I need a new bicycle, I think.

So they overtook and turned left in front of you? Remember to ride more aggresively, don't be all the way to the left.

Don't let a minor crash put you off cycling. I've done several thousand miles and only had one minor incident - in Stoke. Done more damage to his car then to me. Scratched his car down the right side, and took his wing mirror off. Again turned left in front of me.

Well I was coming up at the side of him and then he suddenly turned left and did not indicate, if I had been indicating I would have obviously slowed down and prevented anything from happening. I did not know what to do afterwards so I rang home then my mum was rowing on at me for not getting the police involved, I never took any details or anything I was too shocked to think, infact all I wanted to do was get back on my bike and be on my way but I could not ride it.
 
So where you going straight on? If so why weren't you to the right side of the road? Like I said, if you ride with more confidence you might have been ok. Don't let car drivers push you to the side of the road.
 
So where you going straight on? If so why weren't you to the right side of the road? Like I said, if you ride with more confidence you might have been ok. Don't let car drivers push you to the side of the road.

I was in the bike lane, I never knew I was supposed to move to the right side of the road on junctions, and I seen everyone else stopping at the left side were I do on the bike part. On one part to turn right I hold my arm out to say I am turning but cars still go past me I have to stop and wait sometimes :(. I dont think I'm capable of handling myself on busy roads. Just seems like I am causing too many people stress wanting to cycle and when I crashed even more so my mum got my uncle out looking for me to pick me up when he was ill but waiting in the wrong place so they proberbly angry at me, I dare not ride anymore incase I have another crash.
 
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Can you draw a pic in paint? So if you were turning right, why where you on the left? You should have been on the right side of the lane.
 
Can you draw a pic in paint? So if you were turning right, why where you on the left? You should have been on the right side of the lane.

I'll draw a pic, and I was going streight on.

jkkjh.jpg


I was going streight on, he was turning left but he did not indicate, I went into side of his as he pushed me against railings.
 
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Well if you don't feel safe whether it's busy or quiet, then you need to go on a bicycle course. I've been on the A500 to stoke...that's a 50mph dual carriageway. You just need to be visible and know what to do. Wearing a high viz jacket helps loads, on my last ride to Stoke with the viz jacket on 99.9% gave me a wide gap.

If you were going straight on you shouldn't be on the left, as other drivers presume you're turning left...they think you're not bothered to indicate. A "life saver" glance over your shoulders is important at junctions, as you need to know if someone might be edging you sideways/overtaking/turning. If you were in the correct lane then possibly this wouldn't have happened.
 
Well if you don't feel safe whether it's busy or quiet, then you need to go on a bicycle course. I've been on the A500 to stoke...that's a 50mph dual carriageway. You just need to be visible and know what to do. Wearing a high viz jacket helps loads, on my last ride to Stoke with the viz jacket on 99.9% gave me a wide gap.

If you were going straight on you shouldn't be on the left, as other drivers presume you're turning left...they think you're not bothered to indicate. A "life saver" glance over your shoulders is important at junctions, as you need to know if someone might be edging you sideways/overtaking/turning. If you were in the correct lane then possibly this wouldn't have happened.

So were was I supposed to go to go streight on if I cant be at side of road?

I was totally shocked, I've never crashed my bike into a car, hell I have never falen off my bike at all for years apart from when I breaked on my front lawn and skidded and went head first, I was really shocked it just made me think should I be on the roads as I am going to cause an accident aint I.

My phone got killed in the accident too, screen got totally smashed on it.

there.jpg


Thats were I crashed.
 
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ah right for some reason I thought crossroads. Pretty similar to my crash (driver turning left in front) On my accident traffic was stationary but he suddenly turned with no warning If he didn't indicate not much you can do. I guess the only thing I would recommend is keep an eye over your right shoulder, expect car drivers to overtake and turn in front of you. Perhaps if you use more of the road won't bash you out of the way (if they're unuable to overtake safetly they'll stay behind) I've found if you ride on the gutter car drivers squeeze past, but if you ride a little bit more to the right they still overtake, but only if there is no oncoming traffic.

