ButchA

Sorry for any expletives I may say, but I just can't believe this... It all happened so fast...

Earlier after lunch, I went for a nice 27 mile bicycle ride out to the western suburbs of Richmond, VA out towards the Manakin Sabot area, out past the 288 expressway.

Let's start out with the beginning photos as it (hopefully) tells the story:

Along River Rd by Pagebooke... I had the idea of taking a photo from behind the bike, with the handlebars of my C&V '85 Fuji and the open road ahead.


A horse show along Manakin Rd. I thought about maybe trying to stop in, but realized that it is a private area, so I quickly took a photo and left.


Hockett Rd and Tuckahoe Creek Pkwy, and the way back and soon to venture into Capital One's huge business complex within West Creek Pkwy.


AND NOW IT GETS WORSE... SORRY IF THIS IS A THREAD WITHIN A THREAD...
I was on my way home, **not even a mile from my house** and was on Patterson Ave eastbound, and wanting to take a shortcut onto Lakeland (on the left). So, I quickly scooted over into the left side of the left land while no traffic was coming, and carefully rode as close to the curb as I could along Patterson.

All of the sudden, I hear a loud car horn, and a car brushes by me **LITERALLY MILLIMETERS AWAY FROM ME** and I had nowhere to go, but hit the curb and crash on my left side onto the flat concrete median/divider. WORST OF ALL WORST - - THE <SERIOUS EXPLETIVE> NEVER EVEN STOPPED!!!

I remember being more concerned about my C&V '85 Fuji Del Rey than I was of myself! It all happened so fast, everything was just a blur. One minute I'm riding, and then next I'm down on my left side and left shoulder blade. I quickly got up and got my '85 Fuji, and it was fine but the steering stem was a little tweaked 45 degrees. I quickly used muscle power and straightened it back centered with the front wheel as best I could. Then I looked myself over... The pictures below tell the tale...

My left elbow


My left knee


A little road rash on the brake lever on my C&V '85 Fuji. (a little black touch-up paint, and it'll be good).


And lastly, here's a screen printed map (with an arrow of the site) from MapMyRide...

3speedslow

Sorry to read about this crash. How did the car get to you so fast? He must have been moving!

If I was in your place, I think I would have done the same checklist you did, bike...self.

Heal well!

Kilroy1988 

Really sorry to hear this. Hope the scrapes and bruises heal up quickly. Don't sweat the bike, it's just a few chunks of material at the end of the day - be grateful that you're alright!

Sir_Name 

Sorry to hear, but glad that the damage seems to be minor. It's a shame that some feel the need to go out of the way to share their nastiness. To put it lightly.

FBinNY 

Sorry to hear your day was spoiled this way.

Your skin will heal soon enough (unless you do as I did, and go scuba diving the next day). Yse a file, or sandpaper wrapped around a paint stirrer to smooth out the gouges in the lever. Don't try to smooth them entirely, just take off the raised rough edges, so they are smooth to the touch. Then touch up with nail polish or paint at your option.

BTW - just out of morbid curiosity, was it your first crash or the bikes?

ButchA

Thanks guys.

This was my 2nd crash in all my 56 years... Patterson Ave is a 45 mph main road in the western suburbs of Richmond. Some spots it's a regular 2 lane road, other areas (more toward the city) it opens up to a 4 lane divided road. People will FLY on the road even though it's 45. I have no idea where the car came from, how fast he was going, but like I said.. HONK!! And, I'm on the ground wondering just happened?

AlexCyclistRoch

Call the cops-this was a vehicular assault. If you are lucky, there was CCTV somewhere nearby, and you might be able to identify the car from that.

randyjawa 

Are you saying that, for a while, you were riding on the wrong side of the road and as close to the curb as possible?

FBinNY 

I believe, based on a close reading, that the OP was making a left turn and riding near the curb of a central divider, and not the left curb in opposing traffic.

Drillium Dude 

I always feel badly when I hear one of our brothers/sisters got hurt on the bike. But I'm glad for you that it wasn't worse! Sounds like a distracted driver and lucky he didn't get distracted a moment or two earlier - otherwise he might have actually hit you. Then we wouldn't be commenting on this post

Heal up soon, and hopefully there isn't anything more than cosmetic damage to the FDR. Be safe and good luck out there - it looks like you have some nice riding environs.

DD

Drillium Dude 

I was initially confused as well, but I believe what you describe here is an accurate rendering of what happened.

DD

CroMo Mike 

Butch, I'm sorry to hear about your crash and injuries. Get better soon.


I've been riding in and around Richmond's West End for 4 decades but have in the past few years tried to stay off the busier roads. Seems like drivers here are getting more careless. They treat other drivers the same way.

ButchA

Sorry for the confusion, everyone....

