Observations and winter sunlight.

jimbothe · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Karma :

Hi all, just thought I would post this up after nearly helping wipe a fellow biker out this morning.
I feel bad, really bad as I feel it partly my fault but I will explain.
I was at the Mcdonalds roundabout, sitting in the normal rush hour queue on the B1083/A505 and let a car out to go back towards Saffron Walden (opposite way of travel to me) and before I knew what was happening a chap on a custom 125 was doing a endo next to my bus mirror.

He must have been filtering past the queue which I estimate to be roughly a mile or so long and I simply had not seen him in the mirrors as the morning sun was behind me and very bright and just at that wrong height so it gets in your face.

Anyway, all was well and apart from a button moment and a couple of harsh words between the chap and the car driver it all blew over with the custom rider going off hellbent in trying to kill himself round the roundabout and the car driver leaving two think lines of rubber on the road beside me.

Please, please make good obs when filtering past traffic. Be fully aware of the road layout and any junctions that may be coming up. Don't assume that because the traffic isn't going anywhere that no-one may pull out from a side junction or even do a U-turn.

You may be faster than a considerable number of cars, buses, lorries and trucks but I can assure you from personal experience that you are nowhere near as heavy or tough.

Also, be aware of the winter sun and the conditions that come with it. It can blind you in a instant, it can also blind other drivers like it did to me. I'm a constant checker, thats a person who is always looking behind and even I missed the guy on the custom due to weather conditions and I was sitting bloody still!

Keep the black stuff down and ride safe people. Thumbs Up

Edited for obligatory paint diagram.

https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b342/jgillard/paintdiagram.png
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anthony_r6 · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Karma :

So you were in the traffic, you let a car out and another bike filtering was almost hit by it because he wasn't expecting it? His own fault completely, it's something that we have to watch for as riders.
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felicity · Scooby Slapper Joined: 13 Jul 2011 Karma :

Sounds like it was entirely his fault. What else were you going to do, stop in front of the car to block it in?

He should have realised that a gap in a line of queuing traffic means a junction, and slowed to a more reasonable speed in time to stop.

jimbothe · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Karma :

I know it wasn't my fault but deep down you still feel a bit of guilt. Hence the post asking people to keep their obs up. Thumbs Up

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Izzbust · Derestricted Danger Joined: 24 May 2011 Karma :

nop · Scooby Slapper Joined: 12 Sep 2011 Karma :

Wait...he was filtering TOWARDS a roundabout AND not observing a junction he was passing while simultaneously ignoring a big car shaped gap in the traffic?

He was riding like a bell end. You should feel no guilt, it is not like you waved a fellow biker to pass you into on coming traffic. While we are all bros of the two wheeled fraternity you we are not responsible for others riding like a nobber.

I filter like a loon however even I am not dumb enough to do the above.

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Pete. · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

Emerging driver should have been checking for traffic BOTH ways, and the biker should have been more careful filtering past the junction.

The winter sun is a good point, even though it isn't winter. THe sun is very low in the sky and coupled with the damp roads/muchy screens, mirrors and visors created a lot of glare. This past week has been a lot harder to stay alive in than the whole of summer.
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132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good Very Happy

iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

trikeschick · Traffic Copper Joined: 14 Mar 2010 Karma :

There are some bikers who give bikers a bad name and there Are equally as many car drivers who give car drivers a bad name. But understand completely how you feel but defo wasn't your fault.

A wee reminder to us all, consider the impact our actions may have on others.
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