Cyclist crashes, lands on his feet
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Cyclist crashes, lands on his feet
It's a pretty run of the mill left hook situation (except that I guess it's a right hook, having happened near London) but the way it turned out is quite remarkable -- everything went flying, but the cyclist landed on his feet.
Romford Cycle Crash - Original - YouTube
It's also commonplace in that the driver originally accepted responsibility, and then backpedalled on it later ... but the video made things quite clear.
Do have the sound on for this, but be aware ... he says a [completely justified] bad word.
At least the police don't seem to be threatening to charge him for his utterence of that bad word.
Romford Cycle Crash - Original - YouTube
It's also commonplace in that the driver originally accepted responsibility, and then backpedalled on it later ... but the video made things quite clear.
Do have the sound on for this, but be aware ... he says a [completely justified] bad word.
At least the police don't seem to be threatening to charge him for his utterence of that bad word.
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Once when my brother and I were little, my brother (who's a few years older than me) got way ahead of the family bike pack. He ended up HITTING a car coming out of an intersection, then rolling over the hood, taking off the mirror, and landing on his feet. Not a scratch on my brother... he was so embarrassed though.
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It's a pretty run of the mill left hook situation (except that I guess it's a right hook, having happened near London) but the way it turned out is quite remarkable -- everything went flying, but the cyclist landed on his feet.
Romford Cycle Crash - Original - YouTube
It's also commonplace in that the driver originally accepted responsibility, and then backpedalled on it later ... but the video made things quite clear.
Do have the sound on for this, but be aware ... he says a [completely justified] bad word.
At least the police don't seem to be threatening to charge him for his utterence of that bad word.
Romford Cycle Crash - Original - YouTube
It's also commonplace in that the driver originally accepted responsibility, and then backpedalled on it later ... but the video made things quite clear.
Do have the sound on for this, but be aware ... he says a [completely justified] bad word.
At least the police don't seem to be threatening to charge him for his utterence of that bad word.
The driver is clearly an idiot, because he/she slowed at the turn but seemed to have completely missed the cyclist. I'm tempted to believe he/she may have been blocked by the A-frame - as will happen from time to time - but even that seems highly unlikely.
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Interesting video,
#5
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It looked like the setup of a Hollywood action movie , the kind that people would laugh at and remark how unrealistic it looked.
The driver is clearly an idiot, because he/she slowed at the turn but seemed to have completely missed the cyclist. I'm tempted to believe he/she may have been blocked by the A-frame - as will happen from time to time - but even that seems highly unlikely.
The driver is clearly an idiot, because he/she slowed at the turn but seemed to have completely missed the cyclist. I'm tempted to believe he/she may have been blocked by the A-frame - as will happen from time to time - but even that seems highly unlikely.
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Stop at 18 seconds and there is nothing that would be blocking the driver's view of the cyclist coming down the road. But, with it raining, visibility is diminished and I have no idea if the cyclist had a front light or what colors of clothing he was wearing. A cyclist would be very difficult to notice against all the dark and dreary surroundings if not using a light and brightly colored clothing.
black cycling shorts with fuchsia trim,
white shoes with fuchsia trim,
black socks with fuchsia trim,
yellow lens cycling glasses with white rim and fuchsia temples,
black and white fingerless cycling gloves.
Riding a white Giant Propel Advanced 2.
But even if he was running blinky lights, not enough lumens, so it's the clearly the cyclist's fault, right?
-mr. bill
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Situations like this is why I recently bought a little flea-sized front light that flashes. When driving my car around cyclists, I noticed that even a small white strobe is SUPER noticeable especially in rainy conditions. The one I got is ridiculously small and light, and in strobe mode runs a few weeks on a USB recharge.
Great video btw. Hope the rider got fully compensated for all losses.
Great video btw. Hope the rider got fully compensated for all losses.
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I was wondering how much warning the cyclist had... if there were enough time for him to avoid the motorist...
Of course I have the armchair luxury of going back and forth with the video to see what exactly happened.
I doubt I could have reacted in time... especially if I were watching the motorist on my left as the motorist on the right made the unsignaled turn... clearly one of those situations in which you really cannot see everything at once, and thus are vulnerable.
Of course I have the armchair luxury of going back and forth with the video to see what exactly happened.
I doubt I could have reacted in time... especially if I were watching the motorist on my left as the motorist on the right made the unsignaled turn... clearly one of those situations in which you really cannot see everything at once, and thus are vulnerable.
