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Sobering (riding in traffic)
Last Post 03/03/2014 01:03 AM by Craig Sinclair. 1 Replies.
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79pmooney

Posts:3180

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02/28/2014 01:31 PM
I just read the piece in Velonews about the burial of Kristof Goddaert. I knew he had been hit by a bus.  What I did not know was that he had crashed on railroad tracks and been thrown into its path.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/02/news/family-friends-teammates-lay-goddaert-to-rest-in-belgium_318219

I encounter two situations on many rides where, if things go bad, I will be tossed into the street.  Angles railroad tracks.  Portland has a bunch and I cross them regularly.  I hit the angled tracks years ago on Alaska Way in Seattle (those tracks were taken out 20 years ago) and went down mid-lane.  And opening car doors.  I've hit two and been tossed into the middle of the car lane each time.

A reminder to either get out there and claim your road space or be humble and maybe even stop to let traffic pass.  Being "safe" and staying to the right to not interfere with traffic can be the worst option.

Ben

 
hackmechanic

Posts:8

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03/03/2014 01:03 AM
I used to live in Toronto where street car tracks are ubiquitous. When you hit them just wrong it's like a hand comes out of the pavement, grabs on to your rear wheel, and throws it sideways. I remember ripping down Queen Street once and coming to an intersection with street car tracks branching off to the north and the light rain that was falling gave the tracks an exceptional grip on my rear wheel. I slid clear through the intersection and came to a stop under the bumper of a purple Cadillac. The biggest ex linebacker dude I ever did see got out, looked at his bumper to make sure I didn't scratch it, and then got back in his car and drove away, didn't spend a second looking at me. If I had scratched his bumper I'd rather have taken my chances with a bus. Tracks are vicious.

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