stevegor

I'm no spring chicken, (not yet 50) but I've prided myself on being very active and very alert for my age. I also handle most situations pretty well.
I still race and train pretty competitively and I've also helped out teaching cycling education at my local primary, (junior), school, so I try to adhere to road laws to give cycling a good name.

But recently I've had a couple of lapses in concentration while out training,
1: I did a sudden U-turn because I missed a turn off and didn't hear a car just behind, how I didn't get hit is a miracle, and it scared the willies outa me....... I never do dumb stuff like that.

2: Today as I was turning at a set of traffic lights I turned into the path of an oncoming vehicle, it missed me, I know I saw it but it didn't register...... it freaked me out.

Why is this happening and is it a trend that's going to increase with age?

10 Wheels

No

collegeskier

Lapses happen to everyone, unfortunately on a bike they can be very bad for you. Not to be a shrink but is there something else going on in your life that is stressing your or taking your attention. Cycling is a great time to think and unwind as long as your keep track of your surrounding as well.

coasting 

maybe you have things on your mind these days.

stevegor

There's always stuff going on, but these two things unsettled me a bit, don't want another 2 yrs off work because of a bike accident.

Sprocket Man

Have you had your hearing checked? My dad has some hearing loss, and until it was diagnosed, he seemed like he was a little lost. He didn't realize that his hearing was going bad because it happened very slowly. One day, he almost got run over by a car because he didn't hear it. Once his problem was diagnosed, he got a hearing aid and he seems to be fine now.

electrik

Change your road routine a little, sounds like you've become a bit complacent?

chaadster

Yeah, dude, as mentioned, you're definitely preoccupied. For a seasoned vet like yourself to override what are surely automatic behaviors--ingrained over years of saddle time--takes a lot of brainpower being allocated elsewhere.

Be honest with yourself, and take a look at what stresses you face and how you're handling them.

Usually all it takes is a scare or two like that to bring you back to your right mind; I'm sure you'll be fine.

Best wishes anyway, though. Be careful, thoughtful.

stevegor

Both near misses were on roads I don't always use, so complacency wasn't an issue.
My hearing was recently checked and is excellent.
Maybe as has been suggested I was preoccupied, sometimes more than I realize.

I blame BF for that, trying to think up witty answers to threads.

Thanks for the advice.

spry

Thanks for correcting this misinformed guy.

stevegor

........I think?