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2008-05-03 12:30 AM

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Master
3019
20001000
West Jordan, UT
Subject: Joined the club nobody wants to join

First bike commute of the year and I get hit by a car!!!  I'm zipping along at 20mph and some crazy lady makes a left turn right in front of me   I managed to brake slightly and turn to the side so the impact wasn't so bad.  I ended up doing some funky spin flip over the car,  bounced off the trunk and landed on my feet! I think I will have some bruises in the morning, but no blood/road rash at all.    My bike is only 6-7 weeks old, so that was my first concern when I realized I could walk.  The handlebars were pushed out of alignment, but after adjusting that it seems fine.  I rode the remaining 9 miles home OK, but I am taking it in for an integrity check tommorow.  Of course, I couldn't have done this on my old bike!!  Not sure if I am going to continue bike commuting.  There's too much traffic at that time of day.    Oh, and a nice nurse stopped and made sure I was OK, so at least I know there are some nice people out there in the world. 

Be careful out there guys/gals. 



2008-05-03 1:01 AM
in reply to: #1379419

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Expert
938
50010010010010025
Orange County, California
Subject: RE: Joined the club nobody wants to join
Sorry to hear about the crash.

Really glad you were not seriously hurt.

Hope you got the ladies insurance company info.

You may be needing new bike parts.

Have the bike checked out to make sure there are no hairline frame fractures.

Hate to have you riding at 20 mph and have the fork fall off, or the top tube snap on you.
2008-05-03 1:28 AM
in reply to: #1379419

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Veteran
499
100100100100252525
El Segundo, CA
Subject: RE: Joined the club nobody wants to join

Sorry to hear about the crash- hopefully the bike's fine and you don't suffer and ill after-effects. At least you got a new story to tell .

2008-05-03 3:10 AM
in reply to: #1379419

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Expert
841
50010010010025
Trinity, Florida
Subject: RE: Joined the club nobody wants to join
Just FYI...use the insurance money to get a new bike. I once worked a fatality involving the front forks snapping which resulted in the rider breaking his neck and dying. Better safe than sorry.

Also glad to hear you landed on your feet. Truly cat-like.

2008-05-03 4:52 AM
in reply to: #1379419

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Champion
10154
500050001002525
Alabama
Subject: RE: Joined the club nobody wants to join

Wow, landed on your feet?!   I think you are becoming your avatar!  :-)

 

~Mike

2008-05-03 9:17 AM
in reply to: #1379419

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Elite
2423
2000100100100100
Subject: RE: Joined the club nobody wants to join
You never mentioned anything about the lady, she drive away? Get mad at you? Feel sorry?


2008-05-03 9:38 AM
in reply to: #1379419

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Expert
1014
1000
Virginia
Subject: RE: Joined the club nobody wants to join
yikes, glad you are okay!  this is the reason that i don't think i'll ever commute to work.  it's not very far, but there is so much traffic and nobody here and people jump lanes w/o looking too much.  glad the nurse stopped, that was really cool of her.
2008-05-03 10:27 AM
in reply to: #1379419

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Master
2202
2000100100
St. Louis
Subject: RE: Joined the club nobody wants to join
That sucks! But I was expecting way worse! Glad tot hear you are ok!!! Is her insurance paying for a new bike?
2008-05-03 12:48 PM
in reply to: #1379419

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over a barrier
Subject: RE: Joined the club nobody wants to join
Hope you filed a police report....
2008-05-03 2:43 PM
in reply to: #1379419

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Expert
706
500100100
Spring (Houston), TX
Subject: RE: Joined the club nobody wants to join

Club nobody wants to join, I thought you were going to say Amway.

Glad you're OK. If her insurance will do it, get a new bike. Don't risk an undetectible crack that leads to something bad later on.

2008-05-03 3:09 PM
in reply to: #1379419

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Champion
5781
5000500100100252525
Northridge, California
Subject: RE: Joined the club nobody wants to join
Wow, glad you're okay...

Hope my wife doesn't read this thread...she had two separate incidents during our ride today while she was leading of pickup trucks cutting in front of her with left turns where she had to hit the brakes hard. After the second one she was so steamed she wanted to not ride anymore...which would have been a problem, since we were 11 miles from home. This story would definitely throw gas on that smoldering fire...


