It happened AGAIN!!

**Sycophant** · 12th July 2007, 16:26

On the way to work down the Onewa Road transit lane this morning, a cager, presumably tired of waiting in slow traffic pulls into my lane about 30-40m ahead of my. I react, and panic a little, try to emergency brake, but there's no hope really - my wheels lock, and I drop the bike (on the right side, AGAIN) and end up sliding 50m down the road.

They didn't even slow down. Presumably if he didn't see me coming up behind him in the left lane, then he was unlikely to see me sliding along behind him either.

The woman behind him in the other lane stopped, and gave me her details and his plate, so tomorrow I will be reporting the incident at the police station.

After three hours in A&E it was been decided I have soft tissue damage to my left wrist and right shoulder, and a graze on my right knee. Bike is once again missing right front indicator, right foot peg and has a bent brake pedal. And I've ruined another pair of jeans - I really should invest in better pants.

I'm normally pretty alert to people on that road, but this guy didn't show his hand - and I had actually clocked him beforehand, but he wasn't indicating, or head checking, or turning his wheels, looked like he was planning to stay where he was.

**kiwifruit** · 12th July 2007, 16:30

i hope you aren't in pain

**ManDownUnder** · 12th July 2007, 16:31

Bummer dude... but it does sound like you need some practice emergency braking....

Owning the road too... don't let the bastards push you around. You're as entitled to that tarmac as they are... just ride it instead of rubbing yourself on it.

MDU over and under

**Sycophant** · 12th July 2007, 16:36

Not too much pain, although typing is a little painful (good thing for a computer programmer!).

My braking wasn't too bad, I've managed to stop nice and short of a few other occasions, but this guy was slow and close, and I just dig it in. It's a bummer, but I feel confident I wasn't at fault - I ma have been able to come out better off, but it could easily have been worse. The woman behind was convinced I must have hit him, apparently I came very close.

I normally ride about 40-50 in that lane, and on the left, as people often change into it, and turn right from the other side through the stopped right lane.. It's a downright scary road in the wet sometimes. There's two intersections near the bottom that are especially hairy - I've seen two bike accidents at one of them.

**Kflasher** · 12th July 2007, 16:38

That sux dude.

**Holy Roller** · 12th July 2007, 16:38

I'm glad it wasn't more serrious and that you are OK. The bike can be fixed again but please invest in some leather, for under $100 one can pickup a half decent pr of leather trou. I do not like Onewa Rd but have to ride to visit my mum. Try turning right into Aorangi Pl, great practice for hill starts

during rush hour often go to the top and turn around there. Glad I left that rat race.

**bert_is_evil** · 12th July 2007, 16:59

Bad news! Hope you mend quickly
You should definitely invest in some leather, pretty lucky to get away with a graze.

**Krayy** · 12th July 2007, 17:03

Hope you're not in too much pain. Bloody cagers.

Send a PM to WarlockNZ and get yourself a Stebel horn. That'll let the bastards know you're there

**Grahameeboy** · 12th July 2007, 17:10

Sure you don't mean feet only 30-40 metres is 90 - 120 feet so not sure what the car did wrong.

Sorry, I am sorry you had an accident and glad you are okay, however, someone has to stump up and raise this....

**Sycophant** · 12th July 2007, 17:15

Originally Posted by Grahameeboy

Sure you don't mean feet only 30-40 metres is 90 - 120 feet so not sure what the car did wrong.

Sorry, I am sorry you had an accident and glad you are okay, however, someone has to stump up and raise this....

You're probably right really. I do suck at quantifying distance... It was about 1 and a bit car lengths, because I was just behind and to the left of the car behind him.

**The Stranger:Me** · 12th July 2007, 17:16

Originally Posted by Sycophant

On the way to work down the Onewa Road transit lane this morning, a cager, presumably tired of waiting in slow traffic pulls into my lane about 30-40m ahead of my. I react, and panic a little, try to emergency brake, but there's no hope really - my wheels lock, and I drop the bike (on the right side, AGAIN) and end up sliding 50m down the road.

Fark, what speed were you doing.
I have seen noobs stop in <8m from 50kph.

This does raise some serious issues.
1) You were going waaaay too fast for the conditions.
2) You really should get to RRRS on Sunday.
3) Exactly how long did you tell you GF your dick was?

**sAsLEX** · 12th July 2007, 17:19

Originally Posted by Grahameeboy

Sure you don't mean feet only 30-40 metres is 90 - 120 feet so not sure what the car did wrong.

Sorry, I am sorry you had an accident and glad you are okay, however, someone has to stump up and raise this....

umm from what he said the car turned into another lane without indicating or checking to see if traffic was coming.......

Do you do this with your daughter in the car and hope 120 feet is enough for a vehicle moving at pace to stop?

**sAsLEX** · 12th July 2007, 17:21

and braking is not always the answer.

Was he fully over to the left of your lane? Was the footpath clear? Could you of juiced it through the gap? Just things to think/analyse about your crash.

I used to lane split allot at pace and the throttle was often better at avoiding trouble than the brake!

**Grahameeboy** · 12th July 2007, 17:40

Originally Posted by Sycophant

You're probably right really. I do suck at quantifying distance... It was about 1 and a bit car lengths, because I was just behind and to the left of the car behind him.

Sounds better..........yeah that happens a lot over here and you probably did well in the circumstances but keep riding.

I look for head movements, hand movements and even a car going quickly, sometimes a sign of a gap jumper

**Grahameeboy** · 12th July 2007, 17:42

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

umm from what he said the car turned into another lane without indicating or checking to see if traffic was coming.......

Do you do this with your daughter in the car and hope 120 feet is enough for a vehicle moving at pace to stop?

at 30mph the stopping distance is 45 feet so 120 feet does not seem too bad if traffic is moving still......anyway see last post