SDS100/SDS200: The Hit & Run Blues

Ensnared

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I never thought this would happen to me since I ride at night in a sparsely populated area without many cars. Yes, there is a noticeable amount, but it I have 300 Lumens flashing on the back light & 1,000 lumens on the front light. I wear a Camelbak construction crew fluorescent design to alert others.

I am extremely hypervigilant & have been riding around Waco without getting hit by a car since 1998.

Yep, what are the odds of landing on your head while taking blood-thinners are generally instant or shortly thereafter. I should be dead. Luckily, my bicycle helmet is crushed & not my head.

I am getting ready to send this little fella to Uniden. Yes, this is one that was attached via leather belt loop, hard leather case. Currently malfunctioning on radio:
1) volume control, 2) rotary knob knocked off, 3) sustained impact of 40 to 50 feet.

This SDS 100 is tough.

Woodway police arrest hit-and-run driver after dispatch links calls
 
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wtp

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since there was no age of the driver.
in Florida with many older drivers they don't use flashing lights as older driver have trouble with the flash and distance they are from it.
may go to a steady light and a flashing one.
 

gary123

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Also overly bright lights attract drivers like deer. The driver cannot see the surroundings near the light so tend to drive right at them in the hopes that they will be able to see around it as they get closer. Another issue is that older drivers get 'conditioned' by the light level and simply cannot see anything darker than the light.

There are a few LE studies about the issues surrounding the super bright LED red and blue now being used by some services. You do not need to have them visible from the Moon or Mars LOL.
 

BenScan

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It may not have helped in your situation, but check out the Garmin Varia, if you haven't already. It's a great light and RADAR, and now there's one with a camera. It can alert(audio/visual on Garmin & Wahoo computers) you to vehicles approaching from behind. It will also change the flash pattern of the light as they get closer to you.

Here's to a full recovery of yourself, bicycle, and scanner.
 

Ubbe

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It may not have helped in your situation, but check out the Garmin Varia, if you haven't already.
I second that. I have used their first model with just the radar for several years and are for me just as necessary as a helmet. It can track up to 10 vehicles and show if they approach with low or high speed. It can show a guy on a moped behind a car when only his helmet are above the car roof. Its range are also huge so you will have plenty of time to prepare yourself until a vehicle are actually passing you.

If I didn't already have that I would have bought the model with both intelligent rear light and camera. There are too many crazy drivers out there that if something happens you would like to have video proof to present, or in worse case your next of kin if you are unable to do it yourself. I already have a camera pointing forward that I have used its video as evidence a couple of times to show that the vehicle in front of me was the one in error.

/Ubbe
 

Ensnared

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since there was no age of the driver.
in Florida with many older drivers they don't use flashing lights as older driver have trouble with the flash and distance they are from it.
may go to a steady light and a flashing one.

Yesterday, I learned that this individual lives in the same apartment complex. I don't intend on having a row with her, LOL. Reportedly, she is in her middle 40s.
 

Ubbe

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Those Cycliq rear cams seems fine. The difference to Garmin are that you also get a radar that alerts you and display the vehicles distance and speed, either on a bike computer or a phone app, and then also can be set to only activate its light when someone are actually behind you.

/Ubbe
 

Ensnared

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++Also overly bright lights attract drivers like deer. The driver cannot see the surroundings near the light so tend to drive right at them in the hopes that they will be able to see around it as they get closer. Another issue is that older drivers get 'conditioned' by the light level and simply cannot see anything darker than the light.

There are a few LE studies about the issues surrounding the super bright LED red and blue now being used by some services. You do not need to have them visible from the Moon or Mars LOL.
I can say I know that the fancy pants cataract lenses I bought at the tune $10,000 Home | The Light Adjustable Lens from RxSight. In my opinion, I got fleeced by a surgeon who was rather polished in their sales pitch. When he found out I was an amateur BW photographer he went into another direction. He showed me what I would be seeing with the other option. Truthfully, I think this surgeon was full of feces to the point he had brown eyes.

At night, these new lenses are extremely bright. However, last night, I had trouble reading the combination numbers on a security box. Yes, I am happy with the 20/20 I have for intermediate & long range.

In fact, I know have a Samsung 27-inch 1000R computer monitor that comes with 4K resolution with a curved screen. It is fantastic. However, I have this monitor positioned so that I can edit photographs in the 20/20 range.

Vision, post-cataract, is a trial & error process, LOL.
 

Ensnared

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It may not have helped in your situation, but check out the Garmin Varia, if you haven't already. It's a great light and RADAR, and now there's one with a camera. It can alert(audio/visual on Garmin & Wahoo computers) you to vehicles approaching from behind. It will also change the flash pattern of the light as they get closer to you.

Here's to a full recovery of yourself, bicycle, and scanner.
That is a cool light. I recently removed a rear cam I had on the bicycle because the screen & camera were messed up. I did not do any better than the fantastic bicycle mirror I recently purchased.

I live in a section of town with very limited traffic at night. I can see a long distance for approaching cars. However, I learned that this person lives in the same apartment complex. She likely left from this location.

My wife thinks I am done with riding. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am stubborn. Of course, this is one reason I have been using no walker for nearly two weeks. I am cooking breakfast, driving myself. Hell, yesterday, I helped with two separate Meals on Wheels routes.

Yes, I won't return to the road with cars present. I am going to take my bicycle across Waco to the Oakwood Cemetery off of LaSalle Avenue in Waco. There is hardly any traffic. If a car passes, they are generally driving to see a loved one or attend a graveside service.

This place is huge. It also reminds me what might happen if I pitch again. I am not ready to push up flowers.

There are tons of bicycle trails in Cameron Park. I am certainly staying off the ones marked "Black Diamond."

