Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.Adiankur
10-02-06, 05:49 PM
Well, I finally was able to scout out a route to work today. It's approximately 9 miles 90% climbs and descents. Im pretty excited at having finally found a way that is good enough that I will try it. I do have a few concerns.
--There are two steep s-bend turns, one without a decent place to bail out of, but atleast the turns are tight enough to make it impossible for cars to go fast without hitting the guardrail..
--There are a couple areas where I will have to take the lane, which is something I have essentially done once. Those areas arent very long, but its still a bit nerve wracking.
--I really dont want to get run over!!! <--- most important point
Some good things are that there is only one area where the sun will be inline with me on the trip, and it will be at my back both ways for only a short stretch. I would be worried if it was in my face and the faces of people coming up from behind. I saw a roadie flying down the road I will be using, so I assume atleast one other finds it a good ride. 99% of the ride has good areas to stop if I have a flat or feel uncomfortable and need to bail out. The roads aren't heavily traveled, so I wont be pressured a lot. that could be bad as well, as drivers may not be as attentive, but with all the hills and mild bends, a driver needs to watch the road to stay on it. It's short enough that I wont have to face darkness any time soon.
My WTB slickasaurs will hopefully arrive this week, so hopefully I can ride next week. If they show up before friday, I will put them on and ride this weekend to get a feel. I hopefully will get fenders for my birthday, as well as extra lights. Before it starts getting dark, I will need to get a bright main light. I dont have a ton of cash, so it will be a process of deciding what to get. I can get by without panniers for now, as I have to drive in atleast once per week and can just transport cloths and such and shower there.
The guy who ordered my tires did say that liners would slow me down a lot, but I didnt mention to him that I would be commuting. ofcourse, Im going to have to swap tires a lot, as I wont have the extra cash to buy a second tire set with all the other stuff I need and this is my only bike.
All in all, im pretty excited and looking forward to it.
--There are two steep s-bend turns, one without a decent place to bail out of, but atleast the turns are tight enough to make it impossible for cars to go fast without hitting the guardrail..
--There are a couple areas where I will have to take the lane, which is something I have essentially done once. Those areas arent very long, but its still a bit nerve wracking.
--I really dont want to get run over!!! <--- most important point
Some good things are that there is only one area where the sun will be inline with me on the trip, and it will be at my back both ways for only a short stretch. I would be worried if it was in my face and the faces of people coming up from behind. I saw a roadie flying down the road I will be using, so I assume atleast one other finds it a good ride. 99% of the ride has good areas to stop if I have a flat or feel uncomfortable and need to bail out. The roads aren't heavily traveled, so I wont be pressured a lot. that could be bad as well, as drivers may not be as attentive, but with all the hills and mild bends, a driver needs to watch the road to stay on it. It's short enough that I wont have to face darkness any time soon.
My WTB slickasaurs will hopefully arrive this week, so hopefully I can ride next week. If they show up before friday, I will put them on and ride this weekend to get a feel. I hopefully will get fenders for my birthday, as well as extra lights. Before it starts getting dark, I will need to get a bright main light. I dont have a ton of cash, so it will be a process of deciding what to get. I can get by without panniers for now, as I have to drive in atleast once per week and can just transport cloths and such and shower there.
The guy who ordered my tires did say that liners would slow me down a lot, but I didnt mention to him that I would be commuting. ofcourse, Im going to have to swap tires a lot, as I wont have the extra cash to buy a second tire set with all the other stuff I need and this is my only bike.
All in all, im pretty excited and looking forward to it.