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IME based on personal experience, and anecdotal evidence from friends (1st hand), if you're going to crash with a car, you're usually better off if you hit the car than if the car hits you. The best way is exactly like this event, where the rider hits the front end, the bike crumples and launches the rider over the hood (bonnet) where the rider can land and roll on the pavement. I know of one instance where a friend hit a car head on with a combined of about 75mph (car/50 bike/25) and the rider flew over clearing the car, and landed with a tuck and roll sustaining only very minor road rash.
So I'm impressed with this rider's aerobatics, but not totally surprised.
So I'm impressed with this rider's aerobatics, but not totally surprised.
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I was wondering how much warning the cyclist had... if there were enough time for him to avoid the motorist...
Of course I have the armchair luxury of going back and forth with the video to see what exactly happened.
I doubt I could have reacted in time... especially if I were watching the motorist on my left as the motorist on the right made the unsignaled turn... clearly one of those situations in which you really cannot see everything at once, and thus are vulnerable.
Of course I have the armchair luxury of going back and forth with the video to see what exactly happened.
I doubt I could have reacted in time... especially if I were watching the motorist on my left as the motorist on the right made the unsignaled turn... clearly one of those situations in which you really cannot see everything at once, and thus are vulnerable.
Weight transfers to left front wheel.
Plan A is heavy braking - executed.
Plan B left bailout - NOPE - fence beyond curb and can't possibly make the left turn between the curb and the uncoming car.
Plan C right bailout - NOPE - traffic immediately behind.
Plan A least bad. Left hooks so suck.
Love the woman with the Bart Simpson lunchbox. "Ooooooh. You alright? Sit down for a sec, mate, sit down." A wee bit of humanity can sure brighten up a bad day.
-mr. bill
Last edited by mr_bill; 07-24-14 at 10:47 AM.
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Bright blue long sleeve jersey,
black cycling shorts with fuchsia trim,
white shoes with fuchsia trim,
black socks with fuchsia trim,
yellow lens cycling glasses with white rim and fuchsia temples,
black and white fingerless cycling gloves.
Riding a white Giant Propel Advanced 2.
But even if he was running blinky lights, not enough lumens, so it's the clearly the cyclist's fault, right?
-mr. bill
black cycling shorts with fuchsia trim,
white shoes with fuchsia trim,
black socks with fuchsia trim,
yellow lens cycling glasses with white rim and fuchsia temples,
black and white fingerless cycling gloves.
Riding a white Giant Propel Advanced 2.
But even if he was running blinky lights, not enough lumens, so it's the clearly the cyclist's fault, right?
-mr. bill
I don't believe the 'lowered visibility' caused by a cloudy day and drizzle is a strong mitigating factor in this incident.
As for the A-pillar being a potential factor - remember that in the UK the driver sits on the RIGHT HAND SIDE of the car, so when her car was angled, she might have glanced leftwards for signs of incoming traffic, but a small chunk of her view was blocked/obscured by the A-pillar. There was obviously no cars on the road, but not seeing the cyclist could really have been a matter of bad timing and sheer coincidence.
I'm not saying that's what happened, but it's certainly a (tiny) possibility.
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I was going to reply that we could see clearly what he was wearing in the video post-accident - so why even question it? I was leaving my office so I just forgot about it until today.
I don't believe the 'lowered visibility' caused by a cloudy day and drizzle is a strong mitigating factor in this incident.
As for the A-pillar being a potential factor - remember that in the UK the driver sits on the RIGHT HAND SIDE of the car, so when her car was angled, she might have glanced leftwards for signs of incoming traffic, but a small chunk of her view was blocked/obscured by the A-pillar. There was obviously no cars on the road, but not seeing the cyclist could really have been a matter of bad timing and sheer coincidence.
I'm not saying that's what happened, but it's certainly a (tiny) possibility.
I don't believe the 'lowered visibility' caused by a cloudy day and drizzle is a strong mitigating factor in this incident.
As for the A-pillar being a potential factor - remember that in the UK the driver sits on the RIGHT HAND SIDE of the car, so when her car was angled, she might have glanced leftwards for signs of incoming traffic, but a small chunk of her view was blocked/obscured by the A-pillar. There was obviously no cars on the road, but not seeing the cyclist could really have been a matter of bad timing and sheer coincidence.
I'm not saying that's what happened, but it's certainly a (tiny) possibility.
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IME based on personal experience, and anecdotal evidence from friends (1st hand), if you're going to crash with a car, you're usually better off if you hit the car than if the car hits you. The best way is exactly like this event, where the rider hits the front end, the bike crumples and launches the rider over the hood (bonnet) where the rider can land and roll on the pavement. I know of one instance where a friend hit a car head on with a combined of about 75mph (car/50 bike/25) and the rider flew over clearing the car, and landed with a tuck and roll sustaining only very minor road rash.
