Cyclists cause an accident :(

**beyond** · 26th August 2006, 18:23

What do you do?

My mate Jason owns a CBR600 and sometimes we ride together. Today we left Clevedon and headed out to do the Kaiuau loop and then back through Hunua.

We don't normally muck about, but just before Kawakawa bay as you are heading up the hill before you drop down to the bay, we are coming around a blind right hander, I'm out front and the next minute three racing cyclists are taking up the entire side of their side of the road heading towards us on the corner apex. That's not so bad until you consider the tosser, with his family in the car, who is overtaking them at around 90kmh on our side of the road, on the blind corner.

Never had the chance to get an adrenaline rush, or panic as it would have been an immediate head on. Instinct alone had me flicking the front brake to immediately stand the 1400 up. Knowing my cornering line was now buggered, I dropped her in hard right again, brushed the shoulder and managed to keep her on the road. Jason following, still doesn't know how I missed the prick.

He wasn't so lucky. He swung left to avoid a high speed head on, but didn't manage to get his bike back down into the corner and shot of the shoulder.
I was checking him in the rearview mirrors and he looked like he would pull it off (does Motocross) he was snaking and sliding for about 90 metres in the gravel, dirt then hit a patch of mud and his front washed out at around 40-50kmh.

He was covered in crap but wasn't hurt, thankfully. His bike has a smashed right front fairing, in about 12 small bits and plenty of scratches. The car and the cyclists never stopped and went on oblivious?????

In hindsite, I should have chased the prick in the car and got his details so at least someone would be paying for the damage.

While on the side of the road, the 250 riders club came past and many of them slowed or stopped to help out including Spankme. Thank's guys.

I got Jasons fairing remains in my back pack and we carried on, meeting the 250 riders club at the fisheries. Was good to catch up with them and have a yarn.

BUT, what can be done about these dodgy cyclists taking up the whole lane on blind corners and country roads?? Worse, the idiots that try and overtake them on blind corners need shooting.

**marty** · 26th August 2006, 18:29

so cyclists at what, 70km/h cant user enough rd to stay safe?

i'd suggest that instead of blaming the cyclists, it was a combination of you 'not mucking about', the cyclists using the road, and the smacker in the car overtaking - and if that overtaking wasn't happening, then you would have ridden right by.

what of it was a tractor doing 40km/h using the whole road and on a blind corner?

it's the old 'it's not my fault' mentality. take some responsibility ffs

**twinkle** · 26th August 2006, 18:35

It doesn't sound like the accident was anything to do with the cyclists, taking up the whole road or not there is no excuse for overtaking on a blind corner. Wouldn't mind seeing that driver lose his license and be charged

**jazbug5** · 26th August 2006, 18:37

Sorry Marty, but that's mince.

Whatever speed they were doing (and I doubt it was 70) I doubt they were ever going to be going fast enough not to interrupt the flow of traffic. Yes, fair enough, the guy who got frustrated enough to overtake on a blind corner was principally in the wrong (and is a cretin)... but the cyclists should have known it could happen if they selfishly hogged the road like that.

Well done Beyond for saving it- and what a pain for your mate, but thank It Oopstairs he's ok.

**twinkle** · 26th August 2006, 18:43

Well they were going uphill, so the cyclists must have been coming down. I've got up to 94km on my bike downhill, with restricted gearing.

**sAsLEX** · 26th August 2006, 18:46

no need for them to be three wide though is there marty! That just pushes cars further into the oppossing lane when they overtake causing accidents such as this one!

**hXc** · 26th August 2006, 18:48

Those cyclists should immediately be charged for not obeying the road rules. 3 abreast is completely illegal! I'm not saying that they were completely in the wrong, but they should get hit hard.

Glad you and your mate are okay, but shame about his bike.

**WINJA** · 26th August 2006, 18:49

I Hope The Cunt Drives His Car Under An Oncoming Truck Next Time , Hopefully With His Family In The Car , Thatll Learn The Cunt, Im Sick Of Wankers Like That

**Drum** · 26th August 2006, 18:50

I blame the Labour government.

**Steam** · 26th August 2006, 18:51

See it from the cyclist's point of view; it's safer for them to take up the whole lane, because then stupid cagers don't try to sqeeze past in their lane and accidentally push the cyclists off the road, or hit their handlebars on the way past. (It has happened to me.) The cagers have to wait a bit till it's safe to pass.
It's not selfish hogging of the road, it's a survival strategy. Frustrating for people behind them true, but I don't begrudge them their tactics. Lots of safe cycling organisations recommend it.

The only thing more hated by cagers than motorbikes are pushbikes.

**Steam** · 26th August 2006, 18:56

Originally Posted by hXc

Those cyclists should immediately be charged for not obeying the road rules. 3 abreast is completely illegal!

No, I don't think it's illegal. Certainly 2 abreast isn't. They are entitled to a whole lane, just like everybody else. Look it up. That's why when the Critical Mass cyclists block rush-hour traffic, the cops can't do much. They shouldn't unreasonably obstruct trafic tho, that's true.

[edit] Ok, I looked it up, 2 is ok but three abreast is illegal, but ok in a formal road-race situation.

**GIXser** · 26th August 2006, 19:00

Originally Posted by WINJA

I Hope The Cunt Drives His Car Under An Oncoming Truck Next Time , Hopefully With His Family In The Car , Thatll Learn The Cunt, Im Sick Of Wankers Like That

better still "take out the cyclists at the same time,,, i dont mind the cunts,""!!!!but not three abreast" thats asking for trouble!!!

**marty** · 26th August 2006, 19:03

considering some of us can do 70k on the flat, 70 downhill is not hard.

what if it was 3 learner motorcyclists doing 70km/h on the open road, out on a learner ride, staggered 2 abreast with one close behind? would it then be the L motorcyclists fault?