Re: New Habits/Road Safety

On Tue, 14 Jun 2005 21:37:27 -0700, "GaryG" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"Robert S. Dean" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So, this morning, with the weather in Maryland expected to be in heat
advisory range for the afternoon, I thought that I would get started on
forming new habits by getting up at 5:00 to be ready for an early
morning ride, shower, and get to work on time. That part worked very
well, even if I didn't get as far as I would have liked. (The ride
starts with a 20-minute hill climb...)

I decided to come back down the hill be a different route, and waited at
the top for a clear space (it's the low traffic direction, and 6:15,
after all), but didn't make it to the bottom before being overtaken by a
car. The driver swung wide around me, which was OK, but crossed the
double yellow centerline and nearly met an oncoming vehicle, which was
not. Tomorrow I come back down the ascent hill, with the generous
shoulder. Any other possible solutions?

Rob Dean

Take the lane, so the driver won't be tempted to pass until it's clear.

GG

Sounds like he did take the lane...what's dangerous here is sometimes even
well-meaning drivers do dumb things like that and then you really have to
watch out, b/c underestimating your speed he'll whip back into your lane
and can force you off the road. I try always to not be in places where this
is going to happen - I'll either speed up and turn off onto a side street,
or even slow and pull over if I sense something like this (though it's
rare). Too often we're focussed on going the 'right way' when it's really
no big deal to turn off. I learned that from reading messages here, I think
Claire mentioned that a couple time.

But yep, take the lane...but whenever possible always salute him/her, and
wave and stuff as they pass. That way you transmit good feelings, imo. I
try to wave at every driver on my route, though I'm not always able to see
if they wave back. Plus it helps me to learn how to ride with one hand in
th aero position (not as easy as it sounds).

Oddly one of the guys here that I'm planning to start riding with is a 19
y.o. on the cycling team. In email, it appears he had no concept of taking
the lane, though he's much fitter, thinner and faster than I am. I couldn't
believe that a college cyclist wouldn't know about that. He admitted that
riding on this one road scared him - then I mentioned taking the lane and
he said 'what do you mean?' Guess they're zoned in on riding a paceline at
the edge of the road or something. I couldn't believe it when he asked me
if I wanted to ride with him. I'm like 'no-o-o-o-o...lol, you don't want to
ride with a ROG who is nearly three times your age and twice your weight.'
He said, 'hey I ride with my dad...'. ;-) I'm putting it off until I get
back from the beach - hopefully a bit thinner and a bit faster. I have a
feeling he's gonna make me kick my own ass and I'm not sure if I'm looking
forward to it or not. <g>

jj

Jeff Starr said:

jj said:

Oddly one of the guys here that I'm planning to start riding with is a 19
y.o. on the cycling team. In email, it appears he had no concept of taking
the lane, though he's much fitter, thinner and faster than I am. I couldn't
believe that a college cyclist wouldn't know about that. He admitted that
riding on this one road scared him - then I mentioned taking the lane and
he said 'what do you mean?' Guess they're zoned in on riding a paceline at
the edge of the road or something. I couldn't believe it when he asked me
if I wanted to ride with him. I'm like 'no-o-o-o-o...lol, you don't want to
ride with a ROG who is nearly three times your age and twice your weight.'
He said, 'hey I ride with my dad...'. ;-) I'm putting it off until I get
back from the beach - hopefully a bit thinner and a bit faster. I have a
feeling he's gonna make me kick my own ass and I'm not sure if I'm looking
forward to it or not. <g>

jj

I ride with a guy who is much faster then me. For me it is always a
real workout, where I tend to push myself harder than normal. I ride
with a HRM and my average and max are always up. On Monday, I maxed
out my HR, which I haven't done since last July.

For him, he considers our rides "recovery rides", and are an easy day,
for him.

So, last Monday, we usually leave the MUP as soon as we can, at the
first turn off to the street. But, he was riding no hands and said
lets stay on the path, for some relaxing. He is riding no hands,
sitting straight up, and I'm behind him putting in a good amount of
effort, to maintain our 17-19mph pace.

I can't ride with him everyday, but I like to about once a week. Often
on windy days, I can tuck in and suck wheel as needed.

He's a good guy, and he always backs off, when I start to lag and when
necessary, I tell him, that's it, I'm shot. Then we slow down;-)

Consider riding with this young guy a good challenge.

Life is Good!
Jeff

Durn, now I -have- to ride with him, lol.

I haven't replied to his kind offer, I just am worried he's gonna take a
look at me and say 'dude, how do you climb with 18" biceps', or something.
Then I'll have to slink off and hide for daring to impersonate a cyclist.

I was in Performance bikes the other day in my cycling gear, having just
ridden, getting an adjustment and this girl walked in, must have been 90lbs
soaking wet, maybe 5'1". Perfect cycling physique.

