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Main
Date: 06 Dec 2006 03:01:17
From: Gooserider
Subject: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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I've been pretty much car free since 10/30/06. Weather here has been nice,
no rain. I commute to work by bike 4 days/week, sometimes 5. Five miles of
my commute is on a fairly busy two lane, but I've had no problems.
Tonight I needed to go to the post office to get my mail, and I thought I'd
hit the vending machine at a nearby shopping center to get a soda. The PO is
south of the shopping center, so I planned to hit the vendo first then head
south to the PO, so I didn't have to cross a divided 4 lane numerous times.
Well, I goofed. I turned south from my location and ended up at the PO
first. Traffic was pretty heavy on the 4 lane, so I could either take the
Gunnar Sport off road for 200 yards, I could wait 5 minutes for traffic to
clear and cross the 4 lane twice, or I could "wrong way Charlie" down the
right hand turn lane that turns into the PO. Guess which one I chose? That's
right---the WRONG one.
This was at 6pm, so pretty dark here. I have a lot of lighting--DiNotte
Ultralight on high setting, reflective vest w/blinking LEDs, then two
blinkies facing rearward. I would think I look like a UFO. Well, as I
approached the shopping center, a woman was signalling a right turn, heading
south. I made eye contact with her, and thought she would let me go around
her then I could turn left. WRONG. As I got in front of this driver, she
turned right AND HIT MY REAR WHEEL. I didn't fall, but the wheel hopped. Now
it's out of true---bad. The woman? She took off down the road. Didn't stop,
didn't look back.
I'm lucky I didn't get hurt. The ONE TIME I do something sketchy and it
bites me in the ass. Could have been worse, but now my commuter is down
until I get the wheel trued(I know, but I don't have a truing stand---condo
living)
Mike
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Date: 11 Dec 2006 23:13:00
From:
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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Roger Zoul wrote:
> Early one morning I was riding down a two-lane, nicely paved, country road.
> Lovely day. Very few cars. I'm moving along, I see a truck coming out onto
> the road a ways ahead coming towards me. There was a long drive way to the
> right ahead of me (going into a big spread of some kind). I get there about
> the same time as the truck, but he wants to turn (left for him) into the
> drive way. He slows. I look at him thinking he is sees me. I made sure I
> wasn't at the very edge of the road, too. As soon as I got up to the drive
> way, he starts turning. I ran myself off the road to the right trying to
> get out of his way.
>
> Other than wave at him and wait for a response, I'm not sure what else I
> might have done (other than slow to make sure he was going to wait for me,
> thus yielding my right of way). Eye contract cannot be assumed where
> drivers are concerned.
Nope.
I find that I have these types of incidents--where I am obviously
in someone's line of vision, riding lawfully and predictably,
but still go unnoticed by them and have to make some sort
of anticipatory move or even evasive action to avoid a
collision--about once per eight hours of riding in moderate-heavy
urban traffic. In quite a few of these incidents, the offender
is a pedestrian. Another sizable portion involves parking, drivers
hastily pulling into and out of parking spaces, and the rest
are standard turning, crossing failures to yield. Someone
who rides little other than lonely roads on weekends
could conceivably go many years without experiencing
the craziness of a classic look-through.
These are the moments of our lives. Glad you were
able to avoid.
Robert
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Date: 11 Dec 2006 22:36:15
From:
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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Tom Keats wrote:
> With bike couriers, time is money.
Well, that may have been true years ago. Time was
time, and time was also money. Now, time is just
time. No courier makes decent money delivering packages
anymore, unless maybe they own their own outfit.
So if you see a courier out there, you can be
reasonably confident they're not in it for the money.
And if you see them busting a light and riding fast
through traffic between 7am and 530pm on a weekday,
you can be reasonably confident that they don't have
much choice in the matter, performing not unlike
a tooth on a cog on a cassette. And you can be
reasonably confident that they're having a hell
of a good time.
> With the rest of us,
> just getting there and keeping our skin on is money.
Couriers don't relish the thought of getting run over
any more than the rest of y'all.
> There's no shame in opting for the safer expediency.
--unless there's some dude behind you with a helmet
cam.
Seriously, you are correct, but the question
remains what is the safer expediency and why.
Mr. Goose will not be able to correct his mistake
until he identifies his mistake.
Robert
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Date: 10 Dec 2006 17:14:31
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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In article <Hv1eh.16587$%u3.8337@tornado.tampabay.rr.com >,
"Gooserider" <Gooserider@mouse-potato.com > writes:
> Yes, he had a point----but I think the fact that I admitted I did a stupid
> thing negates the abusive tongue lashing. I made a poor judgment call in the
> name of expediency, and got smacked for it.
Exactly. You made the mistake of falling for the
bicycle's allure of "keeping going at all costs".
Now, I expect, you're wiser. There are millions
of riders behind you who've yet to learn that lesson
the hard way.
Robert H (aka r15757) might brag about how bicycle
couriers keep going at all costs. But y'know what?
They get clobbered too, same as you did.
