I expected temperatures to plunge and my riding season to be over. But turns out, I've got a few more days this month. First, I'm somewhat concerned on the salt on the road ruining the bike. But, we've only had one mild snow. Since then, we've had a good amount of rain. In fact, we had more rain coming up to eve of xmas eve. Xmas eve itself it was a balmy 42 degrees. Mostly sunny and calm winds. These later two points make all the difference.
Thus, Xmas eve, I was out on my bike driving. It had been a few weeks, or maybe just 2 or 3 weeks, since I'd been out last. At first, I had to get the feel back. Man, it'd really suck to go 2 or 3 months, I'd really be rusty. But in no time, I was out cruising on path of mainly 4 lane roads not far from my house.
Then I was coming down a 45 MPH road. In front of me, is one of the worst planned intersections. Railroad tracks with wood at 45 degree angle. Though in all the times past, those tracks have never given me grief. And two intersecting side roads. Each of the side roads has a stop sign, but the main road, what I was on, has a continuous straight through.
As I came up to the tracks and intersection, I saw a car flying down the side road. Way too fast for a stop sign. My spidery-sense tingles, so I back off some throttle to slow down a bit. This is a faster road, so I don't want to slow too much. I mean if you cut your speed to 25 or so on a 45, that's a good way to get hit from behind. But at least my reactions are all primed.
As I get closer to the intersection, it looks like the stop sign is some sort of race finish line to him, based on how fast he's going.
I've heard many warnings about left turners. I'd felt pretty good about a left turn. A left turning car is going to be right in front of you, in the road, typically in the normal car spot of the road. This leaves that whole right shoulder open. But a moving right turner gives uncertainty. By the time I get there, will they still be back on the right, part way through their turn, or have completed their turn? And what if they stay a constant speed or go faster or slower?
Anyways, this is a bad position to the right turning car. If I had been a bit more up front, two more car lengths closer to him, I could have out accelerated him. As it was, he was going pretty fast and had a head start on me, so gunning it was out. I could have moved over to the far right and let him merge on and then have the right way open. There was a nice fluffy ditch over on the right if nothing else. But I wasn't sure if I did that and he did stop or slow, I might then hit right into him. And there's on coming traffic the direction.
I figure over as far left in my lane is the best location. If it does get close, then that'll give me more buffer between me and his car. And then I hit my brakes. We get closer, closer. I figure if he kept up his flight speed, he'd zoom in front of me before I got there. But, no, he kept going, but slowed, not sopped, but slowed. With me slowed that put us in more proximity. I'm still not sure if he was coming to a stop, rolling stop, or what. But his slow down, brought me into the range where I could out accelerate him before he finished merging. As soon as I realize that, I switch from brake to throttle and some fraction of a section feel the rpms rev and up shift and I'm away. I'm down the road, shaking my head.
This is a scenario I'm going to mentally revisit, varying the scenario a bit, and thinking through possible reactions, and outcomes. I'm not going to judge myself on today. But rather think of the scenario for the next time something similar happens. It is a bit nerve racking to experience, but in a way, this is a good xmas gift. Experience, and something to ponder, and something that'll save my life in the future.
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