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So I Got Brake Checked and knocked off to teach me a lesson……apparently

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  • March 26, 2014 at 9:40 am #21031
    Potiriadis

    So coming down the side of Hurlingham park in London, a quiet residential road with speed humps and width restrictors a large black 4×4 (a Shogun I think) passed me close enough to brush my sleeve with his wing mirror. I shouted and may have uttered several profanities. Catching up to him a hundred yards or so later he slammed on his brakes for no reason (I could see the road ahead of him was clear). This resulted in me riding into the back of his bumper and going over my handlebars. When he then lowered his window I hoped he was about to apologise for not anticipating the consequences of his actions. Instead he let me know that the whole thing was my fault and that a: I should not have been riding in the middle of the lane preventing him from easily overtaking me, and b: that I should not be in such a hurry. Realising I was now bleeding a little he hurriedly apologised and took off.

    The silver lining was that subsequently two very concerned ladies pulled over to check if I was alright and needed any help. This instantly made me bite back my tears and pull off a reasonable approximation of the black knight from the Holy Grail.

    What really surprised me was that after continuing to ride to work, when someone asked me if I was OK I found myself bursting into tears, weird?

    Not sure why I’m sharing this but…….

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  • March 27, 2014 at 7:40 pm #782875
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    Kapelmuur

    Sadly it’s not only motorists
    Sadly it’s not only motorists who behave badly, this morning I was left hooked by a fellow cyclist who overtook me then immediately turned left without signalling.

    I realise that I’m not typical as I ride rural routes and don’t commute, but other cyclists are more of a problem than motorists in my experience.

    March 27, 2014 at 3:33 pm #782873
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    Potiriadis

    Thank you for your in depth
    Thank you for your in depth analysis. You were obviously on the road at the same time as me in order to have observed how I was riding, and how the motorist behaved. Its a shame that you did not stop to see if I was OK or offer advice on what I could have done to avoid the accident at the time.

    If you read my post you will find that the driver told me that he carried out the manoeuvre deliberately.

    Judging from your post and vocabulary you should probably consider investing in some English lessons, specifically on; comprehension, vocabulary, and punctuation.

    You do however show amazing aptitude at otiose abuse and leaping to conclusions.

    =D>

    March 27, 2014 at 2:56 pm #782871
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    LondonDynaslow

    That is a terrible road for
    🙁 That is a terrible road for cycling down. Full of pinch points, and drivers using as a rat run.

    March 27, 2014 at 9:58 am #782869
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    notfastenough

    Gman59c wrote:then he brake

    Gman59c wrote:
    then he brake checks me and then cuts into my pasty several times.

    Ah well, if he cut into your pasty, I reckon you have carte blanche to do whatever you like! Tyre marks on my cheese & onion would result in chaos…

    March 27, 2014 at 9:55 am #782867
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    Shades

    Argos74 wrote:Yay for disc

    Argos74 wrote:
    Yay for disc brakes and being able to spot lack of opposable thumbs from 20 yards.

    My commuters got the original Magura hydraulic rim brake (a ‘beast’ of a brake!) on the back and a hydraulic disc on the front (result of a headset replacement and fork upgrade). Saved me in my brakecheck incident.

    March 27, 2014 at 9:23 am #782865
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    OldRidgeback

    Potiriadis wrote:Just been

    Potiriadis wrote:
    Just been looking at Cams funnily enough, and am now on my third cup of tea. Feeling a lot better after a few cups of best of British. Thank you for supportive messages. The tears just really caught me out…..

    I’m considering a Countour Roam2 as its not too expensive and if I can counter balance it on one side of my helmet with my helmet light on the other side. Can’t really face commuting to work with a GoPro mounted on my head. Looked at Garmin Virb as thought it would be nice to link it to my Edge but then realized it looks enormous. Also thought the Sony actioncams looked alright. Happy to get advice.

    Thanks.

    My son has a Contour and it’s pretty tough and takes good quality footage. He wanted a GoPro but the Contour was cheaper and to be honest, it’s plenty good enough.

    March 27, 2014 at 9:14 am #782863
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    IngloriousLou

    tarquin_foxglove wrote:I’d

    tarquin_foxglove wrote:
    I’d only report it to the police if you have his registration, contact details for the witnesses, video footage & some magic 4th thing that would make the police do something.

    As posted above, I had an accident and have received a cheque for replacement value of bike with no need for witnesses, video footage, police report etc.

    If you have a non-fault bike accident you can recover your costs in the vast majority of cases.

    March 27, 2014 at 7:21 am #782861
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    tarquin_foxglove

    I’d only report it to the
    I’d only report it to the police if you have his registration, contact details for the witnesses, video footage & some magic 4th thing that would make the police do something. I’ve only ever had 3 out of 4 and so found the whole process to be tedious and frustrating.