With bike couriers, time is money. With the rest of us,
just getting there and keeping our skin on is money.
There's no shame in opting for the safer expediency.
cheers,
Tom
--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca
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Date: 11 Dec 2006 19:28:34
From: nash
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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Couriers,
Saw a bike courier yesterday with one of those multiple crash helmuts on
that the parapalegic have to wear. As good a rider as he is he still has to
make sure he can ride another day being it is his bread and butter.
They are readily available now. Mace is a cheap brand and I saw Bell and
Giro too.
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Date: 07 Dec 2006 08:09:53
From:
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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r15757@aol.com wrote:
> frkrygow@gmail.com wrote:
>
> > Hmm. Putting words in my mouth, then fearmongering.
> >
> > Where have we seen this before?
>
> Well, what do you mean by 'doing it right,' then?
Poor memory?
We've been over this many times before, and you've mis-characterized
and/or misunderstood what I said each time.
At this point, you've failed the correspondence course several times.
If you want to repeat, you'll have to come here and take the class from
me in person.
- Frank Krygowski
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Date: 07 Dec 2006 06:45:36
From: SlowRider
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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Despite abusive language, landotter has a point -- whenever I see a
cyclist flagrantly breaking traffic laws, I cringe.
But it sounds like you learned your lesson. Maybe the driver saw you,
maybe she didn't. In any case, she probably wasn't used to seeing a
bike where you were, so you relied on her unpractised judgement or
perception. Ride as if every driver is a belligerent drunk with a cell
phone and an angry spouse -- you'll be right more often than you care
to think.
Anyway, when you've got one bike in the shop, it's time to think about
getting a backup, ...or at this time of year, drop "Santa" some strong
hints... :-)
-JR
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Date: 07 Dec 2006 23:31:51
From: Gooserider
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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"SlowRider" <jrogers80526@hotmail.com > wrote in message
news:1165502736.330972.208930@16g2000cwy.googlegroups.com...
> Despite abusive language, landotter has a point -- whenever I see a
> cyclist flagrantly breaking traffic laws, I cringe.
>
> But it sounds like you learned your lesson. Maybe the driver saw you,
> maybe she didn't. In any case, she probably wasn't used to seeing a
> bike where you were, so you relied on her unpractised judgement or
> perception. Ride as if every driver is a belligerent drunk with a cell
> phone and an angry spouse -- you'll be right more often than you care
> to think.
>
> Anyway, when you've got one bike in the shop, it's time to think about
> getting a backup, ...or at this time of year, drop "Santa" some strong
> hints... :-)
>
>
> -JR
Yes, he had a point----but I think the fact that I admitted I did a stupid
thing negates the abusive tongue lashing. I made a poor judgment call in the
name of expediency, and got smacked for it. The bike is back on the road. I
took the wheel to the shop, and the wrench tweaked it, bent it, grunted,
spat rum on it, and sacrificed a chicken---and it's now true and round. I
missed one day of commuting, but that's not a biggie.
I have several bikes but the Gunnar is the only one I want to ride my
commute on. I have a Schwinn Peloton which just isn't comfortable(too
small), so I'm thinking about buying a Surly Pacer frameset and swapping the
parts over. It would be nice to have a rain bike/backup.
Mike
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Date: 07 Dec 2006 06:24:06
From: Buck
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman wrote:
> DanKMTB@gmail.com wrote:
> > Do they at least stop driving drunk? Doesn't sound like a rider
> > friendly area. Around here you can't get plates without insurance, and
> > you can't get insurance without a license. Doesn't stop some people
> > from registering through other people, but it helps.
>
> In the hood, theft of license plates and/or renewal stickers (not to
> mention whole automobiles) is common.
In Texas, stealing the renewal sticker requires a good razor and access
to the interior of the vehicle - the stickers are stuck to the inside
of the front windshield near the VIN. Stealing plates is twice the
work. The thief has to take both front and rear plates.
Not to say that it doesnt' happen....
I always hate that the front plates mess up the aesthetic appeal of the
sleek vehicle, but it sure is handy for identifying approaching
vehicles.
-Buck
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Date: 07 Dec 2006 00:28:10
From:
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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frkrygow@gmail.com wrote:
> Hmm. Putting words in my mouth, then fearmongering.
>
> Where have we seen this before?
Well, what do you mean by 'doing it right,' then?
It is a rather generic term that means different things
to different people. I seem to recall the bright-eyed
and bushy-tailed Tom Friedman writing something
about how the Iraq invasion is going to work out
great, as long as we 'do it right.'
> <Yawn>> > - Frank Krygowski
Holy mackerel I couldn't agree more. I've got to
go get some sleep and do it right.
Robert
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Date: 06 Dec 2006 20:07:27
From:
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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r15757@aol.com wrote:
> frkrygow@gmail.com wrote:
>
> > Doing it right is tremendously safe.
>
> If by 'doing it right' you mean following the law,
> then no, it is not tremendously safe.
>
> It is not 'tremendously safe' even if you
> do it the best way humanly possible. It would
> be nice if it were.