I would expect the car driver to get you a new bike.

it just made me think should I be on the roads as I am going to cause an accident aint I

Don't let one accident put you off.
 
ah right for some reason I thought crossroads. Pretty similar to my crash (driver turning left in front) On my accident traffic was stationary but he suddenly turned with no warning If he didn't indicate not much you can do. I guess the only thing I would recommend is keep an eye over your right shoulder, expect car drivers to overtake and turn in front of you. Perhaps if you use more of the road won't bash you out of the way (if they're unuable to overtake safetly they'll stay behind) I've found if you ride on the gutter car drivers squeeze past, but if you ride a little bit more to the right they still overtake, but only if there is no oncoming traffic.

I would expect the car driver to get you a new bike.



Don't let one accident put you off.

See I never took any details, I will remember for next time, but I was just in shock I did not think about getting any details, my mum said I should have rang the police. When I get to college tomorrow I'll check on my bike I hope its still there and not damaged even more but I think halfords will fix it for free.
 
Bad luck on having a crash. Don't be too put off by it. I agree with the comments about road position, ride as though you belong on the road and hopefully cars will give you the necessary space and respect.

On the subject of your too small bike I would definitely go back to halfords as soon as possible, preferably with someone who commands a little respect and ask to speak to a manager. They should not have sold you a bike that is too small for you. They have a duty of care to ensure that they sell you the right product and unless you were told that it would be too small then they should rectify their mistake.
 
Bad luck on having a crash. Don't be too put off by it. I agree with the comments about road position, ride as though you belong on the road and hopefully cars will give you the necessary space and respect.

On the subject of your too small bike I would definitely go back to halfords as soon as possible, preferably with someone who commands a little respect and ask to speak to a manager. They should not have sold you a bike that is too small for you. They have a duty of care to ensure that they sell you the right product and unless you were told that it would be too small then they should rectify their mistake.

On the phone when I said about the size he said, its something I should have picked up when I bought the bike, I measured my inside leg or something and apparently its 32, take away 12 = 20, I think the frame is 19 or something? But I cant return it now, they also said after a months use they cant, I never realised I have had it that long.

I think I need to learn the roads on some course or something for cyclists because I dare not go into york as I dare not try using one part of the road in the pic below, I just worried about crossing over roads.

road.jpg
 
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On the phone when I said about the size he said, its something I should have picked up when I bought the bike, I measured my inside leg or something and apparently its 32, take away 12 = 20, I think the frame is 19 or something? But I cant return it now, they also said after a months use they cant, I never realised I have had it that long.

I would argue with them that it is not your job to spot the incorrect size but theirs as the retailers to sell you something that is fit for purpose. I would not hesitate to tell them how eager you are to communicate the level of service that you have received to their head office.

Unfortunately it is the type of thing that happens when you go to Halfords- they are the bike equivalent of PCworld or similar. I love my local bike shop and they reward my patronage by sorting me out with discounts and free stuff and solving problems quickly.
 
The people in Halfords are bloody idiots, much like those in high street PC retailers. Even specialist bike shops tell BS, as they want to sell old stock.

If you're the same height, inside leg, torso and arms as me then a small frame is too small.

I'd take the bike back, go first thing with the bike and make a ruckus. If a customer comes in and tell them do not buy from halfords as they'll sell you the wrong bike. Refuse to leave, and let them call the police. Trust me for the hassle they'll get, they'll just change it.

I can tell from the pictures alone if you're around 5'2-5'6 a small is right size. Although it's probably different geometry, here's link to Giant sizing guide. Check the length of the seat tube (axle of front chainset to seat post entry)

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/technology/compactroad_new/

Course TT length also effects sizing, but usually if you get the right size seat tube, top tube is pretty close, perhaps a minor change of the bar stem.

also if they say about the damage, tell them you crashed because you were sold the incorrect sized bike...
 
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I spent 10 quid on a new stem for it the other week which helped abit I think. I dont like starting arguments I'd much prefer my dad to take it on his own and argue with them coz my dad was telling me to say that I think I've been missold and that the service is not on but I dont like been a pain.
 
that I think I've been missold and that the service is not on but I dont like been a pain.

You're not a pain, you're standing up for yourself...why should you be conned into buying the wrong product, and believing the staff? Changing the head stem will help, but it still means the frame is too small.

You're 18 not 12, go with your dad but don't let him do all the talking.
 
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