Here's a satellite image that will better explain the site of my crash into the center divided road/curb/median:

Blue arrow line = I am riding eastbound on Patterson Ave with the flow of traffic, hugging the right lane and right shoulder.
Turning blue arrow line = No serious traffic as the light at Gaskins & Patterson (far right, off screen) just changed green. So, I quickly veered over into the left lane, tightly hugging the center divide/curb, as I planned on stopping at Lakeland to turn left, once oncoming traffic was clear.
Yellow "X" = I don't know... All I remember is a loud car horn, and in a panic, getting driven into the curb. Next thing I knew, I was on the ground.
White dotted line = the shortcut route to my house. I could have/should have gone straight to Maybeury (just ahead where the "P" is for Patterson on the map and the Win 10 map control panel is), and turned at the light. But as we all know with a bicycle, you will NEVER get a green arrow, as a bike can't trigger a traffic light.

FBinNY 

To the OP,

So as I surmised, you were positioned for a legal left turn. There's no reason to explain why, nor post a map with aline to your home.

TDK08

I do not look forward to the day I crash on the road!

FBinNY 

It happens, you clean up and move on. That's over 99% of the time. The other 1% is a different story.

prathmann

Sorry to hear of your crash - sounds like the motorist was probably going too fast and/or not paying attention and didn't see you in time.

Have you checked with the local traffic authority in your town about the loop sensors at that traffic light? In our area (SF East Bay) they'll generally come out and readjust the sensitivity if there are complaints. If you have an all carbon bike including the wheels then you're probably out of luck, but as long as you have aluminum brake tracks on the rims it should be possible to detect them.

randyjawa 

Ah, that does make sense, now. And, I too, am sorry to hear about the crash, resulting injury and the trauma experienced.

That said, never ride as close to any curb as you can. Give yourself an escape route, just in case one is needed. I always have a couple of feet between me and the curb and glad that I do.

ButchA

I know... Looking at that satellite image, it's still a good 1/2 mile through neighborhood side streets to get to my street (not even on the map). I just wanted to try to clear up some details and/or explanations.

The good thing is that I'm okay and my C&V '85 Fuji is okay. Steel framed bikes can handle anything! My left knee is a little sore, but that's about it. I'll be back out riding soon enough...

SJX426 

No crash is fun and often the recovery can be a bit annoying or at worst, painful. My worst, in 2009, got me thinking of lights. I did not have a front blinking light, but did have a rear one. Since the car was coming from the front, there wasn't any light flashing to get their attention.

So I have to ask. did you have a rear light turned on?

Deal4Fuji

Sorry for your accident and glad it wasn't worse. I notice you don't have a mirror on the handlebars, do you use a helmet mounted mirror? I've had a bar end mirror since I started riding with a club and everyone else had one, but I never used it except for making left turns until I was hit by a pick-up truck mirror riding solo. It quickly made me a believer in keeping tabs on what's going on behind me with the hope that I can bail if I see someone not moving over.

My guy stopped and was apologetic and in his defense I was riding into a setting sun (another lesson learned). In this situation with you being on the left side of the lane it might not have helped anyway, but I'm a big proponent of mirrors on the road.

ButchA

I have a rear light, but didn't have it on. I don't have a mirror on my helmet either (I will now though!)

Kevindale

I just had my first real crash a few days ago, though no other vehicle was involved (it was the wind!). Similar scrapes to elbow, knee and ribs, torn bar tape, slight scuff on brifter, hurt pride. It happens in the blink of an eye.

I have an Italian bike mirror on one bike, and I'm still amazed at how often a car will suddenly appear at my side even though I think I'm checking regularly. Mirrors are great, but not foolproof (reminder to self - put mirrors on all bikes). And I struggle with where to ride, since right now I have the choice of riding 'in lane' on a busy street for about 2-3 miles, or riding in the 'door zone'. Each ride I see one or two drivers cruise by me, driving at speed, looking down at their cell phone. I've become very leery of 'taking the lane' because of that, and try to scan the parked cars for drivers who might suddenly throw their door open.

The reminder about lights is good. I need to always have my front and rear blinkys going, at least on the roads.

engineerbob

The technology may have changed (most has) in the past 30 years, but when I worked as an engineer for a Midwestern highway department, our detectors were sensitive only to ferrous metals.

Bob

kcblair

Glad to here you and that bike are fine. I have had only one crash in my 52 yrs. While stationed in Germany, I belonged to a local cycling club, who raced on Sundays. My command of the German language was not great at the time. (Later on, I spoke it quit well) We were rounding a corner, when someone yelled out a command, I didn't understand. I was turning right, and my right peddle was in the down stroke (you might guess what happened next), and I clipped a curb and down I went. First thing I did, was look at the bike (My new Ciocc) for scratches (isn't that crazy ??).

Yep , scratches on the seat stay and RD. My right hip was bleeding and ripped up, as were the shorts. Got back on the bike and finished the race. Immediately headed for the clinic on base, to get patched up. KB