Hmm. Putting words in my mouth, then fearmongering.
Where have we seen this before?
<Yawn >
- Frank Krygowski
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Date: 06 Dec 2006 18:29:03
From: Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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DanKMTB@gmail.com wrote:
> Do they at least stop driving drunk? Doesn't sound like a rider
> friendly area. Around here you can't get plates without insurance, and
> you can't get insurance without a license. Doesn't stop some people
> from registering through other people, but it helps.
In the hood, theft of license plates and/or renewal stickers (not to
mention whole automobiles) is common.
--
Tom Sherman - Post Free or Die!
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Date: 06 Dec 2006 17:07:42
From:
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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Gooserider wrote:
> The ONE TIME I do something sketchy and it
> bites me in the ass.
I think you are taking the wrong lesson away from
this incident, based on your own narrative.
It wasn't your riding the wrong way
that got you into trouble. It was your assumption of
being seen by the motorist ("I made eye contact..."),
and putting yourself in a position where you were
dependent on being seen by that motorist, which
bit you in the ass. You could make this critical mistake
whether you are riding the wrong way or in a perfectly
legal and seemingly conservative fashion.
Robert
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Date: 07 Dec 2006 07:46:34
From: Roger Zoul
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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r15757@aol.com wrote:
:: Gooserider wrote:
::
::: The ONE TIME I do something sketchy and it
::: bites me in the ass.
::
:: I think you are taking the wrong lesson away from
:: this incident, based on your own narrative.
::
:: It wasn't your riding the wrong way
:: that got you into trouble. It was your assumption of
:: being seen by the motorist ("I made eye contact..."),
:: and putting yourself in a position where you were
:: dependent on being seen by that motorist, which
:: bit you in the ass. You could make this critical mistake
:: whether you are riding the wrong way or in a perfectly
:: legal and seemingly conservative fashion.
::
:: Robert
That's a very good point.
Early one morning I was riding down a two-lane, nicely paved, country road.
Lovely day. Very few cars. I'm moving along, I see a truck coming out onto
the road a ways ahead coming towards me. There was a long drive way to the
right ahead of me (going into a big spread of some kind). I get there about
the same time as the truck, but he wants to turn (left for him) into the
drive way. He slows. I look at him thinking he is sees me. I made sure I
wasn't at the very edge of the road, too. As soon as I got up to the drive
way, he starts turning. I ran myself off the road to the right trying to
get out of his way.
Other than wave at him and wait for a response, I'm not sure what else I
might have done (other than slow to make sure he was going to wait for me,
thus yielding my right of way). Eye contract cannot be assumed where
drivers are concerned.
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Date: 06 Dec 2006 17:00:39
From:
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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frkrygow@gmail.com wrote:
> Doing it right is tremendously safe.
If by 'doing it right' you mean following the law,
then no, it is not tremendously safe.
It is not 'tremendously safe' even if you
do it the best way humanly possible. It would
be nice if it were.
Robert
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Date: 06 Dec 2006 16:19:27
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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Gooserider wrote:
> "landotter" <landotter@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1165422151.930317.151220@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> >
> > Gooserider wrote:
> >
> >> I'm lucky I didn't get hurt. The ONE TIME I do something sketchy and it
> >> bites me in the ass. Could have been worse, but now my commuter is down
> >> until I get the wheel trued(I know, but I don't have a truing
> >> stand---condo
> >> living)
> >
> >
> > Boo hoo ya dipstick. I hope you can find the woman so she can get her
> > bumper resprayed. Now don't do it again and keep giving us sane
> > cyclists a bad name. You got off way easy.
>
> Aren't you the same dude who says the cops always harass you? With a
> pleasant attitude like yours I can understand it.
You deserve a scolding as you seriously fucked up. You give us sane
cyclists a bad name. Part of motorists disrespect for cyclists is
people that ride like you. End. Stop.
I was harrassed by cops because they assumed I was gay while riding
through a Pride celebration, and they thought they'd have some fun with
"the queer on the bike". I've witnessed them beating a heroin addict
going through withdrawal convulsions for a laugh. It's no joke here in
Tennessee. I do not claim that I get overly harrassed, just that I've
witnessed egregious abuse of police power and spoken up about it.
You don't know jack about me, but are getting defensive about me
wagging a finger because you rode the wrong way on the road? Absolutely
shameless. In my opinion, you deserve the bike confiscated and at
least a $1500 fine for being a moron. Pretty much what a motorist would
suffer. Being on a bike doesn't make you special.
Thanks again, for making the rest of us look bad, and thus making the
ride more dangerous.
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Date: 06 Dec 2006 14:54:10
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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dgk wrote:
> On 6 Dec 2006 08:22:32 -0800, "landotter" <landotter@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >Gooserider wrote:
> >
> >> I'm lucky I didn't get hurt. The ONE TIME I do something sketchy and it
> >> bites me in the ass. Could have been worse, but now my commuter is down
> >> until I get the wheel trued(I know, but I don't have a truing stand---condo
> >> living)
> >
> >
> >Boo hoo ya dipstick. I hope you can find the woman so she can get her
> >bumper resprayed. Now don't do it again and keep giving us sane
> >cyclists a bad name. You got off way easy.
