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Barry Gaudet

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'Oh Lord! Won't you buy me A Mercedez Benz? My friends all drive Porsches I must make amends' -the
Janis Joplin rendition

I feel like I must make amends for off-topic posting so here are some bicycle related thoughts:

Diet: an aquaintance is convinced I am protein deficient for the amount of cycling/exercise I do. I
will never be a vegetarian. [nothing tastes better than a good steak] but I have cut down on red
meat specificaly and tend more towards chicken dishes in general. What is a good daily protein
intake for an active person? It's winter so my biking is mostly just my 12 km round trip commute
plus ~10 km trips about town to do errands on my off days. To take up the slack I usually swim, on
average, 45 minutes/day. [actualy it's 2 45 minute sets every other day]

Winter biking: I'm following the rules but the past couple commutes have been in very poor weather.
Blowing snow/icy/poor visibility. Co-workers passing me in their cars have expressed concern over
safety as auto driver's just don't expect to see a bicycle in that kind of weather. [making it my
fault I guess] What can I do to preserve my safety but still bicycle commute? I'm thinking about
getting one of those road construction reflective vests, and about 5 blinkies.

Bike lanes: This being the first winter that I've biked when the weather was not unseasonbly mild I
can finally see some justification in the anti-bike lane view. With the snow slush ice and snowplow
jetsam that builds up in the bike lane I've had to abandon it. I still think they are a good idea
in the summer but not when the snow flies.

--
'People think I'm insane because I am frowning all the time All day long I think of things
but nothing seems to satisfy' 'Make a joke and I will sigh And you will laugh and I will
cry' -Black Sabbath
 
JTHouse <[email protected]> wrote:
:>I'm thinking about getting one of those road construction reflective vests, and about 5 blinkies.

: Wouldn't it be nice to have a hi-viz Gore-tex jacket with reflective piping for days like this?
: How come all that's available is either an unbreathable pvc-coated jacket, or Gore-tex in some
: color that blends in with the background???

Part of my problem is the backpack. I'm thinking I'll either have to get something to attach to it
or a new backpack.

My first thought was to petition city council to ban autos during inclement weather but somehow I
don't think I'd be successful.

--
'People think I'm insane because I am frowning all the time All day long I think of things
but nothing seems to satisfy' 'Make a joke and I will sigh And you will laugh and I will
cry' -Black Sabbath
 
On Wed, 15 Jan 2003 19:13:11 -0600, JTHouse wrote:

>>I'm thinking about getting one of those road construction reflective vests, and about 5 blinkies.
>
> Wouldn't it be nice to have a hi-viz Gore-tex jacket with reflective piping for days like this?
> How come all that's available is either an unbreathable pvc-coated jacket, or Gore-tex in some
> color that blends in with the background???

Check Nashbar's gore-tex jacket, mostly bright yellow, lots of reflective tape and piping. Sometimes
'store-brand' means not very good, but I've been unable to find anything better... comes in long
sizes too which I really appreciate.

Two blinkies is the minimum for me, since if your blinkie stops blinking, then you've got nothing
(besides reflectivity) to make you visible from behind.

Doug Kennedy
 
"Barry Gaudet" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Winter biking: I'm following the rules but the past couple commutes have been in very poor
> weather. Blowing snow/icy/poor visibility. Co-workers passing me in their cars have expressed
> concern over safety as auto driver's just don't expect to see a bicycle in that kind of weather.
[making
> it my fault I guess] What can I do to preserve my safety but still bicycle commute? I'm thinking
> about getting one of those road construction reflective vests, and about 5 blinkies.

This week I've been using my new headlights ( 5 + 20 Watts) while commuting. In the beginning I
figured I only needed them when off road, but was I wrong. All of a sudden cars stop way down the
road to let me go by before they pull out after me. WOW. This was a first. It is ofcourse because
they can actually see me now. With this in mind I've started to look into stronger backlights
thinking that will be a good investment in my safety. I have a decent light but there is so much
other lighting around me that I feel it doesn't show good enough on a lit street in poor visibility.

>
> Bike lanes: This being the first winter that I've biked when the weather was not unseasonbly mild
> I can finally see some justification in the anti-bike lane view. With the snow slush ice and
> snowplow jetsam that builds up in the bike lane I've had to abandon it. I still think they are a
> good idea in the summer but not when the snow flies.
>

No I don't stay in the bikelanes either. They are not fit for riding in most of the time. I took a
fall today on one and decided to hack it out with the cars instead. Not a bad fall. Going slow and
careful but wiped out anyway in the uneven half frozen half thawed snow.

