Originally Posted by
NVFlinch
Posted also on PL forum....
Not trying to be a weenie, but I need help/advice:
1. How have others dealt with mentally getting back on the bike?
2. What safety related things have you done?
Your thoughts on:
- The mental aspect of getting out among the big moving things again.
- Lights, reflectors, radar, colored clothing, safety related behaviors, other?
I've been hit twice. It's normal to have flashbacks of the incident, and if they persist you might want to talk to a professional to find ways of diminishing them. As far as getting back on the bike, it's much like ripping off a bandage. Once you simply do it the bulk of the fear goes away. However, that doesn't mean you should immediately resume your normal distances, so don't fret if you need to build up incrementally. You'll likely find yourself checking your surroundings a lot more often, which is natural.
The only thing that can minimize the chances of a left/right hook is to take the lane. The fact that this van driver didn't plow into your rear means he saw you, but he completely misjudged his ability to safely overtake you and/or was too impatient to wait. No amount of lights, reflective gear, or radar devices would have changed that.