Yesterday, I headed out (6:30 AM – just barely light) for a group ride Sunday morning, and I was in a 2 lane traffic circle and about 15 feet behind a 1200 BMW who was in the right lane (I was in the inside (left) lane. For no reason at all, the BMW went down, driver flipped onto grass on edge, bike hit curb and bounced back, flipping twice. Since I was already in a hard left turn, it was really hard to turn left further. Bike hit me, and left two scrapes on rear fender, about the size of the thumb.
BMW driver was OK (I don’t know why, because he really took a bounce) but bike itself went into about 50 pieces, including both hard side bags completely off, and top trunk just hanging by some scrap or wires. The BMW would not start, so driver & I rolled it into median for him to call a wrecker. I ask the driver for his name, but there was an un-kind response. (Even after I helped him pick up most of the parts and put them in a SUV belong to an onlooker. I failed to take his plate number, but it was a Maryland plate starting with letter “K” and I’ll check the BMW dealer (only one within 40 or 50 miles) to see if the bike showed up there.
I’ll have to check what repair and paint will cost for my trike, but they will probably have to paint whole fender. I really can’t file an insurance claim as I had a very large claim about 1 1//2 years ago. I’m afraid to try touch-up paint, as I’ve never had any luck with it in the past. If I would have driven over the BMW, I’m sure I may have been a whole lot more damage to my trike, even the possibility flipping the trike and probably putting me on the ground and into the center of the traffic island. Went on to group ride and had a beautiful ride thru MD, VA & WV. In fact, by far, it was the best group ride I’ve ever been on. Spectacular roads through rural country – in 300 miles, we were probably only on divided highways for 15 or 20 miles.
Ride broke up about 5:30 pm (dark) and I had about a 60 miles left to get home – since it was so late I decided to superslab the ride. In medium traffic, center lane (of 3 lanes one direction) going 75 mph, out of nowhere here is a deer headed for my lap. (I absolutely did not see her, until she was a couple feet away.) I only had time to grip the handlebars tightly. Wham!! It sounded like a baseball bat hitting my trike, but no effect on steering. Looked in the mirror, but did not see deer. I’m not sure if she made it across the next lane – and I don’t see how that was possible, but I know she was going to have a very sore leg.
When I got home, checked the fender and there was a spot of heavy dirt/mud about the size of a volley ball, with just a little hair in it. Wiped it off, and it does not look like any paint damage or cracked fiberglass. I was so lucky. A direct strike probably would have done in the bike, but if I would have ended up on the ground (I am ATGATT) and with the traffic there was, I could have been struck and don’t even want to think of that outcome!
I thank God that both the events came out as they did. I don’t think the outcome of either event will change how I ride (defensively), and it was just pure luck the “positive” outcome of what happened.
BMW driver was OK (I don’t know why, because he really took a bounce) but bike itself went into about 50 pieces, including both hard side bags completely off, and top trunk just hanging by some scrap or wires. The BMW would not start, so driver & I rolled it into median for him to call a wrecker. I ask the driver for his name, but there was an un-kind response. (Even after I helped him pick up most of the parts and put them in a SUV belong to an onlooker. I failed to take his plate number, but it was a Maryland plate starting with letter “K” and I’ll check the BMW dealer (only one within 40 or 50 miles) to see if the bike showed up there.
I’ll have to check what repair and paint will cost for my trike, but they will probably have to paint whole fender. I really can’t file an insurance claim as I had a very large claim about 1 1//2 years ago. I’m afraid to try touch-up paint, as I’ve never had any luck with it in the past. If I would have driven over the BMW, I’m sure I may have been a whole lot more damage to my trike, even the possibility flipping the trike and probably putting me on the ground and into the center of the traffic island. Went on to group ride and had a beautiful ride thru MD, VA & WV. In fact, by far, it was the best group ride I’ve ever been on. Spectacular roads through rural country – in 300 miles, we were probably only on divided highways for 15 or 20 miles.
Ride broke up about 5:30 pm (dark) and I had about a 60 miles left to get home – since it was so late I decided to superslab the ride. In medium traffic, center lane (of 3 lanes one direction) going 75 mph, out of nowhere here is a deer headed for my lap. (I absolutely did not see her, until she was a couple feet away.) I only had time to grip the handlebars tightly. Wham!! It sounded like a baseball bat hitting my trike, but no effect on steering. Looked in the mirror, but did not see deer. I’m not sure if she made it across the next lane – and I don’t see how that was possible, but I know she was going to have a very sore leg.
When I got home, checked the fender and there was a spot of heavy dirt/mud about the size of a volley ball, with just a little hair in it. Wiped it off, and it does not look like any paint damage or cracked fiberglass. I was so lucky. A direct strike probably would have done in the bike, but if I would have ended up on the ground (I am ATGATT) and with the traffic there was, I could have been struck and don’t even want to think of that outcome!
I thank God that both the events came out as they did. I don’t think the outcome of either event will change how I ride (defensively), and it was just pure luck the “positive” outcome of what happened.