>
> Well, the weird part to me was that he made eye contact. That always
> makes me feel somewhat reassured but it's sort of like seeing
> someone's blinker on. That only means that at least once they turned a
> blinker on. It doesn't mean that they're going to turn.
I don't trust eye contact one little bit. I had a guy turn left in
front of me last night and he looked me straight in the eye. I expect
and experience it daily. This is in Nashville, so no doubt they're
aiming for me. People also tend to not even slow down for stop signs in
this old neighborhood. Trust no one.
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Date: 06 Dec 2006 08:22:32
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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Gooserider wrote:
> I'm lucky I didn't get hurt. The ONE TIME I do something sketchy and it
> bites me in the ass. Could have been worse, but now my commuter is down
> until I get the wheel trued(I know, but I don't have a truing stand---condo
> living)
Boo hoo ya dipstick. I hope you can find the woman so she can get her
bumper resprayed. Now don't do it again and keep giving us sane
cyclists a bad name. You got off way easy.
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Date: 06 Dec 2006 23:49:09
From: Gooserider
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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"landotter" <landotter@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1165422151.930317.151220@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
> Gooserider wrote:
>
>> I'm lucky I didn't get hurt. The ONE TIME I do something sketchy and it
>> bites me in the ass. Could have been worse, but now my commuter is down
>> until I get the wheel trued(I know, but I don't have a truing
>> stand---condo
>> living)
>
>
> Boo hoo ya dipstick. I hope you can find the woman so she can get her
> bumper resprayed. Now don't do it again and keep giving us sane
> cyclists a bad name. You got off way easy.
Aren't you the same dude who says the cops always harass you? With a
pleasant attitude like yours I can understand it.
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Date: 06 Dec 2006 16:22:49
From: dgk
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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On 6 Dec 2006 08:22:32 -0800, "landotter" <landotter@gmail.com > wrote:
>
>Gooserider wrote:
>
>> I'm lucky I didn't get hurt. The ONE TIME I do something sketchy and it
>> bites me in the ass. Could have been worse, but now my commuter is down
>> until I get the wheel trued(I know, but I don't have a truing stand---condo
>> living)
>
>
>Boo hoo ya dipstick. I hope you can find the woman so she can get her
>bumper resprayed. Now don't do it again and keep giving us sane
>cyclists a bad name. You got off way easy.
Well, the weird part to me was that he made eye contact. That always
makes me feel somewhat reassured but it's sort of like seeing
someone's blinker on. That only means that at least once they turned a
blinker on. It doesn't mean that they're going to turn.
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Date: 07 Dec 2006 12:45:04
From: Roger Zoul
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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dgk wrote:
:: On 6 Dec 2006 08:22:32 -0800, "landotter" <landotter@gmail.com >
:: wrote:
::
:::
::: Gooserider wrote:
:::
:::: I'm lucky I didn't get hurt. The ONE TIME I do something sketchy
:::: and it bites me in the ass. Could have been worse, but now my
:::: commuter is down until I get the wheel trued(I know, but I don't
:::: have a truing stand---condo living)
:::
:::
::: Boo hoo ya dipstick. I hope you can find the woman so she can get
::: her bumper resprayed. Now don't do it again and keep giving us sane
::: cyclists a bad name. You got off way easy.
::
:: Well, the weird part to me was that he made eye contact. That always
:: makes me feel somewhat reassured but it's sort of like seeing
:: someone's blinker on. That only means that at least once they turned
:: a blinker on. It doesn't mean that they're going to turn.
It's far better to wave and await a return wave....if you don't get it,
assume you're unseen and about to get creamed.
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Date: 06 Dec 2006 08:09:23
From:
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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Matt O'Toole wrote:
> On Wed, 06 Dec 2006 04:07:14 +0000, Gooserider wrote:
>
>
> > I learned my lesson----but it's amazing that the DUI guys ride on the
> > wrong side all the time and they manage to dodge accidents.
>
> Actually they don't. Statistically, it's these guys (wrong-way riders)
> who get hit the most.
And just think - whenever someone yelps about how many cyclists are
injured or killed every year, the figures they quote include those
wrong-way riders.
Doing it right is tremendously safe.
- Frank Krygowski
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Date: 06 Dec 2006 11:04:28
From: Roger Zoul
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
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Gooserider wrote:
:::: I'm lucky I didn't get hurt. The ONE TIME I do something sketchy and
:: it bites me in the ass. Could have been worse, but now my commuter
:: is down until I get the wheel trued(I know, but I don't have a
:: truing stand---condo living)
Glad you're okay, Mike.
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Date: 06 Dec 2006 06:20:22
From: DanKMTB@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
|
Do they at least stop driving drunk? Doesn't sound like a rider
friendly area. Around here you can't get plates without insurance, and
you can't get insurance without a license. Doesn't stop some people
from registering through other people, but it helps.
