The dangers of long sweeping corners and cyclists

[Lil_Byte]

Well today was my first major bin. I was travelling between the Arrow junction and Lakes Hayes, for those who know the area. I was half way through a long sweeping corner travelling at a good steady 100 kph when a cyclist who I saw ahead stopped and proceeded to do a U turn in front of me he looked up just as I hit him. I was committed to my line and straightened up and tried to ride around him as there was no chance of braking in the distance I had. I clened out his front wheel and then proceeded to hit th deck myself.

I got up alright myself and headed back into the road to check him as he was in a heap in the middle of the road. He was breathing but unconciouss. Stopped cars and the rest is history.

The cyclist will live but has a few broken bones. I have grazes and a broken wrist. Thank god for good gear.

The bike is hurt, I haven't seen it properly as the police recovered it for me. My riding gear is stuffed, but it did what it was supposed to.

Just be careful on those bends we all love out there. :done:

[topher]

You're sounding remarkably calm considering the trauma, physical and mental, you've just been through. Could have been a much worse outcome though, good to hear you're OK. Hope the bike's repairable. Does the pushbiker have third party insurance?...

[crashe]

shite mate... glad to hear that you are ok......

Is the cops gonna charge the cyclist?

[Grahameeboy]

shite mate... glad to hear that you are ok......

Is the cops gonna charge the cyclist?

Would he get a licence conviction though. He is a road user like all of us should be open to same rules and if he has a licence he should get pinged....or it gets held until he does.

If he has contents Insurance then he is insured.

[oldrider]

You really have to watch out along that stretch of road, people seem to think they are the only ones in the world and are liable to do any goddamn thing without warning!
Bloody bad luck on the bike side but bloody good luck that you didn't sustain life threatening injuries.
You should be able to get a lift to the KB ride in at the shearers quarters at Rugged Ridges in December, if you can go.
No need to miss out just because you bent your bike!
Keep in touch. Cheers John.

[sunhuntin]

*holds tongue*

damn...what a total bitch of a thing to happen! glad you came off ok....bike to be seen to yet. hopefully the damage isnt too bad.

[Mr. Peanut]

Excellent effort on your part. There could have been 2 deaths today were it not for your quick action.

You have my respect.

[onearmedbandit]

Damn, sorry to hear that mate, but glad you're okay. Good warning, but it's hard to ride sometimes like there's a dickhead around the next bend just waiting to take you out. Hopefully the cyclist pulls through ok so he can face the charges.

[sAsLEX]

Would he get a licence conviction though. He is a road user like all of us should be open to same rules and if he has a licence he should get pinged....or it gets held until he does.

If he has contents Insurance then he is insured.

You can get done for DIC on a push bike I have heard so cant see why it would not apply to other charges

[gijoe1313]

Crapola :gob: Well done for trying to avoid a greater collision and thank gosh no-one was killed. Glad to hear you kit did it's job and you're able to post! Let's hope the cyclist pulls through okay too - now it's going to be a round of bother for you as stories are compared and the cops/insurance start to assign responsibility :sick:

Hope you get your ride back on the road soon!

[Lil_Byte]

I have no idea on what the status of insurances and stuff are from the cyclists point.
The cop was bloody good though - has indicated that I am not at fault and the only witness has indicated that when I passed him I was sensible ond not caning it. I passed after we came out of a T intersection and I had been following him sedatley for quite a while before I passed safely.

He came around the corner I pranged on as I was skidding across the road.

Looking at the accident scene crash marekings by the police seem to put the point of impact just on the RHS of the centre line so it all looks promising from a who is to blame scenario.

It just shows though that you need to be careful. I know the patch of road well and know there are no hidden exits so never anticipated any problems, but you never know what is around the corner.

The best feeling of the lot though is knowing the other guy is not in danger. he will be bloody sore but it was better his front wheel was hit than me taking him square in the middle.

[Dadpole]

At least you managed to clip the prick. If you had binned it without touching him, he would probably moan on about "the killer biker" and high speed being at fault.

[TonyB]

Not good. This is turning into a bit of a crap weekend in terms of bad news. Glad to hear you're OK, and that the cyclist should be ok too. One thing though- don't just assume that because you were in the right it will turn out OK. Speaking from experience here...

