Kissed the Tarmac tonight

[zacklaws]

Coming home from work tonight, I came across a group of people stood on the cycle track, so I went onto the road to get round them. Hundred yards further on when there was no traffic about I went wide to get a good angle on the kerb when I turned back in again to get back on the cycle path.

As I approached the edge of the road, indicated by the white line, in total darkness apart from my light illuminating the ground, and got ready to jump up the kerb, I went flying and ended up rolling across the cycle track.

Whilst laid there with the remains of my mudguard, I realised the errors of my ways. There was no white line along the road edge, it was actually on the cycle track about 2 foot away and I had ridden straight into the kerb unexpectantly without warning before I could jump up the kerb.

Problem was caused mainly due to the road being resurfaced and no one has yet put the road markings down and me getting confused. According to my Garmin Edge I walloped the kerb at 13mph at a angle of about 60 degrees when I downloaded all the info

 

[Tynan]

ooof, watching the edge is a real skill and burden sometimes

I recall a tutorial on it for motorcyclists, the author, an instructor had been riding in pouring rain and drak by watching the white line, found himself on his arse because he'd followed the white lione down the exit for a Burger King, his point being to watch the line to the right

hard luck fella, 13mph beats the shoot of 20mph

had a nightmare journey home too, home in one piece but some of the driving was unreal, 3 proper bits of scary dangerous driving, almost totalled by a cop car suddenly deciding to do lights as the lights changed against them and for me plus the usual peds running across the road and through traffic, I'd had enough after ten minutesm, took me an hour fifteen rather than 50 minutes

hows the bike and for that matter you anyway?

 

[mikeyw]

"I kissed the tarmac and i didn't like it...."....catchy

 

[zacklaws]

I'm fine, still laughing about making a cock of myself and repaired the mudguard with a bit of wire till I get time to do a better job.

Should have known better as I had a similar incident earlier this year, when I was on the road going like the clappers from hell, never noticed the white road marking had gone and thought the kerb was it in my periphial vision, and found out the hard way that I never had that safety margin between the white line and the kerb when I drifted in a bit too close. Fortunatley I never came off but it shook me up when I started to rub up against the kerb. The incredible bit was that was on my road bike with a little bit of rain and in broad daylight.

So if I cannot get it right in daytime, well there's no hope for me when the sun goes down

 

[purplepolly]

have you thought about getting a different front light?

 

[Dave5N]

The incredible bit was that was on my road bike with a little bit of rain and in broad daylight.

So if I cannot get it right in daytime, well there's no hope for me when the sun goes down

have you thought about getting a different front light?

Not sure that's the issue.

Glad you're ok. Everyone goes down occasionally. You've got yours over with for a while now.

ANd welcome!

 

[merlinmagic]

I kissed the tarmac a couple of months ago. Downhill in Nottingham was belting down - actually was quite pleased with the speed I was achieving.

Happened to be in the middle of the tram line so a short hop across and into the cycle lane - well that was the theory.

It had rained and the tram line was wet. Front wheel touched the steel and next thing I knew I was sliding down the road on my side.

Ended up with road rash all the way down my arm and leg. Took a while for it to heal but a valueable lesson learnt.

Wet weather = slippery tram lines = messy cyclist.

 

[zacklaws]

No problem with my front light, its bright enough to illuminate the ground. The problem was the light was set slightly higher than I normally have it to illuminate all these Ninja cyclists and joggers and give me advance warning that I meet on a daily basis and the beam of light was above the kerb so it was not illuminated too well. An additional light would be an asset though.

Never slept a wink last night hardly, must have been high on adrenaline. Last time I took a tumble, once again riding like a dick, down hill, one handed crosscountry, hit a hole and jack knifed. Result handlebar through my ribs.
Same bike too.

 

[zacklaws]

Cannot believe it, just come home from work, same route, and the workmen have finally painted the white edge of the road marking sometime today. Rode all the way home just looking at the two white lines side by side with the kerb sandwiched in the middle plain as day and it all looks so easy now.

Maybe it was Gods way of telling me to go carefull in the dark, hate to think what he's got planned to stop me doing 40mph downhills.

 

[nhedden]

gutted!