Lapse of judgement
Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 5:11 pm
Pootling across town to see a mate's new flat in Hammersmith, pull up at the side of the road to check map and get bearings (should've taken the Garmin 
) and realise I'm round the corner pointing the wrong way.
Out of the corner of my eye I spot a people carrier reversing towards me 50yards down the road, no worries I think, enough space for me to make a swift U turn and carry on my way.
Big mistake
Misjudge the U turn and end up paddling the bike backwards in the middle of the road perpendicular to the curbs which would have been ok except for the people carrier which, like an oil tanker, gently reversed into me and the bike, slowly knocking it over momentarily trapping my leg. Glad I wore my boots.
In the split second of realisation before the event, I found my self looking for the horn rather than pushing it, as the bike went over and lay on its side, the RH cylinder went a bit tractor noise as all the oil drained out and it took a further split second to remember how to work the kill switch (after pushing the starter button)...
All in all, no significant damage apparently done - the RH cylinder head has car paint on it, the LH head (which was mangled when it got knocked over when parked earlier this year) looks a bit worse for wear - glad I never got round to replacing it... The bottom bracket for the panniers took the load at the rear so mirrors and indicators didn't touch down. I was also hanging on which cushioned the fall... RH shin is a bit swollen but thankfully intact.
Got the bike on the paddock stand at the mo and nothing appears amiss at the rear
I guess we all have moments of cloudy judgement, it was pretty stupid to pull out behind a reversing car even though my London radar reckoned I had plenty of space and I gambled on the driver looking where she was going (I am now twice victim to a friendly lady driver of a large vehicle).
Hopefully thats my bi monthly moment and I can proceed enveloped in the field of invincibility which we all need to have...
Glad I keep the S scruffy and am not looking at a big bill for mangled plastics...
Ade
) and realise I'm round the corner pointing the wrong way.Out of the corner of my eye I spot a people carrier reversing towards me 50yards down the road, no worries I think, enough space for me to make a swift U turn and carry on my way.
Big mistake
Misjudge the U turn and end up paddling the bike backwards in the middle of the road perpendicular to the curbs which would have been ok except for the people carrier which, like an oil tanker, gently reversed into me and the bike, slowly knocking it over momentarily trapping my leg. Glad I wore my boots.
In the split second of realisation before the event, I found my self looking for the horn rather than pushing it, as the bike went over and lay on its side, the RH cylinder went a bit tractor noise as all the oil drained out and it took a further split second to remember how to work the kill switch (after pushing the starter button)...
All in all, no significant damage apparently done - the RH cylinder head has car paint on it, the LH head (which was mangled when it got knocked over when parked earlier this year) looks a bit worse for wear - glad I never got round to replacing it... The bottom bracket for the panniers took the load at the rear so mirrors and indicators didn't touch down. I was also hanging on which cushioned the fall... RH shin is a bit swollen but thankfully intact.
Got the bike on the paddock stand at the mo and nothing appears amiss at the rear
I guess we all have moments of cloudy judgement, it was pretty stupid to pull out behind a reversing car even though my London radar reckoned I had plenty of space and I gambled on the driver looking where she was going (I am now twice victim to a friendly lady driver of a large vehicle).
Hopefully thats my bi monthly moment and I can proceed enveloped in the field of invincibility which we all need to have...
Glad I keep the S scruffy and am not looking at a big bill for mangled plastics...
Ade