On Dec 6, 6:28 am, "Earl Bollinger" <earlwbollin...@comcast.net >
wrote:
> "Gooserider" <Gooseri...@mouse-potato.com> wrote in messagenews:Slrdh.10445$%u3.5514@tornado.tampabay.rr.com...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > "Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman" <sunsetss0...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >news:1165376330.632931.257940@73g2000cwn.googlegroups.com...
>
> >> Yes, the bicycle frame was (reportedly) unscathed, so all can me made
> >> right with a wheel repair.
>
> > I couldn't have been luckier in that regard. The driver actually hit me in
> > my fender, so the frame wasn't touched. I removed the rear wheel when I
> > got home, and it's definitely out of true. I even put a wheel from another
> > bike in to check and that one spun true. If I have been a second slower
> > she would have hit me in the frame or even my leg, and I would have gone
> > down. I learned my lesson----but it's amazing that the DUI guys ride on
> > the wrong side all the time and they manage to dodge accidents.Many wrong way riders get hit all the time.
> But many of them are are poor, maybe illegal too, and it rarely gets
> publisized. At least around here where I live.
> Drivers making right turns almost never look to the right. Just where a
> rider diesn't want to be.
> Around here the DUI folks simply drive without their licenses and insurance
> and hope to beat the odds.- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -
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Date: 06 Dec 2006 20:25:49
From: Earl Bollinger
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
|
<DanKMTB@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1165414822.179321.276390@16g2000cwy.googlegroups.com...
> Do they at least stop driving drunk? Doesn't sound like a rider
> friendly area. Around here you can't get plates without insurance, and
> you can't get insurance without a license. Doesn't stop some people
> from registering through other people, but it helps.
>
> On Dec 6, 6:28 am, "Earl Bollinger" <earlwbollin...@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>> "Gooserider" <Gooseri...@mouse-potato.com> wrote in
>> messagenews:Slrdh.10445$%u3.5514@tornado.tampabay.rr.com...
>>
>>
>
Nope it seems the drumks keep on drinking.
In Texas it is like 1 out of every 5 drivers is uninsured.
They have a huge black ket in fake inspection stickers and license
stickers going too.
Fake insurance cards, fake driver's licenses seem to be easy to get too.
Statistically on a national level it is something like one out of every 80
DUI drivers will get caught.
Hit and Runs are popular with the rich even more so than with the poor.
They drive off and hope they don't get caught.
Fortunately Texas for the most part is a cycling friendly state. Only in
certain areas does it not work so well.
For example Austin Texas seems to have a lot of issues with cycling and
drivers. But the huge Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is pretty good, albeit
heavy on traffic though.
It is probably best to avoid those times at night when the bars all close
anywhere in the USA.
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Date: 06 Dec 2006 00:52:30
From:
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
|
Gooserider wrote:
> "Werehatrack" <rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net> wrote in message
> news:26hcn2530i40hhd60co5b6l9rhgpefuhr5@4ax.com...
> > On Wed, 06 Dec 2006 03:01:17 GMT, "Gooserider"
> > <Gooserider@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
> >
> >>... Could have been worse, but now my commuter is down
> >>until I get the wheel trued(I know, but I don't have a truing
> >>stand---condo
> >>living)
> >
> > Sure you do. It's called "the rear triangle". Flip the bike over,
> > resting the bars on a couple of books if necessary, back off on the
> > brakes until you can spin the wheel with minimal wobble, get out the
> > spoke wrench, and get to work. You probably won't be able to make the
> > wheel permananetly useful again anyway, but I'd bet that you'll be
> > able to get it ridable in under half an hour.
> > --
> I got out my Bicycling repair manual---and I'm hopeless. I spent 20 minutes
> following their directions and made it worse. It's not a biggie---I'll get a
> ride to work tomorrow and drop off the wheel at lunch. If they can't get it
> back to me tomorrow, I'll either ride another bike in Thursday or swap a
> rear wheel. My mechanical abilities are pretty limited---I actually think I
> have a mental block when I get into anything more complex than changing a
> flat. :-)
It is possible that the rim is bent in a way that it cannot be fixed,
so don't feel too bad about not getting it right. A wheel that is out
of true because one or two spokes have loosened is a different animal
that one that is out of true because the rim is bent from impact. It is
also easy to get confused about which direction to turn the nipples to
either tighten or loosen the spoke. Take your time and think about each
turn and it's direction before you do it.
Joseph
|
| |
Date: 06 Dec 2006 00:52:27
From:
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
|
Gooserider wrote:
> "Werehatrack" <rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net> wrote in message
> news:26hcn2530i40hhd60co5b6l9rhgpefuhr5@4ax.com...
> > On Wed, 06 Dec 2006 03:01:17 GMT, "Gooserider"
> > <Gooserider@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
> >
> >>... Could have been worse, but now my commuter is down
> >>until I get the wheel trued(I know, but I don't have a truing
> >>stand---condo
> >>living)
> >
> > Sure you do. It's called "the rear triangle". Flip the bike over,
> > resting the bars on a couple of books if necessary, back off on the
> > brakes until you can spin the wheel with minimal wobble, get out the
> > spoke wrench, and get to work. You probably won't be able to make the
> > wheel permananetly useful again anyway, but I'd bet that you'll be
> > able to get it ridable in under half an hour.
