The Cycling Thread

Ayup guys, I'm sure Matt will update you but just been on blower with him.

Sounds like its just cuts and bruises, bike has taken a bit of stick but sounds fixable.

Some **** of a taxi driver caused it all so I gather, like I say ill let Matt fill in the finer details.

When I came off the phone he was loading the bike into abi's car so least he's got a ride home!

Well that was an all together unfortunate evening.
My clips seemed to stop working as a i left work, little did I know by not stopping to tighten them I'd set my self up for what followed.
Realization, Anger, Pain, More Anger, Frustration, Shock, More anger, Relief, Calm, Frustration, Anger, Protested Acceptance, Bewilderment more anger, and finally complete lethargy.

See that's just the words to describe my mental state for the hour which followed not adjusting my cleets so turn away now if you dont want to read the full synopsis.

Firstly I'm very greatful for those who came to my aid, members of the public who despite been on their way homes from their own hard days still took the time to help a stranger. I thank you
The first witness on scene who pulled me back from the drivers window of the car that hit me turned out to work for the CPS, which is always nice when you're around someone who knows how to handle a situation. I owe him a massive thanks as he's no doubt kept me out of cuffs.

I had been travelling along whitehall road towards the A62 behind a taxi, the traffic was heavy and slow moving often stationary at times. I had repeatedly seen the driver of the car in front check his mirrors and manouver to ensure he prevented me from easily passing on his left. I wasn't in a rush and in only 6 weeks of riding I've already come to expect this in heavy traffic. As we're crawling forward and with me trying to perfect my balancing we approach the junction with globe road, from our direction visibilty down this road is good. I see no one waiting to turn in and no one approaching to exit, so seeing that the taxi's rear quater has passed the turning I purposefully checked his indicators and decide I can nip past the *****, ironically I had thought I'd be safer in front where I'd gradually be leaving the guy further and further behind me.

As I leveled with his passenger door my spider senses tingled just before I saw his wheel turn and bonnet lift as he accelerated. I don't know exactly what I did but I know his impact somehow made me highside the bike and both the bike and I flipped into the air.
We separated in the tangle and fell as in 2 heaps on the road, I bounced to my feet and charged back to his car already shouting that he'd done that on f*ing purpose. To add insult to injury the taxi driver was captain smiley I lost count of the amount of times he said sorry (pay attention thats important) whilst all the time maintaining a smug smile.
In my rage from the impact as I ran back towards his car I gave his bumper a serious kick the making my way to his door I tried to put his drivers window through to remove him from the car. in heinsight the pain in my foot suggests his car won that round also and in a blessing his window was been wound down so flex'd as opposed to shattered. At that point I took the opportunity to remove his ignition key, it was it this point the first witness restrained me and escorted me back to my bike and helped me to the footpath. Where a student nurse who also witnessed it had rushed to help in any way she could.

There was much swearing and arguing for the next 5 min until I agreed he could have his keys in exchange for his wallet which would allow him to move his car to a safer location whilst ensuring he didn't do a bunk.
In that time the first witness announced his living as a CPS officer and ensured me he saw everything and I've nothing to worry about.

On his advice I called for the police and ambulance who both attended, the ambulance crew were fantastic. Checked me over and calmed me right down, the first res ponder agreed to remain at scene to ensure the taxi driver didn't leave until the police arrived.
I'm very pro police, and I've supported them endlessly on here when things have been mentioned but why is it that when ever I actually need an officer they're always a *****? He didn't make the greatest first impression with his open mouthed chewing of gum and his "I'm here now let me handle this" persona. But any officer who opens with "what do you say's happened here" whilst looking disapprovingly at you needs to really think about what service they're meant to be providing.
The guy clearly couldn't be bothered to deal with it and just wanted to go off and save the world for as highly as he thought of himself.
He never once let me finish describing the events, interrupting with meaningless lose lose statemented questions such as "so if you're on a motorbike approaching a junction is it safe to undertake another vehicle"
For a million reasons officer no its not safe, but I'm not on a motorcycle NOR were we approaching a junction NOR was he another moving vehicle.
Didnt matter what I said he just repeated the key words which suited his opinion rather than my version of events. I tried without joy to explain its was a line of traffic, he'd passed the junction so much so that his vehicle has stopped just as much on the wrong side of his exit road as the correct. That was also before considering his lack of use of indicators and his earlier **** blocking road positions. It didn't change a thing, the officer replied with those same key words, approaching and moving traffic to which I conceded.
I knew it wasn't going anywhere, nor was it getting me home any quicker, a journey which I'd not yet worked out how I was to complete.

In the end I agreed I'd exchange details with the driver and that the police would serve no further part.. exactly what the officer wanted from before he arrived.

Outside and now back with the driver and the car I'm shown its suffered no damage, the review of my push bike is not so straight forward. Bent bits and bobs a busted back tyre and a rough estimate of damage by myself of £200. The officer insists we have each others details and we have 5 minutes to resolve it either at the road side or call our insurance companies (advising me I can claim through my household policy). At this point the driver looking at my bike points out all the damage is from hitting the road, confused I asked the relevance of his observation to which he replied "thats when I saw you, you were in the road" I said so you pretend to have not seen me at all now, not even when you hit me? Then despite his previous appolgies for the collision he now insists there was no collision. I just about cried as I felt the final rug been pulled from under me, I called the officer back over but before I had chance to tell him the driver began to insist we sort it here and now, which I was hoping for but not yet ready to propose.
His offer was £40 followed by "ebay ebay ebay" I looked at the officer who did nothing, I reiterated the £200 and said you've just offered me 20% of that!
I asked his excess, he said its zero... riiiiiite! He then offered £50 the officer this time looked at me as though to say just take it.

I reluctantly accepted having during this exchange had chance to see the wheels span freely and other than a puncture and a bent brake lever the bike was fine.

As it transpires I've got the bike home and its been fixed up better than before as now I've finally sorted my clicking gears out too. So other than the inconvenience of it I've ended up with £50 which wouldn't be so bad had I not kicked his bloody car. I've got numerous cuts and bruises but the most painful thing is my foot which is my own stupid bloody fault entirely.

So lesson learnt the hard way, never ever ever ever "nip past a *****" always keep them in front and yourself out of their path.

[Geodude]

What an anus and what a daft thing to do to a soft bodied cyclist, glad you're not to badly hurt owenski.

[andrewsmith]

S**T Matt

Get yourself sorted mate. BMW driver by any chance?

Merc C220 "the exceutive way to take down cyclists"

[pookie]

I'm sure karma will work its way round to mr taxi driver sooner rather than later.

planet x have a mega sale on at the moment .. time for some retail therapy

Stocked up on my sis energy stuff and some cheap lights

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/c/q/...ouse_clearance

Glad to hear you're o.k(ish) Matt, how are you feeling today once the adrenaline has worn off? Is it worth writing a letter to his taxi company informing them of the situation?

[maviczap]

Glad you're ok Matt, I had a van turn in front of me at traffic lights the other day & I was ahead of him, I didn't even know until he turned in front of me.

Anyway you're one of those stupid cyclists

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-22639720

[pookie]

yep and one of those that dont pay " road tax " ..

I must remember to check my rear mirror to assess the situation from the comfort of my car to ascertain if the accident was bad enough for me to get out.

[maviczap]

Yes, poor little dear has had such a hard time of it