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Monday evening, shut the laptop and get some fresh air on the road bike. 8 miles from home for the North East contingent I was between Riding Mill Roundabaout heading towards Stocksfield to just loop round Bywell and home to Hexham. a Massive bang and I found myslef sailing through the air, thinking this is going to hurt. Luckily landed on the grass verge rather than the road, saw a white transit hooning down the road, estimate 50 mph. Anyway be careful out there, I was nearly another sad statistic. Have a fractured rib,back and lacerated liver and feel absolutely battered. Police & NHS all brilliant!
Jeez - heal fast.
Hopefully the Police can find some CCTV to track the driver down
He did stop, as did many other motorists. I'm sure he will get prosecuted.
bloomin 'eck!
Glad you got away with minimal damage (all things considered).
More importantly.... hows the bike?
Mate put my bike in my garage, have not looked yet. He said it looked ok! Its a 2006 Sworks Tarmac, which I have loved, fingers crossed.
Ooof, sounds like a big crash. Glad you're (relatively) OK.
He did stop, as did many other motorists. I’m sure he will get prosecuted.
From this I will assume you're still high on the morphine. Hopefully you can get a new bike out of his insurance, though (assuming the current one is damaged, which it surely must be?).
Glad he stopped. Was going to say more UNlucky to encounter hit & run scumbag!
SWORKS? Sounds .... carbon..? Like my lovely RM Solo, which only started to show cracks after 2 weeks. 🙁 Get it properly checked
Healing vibes.
Keep on the police to push for a prosecution, that will help with any civil claim for damages.
Glad you are in one piece. Heal well. I know that road and vehicles don't half hammer down it at times. Sounds like a nice bike, albeit a nice updated version on insurance sounds like a win. Whilst it may look OK, if it's carbon I'd insist on getting it thoroughly checked over (x-rayed if possible) by a decent LBS. If any doubt whatsoever, insist on a replacement frame.
Oooft, glad you are relatively OK.
Heal fast.
It's a weird piece of road - nice and wide but I think that gives some drivers the impression they don't need to move over to pass cyclists. I do not like riding on it at all - I use the footpaths where ever I can when I'm on it on the MTB.
Glad you're still with us. Scary were you hit from behind? Phone use? - I got hit a good few years ago from the side on a roundabout. The old duffer said he'd pay privately for my kit rather than insurance - think it was a shock when I billed him for my £800 wheels and £300 of damaged clothing (alu bike)
Its a 2006 Sworks Tarmac
If carbon, don't even think of accepting anything less than a new bike, even if you get it fully scanned and approved. It's the only way they'll learn if it hurts them in the pocket.
Ouch.
Hows your back - got mine busted 5 1/2 years ago by a driver - spent 6 1/2 weeks in hospital. Must say I was out of it for 3 weeks on a cocktail of drugs.
Only just started road riding again last September (just stuck to MTB after accident), but I'm really picky on my routes now
Heal fast.
Stoned probably
The amount of buildery types who come ito work stinking of skunk is shocking really, then they get in their buildery type weapon of choice and off they go.
rode home after 7pm last night and the wafts of weed coming out of cars was concerning
Hope you heal ok and suffer no long lasting pain and limitations
Had a close one today with a lorry that decided not to slow down on a narrow country lane, had to come to total stop on verge and even then didn't have much space.
Heal fast OP
It’s a weird piece of road – nice and wide but I think that gives some drivers the impression they don’t need to move over to pass cyclists
Roads are weird things. Some busy roads are fine, because they're busy and wide. Some fast roads are fine because they are wide and well sighted. Some narrow roads are ok because drivers have to wait. But there are certain combinations that are really dangerous and it's not the obvious ones you'd think.
The old duffer said he’d pay privately for my kit rather than insurance – think it was a shock when I billed him for my £800 wheels and £300 of damaged clothing (alu bike)
A mate of mine had this - hit by a driver pulling out of a side road (his priority so entirely the driver's fault, witnesses etc.
