Wow...I've sort of felt the breeze of a mirror really close but I've not been actually hit by one yet. I have a helmet mirror and a few times I've just decided not to look because I knew the car passing me was way too close. I'm so glad you're ok!

I think that no matter what tactic you take...riding close to the road edge, taking the lane, etc....you can never anticipate what a car is going to do. Today I moved out into the lane to prevent a big pickup from passing me on a blind curve. I was going about 25 and the speed limit is 35, so to me it seems safer to move out into the lane than to stay way to the right and invite someone to pass me when there's no room (no shoulder or white line on this particular road...just a nice little dropoff where the pavement ends). But this guy was intent on passing me anyway and moved completely into the oncoming lane. Thank heavens there wasn't any oncoming traffic or someone (probably me) would be dead right now.