--
Replace the dots to reply

Perre
 
>I'm thinking about getting one of those road construction reflective vests, and about 5 blinkies.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a hi-viz Gore-tex jacket with reflective piping for days like this? How
come all that's available is either an unbreathable pvc-coated jacket, or Gore-tex in some color
that blends in with the background???
 
Barry Gaudet wrote:

> 'Oh Lord! Won't you buy me A Mercedez Benz? My friends all drive Porsches I must make
> amends' -the Janis Joplin rendition
>
> I feel like I must make amends for off-topic posting so here are some bicycle related thoughts:
>
> Diet: an aquaintance is convinced I am protein deficient for the amount of cycling/exercise I do.
> I will never be a vegetarian. [nothing tastes better than a good steak] but I have cut down on
> red meat specificaly and tend more towards chicken dishes in general. What is a good daily
> protein intake for an active person? It's winter so my biking is mostly just my 12 km round trip
> commute plus ~10 km trips about town to do errands on my off days. To take up the slack I usually
> swim, on average, 45 minutes/day. [actualy it's 2 45 minute sets every other day]
>
> Winter biking: I'm following the rules but the past couple commutes have been in very poor
> weather. Blowing snow/icy/poor visibility. Co-workers passing me in their cars have expressed
> concern over safety as auto driver's just don't expect to see a bicycle in that kind of weather.
> [making it my fault I guess] What can I do to preserve my safety but still bicycle commute? I'm
> thinking about getting one of those road construction reflective vests, and about 5 blinkies.
>
> Bike lanes: This being the first winter that I've biked when the weather was not unseasonbly mild
> I can finally see some justification in the anti-bike lane view. With the snow slush ice and
> snowplow jetsam that builds up in the bike lane I've had to abandon it. I still think they are a
> good idea in the summer but not when the snow flies.
>
> --
> 'People think I'm insane because I am frowning all the time All day long I think of things
> but nothing seems to satisfy' 'Make a joke and I will sigh And you will laugh and I will
> cry' -Black Sabbath

Hey Barry, I was given a CSA approved vest like construction and highways workers use, plus a pair
of highly visible 4 inch wide cuff straps (same reflection as the vest) and advised to use them in
conjunction with blinkies on the back and a headlight out front. The reasoning was I would be in a
good position to sue if anyone ran into me. Last year someone on this group said drivers
appreciate it if you are lit up like a Las Vegas casino. I believe it. Take care of yourself! Best
regards, Bernie
 
In article <[email protected]>, Barry Gaudet <[email protected]> writes:
> JTHouse <[email protected]> wrote:
>:>I'm thinking about getting one of those road construction reflective vests, and about 5 blinkies.
>
>: Wouldn't it be nice to have a hi-viz Gore-tex jacket with reflective piping for days like this?
>: How come all that's available is either an unbreathable pvc-coated jacket, or Gore-tex in some
>: color that blends in with the background???
>
> Part of my problem is the backpack. I'm thinking I'll either have to get something to attach to
> it or a new backpack.

How about putting the vest on the backpack?

I had one of those road worker vests too, but it was used (found lying in the street), and pretty
ratty looking when I got it. I discovered the reflective stripe on it is all one piece when I tore
it off the frayed & tar-bespotted mesh. Maybe I'll wrap the strip around my milk crate.

MEC has nice reflective vests for cheap, but they're long-tailed. So's my windshell -- the back of
which sometimes catches on the back of my saddle, causing the saddle nose to try to poke me in an
embarrassing manner when I go to get off my bike.

Optionally, Flashback http://www.flashback.ca might have some appealing reflective stuff you could
stick onto your pack.

cheers, Tom

--
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remove NO_SPAM. from address to reply
 
On Wed, 15 Jan 2003 18:37:41 GMT, "Per Elmsäter" <[email protected]> wrote:

>"Barry Gaudet" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>> Winter biking: I'm following the rules but the past couple commutes have been in very poor
>> weather. Blowing snow/icy/poor visibility. Co-workers passing me in their cars have expressed
>> concern over safety as auto driver's just don't expect to see a bicycle in that kind of weather.
>[making
>> it my fault I guess] What can I do to preserve my safety but still bicycle commute? I'm thinking
>> about getting one of those road construction reflective vests, and about 5 blinkies.
>
>This week I've been using my new headlights ( 5 + 20 Watts) while commuting. In the beginning I
>figured I only needed them when off road, but was I wrong. All of a sudden cars stop way down the
>road to let me go by before they pull out after me. WOW. This was a first. It is ofcourse because
>they can actually see me now. With this in mind I've started to look into stronger backlights
>thinking that will be a good investment in my safety. I have a decent light but there is so much
>other lighting around me that I feel it doesn't show good enough on a lit street in poor
>visibility.
>
>>
>> Bike lanes: This being the first winter that I've biked when the weather was not unseasonbly
>> mild I can finally see some justification in the anti-bike lane view. With the snow slush ice
>> and snowplow jetsam that builds up in the bike lane I've had to abandon it. I still think they
>> are a good idea in the summer but not when the snow flies.
>>
>
>No I don't stay in the bikelanes either. They are not fit for riding in most of the time. I took a
>fall today on one and decided to hack it out with the cars instead. Not a bad fall. Going slow and
>careful but wiped out anyway in the uneven half frozen half thawed snow.

