Bicycle Trail Rant

Evan · 01-23-2009, 05:22 PM

shit. did you re-injure your shoulder?

.RJ · 01-23-2009, 05:27 PM

I dont *think* so since I've been doing strengthening exercises for 2 weeks but I wont know until monday when I have the PT check me out. It hurts like shit but it would probably hurt the same if I fell on the other shoulder too, and there's still inflammation/scar tissue healing up so any impact is going to hurt.

The doc said I could ride my road bike as long as I didnt crash....

Ginger · 01-23-2009, 05:35 PM

.RJ Wrote:The doc said I could ride my road bike as long as I didnt crash....

And here I missed my opportunity to call you on it.

I thought I was going to the hospital when the woman pulled out in front of us. I had nowhere to go but try and zig out of the way of her hood by cutting a wide arc. RJ had nowhere to go but around the back. Neither of us had time to stop. I thought it was fortunate that she saw us and stopped... until I saw RJ hit the deck. He ran out of room to skirt the back of the car, due to the lane of oncoming traffic. That sucked.

Riding on the road isn't the greatest... but it beats 150-200 miles a week on the same out and back trail.

Oh... and I really liked how all of the witnesses stopped for the accident, then figured out how to get around it and go home. That was quite nice of them.

.RJ · 01-23-2009, 05:47 PM

Ginger Wrote:Oh... and I really liked how all of the witnesses stopped for the accident, then figured out how to get around it and go home. That was quite nice of them.

Yeah that was quality. I was staring at the front bumper of something while I was on the ground, thanks for stopping. At least they didnt hit me too.

FWIW, this isnt going to stop me from riding on the roads. I havent ridden on the road in over 2 months, its possible I got a little lazy with my situational awareness - it was certainly the other drivers fault but avoidance is better than pointing fingers.

Apoc · 01-23-2009, 07:22 PM

Would it be insensitive to ask that you get a pic of the PT chick since you said she was hot?

Sijray21 · 01-23-2009, 08:32 PM

Apoc Wrote:Would it be insensitive to ask that you get a pic of the PT chick since you said she was hot?

agreed

glad to hear you're somewhat ok, i really hope no further damage was done to the shoulder Sad

i hope everything with the bike is ok, did you guys get a police report?

.RJ · 01-23-2009, 08:45 PM

I called the cops, they came out (took them about 10 minutes... ) and he wouldnt write a report. He said they dont write reports for "minor accidents". I have no idea how "personal injury" is a "minor accident". Probably because I told them I did not need an ambulance.

Either way a police report or a ticket isnt going to change the situation and she admitted fault right away to the officer - and I have a witness. If she tried to change her story later, then it wouldnt be hard to prove otherwise.

Feersty · 01-23-2009, 09:44 PM

.RJ Wrote:Unseasonably warm weather and the 1st ride outside of the new year (been riding on rollers for a few weeks)... I got hit riding down wilson blvd by a girl making a left turn and not paying attention. She almost took out ginger and then with nowhere to go I went right into her rear quarter panel. I was wearing a bright orange jacket too, somehow she missed a 180lb traffic cone (or maybe more like one of those traffic barrels) coming at her.

Fuck. My shoulder hurts a lot

Yes, she was asian.

When you approach an intersection do you pay attention to the crosswalk lights or do you act like you are another car but ride on the side? Did she have a green arrow or green yield?

.RJ · 01-23-2009, 09:47 PM

It wasnt a stoplight intersection - she was coming the other direction (4 lane road), making a left turn across traffic on to a side street.

<a class="postlink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=lincoln+st+and+wilson+blvd+arlington+va&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=48.641855,114.257812&ie=UTF8&ll=38.882444,-77.101602&spn=0.00071,0.001743&t=h&z=20">http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 3&t=h&z=20</a> (turn on satellite view)

Generally when I ride on the road I stay to the far right however if the speed limit is low and I can roll with traffic and there is a lot of cars turning on/off the road then I stay in the middle of the lane and just go with traffic - I find that I'm much more visible that way.

