I had a real scare on the bike today. Its the first time I've actually been in a situation where I think I could have been seriously injured. More importantly, it was something completely out of my control.
I as riding down a dual carriage way doing the 50mph limit. I was about 30 yards behind a small van. As this van passed a bus, suddenly a big plank of timber came loose from the roof rack. It must have been at least 2 meters long and 12 inches wide. This bit of wood launched off it so fast I barely even saw it before it flew past. Fortunately, the bus sucked it behind it and out of my path.
I was a bit shocked at what had happened. Not far up the road the dual carriageway came to a set of lights. I pulled up next to the van, tapped on the window and shouted through that the guy had lost some timber a way back. The guy looked at me like I was a peice of dirt, and drove off. This seriously PLEASE DON'T SWEAR, THANKS :~) - NathanE me off. I felt like following the idiot and giving him a peice of my mind. But i couldn't be arsed. Was just glad I was ok.
Just reminded me how vulnerable I am on a bike, not just from my own actions, but also from 'tards like this on the road.
I as riding down a dual carriage way doing the 50mph limit. I was about 30 yards behind a small van. As this van passed a bus, suddenly a big plank of timber came loose from the roof rack. It must have been at least 2 meters long and 12 inches wide. This bit of wood launched off it so fast I barely even saw it before it flew past. Fortunately, the bus sucked it behind it and out of my path.
I was a bit shocked at what had happened. Not far up the road the dual carriageway came to a set of lights. I pulled up next to the van, tapped on the window and shouted through that the guy had lost some timber a way back. The guy looked at me like I was a peice of dirt, and drove off. This seriously PLEASE DON'T SWEAR, THANKS :~) - NathanE me off. I felt like following the idiot and giving him a peice of my mind. But i couldn't be arsed. Was just glad I was ok.
Just reminded me how vulnerable I am on a bike, not just from my own actions, but also from 'tards like this on the road.