Marz wrote:
> I still don't understand people who seem to need their ears to ride a
> bicycle. What are you listening for? Do you change your riding style
> or position in the road when you hear a car coming?
Very often, yes. Simple example: if there's a car behind me and a
traffic island 500m ahead, I'd rather slacken off a bit and pull into
the secondary position now and let them past when they can do so safely
than continue at speed and have them attempt some dorky manoeuvre later
on. Or perhaps instead I'll stay where I am and push a bit harder so
that I'm past the obstruction before they get bored with having me in front.
> Maybe you have special powers of hearing where you can
> determine whether the car behind is going to pass to one side or drive
> straight into the back of you.
No, but my perfectly ordinary powers of hearing are good enough to
determine, for example, that the taxi behind wants to overtake (dropping
a gear, acceleration). Or that the back light dropped off my bike. Or
that my derailleur indexing is off. Or that my cranks need tightening.
Each to their own, and if you can get along without hearing, more power
to you. I just find it's another tool in the toolbox, so to speak.
-dan
No, but I am feeling wimpy lol.