Why be fanatical about riding a bike in bad weather? Why risk your health, live and safety?

There are plenty of alternatives, public transportation being one.

Sparhawk
 
One possible retrofit, I'm guessing that the new ultra bright LED's might operate on similar
voltage( current is similar) to the old ones we see on rear lights, and my impression is they're
much brighter, so with a little work with a soldering iron you might greatly increase your
visibility at a low price. THese LED's available cheaply from Radio Shack or from
www.allelectronics.com and who knows where else. Haven't tried it yet.

IMHO, bike lanes will be dangerous until all cars have sliding or gull wing doors or until all
passengers and drivers are issued workable brains and eyes. And in my experience people relax so
much due to a feeling of safety on bike paths that the paths are at least as dangerous when crowded
as streets are. Also, I've noticed poor maintenance of bike path pavement and outrageous hazards
that would never be tolerated on a real roadway. But none of this is statistically valid.

I lost track of who wrote: snip
> This week I've been using my new headlights ( 5 + 20 Watts) while commuting. In the beginning I
> figured I only needed them when off road, but was I wrong. All of a sudden cars stop way down the
> road to let me go by before they pull out after me. WOW. This was a first. It is ofcourse because
> they can actually see me now. With this in mind I've started to look into stronger backlights
> thinking that will be a good investment in my safety. I have a decent light but there is so much
> other lighting around me that I feel it doesn't show good enough on a lit street in poor
> visibility.
>
> >
> > Bike lanes: This being the first winter that I've biked when the weather was not unseasonbly
> > mild I can finally see some justification in the anti-bike lane view. With the snow slush ice
> > and snowplow jetsam that builds up in the bike lane I've had to abandon it. I still think they
> > are a good idea in the summer but not when the snow flies.
snip

--
Lincoln Ross NOTE ADDRESS CHANGE: [email protected]
 
JTHouse wrote:

> >I'm thinking about getting one of those road construction reflective vests, and about 5 blinkies.
>
> Wouldn't it be nice to have a hi-viz Gore-tex jacket with reflective piping for days like this?
> How come all that's available is either an unbreathable pvc-coated jacket, or Gore-tex in some
> color that blends in with the background???

so wear the vest. it aint stylin' but... <vbg> Best regards, Bernie
 
Sparhawk wrote:
>
> Why be fanatical about riding a bike in bad weather? Why risk your health, live and safety?
>
> There are plenty of alternatives, public transportation being one.
>

Winter cycling is slower than in summer, so is public transit. It's not a 'risk' any more than
usual, nor it is something only for fanatics.

In the past seven years of winter biking, I've fallen once on a road (black ice), been doored zero
times, had zero cases of frostbite, etc. What's the problem?

(I've fallen a few times off road, notably on the Don Valley Trail, which is not plowed in the
winter. No big deal, that was sport, not commuting.)
 
Sparhawk wrote:

> On Wed, 15 Jan 2003 18:37:41 GMT, "Per Elmsäter" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >"Barry Gaudet" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:[email protected]...
> >> Winter biking: I'm following the rules but the past couple commutes have been in very poor
> >> weather. Blowing snow/icy/poor visibility. Co-workers passing me in their cars have expressed
> >> concern over safety as auto driver's just don't expect to see a bicycle in that kind of
> >> weather.
> >[making
> >> it my fault I guess] What can I do to preserve my safety but still bicycle commute? I'm
> >> thinking about getting one of those road construction reflective vests, and about 5 blinkies.
> >
> >This week I've been using my new headlights ( 5 + 20 Watts) while commuting. In the beginning I
> >figured I only needed them when off road, but was I wrong. All of a sudden cars stop way down the
> >road to let me go by before they pull out after me. WOW. This was a first. It is ofcourse because
> >they can actually see me now. With this in mind I've started to look into stronger backlights
> >thinking that will be a good investment in my safety. I have a decent light but there is so much
> >other lighting around me that I feel it doesn't show good enough on a lit street in poor
> >visibility.
> >
> >>
> >> Bike lanes: This being the first winter that I've biked when the weather was not unseasonbly
> >> mild I can finally see some justification in the anti-bike lane view. With the snow slush ice
> >> and snowplow jetsam that builds up in the bike lane I've had to abandon it. I still think they
> >> are a good idea in the summer but not when the snow flies.
> >>
> >
> >No I don't stay in the bikelanes either. They are not fit for riding in most of the time. I took
> >a fall today on one and decided to hack it out with the cars instead. Not a bad fall. Going slow
> >and careful but wiped out anyway in the uneven half frozen half thawed snow.
>
> Why be fanatical about riding a bike in bad weather? Why risk your health, live and safety?
>
> There are plenty of alternatives, public transportation being one.
>
> Sparhawk