    @joeinpoole what is the view like from your ivory tower?

    March 27, 2014 at 7:02 am #782859
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    Joeinpoole

    You are an idiot and
    You are an idiot and bizzarely seem *proud* of exhibiting the sort of behaviour that gives ‘cyclists’ a bad name.

    I’ve been cycling for nearly 50 years and I have never been “brake checked” in my life. Why? Because I’m not so fucking stupid that I tailgate a vehicle so fast and so close that I can’t stop if said vehicle slows down or stops.

    Have you ever read the ‘Highway Code’? It’s a while since I have done so but I seem to remember that Rule Numero Uno was that you should never, ever drive or ride faster than your ability to stop within the distance that you can see clearly ahead. You failed to do that. The ‘accident’ was *entirely* your fault. How do you know for example that the driver hadn’t braked because a cat had jumped out in front of him?

    You don’t need to burst into tears and you don’t need to wear a stupid foam hat either. You just need to ride sensibly according to the prevailing conditions. If you examine the front of your handlebars you should see some sticky-out levers. They are called ‘brakes’ and they are really brilliant at modulating the speed of your bike. Next time you find yourself following a dirty great 4×4 (or any other vehicle) you might consider using them.

    March 27, 2014 at 7:01 am #782857
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    Jimbonic

    Nice!
    And, I suppose you’ve
    Nice!

    And, I suppose you’ve never been deliberately squeezed and twatted by someone’s wing mirror either, judging by your comment.

    Right, I’m off to tell someone else off for being upset…

    March 27, 2014 at 12:57 am #782855
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    Ush

    Sorry mate
    You’ll feel
    Sorry mate 🙁

    You’ll feel better in a while. Keep on trucking. My wife has been wanting a portable EMP generator for events like this: a silent blast to immobilize their wagon for life.

    March 27, 2014 at 12:26 am #782853
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    Jimbonic

    I hope you’re feeling better.
    I hope you’re feeling better. It is, as someone said above, shock from the trauma. It’s something to do with hormone imbalances, I think – reduction in adrenaline, that sort of thing. I could, of course, be talking shit!

    Mostly, I feel frustration in these scenarios. You have so little power and are (well I am) quite confused at the time as to whether I really did have right of way. It seems ridiculous because the balance of power (mass?!) is very one-sided. If it’s car-on-car, the liability always rests with the person behind – you should have left enough space to stop. But, I’m unsure whether it is the same when a) deliberate, as here, or b) it’s car-on-bike, again as here.

    On the more positive note, yay for old ladies! I had a bit of a fall off one time. It was my fault really. I was wearing headphones and was distracted by the traffic behind and hit a kerb. I felt really embarrassed, especially when a lovely old lady came over to see if I was all right. The warm feeling of someone caring helped immensely, though.

    Make sure you get back on your bike, though. Don’t let the bastards grind you down. And, most of all, take care and keep enjoying your freedom.

    March 26, 2014 at 10:47 pm #782851
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    Argos74

    Shades wrote:I reckon anyone

    Shades wrote:
    I reckon anyone who can invent a small, affordable one with a decent picture that’s specifically aimed at commuters could be onto a real winner.

    Quoted for science and great justice. Especially if I don’t look like I’m gonna start singing “Time for teletubbies, time for teletubbies” to unsuspecting pedestrians. Have had a couple of these recently, two incompetence, one being a twunt. Yay for disc brakes and being able to spot lack of opposable thumbs from 20 yards.

    Had a couple of attempted left hooks as well – overtakes into minor roads. Ha! Silly boys. I can hear them gearing down even if they can’t be bothered to indicate.

    March 26, 2014 at 5:25 pm #782849
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    Gman59c

    On Sunday I pointed out to a
    On Sunday I pointed out to a driver that he was parked in a cycling lane. He shouted something I couldn’t hear so I gave him a “whatever” hand gesture. Next thing I know the guy is behind me swerving into me hanging back then swerving in to me, then he brake checks me and then cuts into my pasty several times. I got his number at the time, but was reluctant to go to the police because I reacted to him telling him where to go several times. I too am considering some kind of camera. The guy was unhinged and good certainly have caused me injury.

    March 26, 2014 at 1:56 pm #782847
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    Shades

    Brakechecking seems to be all
    Brakechecking seems to be all over Road.cc at the moment. Happened to me a few weeks ago. Is it the latest anti-cyclist tactic? I know there are a variety of helmet cams out there but I reckon anyone who can invent a small, affordable one with a decent picture that’s specifically aimed at commuters could be onto a real winner. I reckon a lot of people want one but there’s always a hitch; cost, practicality or quality.

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