She takes one look at me and you'd think she saw Sasquatch or something.
She didn't laugh, but her eyes bugged out. Can't blame her. I think my
forearms were bigger than her quads. ;-)

jj

jj said:

Oddly one of the guys here that I'm planning to start riding with is
a 19 y.o. on the cycling team. In email, it appears he had no
concept of taking the lane, though he's much fitter, thinner and
faster than I am. I couldn't believe that a college cyclist wouldn't
know about that. He admitted that riding on this one road scared him
- then I mentioned taking the lane and he said 'what do you mean?'
Guess they're zoned in on riding a paceline at the edge of the road
or something. I couldn't believe it when he asked me if I wanted to
ride with him. I'm like 'no-o-o-o-o...lol, you don't want to ride
with a ROG who is nearly three times your age and twice your weight.'
He said, 'hey I ride with my dad...'. ;-) I'm putting it off until I
get back from the beach - hopefully a bit thinner and a bit faster. I
have a feeling he's gonna make me kick my own ass and I'm not sure if
I'm looking forward to it or not. <g>

19 year olds can't drive cars properly either. Why expect better of their
bicycling?

Many experienced riders know surprisingly little also. Few people are taught,
and not everyone learns.

Matt O.

jj wrote:
:: On Wed, 15 Jun 2005 15:16:16 GMT, Jeff Starr <[email hidden]>
:: wrote:
::
::: On Wed, 15 Jun 2005 05:56:55 -0400, jj<[email hidden]> wrote:
:::
:::
::::
:::: Oddly one of the guys here that I'm planning to start riding with
:::: is a 19 y.o. on the cycling team. In email, it appears he had no
:::: concept of taking the lane, though he's much fitter, thinner and
:::: faster than I am. I couldn't believe that a college cyclist
:::: wouldn't know about that. He admitted that riding on this one road
:::: scared him - then I mentioned taking the lane and he said 'what do
:::: you mean?' Guess they're zoned in on riding a paceline at the edge
:::: of the road or something. I couldn't believe it when he asked me
:::: if I wanted to ride with him. I'm like 'no-o-o-o-o...lol, you
:::: don't want to ride with a ROG who is nearly three times your age
:::: and twice your weight.' He said, 'hey I ride with my dad...'. ;-)
:::: I'm putting it off until I get back from the beach - hopefully a
:::: bit thinner and a bit faster. I have a feeling he's gonna make me
:::: kick my own ass and I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to it or
:::: not. <g>
::::
:::: jj
:::
::: I ride with a guy who is much faster then me. For me it is always a
::: real workout, where I tend to push myself harder than normal. I ride
::: with a HRM and my average and max are always up. On Monday, I maxed
::: out my HR, which I haven't done since last July.
:::
::: For him, he considers our rides "recovery rides", and are an easy
::: day, for him.
:::
::: So, last Monday, we usually leave the MUP as soon as we can, at the
::: first turn off to the street. But, he was riding no hands and said
::: lets stay on the path, for some relaxing. He is riding no hands,
::: sitting straight up, and I'm behind him putting in a good amount of
::: effort, to maintain our 17-19mph pace.
:::
::: I can't ride with him everyday, but I like to about once a week.
::: Often on windy days, I can tuck in and suck wheel as needed.
:::
::: He's a good guy, and he always backs off, when I start to lag and
::: when necessary, I tell him, that's it, I'm shot. Then we slow
::: down;-)
:::
::: Consider riding with this young guy a good challenge.
:::
:::
::: Life is Good!
::: Jeff
::
:: Durn, now I -have- to ride with him, lol.
::
:: I haven't replied to his kind offer, I just am worried he's gonna
:: take a look at me and say 'dude, how do you climb with 18" biceps',
:: or something. Then I'll have to slink off and hide for daring to
:: impersonate a cyclist.

jj - lighten up, bro...you're just riding a bike here, not competing with
Lance 🙂.

I'd bet you'll do a lot better than you think. Or not, so what? At least
you're not sitting on your butt waiting to die.

::
:: I was in Performance bikes the other day in my cycling gear, having
:: just ridden, getting an adjustment and this girl walked in, must
:: have been 90lbs soaking wet, maybe 5'1". Perfect cycling physique.
::
:: She takes one look at me and you'd think she saw Sasquatch or
:: something. She didn't laugh, but her eyes bugged out. Can't blame
:: her. I think my forearms were bigger than her quads. ;-)

You're just self-conscience. I'm bigger and uglier than you and look like a
sausage in my shorts. I enjoy looking at 90lb girls w/ perfect cycling
physiques. Heck, that's why i'm out there! 🙂

::
:: jj