Fifty Plus (50+) - Bike Damages Cars.

Just got back from our night ride, and I am worried. We have 4 lights on the front of the Tandem and that is good enough to see offroad for about 100 yards, right down to immediately in front of the wheel. If we can see that well- we have bright lights so I reckon that we should be seen by other users on the trails and road--- WRONG!!!!!!

After about 1 mile tonight- We had a car pull out from the kerb- directly in front of us and on the wrong side of the road. Our very strong Downhill mountain bike quality front wheel hit the front bumper of this car and put a lot of plastic on the road from the bumper. Driver was a bit annoyed, but not as much as we were. He wanted our insurance details and we swopped particulars. He was still going on about idiot riders on bikes, but No damage to the Tandem but we will check it for damage.

Then in Eastbourne- we got clipped by a car overtaking us. Caught the stokers bars, and the car lost its door mirror. The driver did not see us- Plenty of street lights, two rear lamps which are good and one was solid light and the other was flashing. Then got to subways and were a bit disappointed- They have changed to the summer menu and the fantastic italian chicken we had last week is no longer available. Today is the first day of spring and the temperature is only just above freezing but they have changed to the summer menu- Still the replacement was almost as good- and the coffee is still superb.

Then on the way out of Eastbourne on a roundabout-and we were on the roundabout with priority-and a car pulled onto the roundabout and we nearly missd it, but a scrape along the rear wing and another irate driver.

I am beginning to think that this night riding is getting dangerous, But due to the cold weather, we did a road ride tonight. Its not the Night riding that is the problem- It is the road riding. All those car drivers that cannot see a bike. Perhaps they were blinded by our lights- perhaps we were travelling faster than they expected- but I think future rides are going back to offroad. Either that or a battering ram is going to be fitted so we can do more damage when they hit us.

I just hope that these car drivers are not with the same insurance company- because when they put their claims in, We are going to be on a black list as maniacs that have it in for cars. Then agin- when I check the bike over and find any damage- who will I claim from? I might just aswell claim from all 3 and see what I can get away with.

We had a car pull out from the kerb- directly in front of us and on the wrong side of the road.

Stapfam,

Was the driver from the States? When I've driven in the UK I did this all the time! Then I'd swing back to the correct British side and pretend as if no one saw me! Cheers!

Bob

. Driver was a bit annoyed, but not as much as we were. He wanted our insurance details and we swopped particulars.

I'm sitting here wondering what kind of insurance details you would swap and if it differs in the US.
Glad you weren't hurt...what a night!

Do NOT try it against all three companies, They trade notes. Check the head tube just below where it joins the top and down tubes. Cracks in the paint are a bad sign and buckled metal is worse. I have had no trouble at night for years since I got a Xenon strobe as powerful as the ones on emergency vehicles and a 50 Watt headlight. Carry a cell phone if you have them where you are and CALL 911 or its equivalent when someone hits you. A police report carries a lot more weight than something you file after the event. An officer in Denver asked me "Was there at least $500 in damage to either the car or the bike?" as blood dripped down my scalp.

A sort of humorous story: As you all know, a dreaded car/bike thing occurs when passing a parked car and the driver opens his door right in front of you. Kersmacko! You and your wheel are taco'ed. Probably more.

2 large local riders on a tandem making some in-town speed hit an opening compact car door. Kersmacko!....they took the door off...and were fairly undamaged thelmselves. Add them to our local legend roster.

Main thing is ..... you got through your ride unscathed Stepfam...except for the Italian chicken. Lunatic drivers know no nationalities I'm sure.

That's all incredible. I guess I live in a somewhat boring area, in a good way, because I never have anything like this happen to me. Not even close. Knock on wood.

Sorry to hear about your series of mishaps. Glad you came out okay!
I think I stay out of trouble because I ride in the pre-dawn darkness. No crazys late for work or putting on make-up. Plus no one on the cell phone, (who is there to speak with at 5:45). The only ones out are the early risers, they seem to take things in time, you know, get to the office early look through the paper, check incoming emails & faxes then enjoy a cup of coffee all before the mess of a typical office day begins.

These are the sort of folks I see going by. I wouldn't ride the same roads in the early evening after work traffic, I'd be killed.

Just got back from our night ride, and I am worried. We have 4 lights on the front of the Tandem and that is good enough to see offroad for about 100 yards, right down to immediately in front of the wheel. If we can see that well- we have bright lights so I reckon that we should be seen by other users on the trails and road--- WRONG!!!!!!



