Southern California - Cut off and down on morning commute

Well this morning I had someone in a mini van pass me then turn right and stop about 6 feet in front of me well you know what happened then! Over the bars for a soft face plant on the pavement luckily last second I turned my face and right cheek hit the road I had my Balaclava on so only got a slight burn mark, Both wrist are a little sore, jaw, right knee and a few other places but all's good I got up and finished my ride to work, but after I noticed I lost my rear light :( In my motorcycle days I called it kissing mother earth. :D

Glad to hear you didn't get badly hurt! The light is replaceable. ;)

Wow, lucky to make it out of that one !

So from what I gather, you never actually hit the vehicle?

Wow, lucky to make it out of that one !

So from what I gather, you never actually hit the vehicle?

No landed about a foot from the rear of the van, bent my bar a little, I actually for a second considered slamming into the side of the van by going right but swerved to the left wasn't going to clear the rear and had to hit the brakes harder than I wanted, going right I may have hit the side or ended up in front so left was my natural instinct. I use to road race and pro motocross in the 70's so two wheel riding comes with some natural instinct for me thank god! but luck always plays into it.

Glad to know you survived with minor scuffs, JT :) Keep riding!

and just as Mary pointed out - the materials are replaceable, your health is what matters!

That's what I find to be the biggest problem. People just don't understand how fast road bikes are and always try to make a quick pass&turn thinking they have plenty of time. Every time someone does the pass and swoop I look at the car and know it's not insured too.

That's what I find to be the biggest problem. People just don't understand how fast road bikes are and always try to make a quick pass&turn thinking they have plenty of time. Every time someone does the pass and swoop I look at the car and know it's not insured too.

And they don't realize that their speed along your direction of motion goes to zero as they turn into your path. I've seen plenty of people I'm sure are insured doing it (probably even people from my work on my way home).

Whenever hear the engine noise change for a car behind and to the left I assume they're about to do that to me. I tend to brake hard, drop behind, pass them on the left and occasionally let them know what they did wrong as I pass.

Very happy you are okay. I experience vehicles racing to make the RH turn before me all the time. I have been lucky so far. I use a rear view mirror attached to the frame of my riding glasses. I just can not ride without it any more. I find them invaluable from a safety point. They are “Take A Look”. I am wondering if you could have looked in a rear view on this incident could it have helped you? I am just wondering not criticizing.

I'm glad that it wasn't more serious...take care.

Did the driver even stop to check you out?

Sheldon

Did the driver even stop to check you out?

Sheldon

Thanks everyone, actually no I don't even think they knew I was down, by the time I got up they were gone, and no one around. My wrists sure ace right now, riding home as well painful I may have to take a few days off riding and I'll replace bars also. I don't think I can get enough strength from my wrists to get the bars off right now.

Sorry to hear it mate, hope you recover soon! Glad to hear it wasn't worse not saying it wasn't bad enough already...

Chicago actually just passed a law making passing and then turning left or right in front of a cyclist a fineable offense. Hopefully CA will follow suit because it happens waaaaay too much.

this happened to me a bunch when i commuted up north. I rolled around on a track bike, so it made things a little more interesting. I found what worked best for me was to turn with the car, then let them know about their mistake, most people don't even get it. And occasionally the one finger salute was a good compromise.

And they don't realize that their speed along your direction of motion goes to zero as they turn into your path. I've seen plenty of people I'm sure are insured doing it (probably even people from my work on my way home).

Whenever hear the engine noise change for a car behind and to the left I assume they're about to do that to me. I tend to brake hard, drop behind, pass them on the left and occasionally let them know what they did wrong as I pass.

thats it, do something totally unexpected. That's safe. one of these days your going to "brake hard" right into that car that you know is behind you. then who's at fault??