> > --
> I got out my Bicycling repair manual---and I'm hopeless. I spent 20 minutes
> following their directions and made it worse. It's not a biggie---I'll get a
> ride to work tomorrow and drop off the wheel at lunch. If they can't get it
> back to me tomorrow, I'll either ride another bike in Thursday or swap a
> rear wheel. My mechanical abilities are pretty limited---I actually think I
> have a mental block when I get into anything more complex than changing a
> flat. :-)
It is possible that the rim is bent in a way that it cannot be fixed,
so don't feel too bad about not getting it right. A wheel that is out
of true because one or two spokes have loosened is a different animal
that one that is out of true because the rim is bent from impact. It is
also easy to get confused about which direction to turn the nipples to
either tighten or loosen the spoke. Take your time and think about each
turn and it's direction before you do it.
Joseph
|
| |
Date: 06 Dec 2006 00:48:28
From:
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
|
Gooserider wrote:
> "Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman" <sunsetss0003@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1165376330.632931.257940@73g2000cwn.googlegroups.com...
> >
> >
> > Yes, the bicycle frame was (reportedly) unscathed, so all can me made
> > right with a wheel repair.
> >
> >
>
> I couldn't have been luckier in that regard. The driver actually hit me in
> my fender, so the frame wasn't touched. I removed the rear wheel when I got
> home, and it's definitely out of true. I even put a wheel from another bike
> in to check and that one spun true. If I have been a second slower she would
> have hit me in the frame or even my leg, and I would have gone down. I
> learned my lesson----but it's amazing that the DUI guys ride on the wrong
> side all the time and they manage to dodge accidents.
As the saying goes, God forgives drunks and fools.
Good thing you are ok.
Joseph
|
| |
Date: 05 Dec 2006 22:41:37
From: Zoot Katz
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
|
On Wed, 06 Dec 2006 03:01:17 GMT, "Gooserider"
<Gooserider@mouse-potato.com > wrote:
>Traffic was pretty heavy on the 4 lane, so I could either take the
>Gunnar Sport off road for 200 yards, I could wait 5 minutes for traffic to
>clear and cross the 4 lane twice, or I could "wrong way Charlie" down the
>right hand turn lane that turns into the PO. Guess which one I chose? That's
>right---the WRONG one.
Ouch! But it sounds like your guardian angel was on duty.
I learned about WWC within my first month of riding as an adult. I
collided head on with a van. Broken arm, trashed wheel, bent frame
and bars. I figure I got away cheap. I've not put myself in that
position since.
Glad you weren't hurt.
--
zk
|
| | |
Date: 07 Dec 2006 05:54:01
From: Claire Petersky
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
|
"Zoot Katz" <zootkatz@operamail.com > wrote in message
news:61pcn25qlourvdacim41lr4enk33bfm9b4@4ax.com...
> Glad you weren't hurt.
Ditto. We all do some stuff we know we shouldn't from time to time, and it's
no fun having to pay the price. Better that the wheel's a little messed up
than your body was hurt.
--
Warm Regards,
Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky
|
| |
Date: 05 Dec 2006 22:10:43
From: sk8boakcwb
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
|
hey, i know how you feel with a bent wheel...not fun.....i got hit by
another bicycle, on my bicycle and the rear wheel got all bent out of
shape.....its amazing how strong those wheels are, yet how vulnerable
they can be if hit at the right angle...
it took me a while, but i finally got the wheel "trued" enough to ride
it with no problem.......but its kinda like a broken bone, its never
the same again.........
good luck with the wheel!
KC
Gooserider wrote:
> I've been pretty much car free since 10/30/06. Weather here has been nice,
> no rain. I commute to work by bike 4 days/week, sometimes 5. Five miles of
> my commute is on a fairly busy two lane, but I've had no problems.
>
> Tonight I needed to go to the post office to get my mail, and I thought I'd
> hit the vending machine at a nearby shopping center to get a soda. The PO is
> south of the shopping center, so I planned to hit the vendo first then head
> south to the PO, so I didn't have to cross a divided 4 lane numerous times.
> Well, I goofed. I turned south from my location and ended up at the PO
> first. Traffic was pretty heavy on the 4 lane, so I could either take the
> Gunnar Sport off road for 200 yards, I could wait 5 minutes for traffic to
> clear and cross the 4 lane twice, or I could "wrong way Charlie" down the
> right hand turn lane that turns into the PO. Guess which one I chose? That's
> right---the WRONG one.
>
> This was at 6pm, so pretty dark here. I have a lot of lighting--DiNotte
> Ultralight on high setting, reflective vest w/blinking LEDs, then two
> blinkies facing rearward. I would think I look like a UFO. Well, as I
> approached the shopping center, a woman was signalling a right turn, heading
> south. I made eye contact with her, and thought she would let me go around
> her then I could turn left. WRONG. As I got in front of this driver, she
> turned right AND HIT MY REAR WHEEL. I didn't fall, but the wheel hopped. Now
> it's out of true---bad. The woman? She took off down the road. Didn't stop,
> didn't look back.
