Close call....
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:44 pm
Had a nice little ride today. Cambridge and back on the back roads and then one of my favourite local back roads. It’s been 30 years about since my last road bike incident and I suppose I’m getting a little smug with the hot knife through butter and bring it home safe balancing mantra, I use to stop me going really quickly.
Any way it’s a pretty tight and twisty narrow road, no centre line markings and low hedges that I know really well. I’m approaching a builder’s van looking to time my pass.... As he twists right I get a reasonable look across his front and the road looks clear, so I’m running towards the outside back of him to peak round as soon as the road twists left when he swerves left to the verge leaving me outside him facing the fast approaching oncoming car....
For a split second it didn’t look good but I think we both managed to squeeze and inch or two and he flashed past.
Any way I’m writing this up to try and get the message through to myself and it won’t hurt for others to be reminded also, that pride comes before a fall and that even if I think I’m riding safe the situation can suddenly change.
Any way it’s a pretty tight and twisty narrow road, no centre line markings and low hedges that I know really well. I’m approaching a builder’s van looking to time my pass.... As he twists right I get a reasonable look across his front and the road looks clear, so I’m running towards the outside back of him to peak round as soon as the road twists left when he swerves left to the verge leaving me outside him facing the fast approaching oncoming car....
For a split second it didn’t look good but I think we both managed to squeeze and inch or two and he flashed past.
Any way I’m writing this up to try and get the message through to myself and it won’t hurt for others to be reminded also, that pride comes before a fall and that even if I think I’m riding safe the situation can suddenly change.
Boils down to be either over confident OR switching off!