I've done the same thing, looking back, but I was able to steer right. A mirror does help, but I don't thinking looking back helps at all. After a couple close calls, I just take more of the lane to make cars go around me. Haven't been hit yet.

And it's important to learn from every crash.

Good thing you missed the pole. Hope you recover quick.

My two worst crashes were both caused by me and only involved me.
Nice bright sunny day. Little or no traffic. Forgetting to watch for a pot hole I successfully evaded the previous few weeks...

Mangled my right arm in '95 and broke a rib last summer that way.

I know how you feel about the self-inflicted crash. I was riding across a bridge I go over damned near every day, but this was when I had just started commuting. The bridge deck is very busy, and there's a sidewalk behind a jersey barrier that nobody every walks over, so I take that. I have to pay pretty close attention on that sidewalk because there's the jersey on the one side and another concrete barrier with a high fence on the other. Anyway, I had just left the bridge span and was on the sidewalk adjacent to the exit ramp where it widens considerably. It was dark, and I looked down between my legs at my rear wheel to see if my spoke light, which sometimes switches off for no reason (hate that) was still on. When I looked down, I drifted right, brushed up against the fence, overcorrected left and hit the jersey barrier and went down. Somehow both feet unclipped from the SPDs, but I don't know if that was before or after the crash.

Scraped/bruised my knees and right shoulder pretty good, but here's the funny thing--no tear or even sign of damage in my pants or jacket (my gear's tougher'n me!). Broke a spoke on the front wheel, but managed to ride home okay. Underplayed the whole thing to my wife so she wouldn't tell me to stop riding at night (she did anyway, and I didn't anyway). Felt like a moron: When is a safety feature not a safety feature? When you check it while moving through a cattle chute, thus making yourself unsafe!

Glad you're okay. How's the bike, by the way?

PS--Love my bar end mirror. Have on on each bike. I believe it makes a very big difference in my rides. I don't rely on it exclusively, but it helps a lot.

PPS--I see you did comment on the bike--broke some mounts and scraped your tape. That was the big casualty of my crash: I loved the tape that came with the bike. Found something good enough, but not perfect. Next time I'm going to hold out for something more like the original. Hopefully, that'll be because the tape wears out, not because I tore it up.

lol -- With you, it's pot holes. For me, speed bumps in parking lots. Through the years, three of these bad boys have sent me to the turf. Fortunately no serious injuries from those three dances!

Your video, an instant classic!

Glad you were not seriously hurt. When I saw that light pole, I thought ... this is going to get ugly.

You're not alone. Most bike accidents are self-inflicted ... and who hasn't had an accident?

Great video! Ouch!

I agree that a mirror could have prevented your misadventure.

happens to the best of us. Hows the bike ??? It seemed like it hit the light post

Yowza! Feel better!

A couple of weeks ago I attempted to move over to avoid a grate, thinking the white line painted on the road was just paint. Nope. It was also a raised portion of the asphalt...about an inch high. It was enough to not allow my tire to go up and over. Had a nice wobble for about twenty feet before I finally ground my front sidewall to a stop.

The bike is fine. I've put another 45miles on it since. The only damage was scraped up handle bar tape. I think it was already on its side sliding before it hit the pole. It also fell on the side with the pannier full of my clothes so it had a little pillow to land on. Unlike me.

I've crashed twice in the last week commuting on icy streets. First was my fault, as it was clearly freezing rain and I made too sharp a turn. Today's ice was totally invisible. No recent precip, just frozen condensation. Both pretty minor spills, but I'm getting too old for this.

Love the video!

Good thing you didn't hit the pole!! You always record when you ride?