Riding solo (how to shake someone dogging you)

brightgarden

No problem. I think you make excellent points. I do recognize that my own lack of skill contributes to the problem. I have in fact exchanged a few words with road bikers, but I think they generally recognize that I'm uncomfortable doing that and they don't try to carry the conversation too far. Or, I just tell them I'm uncomfortable riding that close.

I did take a seminar recently where 8 of us rode for about 5 miles in very close formation. It was almost nerve racking for me at the outset, but I was a little more comfortable after a while. Having crashed spectacularly in the woods, where I imagine the terrain is a bit less harsh than asphalt, I still have to get over that initial fear of my first bad asphalt crash (not that I have never gotten road rash before, but just never at the higher speeds I can now achieve on this bike).

Cheers.

J Pugh

I agree that you have to trust the riders you are with when cruising at that speed AND trust in your own abilities. As for the falling - you are right, but it is part of the sport - not the fun part, mind you, but part of the sport nonetheless. I, too, have had some pretty spectacular falls (at least from the viewpoint of others) and have accepted the fact that my legs will never be as scar free as they were when I was in my 20s but are in much better shape, so, it's a trade off. My most spectacular falls are usually off road, so that makes for great war stories, anyway.

I notice that your info simply says "West Coast" - are you in the So Cal area? I adore living here and riding here. You can ride 360 days a year without rain. Flying down PCH in a paceline with one of the local racing clubs on a sunny day is the best! The sun, the surf and cycling, it really doesn't get better than that. I don't even worry about the traffic conditions any more - I ride and that's that. Probably helps that I grew up here. There are only a few areas that I won't ride due to traffic. You just get used to it. And are soooo alert for the person who doesn't see you, opens the door, etc. You become a defensive rider, just like a defensive driver - watching for what the other person might do. Since I drive a small sports car, I am used to people not seeing me on the road, whether I am cycling or driving!

Well, cannongirl, if you are ever in my neighborhood or I get to yours, maybe we can get a ride in. We travel around CA and OR fairly often so if you are in either of those states...

J Pugh

You've got that right! I have been in that same situation and, you're right, it IS worse than another erratic cyclist as the cyclist is usually only cycling, not listening to music and off in their own world. Add to that the people walking their dog and talking on the cell phone on the bike path and you understand why I rarely use the bike paths any more - it's more dangerous than being on the road with the cars!

diane143

I just typed a long post and realized I made myself look like a royal b*tch LOL. Suffice to say, I blade and bike on paths shared with others, and there are bad apples in every bunch. But people with strollers, entire familys and dogs on long leashes take the cake every time!

Diane

brightgarden

you got that right. we have a wonderful two lane road here (Rock Creek Parkway) that is closed all weekend long. You'd think that would be a dream, and it is a good thing. But it just takes that one family with the carriage to decide to make that slow country u-turn....

parents are amazing--they act like their carriages are armored vehicles. being a parent, i think i can say that, and it is amazing how when you are at the helm of one of those things, you really think it can withstand a lot.

J Pugh

Hi Diane,

I just want to clarify that I wasn't lumping all bladers, dog walkers or parents with strollers into the same group as I know that a few bad apples spoil it for everyone. I have also had a blast many times with bladers drafting me and chatting, so, if it sounded like I meant all of you, I didn't. I only meant that I would rather take my chances with cars that aren't paying attention than all of the possibilities on the bike path as a car can only change direction and get in my way so quickly - a dog, child or blader is something else entirely. I don't want ANY of us to get hurt, so, since I know I am traveling at a high rate of speed it is safer for all of us if I stay on the road rather than the paths. I do use the paths, but generally only at night when no one else is using them with lights on the front and back of my bike so everyone can see me from a long way off.

brightgarden

But I imagine you must slow down when you encounter dogs, children, joggers, etc on a paved trail if that's where you were. I do, and although it is rare, I have been blasted by other road bikers on the trail for slowing down. I personally find THAT rude. I feel the same way: if they are moving so quickly and impatiently, what are they doing on a paved trail?

diane143

J, quite honestly I didn't think you were lumping us all together.

You can always tell those that are "serious" be it just for exercise or school training. They are always alert, stay to the side, and if they don't, they typically move long before you are ready to ask them to.

I have to say that around here, 95% of families are clueless and most of the dog walkers as well. I'd bet the people who are really into dog training are *not* in these locations, poor dog would probably get run down by someone!