First of all, glad you are ok. Second you didn't mention the brand or wattage of lights. By the reaction of drivers they are inadequate. The number of lights doesn't matter as much as how bright they are. You really need something at least as powerful as the cateye LD1000 on the back. For roundabouts you really need side clearance lights. A headlight and tail light will not cut it. Consider adding HID headlight. Also consider adding good reflective tape to frame, and wheels.
Was your jacket white or reflective? Do you have reflective side walls? If road bars, did you add flash back lights.

This is very serious, you need to either upgrading your visibility or give up riding in your environment in those conditions.

First of all, glad you are ok. Second you didn't mention the brand or wattage of lights. By the reaction of drivers they are inadequate. The number of lights doesn't matter as much as how bright they are. You really need something at least as powerful as the cateye LD1000 on the back. For roundabouts you really need side clearance lights. A headlight and tail light will not cut it. Consider adding HID headlight. Also consider adding good reflective tape to frame, and wheels.
Was your jacket white or reflective? Do you have reflective side walls? If road bars, did you add flash back lights.

This is very serious, you need to either upgrading your visibility or give up riding in your environment in those conditions.

Front lights are a Cateye EL300 for legality in the UK- a 10watt flood pointing 5 yards in front of the wheel- a 10 watt spot at 20 yards and a 20 watt that on road is just below dazzle height for cars- Rears are Both cateyes- one a basic as an emergency and the other is the most powerfull cateye it is possible to get and is bright. On top of that we both have helmet lights that most people have remarked are a bit too bright for comfort when shone in the face. We are like a christmas tree. Although we both have red Goretex tops- they have reflective strips all up the arms- the front and the back. The only thing I worry about is if I have to signal at this time of year- I wear warm gloves and they are black, but the strips down the reflective strips down the arms can be seen. We are thinking about more powerful Lights on the bike- but as they are in excess of £350 (About $600) for a light that has in excess of 5 hours battery life- We are holding off until the autumn When we will be attempting- a 10 hour night ride. ( offroad of course)

Last night was just a glitch, I am certain. We have had some close calls on the road, but you can tell that this is not a usual occcurence. You get idiots in cars- on bikes and even pedestrians at any time. We'll have to try and avoid them better.

Front lights are a Cateye EL300 for legality in the UK- a 10watt flood pointing 5 yards in front of the wheel- a 10 watt spot at 20 yards and a 20 watt that on road is just below dazzle height for cars- Rears are Both cateyes- one a basic as an emergency and the other is the most powerfull cateye it is possible to get and is bright. On top of that we both have helmet lights that most people have remarked are a bit too bright for comfort when shone in the face. ...

Last night was just a glitch, I am certain. We have had some close calls on the road, but you can tell that this is not a usual occcurence. You get idiots in cars- on bikes and even pedestrians at any time. We'll have to try and avoid them better.

I wouldn't trust the EL300 or any LED light. but if you have 2 10w plus 1 20w plus helmet lights the front should be ok.

The rear is this, right? http://www.cateye.com/en/products/viewProduct.php?modelId=19&catId=7&subCatId=2
I think most effective is to have the top row on steady and the second roll on rolling as it's rare to see a rolling light.

I certainly understand about not spending the money on HID light. I would like at some time to get a HID light, but for now my dual 10w,20w is sufficient. I just don't ride in the night that much.

Unfortunately I don't think you had bad light, but rather low visibility to drivers.

Let's discuss the 2nd incident first.
Incident #2 - Car clipping from rear. Solid rear and one flashing. Car caught bars.
What was the basic problem: driver misjudged your length and especially width. You didn't mention the type of handle bars you have. If you have road bars, you can put "flashback" lights in the bar ends. Then you have left bar end light, rear lights and right bar end light. Four points of reference for guaging your width. If your bikes are stacked, and it's dark, the driver might recognize you as a bike, but expects a short narrow mtn bike not a long wide tandem.

The other incidents are similar.
Incident #1 - car pull out from front curb, 45degree front offset
Incident #3 - roundabout, 30 degree rear offset

Normal front lights will span 10 to maybe 20 degrees from dead ahead. At a 45 degree offset you are if not invisible barely visible IF someone knows what to look for. This is why I use yellow blinking LED clearance lights on the front forks offset 45 degrees so they are aimed directly at the driver coming from the side, halfway between dead ahead and left/right side.

Rear lights. I expect you have either the LD600 or LD 500. http://www.cateye.com/en/products/viewProductModels.php?catId=7&subCatId=4
See the same problem coming from the side you don't have visibility. The LC1000 has a light LED pointing squarely at the right and left sides.

Just for fun, find a big window. At night, place your bike 80 feet away and at the angles where the cars had trouble identifying you. Or, have someone hold the bike with lights on, walk away 80 feet at night and see just how visible you are. Add a few distractions, and then maybe you'll see what I am talking about.

Good luck and think about this before more night rides. We don't want to lose you.