Commuting - Winds, Hills, and Commute

My new bike should be ready pretty soon, and when it is I plan to start commuting from my place to where I work summers (Pepperdine University in Malibu, California).

The quickest and as far as I can tell, most forgiving, road is a 14 mile stretch through Malibu Canyon. Half of my ride to work will be mostly downhill (1000 foot change in elevation) through many blind curves. The shoulder changes in width from fairly good to almost non-existent. As you can guess, the non-existent shoulder usually occurs along the blind curves.

I just wanted ask ya'll what techniques I should employ to maximize safety. The ride *to* work isn't so bad since I can leave early in the morning, and am going mostly down hill (with a few climbs here and there). But around 0800 or so this road fills up with cage commuters. Literally a constant stream. Road also is like this around 1700, roughly when I get off work. And the ride back to home is more uphill, so of course I'll be going fairly slow.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

S. O'Hare

If at any stage you feel the lane is too narrow to share, just claim the whole thing.

On corners (particularly blind corners) it's really important to position yourself far out from inside of the corner to allow drivers from behind the best opportunity to see you.

As Chris said, take the whole lane if it isn't safe for cars to pass in the lane with you. Don't ***** about with it - move into the middle of the lane if not further left (or right depending) to make it inherently clear.

[edit: pu$$y is a censored word... how odd]

As Chris said, take the whole lane if it isn't safe for cars to pass in the lane with you. Don't ***** about with it - move into the middle of the lane if not further left (or right depending) to make it inherently clear.

[edit: pu$$y is a censored word... how odd]

Oh that's nothing. I know of a board where Spanky is a censored word -- and that website has a legitimate swear word in the URL!

If at any stage you feel the lane is too narrow to share, just claim the whole thing.

That's definately good advice. It amazes me how some drivers feel they have a right to pass you, and it's always strange how those drivers are the ones with the fattest vehicles...

Yeah, don't feel shy about claiming the whole lane, you have right of way after all.

Malibu Canyon is my favorite drive around here, though I've never ridden it. I do pass Pepperdine at least once a week on my way from Brentwood to Kanan and back.

On a road like that, I think you're better off during heavy traffic. When there's less traffic, you're more likely to find a crazy speeder (like me).

P.S.
My wife works at Pepperdine.

Malibu Canyon is my favorite drive around here, though I've never ridden it. I do pass Pepperdine at least once a week on my way from Brentwood to Kanan and back.

On a road like that, I think you're better off during heavy traffic. When there's less traffic, you're more likely to find a crazy speeder (like me).

P.S.
My wife works at Pepperdine.


Thanks all for the advice.

My only concern about heavy traffic is that no matter when I seem to be on the road, people are still pretty much blazing through (and using about half the shoulder too). We shall have to see what works best, eh?

(And what does your wife do at Pepperdine? I myself am working out of the science division, under a research grant monitoring stream ecology).

Thanks all for the advice.

My only concern about heavy traffic is that no matter when I seem to be on the road, people are still pretty much blazing through (and using about half the shoulder too). We shall have to see what works best, eh?

(And what does your wife do at Pepperdine? I myself am working out of the science division, under a research grant monitoring stream ecology).

She's a senior academic advisor. Just started in November or so.

Let me know once you start commuting. I'm interested to see how hard of a ride it is.

She's a senior academic advisor. Just started in November or so.

Let me know once you start commuting. I'm interested to see how hard of a ride it is.
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So I just arrived at Pepperdine via a stretch of Kanan, then Agoura Road, another side road, and finally Malibu Canyon.

Some mild climbs, nothing too serious. Some nice down hill as well. What is best is that the shoulder proved to be very adequate. All the blind curves had nice big shoulders. Road conditions good save for a few instances of broken glass and small potholes. I was on Malibu Canyon by about 8am.

Going back will be a nice climb, and I'm starting to wonder if I have adequate gearing (as I have no granny gear).

On another note, someone in a Hummer hitched with about 4 bicycles stopped in front of me while I took a water break. I think they were waiting to see if I was all right. Normally don't expect that sort of behavior from Hummer drivers!