Driver, anxious to avoid insurance premium rises, offered to pay for the written off bike. He pointed out that it was a £10,000 S-Works. Plus his kit, plus his injuries would mean he would be off work for a while (self-employed) so he'd be claiming for loss of earnings too.
Suddenly the insurance option was taken up. Final bill was over £25,000.
OP: best wishes, heal up quick and good luck on the replacement bike.
Thanks all for the well wishes. Just to clarify I was hit from behind, clear open road, broad daylight, sun behind us so nothing to affect his view. Police mentioned at scene he said he was reaching down for a water bottle,he should have seen me well before so yes possible phone use. He is also local so would know that road very well. Police are calling me at the weekend.
Just checked bike, rear derailier knocked off, rear wheel buckled, It is a carbon frame and seems to have a crack on the underside of top tube, not skilled enough to know if structural or just the paint. I have his insurers details from the police, I'm sure I just have my bike on the contents cover, so not sure what I do now? Help appreciated.
From the roundabout thats a fairly long straight-ish stretch before the turn off toward the station, heading east as well so no sun in his eyes whatsoever.
Is it worth getting an LBS to do a replacement value assessment to present to his insurer? I wouldn't take any chances with a broken carbon frame or the next ride it could be worse for you.
The amount of buildery types who come ito work stinking of skunk is shocking really, then they get in their buildery type weapon of choice and off they go.
Wow!
Heel fast OP.
I’m sure I just have my bike on the contents cover, so not sure what I do now? Help appreciated.
Firstly, ensure that YOU are OK. Any injuries? I'm not saying to make up a load of whiplash stuff but in the heat of the moment / adrenaline / shock etc, it's easy to leap to your feet and appear fine and then you wake up the next morning and can't move.
The bike - get it to a local reputable bike shop and tell them it's been involved in an accident and you want an insurance valuation for repair / replacement. They'll probably charge for it so keep receipts to claim that back too.
Keep in touch with the police. It's easy for stuff like this to get filed under the "no-one was really injured, it's just a cyclist, it's just an accident..." Some of that of course depends on how much you want the guy to be prosecuted and what they think they can charge him. At most, from your description, I reckon you're looking at Careless Driving and they may not be interested in pursuing that if he's already stopped, apologised, offered up insurance details and you're uninjured.
Check what insurance you have. Home insurance might cover a lot of it - do you have British Cycling or Cycling UK membership? They're both renowned for their expertise in dealing with Careless/Dangerous Driving claims. Otherwise there are several specialist firms who might take it on as a No Win, No Fee basis. You might not even need them if his insurance play ball but be prepared for them to suddenly backtrack a bit when they realise that "bike" = something more than a £200 Halfords thing.
similar story here, cant really share until its sorted with the old bill.
its been nearly 3 months and im only just getting back out on the road 🙁
Contact Leigh Day ASAP. They’ll take care of things for you. They are the specialist cycling firm that BC use. Won’t cost you.
They’re really good people, and mostly cyclists themselves. Not a sales pitch I’m not linked to them at all
rear derailier knocked off, rear wheel buckled, It is a carbon frame and seems to have a crack on the underside of top tube
New bike time. If it’s had enough force to crack the frame, there can be significant unseen damage to other components. Anyone reputable will be unable to declare that bike roadworthy. The fork/bar and stem are particular need chucking. Perhaps other components can be salvaged. But for the purposes of this, you need to start looking at the current Tarmac models.
If you’ve got a cracked 2006 carbon frame not one component that hat fits that frame will fit the available replacement (2021 S-Works).
New bike will be cheaper than a new frame
Standards eh?
Meantime, heal well.
Glad you're alive!!
He said it looked ok! Its a 2006 Sworks Tarmac,
Except it obviously isn't. It's definitely new bike time courtesy of someone else's insurance.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
This sounds terrifying....mainly as its an 'out of nowhere' scenario which you can't predict....
Wondering whether I should look at a Garmin Varia for a little more confidence(?!) out on our awful roads....