First Fall

markens2 · 12-02-2014 11:54am #1

So I fell off the bike for the first time yesterday. I hit black ice and the arse came from under me. A car was overtaking me at the time and he ran over the bottle that I had in my hand at the time so he was pretty close to me. I was in so close to the edge because I swerved in as he was too close to me. He stopped his car and looked out the window at me and just drove off.
Lucky enough to get away with scrapes and bruises and a very sore arse.
Just wondering is this normal that a driver would just drive off when a cyclist is sprawled on the ground.

Four cars just went around me until an elderly woman stopped to see if I was okay.

Ah well it's an excuse to buy new gear.

No Pants · 12-02-2014 12:16pm

It's a ****ty thing to do, but I'm not sure if it's illegal. I'd like to think I would stop, put on the flashers and get out to see if I could help. If anything, a following driver would be more likely to spot the car and take action rather than run over a driver on the ground.

Iwantone · 12-02-2014 12:16pm

Its normal yes.

markens2 · 12-02-2014 12:50pm

It's a pain in the arse. In more ways than one.

krissovo · 12-02-2014 1:00pm

In Ireland its very normal they drive away, even if they clip you and cause it they have driven away in my experience.

Strangely in the US its the polar opposite, mostly they stop and check you out.

smiggyontour · 12-02-2014 1:36pm

markens2 wrote: »

So I fell off the bike for the first time yesterday. I hit black ice and the arse came from under me. A car was overtaking me at the time and he ran over the bottle that I had in my hand at the time so he was pretty close to me. I was in so close to the edge because I swerved in as he was too close to me. He stopped his car and looked out the window at me and just drove off.
Lucky enough to get away with scrapes and bruises and a very sore arse.
Just wondering is this normal that a driver would just drive off when a cyclist is sprawled on the ground.

Four cars just went around me until an elderly woman stopped to see if I was okay.

Ah well it's an excuse to buy new gear.

Did you do much damage to the bike ?

Wishbone Ash · 12-02-2014 1:46pm

markens2 wrote: »

...Just wondering is this normal that a driver would just drive off when a cyclist is sprawled on the ground

A driver struck me at speed seriously injuring me and drove off (I had right of way). Guilt got the better of her and she returned to the scene 20 minutes later.

I had a silly clipless incident a few months back and several people stopped when I just wanted everyone to go away! Mortified!

I came off twice in black ice but there was no one around. I'd like to think people would stop. I suppose if a cyclist gets on his feet fairly quickly they assume they are ok. I'd stop myself if I was driving even if the cyclist seemed fine as the bike may be not be usable and they may require a lift.

markens2 · 12-02-2014 1:47pm

Bent the rear mechanism thingy. That was about it. LBS fixed in the space of an hour and didn't charge. Great service. Would make me think twice about buying gear online. Am I allowed to mention the name of the LBS?? I have no connection to them.

Darkglasses · 12-02-2014 1:52pm

markens2 wrote: »

Am I allowed to mention the name of the LBS?? I have no connection to them.

Yes, as long you have no connection that's fine

Wishbone Ash · 12-02-2014 1:55pm

markens2 wrote: »

Bent the rear mechanism thingy...

A little tip......after an accident, try out you lowest gear prior to needing it to make sure it's aligned properly. I didn't realise I slighty bent mine after a minor fall. I didn't use the lowest gear for a few weeks but when I did (at the church in Howth) the RD jockey wheels caught in the spokes and got churned up.

jinkypolly · 12-02-2014 2:02pm

If I have a negative experience with a LBS am I allowed to name them? This didn't seem to be the case previously.

RV · 12-02-2014 2:02pm

markens2 wrote: »

..looked out the window at me and just drove off..

That's a shame and seems very uncaring.
Look at it this way - your bum will get better but the driver will remain a tosser.

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

...a silly clipless incident...

Not even going to comment on this. Well, except to say that I am sorry you fell off and hope you are okay.

markens2 · 12-02-2014 2:03pm

Cool it's Bikeworx in Celbridge. Lovely lads and actually go out of their way not to fleece you. Highly recommend them

Darkglasses · 12-02-2014 2:19pm

jinkypolly wrote: »

If I have a negative experience with a LBS am I allowed to name them? This didn't seem to be the case previously.