>
> I'm lucky I didn't get hurt. The ONE TIME I do something sketchy and it
> bites me in the ass. Could have been worse, but now my commuter is down
> until I get the wheel trued(I know, but I don't have a truing stand---condo
> living)
>
> Mike
|
| |
Date: 06 Dec 2006 04:23:48
From: Werehatrack
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
|
On Wed, 06 Dec 2006 03:01:17 GMT, "Gooserider"
<Gooserider@mouse-potato.com > wrote:
>... Could have been worse, but now my commuter is down
>until I get the wheel trued(I know, but I don't have a truing stand---condo
>living)
Sure you do. It's called "the rear triangle". Flip the bike over,
resting the bars on a couple of books if necessary, back off on the
brakes until you can spin the wheel with minimal wobble, get out the
spoke wrench, and get to work. You probably won't be able to make the
wheel permananetly useful again anyway, but I'd bet that you'll be
able to get it ridable in under half an hour.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.
|
| | |
Date: 06 Dec 2006 04:45:39
From: Gooserider
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
|
"Werehatrack" <rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net > wrote in message
news:26hcn2530i40hhd60co5b6l9rhgpefuhr5@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 06 Dec 2006 03:01:17 GMT, "Gooserider"
> <Gooserider@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
>
>>... Could have been worse, but now my commuter is down
>>until I get the wheel trued(I know, but I don't have a truing
>>stand---condo
>>living)
>
> Sure you do. It's called "the rear triangle". Flip the bike over,
> resting the bars on a couple of books if necessary, back off on the
> brakes until you can spin the wheel with minimal wobble, get out the
> spoke wrench, and get to work. You probably won't be able to make the
> wheel permananetly useful again anyway, but I'd bet that you'll be
> able to get it ridable in under half an hour.
> --
I got out my Bicycling repair manual---and I'm hopeless. I spent 20 minutes
following their directions and made it worse. It's not a biggie---I'll get a
ride to work tomorrow and drop off the wheel at lunch. If they can't get it
back to me tomorrow, I'll either ride another bike in Thursday or swap a
rear wheel. My mechanical abilities are pretty limited---I actually think I
have a mental block when I get into anything more complex than changing a
flat. :-)
|
| |
Date: 05 Dec 2006 19:38:50
From: Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
|
Earl Bollinger wrote:
> "Gooserider" <Gooserider@mouse-potato.com> wrote in message
> news:1oqdh.8629$yj1.5427@tornado.tampabay.rr.com...
> > I've been pretty much car free since 10/30/06. Weather here has been nice,
> > no rain. I commute to work by bike 4 days/week, sometimes 5. Five miles of
> > my commute is on a fairly busy two lane, but I've had no problems.
> >
> > Tonight I needed to go to the post office to get my mail, and I thought
> > I'd hit the vending machine at a nearby shopping center to get a soda. The
> > PO is south of the shopping center, so I planned to hit the vendo first
> > then head south to the PO, so I didn't have to cross a divided 4 lane
> > numerous times. Well, I goofed. I turned south from my location and ended
> > up at the PO first. Traffic was pretty heavy on the 4 lane, so I could
> > either take the Gunnar Sport off road for 200 yards, I could wait 5
> > minutes for traffic to clear and cross the 4 lane twice, or I could "wrong
> > way Charlie" down the right hand turn lane that turns into the PO. Guess
> > which one I chose? That's right---the WRONG one.
> >
> > This was at 6pm, so pretty dark here. I have a lot of lighting--DiNotte
> > Ultralight on high setting, reflective vest w/blinking LEDs, then two
> > blinkies facing rearward. I would think I look like a UFO. Well, as I
> > approached the shopping center, a woman was signalling a right turn,
> > heading south. I made eye contact with her, and thought she would let me
> > go around her then I could turn left. WRONG. As I got in front of this
> > driver, she turned right AND HIT MY REAR WHEEL. I didn't fall, but the
> > wheel hopped. Now it's out of true---bad. The woman? She took off down the
> > road. Didn't stop, didn't look back.
> >
> > I'm lucky I didn't get hurt. The ONE TIME I do something sketchy and it
> > bites me in the ass. Could have been worse, but now my commuter is down
> > until I get the wheel trued(I know, but I don't have a truing
> > stand---condo living)
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
>
> Count your blessings it could have been much much worse.
Yes, the bicycle frame was (reportedly) unscathed, so all can me made
right with a wheel repair.
--
Tom Sherman - Post Free or Die!
|
| | |
Date: 06 Dec 2006 04:07:14
From: Gooserider
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
|
"Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman" <sunsetss0003@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1165376330.632931.257940@73g2000cwn.googlegroups.com...
>
>
> Yes, the bicycle frame was (reportedly) unscathed, so all can me made
> right with a wheel repair.
