It's almost enough to make me get a mountain bike and never ride on pavement again. I ride around me little neighborhood mostly, but want to keep it fresh so I try to go other places. This requires riding on far less than ideal roads (narrow, faster traffic) or driving somewhere to ride (though it does seem silly).
I drove downtown to meet some friends and took my bike to have a ride too. Decided the Drag had to be as good a place as any with all the college kids around (bike lanes for a short distance). Not so. I am not usually a hot tempered individual, but I was very close to either hurting some people or their cars. Got bumped with a mirror, got buzzed close enough that mirrors were over my handlebars 3 times (and many more still way too close), got yelled at (get off the road) when I was going maybe 2 mph slower than traffic. I caught up to almost all of them at lights, one of them started running lights to get away from me so I stopped (this was the girl who yelled at me, her Bo was driving).
None would even look at me...this made me even more hot. I was tempted to take a few mirrors as trophies (I know...bad). Mad at myself that let them get to me that much, but some of them were close to potentially severely injuring me or worse. None of this was due to me not being visible, just selfish jerks.
This isn't the first time, just one of the worst so far and in an area I expected better. It wasn't as if I was holding up traffic, there was rarely very many cars coming up on me. Other cyclists too, most seemed to have been beaten into submission and riding/walking on fairly crowded sidewalks though.
Most people/vehicles I had no problems with, they sure get shadowed by the jerks though.
bfm
11-10-07, 05:19 AM
The Drag scares Me when I am in a car.
tdister
11-10-07, 05:42 AM
Good point, it was relatively calm I have to say. Actually the nicest parts were right at the school. bike lanes and stopped cars. I was making the best time of anyone :).
Worst parts were north of it where there is a half mile or so of narrow 4 lane (2 each way). People were buzzing me half in the other lane. Just single cars too. no other traffic with 'em. Must be all the out of staters we keep importing (I can say that in the Tx section, right?)
bfm
11-10-07, 06:53 AM
"Must be all the out of staters we keep importing (I can say that in the Tx section, right?)"
Absolutly! now off for a ride.
Versa2nr
11-10-07, 07:42 AM
Last time I was in Austin for a ride I vowed never to do it again. Just a totally different mentality there. All the younger college students coming there to go to UT and they have their pumped up ego's and all that. No thanks. You should head on down to San Antonio. They may drive the big SUV's here but since we are the 2nd fattest city in the nation, everything moves slower...LOL
tdister
11-10-07, 10:57 PM
I do make it down to SA once in a while. I go to the medical school for near free dentistry. See what i can do about bringing my bike next time.
scattered73
11-11-07, 02:35 PM
Last time I was in Austin for a ride I vowed never to do it again. Just a totally different mentality there. All the younger college students coming there to go to UT and they have their pumped up ego's and all that. No thanks. You should head on down to San Antonio. They may drive the big SUV's here but since we are the 2nd fattest city in the nation, everything moves slower...LOL
I second that, I rode from Austin to hippie hollow and back in March, can't remember the street we took but it was a two lanes each way. Probably the worst ride I ever did, several problem motorist even a couple on a motorcycle yelled at us and gave us the finger with the typical "Ride on the sidewalk" remark. There were several other cyclists on this road. I was really surprised expecting it to be cyclist friendly. I ride inner city Houston all the time and have never have had such conflict with drivers. We were even on the shoulder most of the time if I remember right. Glad I am not the only one that feels this way. Is this a seasonal problem maybe not as bad during summer if it's college kids, I really like Austin geography and watering holes?
Ironic Mullet
11-11-07, 07:20 PM
Gameday is probably not the best choice for a ride down Guadalupe. You've got people from out of town, people who have been drinking all day, and opposing fans to contend with.
Not that I think it would be much better any other day of the week...
I had a group of riders cut across Guadalupe in front of me at about 7 last night as I was driving home - I was happy to slow down for them, but suggested that they might have a safer crossing if they signaled their intent. I got the bird for my troubles.
dstrong
11-11-07, 08:37 PM
I had the same thought regarding gameday. And I've ridden the drag and surrounding streets once and vowed not to do it again (hadn't planned a ride route that day and was wingin' it). There are some good downtown bike routes but you can get yourself in tight spots if you just play it by ear.
tdister
11-11-07, 09:26 PM
hmm, guess I should pay more attention. Not much into, um, whatever sport was happening lol. What time was it? I was there in the mid to late afternoon.
Ironic Mullet
11-12-07, 09:40 AM
Texas vs. Texas Tech. 2:30 kickoff, but traffic is usually heaviest 12-2:30 and 6:30-8:30.
dstrong
11-12-07, 12:35 PM
And tailgate parties begins about noon...on Friday!
livewirerc
11-13-07, 01:09 PM
Yeah, that part of campus is always hairy during rush hour. I've taken to biking home a different way as I got tired of having to tap on the sides of cars that aren't paying attention to the bike lane. It's also where I ran into the frat boys who thought it'd be funny to throw bottles at me as I rode.
fordfasterr
11-13-07, 01:26 PM
if you park your bike, and get at least 10 feet of running start, you can completely smash a mirror into the side of the car with a loud snap-crackle-pop !
Enjoy the ride !
Mago
11-13-07, 02:00 PM
I ride in San Anto a lot, since I'm carfree and a sub teacher, so I can testify that there are only a few buttheads who like to rub on you as they pass, and they then to not do it if they see your lock and chain wrapped around a left arm.... but by and large, I've had little problems, besides one joker who didn't see me and turned right and into me. so, pedal freely here in San Anto - maybe if enough of us do it visibly, people will realize that they need to watch out for bikes.
yeamac
11-14-07, 02:20 PM
At least the weather is nice this time of year. :)
BlackChop
11-14-07, 09:02 PM
Sorry about your bad trip (no pun intended) in my hometown... but like a few said, gameday is no bueno for riding Guadalupe or anywhere near campus, really. Lots of good, cushy routes around central Austin, though, and it's generally safer (and hillier!) the further West you go. Shoal Creek, Mesa, Balcones, Jollyville, and several other streets tend to be good all the time, at least if you're not time trialling or blowing yourself out for a PR. Downtown just isn't the greatest idea at any time, really.
Great music and dive bars down there, though, as a partial salve!
z_hammer
11-15-07, 12:05 AM
Sorry to hear about the bad ride, but maybe you should try a different area of Austin. I live northeast of Austin proper, Round Rock, Hutto, Pflugerville area. I can ride from my house cross on major rode and ride for 30 plus miles and only see 3 or 4 cars. Granted there is not really any tough terrain, but the way the wind has been blowing you feel like you have done some decent climbing
tdister
11-15-07, 12:36 AM
I don't ride for any reason but to get out and get some exercise. Don't really have any goals.
Wind, yeah, I had to pedal down the big hill by my house tonight just to get a little speed up. Coming back was nice though. A little more area and I could have sailed up it lol.
The thing was is there wasn't that much traffic, I guess it was alcohol and hormones. Some friends and are going to Mckinney Falls state park this weekend if the wind dies down a little.
Bikedued
12-03-07, 08:52 PM
Two words. Brake Fluid. They'll never hear it, and will never know where it came from:D Eats paint off right down to the primer.:D,,,,BD