Road cycling does expose you to incompetent and dangerous drivers. I passed this particular spot on my road bicycle less than an hour before this serious crash. I noted that there was so much frozen crap on the road that much of the time I was out in the lane, the shoulder was not rideable. I turned off 100 meters before the exact place where this collision occurred, there is a main road there (the Craigville Road mentioned in the article) that's in the sunlight and just past that intersection there's a .25 mile section of deep shade (the ridge above the road means the sun never hits that section). I was wary of how bad the road surface would be in the shady spot on Route 17M where the minivan lost control and slid into this bus. The road was so encrusted before that I figured the shady section would be even worse, and apparently that was the case.

That storm was mostly ice here, the ice was resistant to the road salt on some of the back roads to the point where I had to turn around twice and find alternate routes because the ice had not melted on the tarmac by noon, and it was still in the low 20's at that point, so the ice lingered. Should be better today.

Obviously the 17 year old driver of the mini-van learned a lesson about winter driving that day. Too bad he almost killed himself (and others) in the process. I'm sure that had I been there I could have been involved. Glad I missed it. I will stay off that main road after a snowstorm, the shade from the ridge of Goosepond Park keeps the ice on the road on the shoulder there for a day or two. With that wide shoulder when the road is dry 17M is very safe. After a storm, forget it. Duly noted. Different post-storm route next time for sure, one where cars aren't going 50 mph.

That's why it's Luck of the Draw weenies. Hopefully you learn lessons like I did yesterday BEFORE you get killed. I've been riding for 20 years and I still learn them. There are many lessons road cycling has to teach you, they often involve crashing (hopefully not with a motor vehicle or immoveable object) and there may not be an easier way to learn them. Once you get it through your skull (like that riding over black ice is a bad idea) you never forget them, and you are safer on the road.

Do you twitter too? TMI and way obvious.

looky here, a sockpuppet!

Glad to hear you're sixth sense kicked in there.


BTW, next time you make a serious thread, add "weenies" to the title. More people will read it

That 17 year old boy I mentioned in that crash story from the minivan died tonight. The only difference between my teen driving experience and his is I was luckier.

All things considered, I'm glad I missed that crash. 45 minutes later and I would have been right there.

I don't need Twitter. I have BF.

pcad, what is the link to your blog

www.bikeforums.net

That really sucks. He would have been graduating next year. I can't imagine how heartbreaking that must be for the family, his friends, and his classmates.

A few years ago, I witnessed an accident that caused a tanker truck to explode in to a mushroom cloud of fire, and another car to go spiraling through the air like a torpedo. I was about 10 cars behind the accident when it happened. Later that year, I was almost hit head on while riding, when a truck decided to pass (coming towards me) in a no passing zone. Both events were very shocking reminders not to take life for granted. It may be cliche, but life really can change - or end - in the blink of an eye.

Go get yourself a towel and use it behind your ears, sonny. I've spent more time than that waiting for my wife to come out of the portajon.

I was a trooper in N.C. for awhile. Drivers are always dangerous. Now with the added cell phones, GPS systems, etc.. it only becomes worse. Don't follow to close, don't drink as little as one beer and drive, drive at a reasonable speed, and take driving seriously. Best driver training, is learning to drive a motorcycle(any brand). You will be ALERT, or you won't be around long!!

Pcad, even though you loathe using it, sometimes day's it's best to use the trainer.

It's sad the kid died.

I am well aware of this. Can't do it. I'd go insane. It's outdoors or no ride, that's the policy. The longest I've been off the bike in 4 years is about 3 days.

I will be focusing on staying off busier roads until they are completely clear in the future however. That accident drove home the wisdom of that. Fortunately I am generally riding early AM or mid-day (during the week) when traffic is very light. Of course, this (fatal) accident occurred at 12:45PM on a perfectly sunny day.

I ride mostly country rodes with little car traffic and often go miles without seeing a car but I always wonder what is more dangerous- A busy road with lots of cars but where drivers need to concentrate more of country roads where there are fewer cars but maybe the drivers are less aware.

When I started motorcycling 5 years ago, I got that ST1300 as my first motorcycle. The sturm und drang I endured on motorcycle weenie websites for choosing such a large and powerful bike as my first bike was a bit ridiculous, but whatever. I took the MSF course (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) and mastered the ST on local roads here (it's rural) while gradually phasing in busier traffic situations. Within 90 days I was riding the bike to Manhattan, so that worked. But what really helped me was my 15+ years of prior road bicycling experience. Nobody had to tell me that you are invisible to many cars on the motorcycle, every bicyclist who rides regularly knows that. That's instinctual after years of road cycling. I strongly feel that awareness was a HUGE factor in helping me ride that motorcycle safely for the first five years.

I agree with Whoosshhy, motorcyclist skills will make you a better driver. And bicycling skills will make you a better motorcyclist. Actually the handling similarities between a 16 lb racing bike and a 700 lb motorcycle are rather fascinating.