brdn54

Today, while riding home on the end of my loop I approached an intersection and stopped behinds a small car at a stoplight at the bottom of a steep hill. The light turned green and I let my foot off the ground assuming the car would go when the light turned green. I couldn't stop in time and bumped in to their bumper at about 4-5 mph. pretty good bump for me, but they drove off like nothing happened. Kinda worried I may have damaged my rim somehow, time will tell. Anybody else done this before, cause any damage?

tjspiel

I've hit some potholes pretty hard in the dark.

If the wheel is still straight I wouldn't worry about it.

chefisaac

Check the wheel true and feel the spokes as well.

ThermionicScott 

Hey! Haven't seen you in a while -- how are things?

chefisaac

things are going well. Needed to take so,e time off to deal with a divorce, new job, and new relationship. Now I am slowly getting back to it. Got both bikes fixed up the other day and slowly gathering all the equipment again. Took a 21 mile ride yesterday and felt great. Mapped out my new commuter to work and it ends up being 38 mile round trip. I'm on vacation so I rode to the gym and rode the whole route. It was painful. You know you feeling..... Getting back into things. Rough on the body but it felt great to get back to it.

How've you been?

ThermionicScott 

I think I remember reading about the impending divorce. Glad that things are on track, and that you're biking again!

I've been really good. Turned my lovely girlfriend into a fiancee, been riding bike a lot, and we're embarking on a trip to France soon for me to ride PBP and her to do more sensible things.

ThermionicScott 

P.S. Sorry about the threadjack, @brdn54. If your wheel still spins well without any lateral or vertical hops, I wouldn't worry about it.

chefisaac

Congratulations! That's awesome and your trip sounds like a lot of fun too. Where in France? I just got back from a two week trip for work. Lovely and I ate so much!

It makes two of use that are engaged as well. Proposed in Mexico last week!

FenderTL5

Earlier this year I had a car roll into my rear tire similarly (driver was texting at the stop light and rolled into me before the light changed). It was German sports car and he hit me hard enough to crease the soft bumper, which removed the paint. He waved me off apologetically, the bike was unharmed. I'll guess the driver was surprised to see the line of flecked off paint when observed later.

ThermionicScott 

Congratulations, yourself! We'll be starting off in Versailles, then I'll go ride Paris-Brest-Paris while she goes sight-seeing at a couple points along the route, after which we'll see the sights in Paris before heading home.

spivonious

I've done the same thing as the OP before. I doubt the driver even felt it, and I doubt the wheel was damaged.

I don't follow so closely at red lights anymore.

baron von trail 

If we combine Chef and Scott's side bar with the thread premise, we could get "Bumping into Hot Chicks at Intersections." Anyone had that good fortune lately?

I definitely see one particular hottie pass me in the opposite direction every afternoon. However, I have not yet had the pleasure of being stuck at an intersection with her on the opposite side yet.

ThermionicScott 

There's an idea for a bike-themed rom-com: two young adults accidentally collide at an intersection, awkwardness ensues, then fate keeps intervening to bring them together.

CliffordK

I don't think I'm ever quite that distracted to just bump into a stopped car. However, at turn signals, I usually place my bike just to the right of the car infront of me. Thus, there is nothing to hit in front of me, and less likely to get sandwiched if the car behind me fails to stop.