Tales from today's commute....

[MisterStan]

Bus commute for me this morning
Just as the weather was warming back up as well.

It's our work xmas meal this evening, so having my "rest" day today, and then I shall be heading out at the weekend.

.

See above!

 

[jagman.2003]

Terrible ride, had another very near miss at the same roundabout I had on a few weeks ago, car coming on from the left far too fast and not seeing me, but this time I was already past the turning, he must have been mm from my back wheel.

I know it was their fault, but there must be something I can do to be more visible from the side as this one shook me up even more than the last

I have spent a little time thinking about side visibility this year for roundabouts etc. Apart from the basic reflective stuff on me & the bike. I did get some amber reflectors. Screwed them onto the spare rack mount bolts. Also put a couple of flashing smart lights on the handlebars angled at 45 degrees & on the rear forks. They give some visibility when my main light is not pointing directly at the traffic.

The final thing was the introduction of a helmet light. It's higher than the rest & I know when I look at a driver my light is pointing straight at them so they can't help but get the point. With this combination of devices I feel I have been seen on roundabouts large & small far more than in previous years.

 

[Stephen C]

The final thing was the introduction of a helmet light. It's higher than the rest & I know when I look at a driver my light is pointing straight at them so they can't help but get the point. With this combination of devices I feel I have been seen on roundabouts large & small far more than in previous years.

I was thinking this as well, the roundabout in question has crash barriers on the approaches, so visibility is going to be slightly reduced lower down, any suggestions for a good helmet light?

 

[BSRU]

I was thinking this as well, the roundabout in question has crash barriers on the approaches, so visibility is going to be slightly reduced lower down, any suggestions for a good helmet light?

I tried a helmet light but the problem I found was that I ended up dazzling people(drivers, cyclists and pedestrians) because I look around alot.

 

[BSRU]

Since being knocked bandy by various diseases in November I have now managed 12 commute days covering over 780km(480miles)
Explains why my legs look almost as good as they did in the summer

 

[Stephen C]

I tried a helmet light but the problem I found was that I ended up dazzling people(drivers, cyclists and pedestrians) because I look around alot.

I agree, but I think some kind of wind angle "to be seen" light might do the trick, possibly flashing. Going to get some spoke reflectors anyway to get started.

 

[BSRU]

I agree, but I think some kind of wind angle "to be seen" light might do the trick, possibly flashing. Going to get some spoke reflectors anyway to get started.

No need for flashing as natural head movement is enough to make it visible.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I was thinking this as well, the roundabout in question has crash barriers on the approaches, so visibility is going to be slightly reduced lower down, any suggestions for a good helmet light?

Sometimes the answer is to avoid certain roads /areas and one of them for me is roundabouts going onto/off motorways

 

[jagman.2003]

I was thinking this as well, the roundabout in question has crash barriers on the approaches, so visibility is going to be slightly reduced lower down, any suggestions for a good helmet light?

Unfortunately I haven't used a specific helmet light. I had a Night Rider Newt front light & adapted it to a standard Halfords helmet bracket. It's a very small light unit & the battery has velcro strap.
It wasn't very good as a front light as it has quite a small focused beam. But as a helmet light it's great for pointing at potential potholes, on coming traffic & even what gear I'm in. As mentioned above, I don't think this one is too bright for pedestrians or other traffic. No one has been seeing diving in the hedge yet when I look at them.

 

[Twelve Spokes]

Sometimes the answer is to avoid certain roads /areas and one of them for me is roundabouts going onto/off motorways

Sadly it's come to this now,even for me.

 

[Christopher]

dodgy front tube gave up the ghost last night so i had a deflation event going home. Got a bit browned off at it all - didn't help that I put the wrecked tube back in the tyre and spent a good 5 minutes trying to inflate it before I twigged...

 

[MisterStan]

dodgy front tube gave up the ghost last night so i had a deflation event going home. Got a bit browned off at it all - didn't help that I put the wrecked tube back in the tyre and spent a good 5 minutes trying to inflate it before I twigged...

I have never made that mistake...

 

[400bhp]

Got squished tonight on the way home. I was flltering on the right and a car must have flashed to let someone out of a side street on the left. He was turning right and I was level with the flashing car. He pretty much drove straight through me. Didn't actually stop until he was past me.

I got pinned between the 2 cars. Front wheel is farked. Looks like the rest of the bike is OK apart from the garmin mount has broke. I have a small hole at the knee in my tights and a similar sized hold in my aldi summer gloves (had a pair of gloves underneath which are intact). Got a couple of non issue bruises.

I was about 2 miles or so from home-it was 5:15pm and I made a dash to the local bike shop. They borrowed me a wheel to get home. I'll take the wheel back first thing tomorrow morn and they can have a quick look over the forks. I was going to go out for a ride first thing but taking my bike there will mean I can sort out the xmas shopping at the same time. The forks don't appear damaged but you never know (I guess I could check them myself).

The weird thing is I bought a new set of commuting wheels today - a set of Planet X model B's came up.

 

[400bhp]

where have the paragraphs in my post gone?

 

[cosmicbike]

where have the paragraphs in my post gone?

Not a clue, but glad to hear you're ok, and I do hope said driver will be funding any repairs?