Today I was riding behind ginger, both of us single file on the right. The girl started to turn, he went right, I went left I lost the coin toss.

WRXtranceformed · 01-24-2009, 12:17 AM

I don't feel comfortable driving a car in northern VA thanks to poor drivers, I can't imagine riding a bicycle on the same roads. As long as you guys are aware of and okay with the risks, keep at it! I'm glad you didn't get hurt badly though bro. Fuck that though, you can't trust other people in metal slushboxes.

BLINGMW · 01-25-2009, 12:21 PM

.RJ Wrote:he wouldnt write a report.

That does seem kind of ridiculous... are bicyclists considered 2nd class citizens or something? :?

Ginger · 01-25-2009, 12:32 PM

BLINGMW Wrote:
.RJ Wrote:he wouldnt write a report.
That does seem kind of ridiculous... are bicyclists considered 2nd class citizens or something? :?

I was, and still am, pretty ticked off with this. They said that because it's a minor incident they just ensure that insurance information was exchanged... which is absurd. RJ got hit by a car. A two hundred pound two wheeled package was hit by a 3,500 pound four wheel Azn with a motor and it's a minor incident... right. You speed, run a stop sign, make an illegal turn, they're there to nail you for it. Need help? Forget it.

Sijray21 · 01-25-2009, 12:49 PM

Ginger Wrote:
BLINGMW Wrote:
.RJ Wrote:he wouldnt write a report.
That does seem kind of ridiculous... are bicyclists considered 2nd class citizens or something? :?

I was, and still am, pretty ticked off with this. They said that because it's a minor incident they just ensure that insurance information was exchanged... which is absurd. RJ got hit by a car. A two hundred pound two wheeled package was hit by a 3,500 pound four wheel Azn with a motor and it's a minor incident... right. You speed, run a stop sign, make an illegal turn, they're there to nail you for it. Need help? Forget it.

that is ridiculous, i'd file a complaint for recording purposes or if RJ wants to pursue this further

.RJ · 01-26-2009, 10:58 PM

Looks like the other drivers insurance company is accepting responsibility, so thats something...

I didnt have PT today, but go in tomorrow. Shoulder still hurting Sad

The bike rides fine but I'm a little worried about it now that its been crashed into a car - carbon fork and seat stays, wont give any warning if they fail. I may take it in to the bike lane this weekend and have it checked out.

Ginger · 01-26-2009, 11:15 PM

Won't worry me none! Give it to me after they buy you a Madone!

**Mike** · 01-26-2009, 11:19 PM

Ginger Wrote:Madone!

I've been browsing bikes recently and have see the new Madone in the flesh... hot, hot, hot.

I think I'm picking up a Marin Muirwoods 29er.

**xvxax** · 01-27-2009, 12:34 AM

You drive all the way to Burke to go to the worst bike shop in Northern Virginia?

.RJ · 01-27-2009, 08:21 AM

xvxax Wrote:You drive all the way to Burke to go to the worst bike shop in Northern Virginia?

:?:

So far, the bike lane has been the best shop in the area I've used. They're extremely helpful, get work done on time and there's no BS.

**Mike** · 01-27-2009, 08:22 AM

.RJ Wrote:
xvxax Wrote:You drive all the way to Burke to go to the worst bike shop in Northern Virginia?

:?:

So far, the bike lane has been the best shop in the area I've used. They're extremely helpful, get work done on time and there's no BS.

what in the hell just happened?

Ginger · 01-27-2009, 09:05 AM

I concur - I've had really good experiences with Bike Lane. I do like to think that I've got a vague idea of what I'm talking about, since I've worked in two of the areas major shops, including management in one of them... There are FAR worse shops around. Not to mention that Bike Lane is very involved in the community and puts a lot of effort event planning, which gets them a lot of extra points in my book.

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