Cyclists...

[Flip Martian]

I hit one yesterday...or rather I hit his back wheel...or rather the Camaro hit his back wheel...

Coming out of my road is a T junction. Look right, nothing, look left...4x4 about 100 yards away....let her go, move forward, stop bloody quickly as a cyclist comes out of nowhere and swerves to avoid the Camaro's nose. Camaro catches the rear wheel which flies up in the air momentarily bringing the cyclist to a halt - fortunately he didn't fall off (no helmet).

Failed to look right again, didn't I? Visibility is good from the junction for some way that way so having seen nothing I didn't think anything short of a TGV (oops sorry, car forum! er... Viper?!) would really be fast enough to have caused a problem. Somehow he must have been in a blindspot at the point I had initially turned my head. Silly me, should have looked right again - usually do but no real excuse.

He moved over to the far pavement while I reversed and parked up. Went over to see if he was ok, he was rather agitated (as well he might be) but totally fine. His back wheel was almost folded in 2 though (what the hell do they make them out of? Tissue paper?!) and the gear cogs were knackered.

I offered to pay for the damage - he immediately started to make noises about a new bike. In some respects I could see why he might try it on - it had seen MANY better days...the pump was gaffa taped on to the cross bar for example. Very tatty. Got him calmed down when I made it clear I'd pay for the damage but from what I could see it was ONLY the back wheel and gear cogs that were damaged - and I was NOT paying for a new bike.

So we go back to his house round the corner to sort out addresses and how he's getting the bike repaired...and his dad and brother come out (they all seem to live in the one council house despite both sons being in their 30s at a guess) and make noises about "new bike". I said no - and got threatened with them getting the police, who would do me for dangerous driving (laughable), unless I paid for a new bike. In the end I said, "fine, go on then!" and that was all it took for them to back down. The guy who's bike it was actually kept very quiet at this point so hopefully he thought they were being as stupid as I did...

We left it that I agreed (as I said I would) that I'd pay for the damage and had the quote and I'll pay that when its ready. 2 points really...

1. Always remember to look again when you pull out at at T junctions, however well you know the road (I've lived there 3 years) - you just never know. If he'd been a yard further forward when I pulled out, he'd have gone flying over the bonnet. Really not funny; especially without a helmet. And the 4x4 driver had seen it and offered herself as a witness.

2. Human nature stinks. Some people always seem to be on the make. Fair enough, they're obviously not well off (despite the nice big Sony plasma screen in the front room...) but trying to get someone to pay 200 quid out for a new bike to replace one which is worth probably not much more than 30 quid tbh is really taking the mickey. As much as I hate confrontations, I hate being taken for a mug more. I think they saw my attempts at reasonableness as some sort of weakness. They were wrong...

Oh, and for anyone wondering...the Camaro had not even a tyre smudge.

[Andy]

Thats pretty naff. They do just appear out of nowhere and always seem to do their damdest to make it difficult to predict their next move!

I'd say for everyone thats been knocked off but incidents of someone not looking, theres probably 10 who have cycled knowingly through a red light thinking buggery to whoever else is driving.

They unfortunately will always come off worse, I would say his attitude stinks. Fair enough you caused the damage and offered to pay for it, but asking for a new bike. There are limits to fairness, and threatening with the police. Thats a cheek!

[F Body]

Quoting: Flip Martian

but trying to get someone to pay 200 quid out for a new bike to replace one which is worth probably not much more than 30 quid tbh

Well just a word of caution, it's cheaper to buy a £70 mountain bike then it is to buy a chain and a set of gears

I buy a new bike every 18 months or so and it seems such a waste, but the price of spare parts makes cheap bikes disposable

If my bike got damaged I'd be more bothered about how I was going to get round town and to work etc

[Gator]

Quoting: F Body

If my bike got damaged I'd be more bothered about how I was going to get round town and to work etc

um a car

[F Body]

Quoting: Gator

um a car

Well assuming that you don't have two cars and a motorcycle like me you'd be pretty stuffed !

NB : Round town a push bike is a lot faster, you can park anywhere and it helps to keep you fit  

[Flip Martian]

Quoting: F Body

Well just a word of caution, it's cheaper to buy a £70 mountain bike then it is to buy a chain and a set of gears

Mad, innit? The quote was just over 100 quid. The bike was a racing bike but really old, as I said. Having said that, the wheels, gears and chain etc were in good nick - it was the frame which had seen better days.

At the end of the day it was a kick in my pants with no serious consequences thankfully. I like to think I'm a pretty safe driver but obviously no room for complacency...

[daveyboy]

i dislike cyclists.

i was speaking to a fit bird in a night club and asked her would she like to come back to my place.
she said she could,nt because she was on her menstrual cycle.

i said " thats ok, you can put it in the back of my van"

[art b]

[FUBAR]

Quoting: F Body

Round town a push bike is a lot faster, you can park anywhere and it helps to keep you fit

Yep, especially in MK where you don't have to use the roads  It always puzzles me when you see cyclists on the Grid Roads in MK... they literally have NO reason to be there.

I've been cycling to work every day for the last 10 years pretty much and honestly I enjoy it (except when its wet then it just has to be done )
its the only daily excercise I get & probably does me a world of good, counteracts the Beer & Pies LOL

[cuban pete]

I cycle 35 miles a week.........still can't say i enjoy it

[FUBAR]

I cycle somewhere between 15 & 25 miles a week depending on where I go at the weekends, in the summer its fantastic, there's nothing for relaxing after a day at work like cycling home through the park & stopping off at the beacon hill or duck pond for a few mins on the way

mental note... fix front brake this evening...

[FUBAR]

Quoting: FUBAR

mental note... fix front brake this evening...

Done seems it needed new pads... they old ones were a little, um worn...

[ianjpage]

lol too much hard work they done then hehe

[art b]

Quoting: yoda

lol too much hard work they done then hehe

[philoldsmobile]

Quoting: F Body

Well assuming that you don't have two cars and a motorcycle like me you'd be pretty stuffed !

NB : Round town a push bike is a lot faster, you can park anywhere and it helps to keep you fit

agreed, a car is a complete dead loss around town, on my comute home, i have to go right through the middle of bedford at rush hour. on the beyatch it takes 45 mins, in the car it takes longer than that to even get through the town, you still have 20 miles left!

cycle or motorcycle wins hands down for urban travel.

[VIPER]

No crash hat.. Thought it was law on a push bike now????

Glad its nothing more serious..



Hey Phill ....White van is faster LOL!!!!!!!

[cuban pete]

crash helmet is not required by law , at least not yet .

  i'm a huge believer that if you want to wear one , fine . if you don't , also fine

[Fieldy]

I still ride BMX's