To be honest, this wreck sped up already needed back surgery. Now, they are going to replace C1, C2, C3 & others through the throat. I could have ended up like Christopher Reeves had I landed differentially. The hotshot neurosurgeon did not know if the peripheral nerves would return functioning or remain with grip loss, etc.

If the surgery is successful, I should remain like it is now. Since I crushed the discs that were pressing on these nerves, I can already tell a huge difference in gripping someone's hand, carrying objects, & writing. My manual dexterity is better than it was with the screwed up back.
I have already tested the strength on the 1979 Les Paul Custom I own. I am currently hot-rodding a Kramer Focus from Guitar Center for $149.00. This little boy had a mahogany body. I have already installed Fender Lockdown tuners. I am going to replace all the pickups with humbuckers instead of single coils. I am odd, but I prefer a guitar with balls.

In essence, I have plenty of thins to occupy time.

Thanks for responding.
 
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Ensnared

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I second that. I have used their first model with just the radar for several years and are for me just as necessary as a helmet. It can track up to 10 vehicles and show if they approach with low or high speed. It can show a guy on a moped behind a car when only his helmet are above the car roof. Its range are also huge so you will have plenty of time to prepare yourself until a vehicle are actually passing you.

If I didn't already have that I would have bought the model with both intelligent rear light and camera. There are too many crazy drivers out there that if something happens you would like to have video proof to present, or in worse case your next of kin if you are unable to do it yourself. I already have a camera pointing forward that I have used its video as evidence a couple of times to show that the vehicle in front of me was the one in error.

/Ubbe
I am quite impressed with the capabilities associated with this radar tracking. Since I can see cars for a very long distance in my neighborhood, I could take evasive action. However, I just learned that the one who hit me likely left from the same apartment complex. Hence, I don't know if the radar would have warned me someone possibly jumping out of the complex from my right side onto the service road. I believe that is what happened based on reliable informants.

Thanks for responding.
 

Ensnared

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I second that. I have used their first model with just the radar for several years and are for me just as necessary as a helmet. It can track up to 10 vehicles and show if they approach with low or high speed. It can show a guy on a moped behind a car when only his helmet are above the car roof. Its range are also huge so you will have plenty of time to prepare yourself until a vehicle are actually passing you.

If I didn't already have that I would have bought the model with both intelligent rear light and camera. There are too many crazy drivers out there that if something happens you would like to have video proof to present, or in worse case your next of kin if you are unable to do it yourself. I already have a camera pointing forward that I have used its video as evidence a couple of times to show that the vehicle in front of me was the one in error.

/Ubbe
I can certainly attest to the fact there are very crazy drivers around Waco. Thank God, up until this point in time, I have managed to avoid them.

My current focus is staying out of the "crazy driving mode" that I used to occupy in the hammer lane. I have moved from active to passive aggression. Now, I just back off & watch the comedy in front of me. I am occupying the far-right lane. If I am moving on a four-lane interstate, I try to drive at the posted speed limit.

However, on a frequent basis, I get a jackass riding from the bumper position. Drivers Education taught me to slow down without hitting the brakes. Eventually, the aggressive driver with give up and bother someone else or do something really stupid like passing in the center median (yes, I have witnessed this) or on the right shoulder.

I love it when all the speeding efforts employed by dumb ass fail and I drive up beside them while sporting a broad smile. These high rollers idiots tend to believe they have a degree of entitlement. Generally speaking, I often see high dollar luxury vehicles in the hammer land demanding they have the right of the road.

Oh well, I am heading to the cemetery to bike. I might go to the Cameron Park bike trails. Thanks for responding.
 

Ensnared

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I didn't know there was such a thing as the Garmin Varia but I already ride with both front and rear cameras from Bike camera & Safety lights - Cycliq . I was hit by a car in 2006 and spent 3 days in the hospital. It didn't stop me from continuing to ride.
Nope, you have to overcome the setback by getting on the horse that pitched you and ride again. Sorry you got slammed. Of course, now I have a great story to tell others. "Hey, I got hit by a moving vehicle and lived to tell others."
 

Omega-TI

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Of course, now I have a great story to tell others. "Hey, I got hit by a moving vehicle and lived to tell others."

Glad you are okay! It's bad enough that this was a hit & run, but that the driver actually had the audacity to call the cops complaining/reporting damage to their vehicle afterwards, I'm assuming as a prelude to an insurance claim is a head scratcher. Like, how dare you damage their vehicle with your body due to their own negligence!
 

Ensnared

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Had back surgery on 17th. Almost out of the woods. Waiting on neck scar to heal. Concerned about blood clots forming alongside other DVTs. Xarelto should take care of these. Thanks.
 

garys

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Glad you're okay. Even if the SDS is unrepairable, you're still around to buy another.

Drivers in Texas are crazy. Then they complain about how much we pay for auto insurance.

I don't ride at night at all, and don't even like riding just before true dawn or true sunset. I've tended more to paths that roads when possible.

I'm in overall good condition, but not a kid so have a higher risk of serious injury by definition.
 

JDKelley

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To be honest, this wreck sped up already needed back surgery. Now, they are going to replace C1, C2, C3 & others through the throat. I could have ended up like Christopher Reeves had I landed differentially. The hotshot neurosurgeon did not know if the peripheral nerves would return functioning or remain with grip loss, etc.

Waitaminnit - you're talking about having vertebrae replaced? How long have they been doing that? That's the sort of thing I'm eventually going to be in line for - for C2 & C5 at least (fractured both when I got hit by a car. For the fourth time - once was even on a bicycle from behind. It was the first time I'd been damaged to the tune of "more than a little road rash" as a result.)

I'd have thought that surgery was still too complex to do, and it was still at least a decade away...
 
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