[Motu]

I had a close call with a couple of cyclists on the Kaipara 200 - I saw them up ahead two abreast and moved out to the centreline to give them plenty of room...and then they turned on me!!! I was locked up sideways and giving as much front brake as I could,it was looking a bloody nasty event with arms and legs and handle bars.As I pulled out all the stops of my experiance to save ourselves bearing down on these guys with howling tyres.....one of them gives me a big smile and a wave! Oh Jesus wept,I give up.Surely these guys drive cars and know the road rules,what the hell do they think when the get on a pushbike everyone has to give way to them?

[Silage]

As Oldrider said, if you are not too sore, see if you can get a ride up to Otematata for the KB gathering in Dec. I was hoping there could be another GS there so they don't all keep going on about the scratches on mine but it would seem that is not going to be the case. Good to hear that you are OK - and your typing is impecable with one hand.

Be good to catch up with you if you can make it tho. Maybe prove there is one sane biker from Arrowtown.

[Lil_Byte]

As Oldrider said, if you are not too sore, see if you can get a ride up to Otematata for the KB gathering in Dec. I was hoping there could be another GS there so they don't all keep going on about the scratches on mine but it would seem that is not going to be the case. Good to hear that you are OK - and your typing is impecable with one hand.

Be good to catch up with you if you can make it tho. Maybe prove there is one sane biker from Arrowtown.

Who said anything about me being sane.

And as for my typing it is just as good with 2 hands

[sunhuntin]

I had a close call with a couple of cyclists on the Kaipara 200 - I saw them up ahead two abreast and moved out to the centreline to give them plenty of room...and then they turned on me!!! I was locked up sideways and giving as much front brake as I could,it was looking a bloody nasty event with arms and legs and handle bars.As I pulled out all the stops of my experiance to save ourselves bearing down on these guys with howling tyres.....one of them gives me a big smile and a wave! Oh Jesus wept,I give up.Surely these guys drive cars and know the road rules,what the hell do they think when the get on a pushbike everyone has to give way to them?

yep, i found myself surrounded today. nothin but a poxy little sign [in amongst the support vehicles] that said "cycle race" well, duh, theyre all over the road! i slowed down for a cyclist that was ahead of me, riding bang on top of the white line with a parked van. i slowed to allow him to get past the van, and then move left so i could go by. think he moved left? nup. right. i had to move, not him. tosser. thats what ya get for bein generous.

[heyjoe]

Lil_byte,

Sorry to hear about your prang man. Glad you are not seriously hurt. I hope the cyclist learns something from this and is able to tell others to check the way is clear before turning.

Take it easy.

[Unforgiven]

Never a good thing to hear about. Glad you are ok. Hes very lucky you only cliped him.
Be shure to post the outcome of any charges or anything, Id be intrested to know if someone on a pushbike can get charged with driving offences.

[Sniper]

Bugger mate. Glad to hear you are alright.

[Grahameeboy]

we often forget that cyclists are cagers so will ride the same.

I find that cyclist move then look rather than look before moving and generally have a arrogant view that they rule the road....but then of course they are also cagers so figures I guess...........I mean how many cyclists do you see ride through red lights........it's a training ground for cagers..do ya reckon.

I bet ya that bikers who are cylists ride with more care?

[Grahameeboy]

You can get done for DIC on a push bike I have heard so cant see why it would not apply to other charges

You'd reckon eh? I mean they do not need a licence or pay ACC levys as a road user so should be up for something.

[slimjim]

well thank fucking christ i ride a heavy cruiser, fucking only cages and Big Trucks, worry her hehe, and those skinney thingee's with things in tight nylon clothing, well least to say if they don't slip into two abreast, then the third prick who's on the outside , feels the bump, haha , but yea sorry dude ,you should have been able to go underneath him,?, pity . may next time life give you that skill, good to know you walked away ok

[Mr. Peanut]

It doesn't work that way, humans are rather heavy.

This is why I'm thankful you avoided a head on.

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[crashe]

well I just watched that video clip........
Where the hell were the flags to either slow down or stop the race........ none to be seen to slow down the bikes.....as the accident was right on a corner....... and they seemed to take blardy ages to get back out there after the second crash...... even the marshall's lying on the ground weren't moving.

The first rider's leg didnt look too good as he was crawling off the track...

What race track was that on?

[slimjim]

two good, just goes to show, yup happen's to the best of us, farkew plenty of sore bod's in the morning, however was strong of the rider to rush back out to check on marshal's,

[idb]

Who said anything about me being sane.


I think that comment might have been pointed in my direction.

Your prang must have been about 1230 yesterday?
I heard the fire siren and the appliance take off that way.