>
>
I couldn't have been luckier in that regard. The driver actually hit me in
my fender, so the frame wasn't touched. I removed the rear wheel when I got
home, and it's definitely out of true. I even put a wheel from another bike
in to check and that one spun true. If I have been a second slower she would
have hit me in the frame or even my leg, and I would have gone down. I
learned my lesson----but it's amazing that the DUI guys ride on the wrong
side all the time and they manage to dodge accidents.
|
| | | |
Date: 06 Dec 2006 05:28:53
From: Earl Bollinger
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
|
"Gooserider" <Gooserider@mouse-potato.com > wrote in message
news:Slrdh.10445$%u3.5514@tornado.tampabay.rr.com...
>
> "Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman" <sunsetss0003@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1165376330.632931.257940@73g2000cwn.googlegroups.com...
>>
>>
>> Yes, the bicycle frame was (reportedly) unscathed, so all can me made
>> right with a wheel repair.
>>
>>
>
> I couldn't have been luckier in that regard. The driver actually hit me in
> my fender, so the frame wasn't touched. I removed the rear wheel when I
> got home, and it's definitely out of true. I even put a wheel from another
> bike in to check and that one spun true. If I have been a second slower
> she would have hit me in the frame or even my leg, and I would have gone
> down. I learned my lesson----but it's amazing that the DUI guys ride on
> the wrong side all the time and they manage to dodge accidents.
>
Many wrong way riders get hit all the time.
But many of them are are poor, maybe illegal too, and it rarely gets
publisized. At least around here where I live.
Drivers making right turns almost never look to the right. Just where a
rider diesn't want to be.
Around here the DUI folks simply drive without their licenses and insurance
and hope to beat the odds.
|
| | | |
Date: 06 Dec 2006 00:01:02
From: Matt O'Toole
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
|
On Wed, 06 Dec 2006 04:07:14 +0000, Gooserider wrote:
> "Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman" <sunsetss0003@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1165376330.632931.257940@73g2000cwn.googlegroups.com...
>> Yes, the bicycle frame was (reportedly) unscathed, so all can me made
>> right with a wheel repair.
> I couldn't have been luckier in that regard. The driver actually hit me in
> my fender, so the frame wasn't touched. I removed the rear wheel when I got
> home, and it's definitely out of true. I even put a wheel from another bike
> in to check and that one spun true. If I have been a second slower she would
> have hit me in the frame or even my leg, and I would have gone down.
Well, consider it something you'll have done *once.*
About the wheel -- if it's been knocked out of true, the rim is probably
bent, even if it's not bent a lot. If it's bent, you can't fix it with
spoke tension alone, without unbalanced spoke tension. The proper fix is
to loosen all the spokes, and straighten the rim.
> I learned my lesson----but it's amazing that the DUI guys ride on the
> wrong side all the time and they manage to dodge accidents.
Actually they don't. Statistically, it's these guys (wrong-way riders)
who get hit the most.
Matt O.
|
| |
Date: 05 Dec 2006 21:04:10
From: Earl Bollinger
Subject: Re: Hit by a car---because I was STUPID
|
"Gooserider" <Gooserider@mouse-potato.com > wrote in message
news:1oqdh.8629$yj1.5427@tornado.tampabay.rr.com...
> I've been pretty much car free since 10/30/06. Weather here has been nice,
> no rain. I commute to work by bike 4 days/week, sometimes 5. Five miles of
> my commute is on a fairly busy two lane, but I've had no problems.
>
> Tonight I needed to go to the post office to get my mail, and I thought
> I'd hit the vending machine at a nearby shopping center to get a soda. The
> PO is south of the shopping center, so I planned to hit the vendo first
> then head south to the PO, so I didn't have to cross a divided 4 lane
> numerous times. Well, I goofed. I turned south from my location and ended
> up at the PO first. Traffic was pretty heavy on the 4 lane, so I could
> either take the Gunnar Sport off road for 200 yards, I could wait 5
> minutes for traffic to clear and cross the 4 lane twice, or I could "wrong
> way Charlie" down the right hand turn lane that turns into the PO. Guess
> which one I chose? That's right---the WRONG one.
>
> This was at 6pm, so pretty dark here. I have a lot of lighting--DiNotte
> Ultralight on high setting, reflective vest w/blinking LEDs, then two
> blinkies facing rearward. I would think I look like a UFO. Well, as I
> approached the shopping center, a woman was signalling a right turn,
> heading south. I made eye contact with her, and thought she would let me
> go around her then I could turn left. WRONG. As I got in front of this
> driver, she turned right AND HIT MY REAR WHEEL. I didn't fall, but the
> wheel hopped. Now it's out of true---bad. The woman? She took off down the
> road. Didn't stop, didn't look back.
>
> I'm lucky I didn't get hurt. The ONE TIME I do something sketchy and it
> bites me in the ass. Could have been worse, but now my commuter is down
> until I get the wheel trued(I know, but I don't have a truing
> stand---condo living)
>
> Mike
>
>
Count your blessings it could have been much much worse.
|
|
