Aug 6, 2009: Road Train Vs Grandma

ZenGum · 08-05-2009, 11:08 PM

Quote:

You might think the idea of a 72-year-old woman riding a bicycle 3,700 kilometres from Darwin to Melbourne might be newsworthy by itself. But what if the woman cheated death after her bike was sucked underneath a road train as the truck sped past her on the highway?

That's just what happened last month to Tasmanian grandmother Margret Mosmann.

Truck picture from flickr, apparently, but via the ABC.

Margret's picture from here.

Audio of the interview available from here.

ETA: By my count, that thing is a 74-wheeler. 74!!!
ETAA: Yes, we do *normally* drive on the left down here. I don't know why that thing is on the right. I guess, in a truck like that, you drive wherever you damn well feel like.

Crimson Ghost · 08-06-2009, 12:48 AM

Look at her.
Just look at her.
Behind that smile, a little version of her is jumping up and down, giving the world the finger, and screaming
"FUCK YOU MOTHERFUCKER! KING KONG AIN'T GOT SHIT ON ME!!!"
Oh, you can say I'm wrong.
But look at her.
She's just waiting to get that driver in a locked room.
She's gonna cut off his face and wear it like a mask.
She is just that badass.

DucksNuts · 08-06-2009, 05:15 AM

Ohhh, those things are scary as all bejesus when you overtake THEM, let alone having one zoom past when you are on a bike.

When we went to Darwin, my hire car was a little Toyota Corolla...that things took.for.ever. to get past one of those roadtrains.

spudcon · 08-06-2009, 06:36 AM

Does no one have any sympathy for the poor bike? Did it leave any little bikes at home? Oh the humanity!

Alluvial · 08-06-2009, 07:27 AM

Here's a text article. I'm afraid the bike is a pretzel!

Scriveyn · 08-06-2009, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alluvial

Here's a text article. I'm afraid the bike is a pretzel!

I had a pretzel (which when at home is a Brezel) for second breakfast. Luckily, it didn't have a bell on.

dar512 · 08-06-2009, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spudcon

Does no one have any sympathy for the poor bike? Did it leave any little bikes at home? Oh the humanity!

Think of the tricycles!

nil_orally · 08-06-2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Yes, we do *normally* drive on the left down here. I don't know why that thing is on the right. I guess, in a truck like that, you drive wherever you damn well feel like.

He will be on that side out of courtesy. The picture was taken from the side of the road, and the truckie would have moved over to make sure not to buffet the car & pedestrian too much. I spent a bit of time with these guys, and the vast majority are extraordinarily courteous and professional.

On some roads in the outback there is only one lane tarmaced (ashphalted or blacktopped for our US cousins). The truck to be courteous will try and stay on the tarmac. The approaching city drivers will take this as a challenge, and try and drive in the made section too. Bad, bad, bad idea. The truckie will happily move out of the way onto the gravel at the side of the road. If the car moves over, the truck will be past in a few seconds, and everything is sweet. IF the truck moves over, there are 14-19 sets of wheels flicking stones at the other vehicle. The paintwork is blasted by stone chips, and a shattered window is guaranteed. It can be 100km or more between towns, and a new screen can take 3-5 days to arrive from the major centres.

nil_orally · 08-06-2009, 09:40 AM

Oh, and if she is from Tassie, then the major damage may not be immediately apparent to everyone. The truck has obviously caused trauma necessitating the removal of one of her heads.

Tick · 08-06-2009, 10:26 AM

Images didn't make it to the public page.
http://cellar.org/iotd.php

Undertoad · 08-06-2009, 10:28 AM

thanks. fixd

Cloud · 08-06-2009, 12:53 PM

Wow. Both to the story, and to the --- truck. thing. We don't have those here (although we do have wide open spaces). They look dangerous. Like really, too dangerous for anybody on the road!

OttoCVI · 08-06-2009, 02:41 PM

Speed Racer versus the Mammoth Car comes to mind.

Aliantha · 08-06-2009, 05:17 PM

Yeah, those trucks are massive, and on a lot of those roads in the outback (NT at least), there's no speed limit, so they can really hike along if they're in a hurry.

Onya granny!

Wombat · 08-06-2009, 06:43 PM

She was only 25km into a 3700km trip when it happened. She says ''I'll get another bike and do the same thing next year.'' STUPID!

08-06-2009, 12:48 AM	#2
Crimson Ghost Larger than life and twice as ugly. Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,264	Look at her. Just look at her. Behind that smile, a little version of her is jumping up and down, giving the world the finger, and screaming "FUCK YOU MOTHERFUCKER! KING KONG AIN'T GOT SHIT ON ME!!!" Oh, you can say I'm wrong. But look at her. She's just waiting to get that driver in a locked room. She's gonna cut off his face and wear it like a mask. She is just that badass. __________________ We must all go through a rite of passage. It must be physical, it must be painful, and it must leave a mark. I have no knowledge of the events which you are describing, and if I did have knowledge of them, I would be unable to discuss them with you now or at any future period. Don't waste your time always searching for those wasted years

08-06-2009, 06:36 AM	#4
spudcon Beware of potatoes Join Date: May 2007 Location: Upstate NY, USA Posts: 2,078	Does no one have any sympathy for the poor bike? Did it leave any little bikes at home? Oh the humanity! __________________ "I believe that being despised by the despicable is as good as being admired by the admirable."

08-06-2009, 07:27 AM	#5
Alluvial Phenomenologist Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Central Mississippi Posts: 270	Here's a text article. I'm afraid the bike is a pretzel! __________________ “My grandfather always said that living is like licking honey off a thorn.” - Louis Adamic

08-06-2009, 09:40 AM	#9
nil_orally Larger than average member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Melbourne, Oz. Posts: 72	Oh, and if she is from Tassie, then the major damage may not be immediately apparent to everyone. The truck has obviously caused trauma necessitating the removal of one of her heads. __________________ Waiting for inspiration.....

08-06-2009, 12:53 PM	#12
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	Wow. Both to the story, and to the --- truck. thing. We don't have those here (although we do have wide open spaces). They look dangerous. Like really, too dangerous for anybody on the road! __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

08-06-2009, 05:15 AM	#3
DucksNuts Bitchy Little Brat Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 5,067	Ohhh, those things are scary as all bejesus when you overtake THEM, let alone having one zoom past when you are on a bike. When we went to Darwin, my hire car was a little Toyota Corolla...that things took.for.ever. to get past one of those roadtrains.

08-06-2009, 10:26 AM	#10
Tick Do-er of Deeds Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 41	Images didn't make it to the public page. http://cellar.org/iotd.php

08-06-2009, 10:28 AM	#11
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	thanks. fixd

08-06-2009, 02:41 PM	#13
OttoCVI Kinda New Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1	Speed Racer versus the Mammoth Car comes to mind.

08-06-2009, 05:17 PM	#14
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Yeah, those trucks are massive, and on a lot of those roads in the outback (NT at least), there's no speed limit, so they can really hike along if they're in a hurry. Onya granny! __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

08-06-2009, 06:43 PM	#15
Wombat (marsupial with backward-facing pouch) Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canberra Posts: 251	She was only 25km into a 3700km trip when it happened. She says ''I'll get another bike and do the same thing next year.'' STUPID! __________________ If you don't do it properly, you'll get to the pub sooner.

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