Fellow Roadies,
At about 9:45 this morning I was intentionally sideswiped by a driver on CR-241 south of Archer. It happened on a section of wide, flat road about a 100 yards north of the intersection with CR-335. I was southbound.
I know some GCC rides use this road so I decided to send this heads-up. I've ridden the same stretch of CR-241 dozens of times without incident so hopefully this was just a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time with a bonafide coward.
The driver passed so close that the car's right-side mirror hit my left hand, which was on the brake lever hood. The hand came away bruised and bloody but with nothing broken. If this knucklehead had been 3-4 more inches to the right, though, the mirror would have caught my left hip or handlebar. Considering the car's speed I doubt I'd be typing this right now.
Given the wide-open terrain and lack of other vehicles, I think this person was trying to scare me and miscalculated the distance. If the intent was really to hit me, the guy could have done a much better job.
There were no brake lights as the car sped down CR-241 and I wobbled to stay upright. The mirror cut my glove and fingers. I feel really lucky. Talk about a game of inches.
I think the vehicle was one of those smaller, undistinguished Detroit autos produced 10-12 years ago. It was pale green or blue. I went ahead and finished the ride, keeping an eye peeled for the car as I passed houses in the area. No luck.
If a GCC officer keeps a file on bike/car incidents, please include this in case anyone else encounters the same maniac and we can get a better ID. Thanks.