I've sent a PM answering this as best I can, if anybody else wants to see it feel free to PM me. I'd just rather not derail the thread with it

Alek · 12-02-2014 2:21pm

A little tip......after an accident, try out you lowest gear prior to needing it to make sure it's aligned properly. I didn't realise I slighty bent mine after a minor fall. I didn't use the lowest gear for a few weeks but when I did (at the church in Howth) the RD jockey wheels caught in the spokes and got churned up.

Exactly the same happened to me, within 2 hours, on my first Audax. I've bent it back and finished the ride on 3 gears

07Lapierre · 12-02-2014 3:37pm

jinkypolly wrote: »

If I have a negative experience with a LBS am I allowed to name them? This didn't seem to be the case previously.

You can also name LBS that provide a positive experience!

check_six · 12-02-2014 3:53pm

I had someone do a right hook manoeuvre when I was going through a junction. In my effort to stop I ended up sliding the bike along the ground coming to a rest beside the car doing the turn in front of me. Like in your case, the driver and passenger just slowed for a beat, looked at me on the ground, and took off. Was your guy an as$hat driving some kind of motor vehicle? Yes? Maybe it's the same guy! (albeit my incident took place a number of years ago).

Another time I was run into by a car coming out of a car park. I was sent flying, but it was the bike that got the worst of it with a mashed front wheel. In the end the driver was a decent human being who did the right thing and sorted everything out. However, when I initially bounced up off the ground, I appealed to some people who were walking nearby to ask if they saw the crash. They were standing there statue-like with a shocked look on their face, so it's fair to say they did, but when I asked for help, they burst into life again, shook their heads, and scurried away. Thanks guys!

Koobcam · 12-02-2014 4:42pm

I had an accident one time which wash;t caused by a car. Hit the ground at around 50kph and got up with blood all over my legs, arms, face etc. I was wearing glasses at the time and was trying to find them in the middle of the road. Three or four cars passed me until finally one came to a stop. The driver pointed to the spot on the road where my glasses were and, obviously not concerned that I was bleeding all over the road, he just drove on. This was in Hong kong, so it's not just Ireland that people don't stop.

RV · 12-02-2014 4:46pm

Its fair to say that lots of drivers stop too and can be very considerate and helpful. I have been offered help plenty of times.

Dancor · 12-02-2014 6:28pm

I was knocked down yesterday morning in my estate. While I was on the ground in front of the car at fault, 4 cars indicated around me as if I was some inconvenience on the road.

One of the cars belongs to a chap that lives on my road who seen me leave our road. And I know he knew it was me who had been knocked down because he had acknowledged me with a wave only a minute before when he pulled out of his spot. Some ****ing neighbours.

gallag · 12-02-2014 7:17pm

What do you want people to do? If you are laying there unconscious am am sure people would stop but if you are up what do you expect? People are still going to work etc and if you are coverd in blood no way would you get in my car lol, phone an ambulance ffs.

sullzz · 12-02-2014 7:25pm

markens2 wrote: »

Cool it's Bikeworx in Celbridge. Lovely lads and actually go out of their way not to fleece you. Highly recommend them

Great lads, that's my lbs too.

Darkglasses · 12-02-2014 7:45pm

I would certainly think asking if you were ok or needed help would be the only decent thing to do if you saw someone physically injured on the road or anywhere else (unless they already had assistance). Could have broken their phone or be in shock etc.

markens2 · 12-02-2014 10:22pm

Well if they're in such a rush how did they all have the time to slow right down, look at me and then drive on. I have stopped on a number of occasions for lads with punctures etc. Maybe naïveté to think others are of a like mind.

seamus · 12-02-2014 10:41pm

It's the "ah shure he's grand, and if I stop it'll be a big pile of hassle" effect. Same if they cause an accident, but you didn't come into contact with the car. They don't want the hassle so they piss off.

I also suspect that banned and uninsured people are disproportionately involved in minor incidents, since they're crap drivers, so they're more likely to make a run for it. Hence why this driving off phenomenon seems so common.

I'd stop, but only because I know what it's like. If I was driving by some woman who tripped on the path, I wouldn't stop (unless she was elderly or it seemed bad) and that's probably how lots of drivers feel about cyclists.

No Pants · 13-02-2014 8:29am

seamus wrote: »

I also suspect that banned and uninsured people are disproportionately involved in minor incidents, since they're crap drivers, so they're more likely to make a run for it. Hence why this driving off phenomenon seems so common.

Add to that that they're more likely to take other shortcuts; no tax, NCT, bad tyres, etc.

First Fall

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