[Ruralman]

[QUOTE=Lil_Byte;812399]Well today was my first major bin. I was travelling between the Arrow junction and Lakes Hayes, for those who know the area. I was half way through a long sweeping corner travelling at a good steady 100 kph when a cyclist who I saw ahead stopped and proceeded to do a U turn in front of me he looked up just as I hit him.

Glad to hear you're relatively unscathed but its a bloody pain when something like this happens and you've got to go through all the shit to get you better and your bike back together again.
Just out of interest how quiet is your bike?? - would a noisier exhaust have let the cyclist hear you coming better? (bloody hard for a Harley to sneak up on anyone)

[Lou Girardin]

Psyclists are environmental Gods, they automatically have the right of way in every situation. Hurting them is akin to clubbing baby seals. Shame!

[Lil_Byte]

[Just out of interest how quiet is your bike?? - would a noisier exhaust have let the cyclist hear you coming better? (bloody hard for a Harley to sneak up on anyone)

It has the stock exhaust so it is a bit on the quiets side so not alot of noise - no quieter than the average car. But I think if he had have looked before he moved across the road he might not have moved. I can still see him move across and then look up.

If it had have been a cager traveing the same speed and place as me the guy would have been dead.

And yes idb - the siren at 1230 was for that.

[sunhuntin]

cycle race goin past work as i was finishing. nice, wide cycle lanes all along that area [by the spash center for those familiar]
5 and a half roads empty onto the roundabout thats there....these bloody wankers, as they came up to the roundie to turn left, moved away from the cycle track right to the middle of the road. wtf?
no reason whatsoever to move that far right! ive ridden treadlies for a lot of years [from form 1 up till april last year] and know there is no reason to move that far out! doesnt affect your cornering at all.

[imdying]

The cyclist will live but has a few broken bones.Yeah, I hope from where you kicked the ignorant twat in the ribs.

[scumdog]

Be good to catch up with you if you can make it tho. Maybe prove there is one sane biker from Arrowtown.

Bad luck Lil Byte, sometimes even if you're doing all the right things it can turn to crap eh!

And the other Arrowtown biker has been a tad quiet lately....

[Rashika]

damn...wrong place wrong time.
Hopefully the cyclist IS thanking his lucky stars you were not a car!

Sorry to hear about the crash, i guess it is true that you just dont know what may be on the corner in front of you... must keep reminding myself of that!

Hope you can get it sorted quickly, and you are healing up okay.

[scumdog]

Sorry to hear about the crash, i guess it is true that you just dont know what may be on the corner in front of you... must keep reminding myself of that!

Hence the reason I ride like a nana.:scooter:

[Beemer]

Cyclists, I rest my case!

Glad to hear you aren't too badly injured, but bloody annoying all the same.

[SDU]

buggar, glad you are not badly hurt & the cyclist will live.
Hope you get your bike sorted quickly.

[idb]

You got yourself a short article in today's Southland Times.
The cyclist was a local bloke from Cromwell and the cop confirmed that it looked like his fault.

And don't worry SD, I've been lurking, and circling.............

[Lil_Byte]

Got to see the bike today and there is a remarkable lack of damage.

The fairing will need to be replaced and the mountings straightened slightly and replace some engine covers where it has been ground out on the asphalt.

[jrandom]

Cyclists, I rest my case!

Seriously, woman. Shut up already.


It just shows though that you need to be careful. I know the patch of road well and know there are no hidden exits so never anticipated any problems, but you never know what is around the corner.

Welcome to blind corner paranoia. Broken-down white vans haunt my dreams.

Potential incidents like this one are why I always dismount the pushie and do a pedestrian-cross when necessary on the open road, rather than attempting to U-turn it.

[Swoop]

Yup... there's something to it all right.
I was stopped at a right turn into an entranceway (straight road) and was looking at a constant stream of traffic coming at me. Decided to wait sitting in neutral since it was going to take a while...
Cycle courier on a treddlie comes up behind me and then does a mighty dodge between 2 of the oncoming cages! FAAARK!!!
I was wondering if I would need to get my screwdriver out to get the prick out from between the lumps in the tarseal...
:shit: :thud:

[Mr Skid]

Cycle courier on a treddlie comes up behind me and then does a mighty dodge between 2 of the oncoming cages! FAAARK!!!
Concentrate on them being a courier, not on them being a psyclist.

The more deliveries a courier makes, the more $ they pocket for a given day.

Dodgy stuff allows them to make a delivery quicker.

A motorcycle courier can get away with more dodgy behaviour than a car/van courier.

A psycle courier can get away with more dodgy behaviour than a motorcycle courier.

