Originally Posted by CBBaron
For most bicycles braking is limited by the endo factor. If you brake harder your rear wheel comes up and you crash. Cars are limited by tire adhesion, therefore cars can stop more rapidly. The only reason bikes appear to stop faster is they are usually traveling slower. However I did used to ride a bike that was not limited by an endo and had plenty of braking power, allowing me to stop as fast as nearly any other vehicle. The bike was an Optima Baron lowracer recumbent with disc brakes.
I wasn't aware of a real limitation due to endo's, if you shift your weight back correctly. Unless I'm mistaken, any endo possibility can be avoided this way. Stand up slightly and lean back so your butt is well behind the saddle. This technique is taught by most adult bike courses such as the
LAB Road I course.
In regards to the original question: I agree that the motorist was 100% at fault legally, if the OP had no stop sign and she did. Besides her lame excuse that you should have yielded to her, it's also very possible she underestimated your speed and she thought she could get through before you got there, but she didn't want to say that.
However, I also like Robert Hurst's attitude in
The Art of Urban Cycling that from a
safety standpoint, blame is a useless concept. (As opposed to financially, which in this case is useful to you.) I agree with him and an earlier poster that you've got to expect other road users to do stupid things and and anticipate them. Did you see it coming? If not, why not? See every motorist in this situation as potentially going to do that, and try to make eye contact with them to make sure you understand each other. Yell out if there's any question, or wave your nearest hand at them in a "move back" sort of motion.
Glad you're okay, and good luck in your upcoming event.