2008-05-03 4:58 PM
in reply to: #1379419

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Expert
937
50010010010010025
Traverse Cityish
Subject: RE: Joined the club nobody wants to join
Yikes! Joined that club myself just before thanksgiving last year, left hand turn like you. I got a Labrum tear for my efforts and a new BMC tri bike.

BTW, I totally agree with PhatNLazy, if you have anything carbon on that bike, replace it. Aluminum will bend, carbon will shatter. It can be cracked and you won't even know it.

Super glad to hear you fared well and learned what I now know well. Theonly way that left had turn person is really going to stop is if another car is going through the intersection with you. If you plan on going through solo, slow down and get ready, every now and then they are not going to see you.
2008-05-03 6:43 PM
in reply to: #1379419

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Member
239
10010025
Apex, NC
Subject: RE: Joined the club nobody wants to join
That's a pretty bad club. I hope the lady stopped and you got the insurance information.

Other clubs you don't want to join:

Bike on roof rack when you pull into the garage.
Have a bike crash while riding the trainer.
2008-05-03 9:04 PM
in reply to: #1379559

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Master
3019
20001000
West Jordan, UT
Subject: RE: Joined the club nobody wants to join

aarondavidson - 2008-05-03 8:17 AM You never mentioned anything about the lady, she drive away? Get mad at you? Feel sorry?

She stopped and didn't really say anything.  I don't think she knew what to do.   I got her contact info and the phone # of a witness, but I did not get any insurance info.   I probably should have called the police, but I was in shock and just amazed I was not hurt so I didn't really think about it. 

I keep thinking about the randomness of things today.  Imagine if I had ridden .2 mph faster or slower, I would not have been hit.  I guess If I was .2 seconds faster I might have got completely run over too. 

Bike is in the shop over the weekend, getting a full tune and inspection.  If anything is broken, I'll try to get some money from the lady to replace it.  This lady didn't look like someone who is going to have enough money to buy me a new bike or even cover her deductible. 



Edited by tkbslc 2008-05-03 9:08 PM
2008-05-04 12:50 AM
in reply to: #1379419

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Expert
841
50010010010025
Trinity, Florida
Subject: RE: Joined the club nobody wants to join
Too many times people are involved in crashes and only exchange names and numbers. No police report means limited info and its a he said she said problem. I hope she is willing to provide insurance info. You can explain to her it is cheeper to cover the cost of a new bike since a claim might increase her insurance. More in the long run. Good luck and once again glad you are still in one piece.

2008-05-04 9:39 AM
in reply to: #1379419

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Extreme Veteran
498
100100100100252525
Carpinteria, Ca.
Subject: RE: Joined the club nobody wants to join
Some places the police won't come to the scene if there are no injuries, like Santa Barbara for instance.

Glad you are ok, but it is not your concern if she has trouble with money, she hit you and this is an insurance issue. My father had a guy working for him that had a similar accident once, hit the side of a car and flipped over and felt fine, actually continued commuting to work. Next day his wife called, he couldn't get out of bed and she called an ambulance to help move him because she couldn't, and didn't want to hurt him more.

He broke his back. Not everything is immediatly evident.

Hope you are truly ok.


2008-05-04 9:52 AM
in reply to: #1379419

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Regular
106
100
Wilmington, NC
Subject: RE: Joined the club nobody wants to join
Glad to hear you are OK. People just don't realize that it is possible for that guy wearing spandex to ride just as fast as traffic. I had that happen 4 times during my 2 rides this weekend. Two of them weren't that bad but i was forced to slow down considerably. One of them I had to swerve into the lane to avoid hitting them, thank god there was no traffic and the ohter one I had to stop completely. The worst part about it was they just looked at me like I was crazy.
2008-05-04 4:21 PM
in reply to: #1379419

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Master
1914
1000500100100100100
Finally north of the Mason-Dixon Line
Subject: RE: Joined the club nobody wants to join
OMG - glad you're ok and the bike will hopefully survive to be ridden again. 
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