Riding solo (how to shake someone dogging you)

brightgarden

I realize that the written medium of these postings leaves a lot to be desired. It is just hilarious, that from what I have written, I have been transformed from an annoyed and uncomfortable road biker who experienced 1/2 mile of extraordinarily bad deaf hybrid biker who ignored me when I told him I wanted to ride alone into one who experienced 1/2 hour of terror(!!) and silent misery (martyrdom, I guess) and anxious, perhaps even conceited, attempts at telepathy!

But thank you. The situation that I mentioned above was extraordinary--it may never happen quite so badly again. It was just bad enough to make me post a thread about a situation I seem to encounter often, which this very bad situation is really not even very related.

EoinC

All of the replies are based on the information proffered. For example, there was no mention in the original posting that you had told the extraordinarily bad deaf hybrid biker (although, why he would be riding an extraordinarily bad deaf hybrid may be the makings of another thread) that you wanted to ride alone - that being the suggestion in the posting you just replied to.
The comments rergarding your confidence on the bike are meant to be constructive and are also based on the information you provided whereby you are not comfortable in close proximity to other riders.
More information in - more information out.
Have fun and beware the bad deaf hybrids, especially the extraordinarily so ones.

Eoin

brightgarden

Yes this is true. I'm sorry I left out pertinent details. I am sometimes put off by huge long postings by other posters out there, and it didn't occur to me that any reasonable person would not have told someone who was annoying them that they were annoying them. I guess I thought the detail was "between the lines" and, as a reader, I often don't like for such things to be extraneously brought to my attention. But as a writer, constructive feedback is always welcome. I don't think the guy was actually deaf--but he may have been.

In your repy, I get the feeling that you feel insulted, or put off by my response, as if I treated it trivially. I didn't think your response was trivial, and I think if you and I met on the road the scenario would have been unremarkable--that is unremarkable in that it would not have warranted a rant on an online forum.

Keep the truth coming!

Maggie

diane143

Hi Jean,

Sounds like your dogs are awesome. I grew up with GSDs but our current lifestyle (and small yard) don't really allow for them. We have 6 cats instead and they don't go out on the trails with us either LOL. I did once see a lady who lived off a local trail, walking her GSD and her cat was cruising right along as well (off leash so he could escape from dogs who like to chase cats).

As for shaking someone, well I haven't had to do that yet. One of the other forums had an interesting thread on how women feel biking alone but I suspect that's a whole different issue than this one.

For me as a newbie "serious" road biker (or wannabe, guess summer will tell that tale!) I'd be a little worried about someone riding close to me unless it was my SO or someone I knew really well. I've only been out on my new bike once and could not believe how tippy I felt for a little while, and then again when I tried to stand. Yikes.

As for learning to blade, why do you think you can't now? I was probably 30 or so when I first tried, I used to roller skate (old style) as a kid and could never ice skate even on those double blades. Why I thought I could RB is beyond me but I can. And usually stay upright.

And at 38 I took up mtn biking (again, why do I do this?) and I just had my 39th bday last week and here I am thinking I can be a killer road biker.

Maybe I can.

I just wish the weather would cooperate! 30 and windy! Argh!

Off to the trainer.


Diane

EoinC

Not even slightly, Maggie

brightgarden

Glad to hear it. If you're ever in the {shudder} states, around the {brrrr} Washington, D.C., area, look me up and I'll treat you to a pint... (no home brew though--haven't done that in about a decade).

cannongirl

wow!! you do some awesome rides!

Forgive me if I'm repeating myself, I haven't been here for a few Days and to be honest I can't be bothered to go back and read my own Posts, but yes, I do the Balboa-Sunset ride during the week, early morning on the Trail...but weekends, we stay on the PCH...and sometimes we ride from Balboa- Laguna Beach...that's a very hard ride though, some looooong hills!!

I normally start from Home in Balboa though...

My knee? I didn't actually DO anything to it...it just started hurting a couple of weeks ago....

Good luck with your Century!!

J Pugh

Let's say that it isn't that I don't think I can learn at this point in my life (I do have a few years on you), it is that I don't think it would be healthy for my wrists. A bit of background - I grew up ice skating and roller skating - even back so far as when we had skates that attached to our shoes and skate keys to tighten them on. I have done many other sports, too and had some spectacular falls mountain and road biking. But the ONLY time I have ever broken any bones is skating. Twice on one wrist and once on the other. Each time I managed to get both bones of the wrist! And the last time I broke my right one, the doctor advised that if I broke it again, it may not heal correctly. So, since skating and I seem to have a love/hate relationship - I think I will skip the rollerblading as it isn't worth the risk. But think of me next time you draft a tandem, as I would love to be there.

Jean

J Pugh

Hey,

I was in your neighborhood this weekend (sortof) as we were down doing Back Bay and Newport Coast and all that. I thought of you as we were coming up PCH from Laguna Canyon up the Newport Coast. We did another metric century yesterday as our final tune up for the Hemet Century this weekend. The rest of the week will be light training on Tuesday and resting until Saturday.

Sounds like we won't be able to do a morning ride together as I am usually at work at 6, so riding before that is out. We ride in the evenings during the week. Maybe one of these weekends, though.

If your knee just suddenly started hurting... Have you checked to see that your cleats haven't gotten loose and moved? Or your saddle has gotten a tiny bit loose and the nose isn't in it's normal position or the height off a bit? Oftimes, I find those the are the sources of the mystery knee pains. Unless I have been doing interval training too hard, too often, of course.

cannongirl

Go Girl!! That's one awesome Ride!
I was out yesterday too, from Home to seal beach and back, problem is, it was way too busy, summer is on it's way.
I took the Beach trail north and PCH back, I was almost taken out twice, once by a Guy on a Beach cruiser and once by a Pick-up truck reversing on our block
I also enjoy doing the Back Bay, but it seems to get very hot sometimes, is it my imagination?

So you start work at 6? You need to call in sick one Day The beach trail is still my fave when there are no people around.

Thanks for the advice on my knee, it seems fine now for no reason, go figure!

76Olym

If you don't want road company, perhaps flying a custom *Do Not Disturb* flag might be the solution, while riding

kmccormic22

Very good addition to the thread. I must agree with you in your thinking. I have been in situations where I have been drafted by men, inappropriatley, when I simply turned around and told them to pass me (as I slowed some). However, the majority of my rides are solo and I have met many other cyclist who draft and eventually strike up pleasurable conversation. I love meeting others on the road, there arn't many my age who get into cycling so it gives me an opportunity to meet people interested in the sport.
I think J Pugh is logical in his explaination of "road rules/manners", it's a topic we should all keep in mind. Thanks J Pugh!

J Pugh

Okay, the century is over. The roads were awful, it rained the night before and sprinkled off and on - my bike and I were covered in mud! I began to think it was a cyclocross event and I brought the wrong bike! ;-)

Yes, since you are so close, one of these days I will have to take a day off and we can do the beach trail. I can drive down your way and we can ride up and back.

Glad your knee is better.

J Pugh

Thanks for the compliment, I was just trying to shed some light on another option to the scenario. I am glad to meet another who understands my view. Also, you don't say your age, but I, too, find that there aren't many other women in my age range who are riding, let alone as seriously as I train, so generally it is the men that I am drafting or trying to keep up with - which makes for great interval training! It is really good for my ego when the guy is drafting ME! But now that I ride a Trek 5200 with 650c wheels - and being only 5' tall - my husband says I am useless to try to draft! Just too small. ;-)