Do you ENJOY limiting yourself to riding public transit? Life is never perfectly safe anyway. Being
self propelled is gratifying in any season. Cheers! Bernie
 
Wed, 15 Jan 2003 20:02:10 -0800, <[email protected]>, Bernie <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>> >I'm thinking about getting one of those road construction reflective vests, and about 5
>> >blinkies.
>>
>> Wouldn't it be nice to have a hi-viz Gore-tex jacket with reflective piping for days like this?
>> How come all that's available is either an unbreathable pvc-coated jacket, or Gore-tex in some
>> color that blends in with the background???
>
>so wear the vest. it aint stylin' but... <vbg> Best regards, Bernie

Apparantly a vest _can_ be a fashion statement. http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=3635
--
zk
 
"Doug Kennedy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:p[email protected]...

> Check Nashbar's gore-tex jacket, mostly bright yellow, lots of reflective tape and piping.
> Sometimes 'store-brand' means not very good, but I've been unable to find anything better... comes
> in long sizes too which I really appreciate.

There's nothing wrong with "store brand." It all comes from the same third-world factories anyway.
I've found the quality of clothes from Performance, REI, etc. to be as good as anyone else's.

> Two blinkies is the minimum for me, since if your blinkie stops blinking,
then
> you've got nothing (besides reflectivity) to make you visible from behind.

Keep in mind that LED blinkies are highly directional -- it matters a lot how they're mounted. Those
ones that clip to clothing or backpacks are usually very dim when viewed from a driver's angle.
Strobe-type blinkies are far better for this kind of thing.

Matt O.
 
in article [email protected], Barry Gaudet at [email protected] wrote on
1/16/03 10:39 AM:

> Part of my problem is the backpack. I'm thinking I'll either have to get something to attach to it
> or a new backpack.

I picked up a triangular reflective "slow-moving-vehicle-caution" "thingie" at one of my my LBSs. It
has a web-strap meant to wrap around your waist; the triangle was meant to cover your butt. It is a
healthy 10 inches across.

I found a way to wrap it securely around my backpack so it is held in place properly.

I also recently picked up a RealLITE (http://www.reallite.com/details.htm). 4 x 6 inches and 18
LEDs. It gets a lot of comment in the LBSs!
--
Alan Jeddeloh "ajeddelo at easystreet dot com" The person who said "The only things certain in life
are death and taxes" didn't do the laundry in a family with children!
 
Tom Keats <tkeats@no_spam.vcn.bc.ca> wrote:
: In article <[email protected]>,
[...]
:> Part of my problem is the backpack. I'm thinking I'll either have to get something to attach to
:> it or a new backpack.

: How about putting the vest on the backpack?

I thought of that but then I'm looking at buying two vests if I want to be... well... reflective
from front and back. I popped over to Mark's Work Wearhouse [they specialize in what you'd expect]
and they had orange and yellow nylon mesh vests pretty much made to order for $28 Cdn including tax
[~$18 US]. That seems a little pricey for what you get. But then I can be quite stingy. [...]
: Optionally, Flashback http://www.flashback.ca might have some appealing reflective stuff you could
: stick onto your pack.

That looks like a possibility.

I'll have to think about it - do little more comparison shopping.

--
'People think I'm insane because I am frowning all the time All day long I think of things
but nothing seems to satisfy' 'Make a joke and I will sigh And you will laugh and I will
cry' -Black Sabbath
 
in article [email protected], Per Elmsäter at [email protected] wrote
on 1/17/03 10:49 AM:

> "Alan Jeddeloh" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:BA4CBC31.1712F%[email protected]...
>> I also recently picked up a RealLITE
> (http://www.reallite.com/details.htm).
>> 4 x 6 inches and 18 LEDs. It gets a lot of comment in the LBSs!
>
> Nice looking taillight. Can it be used as a nonblinking light also? Here in Sweden the law says
> that the light may not blink.

Yes. It has three modes: Off, Blink at about 1 Hz, and Steady On. I'm not certain what the batter
life in Steady On state would be (or even Blink mode, for that matter). It takes four "AA"
batteries.
--
Alan Jeddeloh "ajeddelo at easystreet dot com" That which does not kill me sometimes just makes me
wish I was dead.
 
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