It just amazes me that people (no matter what they are doing) act as if they are the only ones that should be there and they are doing you a huge favor by moving out of the area that specifically says "bike lane". <grrr>

OK, I'll fess up. When I'm blading and come across a group of bladers (why are they always young girls?!) that just won't move, I "accidentally" push out a little more to tag the foot of the leftmost offender. Haven't dumped anyone yet (they go so slow anyway), but usually startle them pretty good. Of course if they had been aware and listening to repeated "on your left!!" they wouldn't be so surprised now would they?

Also discovered the melting snow puddles in the *bike lane* do serve a purpose as well.


Diane

ps - sorry if I do sound like a b*tch, but it seems people get more self-centered and clueless as time goes on. I just don't get it, are we turning into such a brainless society?

cannongirl

Hey, let's just do it J! Do you ever ride the PCH from NB to Sunset? That's a great early morning ride!! The Beach Trail is also good midweek, early morning...

Mind you, my Knee has been acting kinda oweeee lately, but that's OK.... I'll be riding tommorrow!!!

EoinC

You got that right! I hate those people with entire families on long leashes! They should let them run free.....and ask them to stop taking the cake all the time. There's plenty to go around.

Eoin

diane143

You knew what I meant

EoinC

Now you're getting to the point. It is not about the strange man, it's about you not being comfortable riding in close proximity to another bike. This is a skill that takes developing.
Rather than spending 1/2 an hour in terror and then doing an unintentional stop in order to try to mind-read someone else's intentions, why not simply tell them that you want to ride alone? 5 seconds of monologue will probably give you a better result than 1/2 an hour of attempted telepathy. Some of us just aren't very good telepathic receivers, but we have been known to respond to the spoken word.
Where I come from (New Zealand and Australia), it is perfectly natural to hook up with any riders who are travelling in the same direction at similar speed. These informal groups of 2 or more merge and dissipate as they go along. As you ride along, you talk..."Where are you headed? Which way did you come?...."
Where I ride now (Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia), traffic is a free-for-all and you really have to dice it to survive. As there are few cyclists on the road here, I usually use motorbikes for protection against the bigger pieces of steel. I often talk with the motorbike riders as we ride between the 5 lanes of cars jammed into 3 lanes of road. If I saw another cyclist heading the same way at speed, I would definitely chase to catch up and get a bit of company riding. Once you get used to riding in groups at speed, you'll know what I mean. Around here, car drivers don't worry about individual cyclists ( I have close-calls every time I ride) but, with a bunch, the drivers start thinking about how the car's paint might get damaged if they hit more than one.
I would hope that if I came riding up beside you, that you wouldn't pre-judge my intentions. If you tell me that you want to ride alone, I'd just say "no worries" and head off down the road.

Don't forget to enjoy it out there.

Eoin

J Pugh

Diane,

You are SOOOOO right on this whole post! The families and dog walkers act like they own the whole path when the path specifically states it is a "bike path". And since they own the whole path, they walk along oblivious to anything that could pose a danger to them or someone else. Heck - I have watched them cross an intersection where cars are allowed to enter the area to park and just go right in the path of the car! I would think as a parent you would be so protective of welfare of your child that you would be paying attention to everything around you but apparently that isn't the case.

By the way, having a husband who has trained "doggie famous" dogs (on TV, in magazines, videos, professional journals, etc) - you are right. It isn't that they aren't taking their dogs to those locations - although our dogs hate the beach and would rather walk in their neighborhood and see who has been around ;-) - but that the dogs are aware and the owners are aware. Once a trained dog is on leash, they are working and they know it. Our dogs won't cross a street without sitting and waiting for the "okay" command.

I have felt the same way about becoming a "brainless society" but if I get started on that - we'll have to start a thread on the "Soap Box" forum!

Jean

P.S. Wish I had learned to blade because I'd love to be blading with you when it is time to take down a few little youngsters! Not very nice of me, but sometimes I think they are a little too big for their britches!

J Pugh

We ride all over PCH, depends on whether we are doing a hill ride or not on which direction. Do you mean Sunset Beach? Sounds like you must live in my area if you are doing Newport and the Beach Trail. We live in Westminster, so our rides will either start at our home or at Huntington Beach State Park. From there it is usually either up PCH to Seal Beach, around Boeing and back down PCH. Or, if it is hill training - we go down PCH to Newport Coast, over Newport Coast, up Ridgline, back over Newport Coast, San Joacin and back to PCH. Sounds like you live close enough that it would be easy enough to work out some rides.

We rode the OCW Spring Metric Century yesterday and our 33 mile Seal Beach loop this morning, maybe we can catch you another weekend. We are doing the Hemet Century in two weeks but after that we will be back on a normal schedule.j

What did you do to your knee?

Jean