Thus psycle couriers do lots of dodgy stuff because it lets them make deliveries quicker, and make more money.

To put a psycle courier in the same box as a psycle communter and a person out training on the weekend is as foolhardy as expecting harley riders will wave to sports bikers, and that they will in turn wave to dual sport riders.

You will find 'waving' threads out there on psycling forums, started by mtb'ers talking about how snobby roadies are etc.

Very similar to the insecure blatherings on kb, except sans engines.

[jrandom]

You will find 'waving' threads out there on psycling forums, started by mtb'ers talking about how snobby roadies are etc.

Well, of course. MTBers are a tubby bunch of dope-smoking losers with no fashion sense. Why would we wave to them?

[vifferman]

Whelp, I've experienced hitting the road, a pedestrian, two cars, and a psyclist (not in that order).
All collisions sucked, but thankfully all were at less than 70 km/h.
None of them indicated.
None of them looked before crossing my path.

[Swoop]

Concentrate on them being a courier, not on them being a psyclist..
Damn, I forgot that when I'm riding I'm still a pedestrian. Silly me!

Cyclists are still road users and have to comply with the rules (give way, Stop, etc).

The more deliveries a courier makes, the more $ they pocket for a given day.

Thus psycle couriers do lots of dodgy stuff because it lets them make deliveries quicker, and make more money.
That "courier on a treddlie" might be requiring those earnings to pay for his medical expenses in the future.

You might have missed my point about me being stationary because of zero safe gaps to get a bike through (better acceleration than a pushie as well), yet a courier has the right of way because he is earning money?

[jrandom]

... a courier has the right of way because he is earning money?

Bicycle couriers are insane and have the blessing of the gods.

Give way, ye mortals, and gaze upon the noble visage of madness as they pass.

Seek not to understand.

[Mr Skid]

Cyclists are still road users and have to comply with the rules (give way, Stop, etc).
Yup. Correct.


That "courier on a treddlie" might be requiring those earnings to pay for his medical expenses in the future.
Probably not.
He/she will claim ACC if the medical expenses you're alluding to are the medical expenses I *think* you're alluding to.



You might have missed my point about me being stationary because of zero safe gaps to get a bike through (better acceleration than a pushie as well), yet a courier has the right of way because he is earning money?Nope, I don't think I made any assertion about the moral justification of his course of action.

Personally, I don't care if they starve to death, or their low-tech single speed beaters crumple beneath them.

However I do grow weary of ignorance, jealously, poorly constructed arguments, and jumping-on-of-bandwagons.

[Swoop]

He/she will claim ACC if the medical expenses you're alluding to are the medical expenses I *think* you're alluding to.
The expenses I was imagining, would be those incurred when they turn in front of a vehicle and misjudge their timing.
You were thinking about...?

[jrandom]

... ignorance, jealously, poorly constructed arguments, and jumping-on-of-bandwagons.

I think you mean 'jealousy', 'poorly-constructed', and 'the jumping-on-of-bandwagons'.

Just in case the execrable grammar wasn't intentional.

Cos, you know, I'm all about the details.

And feeling the love. I'm all about that, too. Can you feel the love?

[Mr Skid]

I think you mean 'jealousy', 'poorly-constructed', and 'the jumping-on-of-bandwagons'.

Just in case the execrable grammar wasn't intentional.

Cos, you know, I'm all about the details.

And feeling the love. I'm all about that, too. Can you feel the love?I used to have reasonable spelling until my last head injury.
Something had to give huh?

Oh, yes I can feel the love, thank you very much.
Try not to get it in my eye next time; it stings.

[treefrog]

Fuck bro,sorry to hear.up in auks the bycyclists tend to ride the middle of the road,fuck knows why.arrogance?albany hill sunday mornings,fucken cunts,runem over i say.fucken cunts

[Mr Skid]

up in auks the bycyclists tend to ride the middle of the road,fuck knows why.arrogance?albany hill sunday mornings,fucken cunts,runem over i say.fucken cuntsyeah, sounds as bad as the motorbikers I see riding between the lanes on the motorway up here. I don't know why, arrogance maybe/ I think I'll open my car door on the fucken cunts. Hopefully they will fall off and someone will runem over.

[sAsLEX]

None of them looked before crossing my path.

Even with the Satantunes at full roar and furious melodious tootling?

[slopster]

If the cyclist is a member of a cycle club he should automatically have liability insurance. It would be a bit ironic charging him and taking his licence off him cos he could still ride a pushbike!