So I'm impressed with this rider's aerobatics, but not totally surprised.
So I'm impressed with this rider's aerobatics, but not totally surprised.
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You all do realize the windshield struck the cyclist?
Hard.
(I hesitate to speculate what the camera was attached to for fear of sending this thread directly to the everlasting gobstopper thread.)
-mr. bill
Hard.
(I hesitate to speculate what the camera was attached to for fear of sending this thread directly to the everlasting gobstopper thread.)
-mr. bill
Last edited by mr_bill; 07-26-14 at 02:04 PM.
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Bright blue long sleeve jersey,
black cycling shorts with fuchsia trim,
white shoes with fuchsia trim,
black socks with fuchsia trim,
yellow lens cycling glasses with white rim and fuchsia temples,
black and white fingerless cycling gloves.
Riding a white Giant Propel Advanced 2.
But even if he was running blinky lights, not enough lumens, so it's the clearly the cyclist's fault, right?
-mr. bill
black cycling shorts with fuchsia trim,
white shoes with fuchsia trim,
black socks with fuchsia trim,
yellow lens cycling glasses with white rim and fuchsia temples,
black and white fingerless cycling gloves.
Riding a white Giant Propel Advanced 2.
But even if he was running blinky lights, not enough lumens, so it's the clearly the cyclist's fault, right?
-mr. bill
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#17
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Bright blue long sleeve jersey,
black cycling shorts with fuchsia trim,
white shoes with fuchsia trim,
black socks with fuchsia trim,
yellow lens cycling glasses with white rim and fuchsia temples,
black and white fingerless cycling gloves.
Riding a white Giant Propel Advanced 2.
But even if he was running blinky lights, not enough lumens, so it's the clearly the cyclist's fault, right?
-mr. bill
black cycling shorts with fuchsia trim,
white shoes with fuchsia trim,
black socks with fuchsia trim,
yellow lens cycling glasses with white rim and fuchsia temples,
black and white fingerless cycling gloves.
Riding a white Giant Propel Advanced 2.
But even if he was running blinky lights, not enough lumens, so it's the clearly the cyclist's fault, right?
-mr. bill
I still wouldn't call that attire laid out above highly visible in that kind of weather. I never said it was the cyclist's fault, but it certainly would be smart to be as visible as you can be when riding a bicycle with clothing and lighting. Again, fully the driver's fault, but I can still see how the cyclist was not easily noticed.
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Most left hooks are avoidable if you ride defensively enough. That means slowing down enough to give yourself options to avoid the collision. The rider in the video seemed to be going pretty fast and wasn't letting up for anything. I can't tell from the super wide angle lens if the car's turn signal was on the whole time. IMO if you see a turn signal you better assume they're going to hook you. Even better is to assume all cars are out to hook you. Bright front flashers certainly help . They'll see you but may still turn anyways.
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NOBODY, NOBODY drives like every approaching car is going to left (or right in jolly old) hook you. NOBODY, NOBODY, should ride that way either.
Stop blaming the victim.
-mr. bill
Last edited by mr_bill; 08-07-14 at 09:24 PM.
#20
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That kind of outcome is what most helmetless riders seem to think would be actually achievable because of their riding skills, not really getting hurt... NOT...
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That kind of thing is not actually a riding skill, but it IS a skill that can be practiced and learned. And if someone is really that concerned about head injuries, he really ought to put the effort in to learn basic break-falls and rolls.
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-mr. bill
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Doesn't do you a whole lot of good to be in the right legally and severely injured or dead. And BTW, cars travel at much higher speeds than bicycles so your anecdote about being in a left hook automobile accident is not particularly relevant here.
Last edited by Dunbar; 08-07-14 at 10:10 PM.
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IME based on personal experience, and anecdotal evidence from friends (1st hand), if you're going to crash with a car, you're usually better off if you hit the car than if the car hits you. The best way is exactly like this event, where the rider hits the front end, the bike crumples and launches the rider over the hood (bonnet) where the rider can land and roll on the pavement. I know of one instance where a friend hit a car head on with a combined of about 75mph (car/50 bike/25) and the rider flew over clearing the car, and landed with a tuck and roll sustaining only very minor road rash.
So I'm impressed with this rider's aerobatics, but not totally surprised.
So I'm impressed with this rider's aerobatics, but not totally surprised.