Just got the winter bike serviced so want to go out but would have to stick to main roads I think … which might push me into tidying the shed and getting the turbo set up.
Still heavy frost on house roofs in our street
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Garage Defender lock was frozen this morning. The 5 minutes spent thawing it out was ultimately the reason I was crying in pain at the state of my fingers when I arrived at work.
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Here’s a question. Driving this evening - a car was letting me turn right down a side street. Just as was about to turn, a cyclist came through on their left, no lights, no helmet.
If I was to theoretically have hit him, who’d have been in the wrong?
Highway code says the cyclist MUST have a white from light, red rear and amber reflectors. When it says must thats backed by legislation so the cyclist is breaking the law.
Not a legal expert but I would think blame would possibly be 50-50, maybe cyclist slightly more at fault. Fact is you did see he him so he was visible. However if you hadnt and hit him its harder for him to say you should have seen me, when he isnt following the law that ensures he is seen.
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I’d go 3 ways with the car letting you go.
Whilst it’s all polite, isn’t it illegal to flash someone through?
I’ve almost been hit twice when cars to my right (where they were either in right lane stationary…or starting, then stopping an over take) have waved traffic thru. Pi55es me right off.
And I’m lit up like Blackpool !
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On topic, anyone had one of the lumos helmets. Initially popular on Kickstarter. Latest editions don’t look completely sh1te.
Can’t have to much lightage, and hate anything attached to the lid.
Also good for those emergency situations where you hit dusk by mistake.
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Don’t think it’s illegal, but it certainly doesn’t take any responsibility away from the person being flashed from making sure the junction is clear. No defence to say I was let through so assumed it was OK.
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I have a lumos helmet. Christmas present last year. I wore it all last summer after strapping snapped on other helmet. Haven’t bothered to figure out the light but it’s perfectly comfortable if not very ordinary looking. I think it has an indicator too. But would not trust any driver to see it. Yes, handy if you get caught out at dusk
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Surely if I had hit him - I’d have not seen him
Thinking yesterday out for a run in the dark - wasn’t wearing flourescent anything and often running in road to avoid slippery pavements - say a car hit me. Surely that would be on me, not them - so same for cyclist. Not much you can do if they’re not visible
I’ve been hit by a car pulling out into a double lane from a garage forecourt. Car on inside lane obvs waived driver out. I was driving down outside lane. She ploughed straight in to my near side front end. Van was a right off.
I never pull out when flashed if know chance driver behind also will get impatient and drive round that driver. Lot of impatient idiots
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Victim blaming much 
The Highway Code also states that drivers must be aware of hazards blah blah blah …
… there was a case on this very recently, where the motorist said he “should have been on the footpath” 
(Hint: there wasn’t one)
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Drive slower and pay attention, that’s what you can do 
They’re not “invisible” either.
Just not as visible as they probably should be.
I drive past what I reckon is an abattoir, some evenings folks are leaving on bikes with no lights or anything, you can still see them, just not very well 
If you drive slower, stopping distance decreases rapidly and the chances of a serious injury (should you hit someone) also massively decrease.
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Well he wasnt hit so isn’t a victim, yes drivers need to be aware of hazards but the cyclist is supposed to be wearing lights and wasnt
The driver is also supposed to be paying due care and attention.
Would a pheasant or deer crossing the road be wearing Hi-Viz and have lights and reflectors?
What about a absent dog walker? Generally they’re in dark winter coats, with no reflectors, walking on the wrong side of the road (i.e. not into oncoming traffic), etc etc.
The new Highway Code has a hierarchical order - cyclists < cars.
The onus is on the car driver, it matters not if the cyclist has chosen to break the law by riding at night without lights.
The fact that’s being used as an excuse is inexcusable 
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Im not saying its an excuse, Tobys question was who would be to blame, and I said they both would because they would both not be driving correctly if there was an accident. Of course the car driver has to be aware and look out for cyclists and pedestrians. Some countries have a law where an accident between car and bike the car is always 100% liable, we dont have that law, so yes the car is at fault, but the cyclist isnt blameless
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Fucking cold this morning - was generally fine but my fingers were painfully cold. Nearly stacked it on some black ice too. Felt it go but fortunately didn’t hit the deck!
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The driver might be at fault in the eyes of the law, but I bet if there was an insurance claim the insurer would claim contributory negligence and try to argue down the amount paid out if the cyclist didn’t have lights and reflectors 
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11degC & drizzly 
.
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Opened the doors to the outside world and it’s warmer outside than in the house - so windows open to let some warm air in 
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Right!
That’s it.
2022? Completed it mate (work wise)
It’s 13° and raining, so it’s time for a ride to finish the day.
Then it’s beer o clock for the next 17 days 
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