas, was intending to get back on it when I returned to work after new year but will not dare in this weather, cracked a couple of ribs las year when I came off on black ice so being verrrrrrrrrry careful this year. If the weather improves I will be back on it next week as I have not had chance to try out my new cold weather gear that santa brought me.

Ive been out most days but only for the commute, not pleasure. Taking it very, very carefully as I don't want any more metalwork installed!

I'd use the car if I could get it out of the village - at least when the bike spins to a stop I can walk to the next grippy bit.

[XAP]Bob wrote:

reohn2 wrote:Bob
I'm trying to picture this situation,you're approaching a traffic light controlled single lane bridge with a van waiting at the red light when with 50 yds to go a car overtakes you and stops behind the van at the lights.You then overtake the car and stop on the offside of the van near the drivers window.Then when the lights change you let the van go and then stop on top of the bridge and the car rear ends you.
Why didn't you wait behind the car that had overtaken you?(which, if I'm correct was the one that rear ended you).
If you look at it from the driver of the car's POV it was you who was being impatient.Unless I'm missing something here.

Not sure I suggested anyone was being impatient - The lights had been red for a while, I was hoping not to have to stop and unclip at all especially as the sensor controls for these lights are quite aggressive, they'll drop to red very quickly if they think there is a gap in the traffic and I only have one magnet on my front wheel so I don't always register as a vehicle - it's not unusual for them to drop to red if I am in the line of traffic, so I generally take the other lane and merge back in after the sensors.

just caught up with this post,I take you're point.I can see where you're coming from now.