RalphP
Last week, we had a report on the Touring Forum of a woman seriously injured while bicycle touring in Florida. The thread discussion pushed several of my bottons and I thought I'd describe here what I am thinking as of possible use for anyone who tours, or is thinking of touring, and who hasn't already set his techniques in cement.
(1) The bicyclist was wearing a helmet and suffered a possibly serious head injury anyway. There can be no doubt that her injury would have been worse without the helmet. However, there are two kinds of bicycle accidents: the avoidable and the unavoidable. Hers, as described below, was of the avoidable kind. My opinion is that a bicycle accident, especially if it involves a motor vehicle, is most likely to be a major catastrophe. The avoidable class of accidents must be completely eliminated from the realm of touring possibilities. Before going on a tour, a bicyclist should have done enough years of bicycling to have that degree of wisdom and skill. I live in central Florida, where no-shoulder, fast two-lane roads are the norm. Bicyclists ride on these roads for recreation. Each one has his little helmet on for his protection but is chosing to ride where every car must drive around him, and probably slow to a near stop before doing so to avoid a head-on collision. Evey driver? Even the drunks, the incompetants, the distracted, the infuriated bicycle haters? Yes. But you know it's not going to happen that way. Every once and awhile one of the drivers-who-aren't driving will pick off a bicyclist. One can avoid getting killed that way by not riding on those roads. Don't let the helmet fool you.
(2) The injured bicyclist was towing a trailer. The accident was apparently caused when a cross wind blew the trailer, and with it the bicycle, into traffic. Smasho. Trailers are quite popular on the Touring Forum. In addition to wind, they are said to cause handling issues on the downhills. Today, I read a thread by a fellow boasting how minimalist he was and seriously discussing what kind of trailer he might use on his cross country trip. What I would say is, if tens of thousands of people have travelled to hell and back on bicycles without trailers, and if trailers clearly impair the handling of the bicycle, then trailers fall into the class of avoidable risks to one's life and limbs.
(3) I do not know what specific road the injured bicyclist was riding on but I do know that high speed two lane roads, totally lacking in room for bicycles, basically cover the State of Florida. 70mph or more is not an unusual speed on these roads. (I myself once slowed down my M/C to 90mph for the occasion of passing a patrol car, parked on the side of the road, and was not stopped.) I recommend against planning any tour from a point A to B, such as a "cross country tour," that does not include all the buses, trains, and planes needed to avoid long stretchs of inappropriate roads. I am opposed to any "ideal" of bicycle rights, adherence to State road laws, or good sounding accomplishment labels that will create avoidable risks. Rather, I'd say, discover and identify areas where fine bicycling can be enjoyed, string them together as best you can and, where you cannot, feel no shame or hesitancy to load your bike on a train and enjoy your tour the easy way for awhile.
(1) The bicyclist was wearing a helmet and suffered a possibly serious head injury anyway. There can be no doubt that her injury would have been worse without the helmet. However, there are two kinds of bicycle accidents: the avoidable and the unavoidable. Hers, as described below, was of the avoidable kind. My opinion is that a bicycle accident, especially if it involves a motor vehicle, is most likely to be a major catastrophe. The avoidable class of accidents must be completely eliminated from the realm of touring possibilities. Before going on a tour, a bicyclist should have done enough years of bicycling to have that degree of wisdom and skill. I live in central Florida, where no-shoulder, fast two-lane roads are the norm. Bicyclists ride on these roads for recreation. Each one has his little helmet on for his protection but is chosing to ride where every car must drive around him, and probably slow to a near stop before doing so to avoid a head-on collision. Evey driver? Even the drunks, the incompetants, the distracted, the infuriated bicycle haters? Yes. But you know it's not going to happen that way. Every once and awhile one of the drivers-who-aren't driving will pick off a bicyclist. One can avoid getting killed that way by not riding on those roads. Don't let the helmet fool you.
(2) The injured bicyclist was towing a trailer. The accident was apparently caused when a cross wind blew the trailer, and with it the bicycle, into traffic. Smasho. Trailers are quite popular on the Touring Forum. In addition to wind, they are said to cause handling issues on the downhills. Today, I read a thread by a fellow boasting how minimalist he was and seriously discussing what kind of trailer he might use on his cross country trip. What I would say is, if tens of thousands of people have travelled to hell and back on bicycles without trailers, and if trailers clearly impair the handling of the bicycle, then trailers fall into the class of avoidable risks to one's life and limbs.
(3) I do not know what specific road the injured bicyclist was riding on but I do know that high speed two lane roads, totally lacking in room for bicycles, basically cover the State of Florida. 70mph or more is not an unusual speed on these roads. (I myself once slowed down my M/C to 90mph for the occasion of passing a patrol car, parked on the side of the road, and was not stopped.) I recommend against planning any tour from a point A to B, such as a "cross country tour," that does not include all the buses, trains, and planes needed to avoid long stretchs of inappropriate roads. I am opposed to any "ideal" of bicycle rights, adherence to State road laws, or good sounding accomplishment labels that will create avoidable risks. Rather, I'd say, discover and identify areas where fine bicycling can be enjoyed, string them together as best you can and, where you cannot, feel no shame or hesitancy to load your bike on a train and enjoy your tour the easy way for awhile.