Advocacy & Safety - Ok, how bike riders see each other, sheesh

How do you think you compare to your fellow riders?

How do you think you compare to your fellow riders?


I'd say I am about average. I am perhaps more courteous and conservative than most riders; but living in the country with its wide open spaces and shoulders, there is less need for 'take the lane' type skills you hear about from other cyclists.

roughstuff

I'd say about average, but most other riders are SLOWER! :D :p

Maybe my ability to ride confidently on snow, slush, and ice makes me better than some. I certainly wouldn't want to bomb down a mountain though.

I do tend to follow traffic law better than a lot of other riders I see.

Hmm I think you should have said cyclists rather than bike riders. If you really mean anyone on a bike then I would say I am above average but if you mean serious cyclists I am probably average or even slightly below average. Also I am not counting fitness in here. I would guess I am below average in fitness to most cyclists but I am working on it. :)

Depends on the "fellow riders." If we're talkin the bunch students at the local college that use the same road as me... Hands down I am better; If we're talking the folks I see riding around the local shopping mall and riding down the boulevard in work clothes... Again I am better. If we are talking the folks I see riding around the bay... Yup I am better.

But if we are talking the one or two Lance wannabes that I see, Hey, ride on dudes. Good to see you out there.

Funny how all those folks are out there though, huh? All using the same roads.

I still think my previous link applies

http://www.ambulancedriving.com/res...ateaboveav.html

- self-perception can in part be attributed to optimism bias - the finding that most of us have an optimistic perception of our future. Job (1999, p.32) says, 'we see ourselves as less likely than our peers to suffer an early heart attack, have cancer, AIDS or a drinking problem but more likely to live past 80 years, own our home, and have gifted children.' -


I think I probably rate average compared to other bicycle riders, but from what I've read here about how often people fall and hurt themselves, if that's a measure of how safe we see each other, I guess I'd have to rate myself as more skilled than an average bicycle rider, even though that's not really how I see it.

I see a lot of other bike riders as better dressed than myself - such fancy clothes, what shiny, strechy uniforms, as if they had just broken away from the peloton.

Depends on the "fellow riders." If we're talkin the bunch students at the local college that use the same road as me... Hands down I am better; If we're talking the folks I see riding around the local shopping mall and riding down the boulevard in work clothes... Again I am better. If we are talking the folks I see riding around the bay... Yup I am better.

But if we are talking the one or two Lance wannabes that I see, Hey, ride on dudes. Good to see you out there.

Funny how all those folks are out there though, huh? All using the same roads.
Gene, how are you "better" than the students and folk cyclists? What skills do you have that they don't have?
What is it about the Lance wannabes that make them "better" than you? What skills do they have that you don't have? Do you have any skills that they might not have?

You present a curious question. Among friends who own bikes and are conversant on cycling, I suppose I am about average. Many of these folks ride less frequently than I or for shorter distances.

I usually ride on Saturdays with one other person. I am the slowpoke here.

Of those that I see riding, I suppose most are better than I. However, I only see them very briefly. Perhaps they are bonking, flaming out or crashing as soon as they are out of site. Maybe I am seeing them in the first several yards of their ride while I am at 20 miles or so.

Among those in this forum, I suspect I'm quite a bit below average, but then, this is a fairly exclusive group.

When speaking to friends or co-workers regarding mileage and such, especially when I come across them while cycling, they are usually amazed at a guy my age (and weight) riding 20 miles. i suppose I am above average among this group.

In general though, I like to go by how I feel and how I am doing as compared to my performance earlier. If I am going farther, faster, easier and feel better, than last year, last month or last week, I am pleased with my placement among cyclists.

webist - Mars' questions centered around "skills". Your answer seems to be about performance and endurance. Are they one and the same to you?

Hmm I think you should have said cyclists rather than bike riders. If you really mean anyone on a bike then I would say I am above average but if you mean serious cyclists I am probably average or even slightly below average.
I took the question to be just anyone on a bike, and so rated myself just above average, only because I've got over two years experience commuting and feel I've gotten a lot more educated in that time than when I started. Now, compared to others on this board, I'm probably below average (I'm one of the guys you see commuting at 15 MPH in work clothes :)), but compared to the average person in the street, I think above.

I am much more experienced than I am skilled.

Gene, how are you "better" than the students and folk cyclists? What skills do you have that they don't have?
What is it about the Lance wannabes that make them "better" than you? What skills do they have that you don't have? Do you have any skills that they might not have?

Depends on how you define "better" doesn't it.

By "better" is it meant that I can change gears smoother and climb hills faster? Or is "better" defined by how one rides or does not ride in traffic (I am sure that is your definition, in spite of the fact that some of these folks only encounter traffic as a pedestrian would). Or is "better" defined as those who get to their destination more often. (which might include off road skills)

I chose to define "better" as the actual output I put into riding... the "horsepower" put into the ride. As another example: RegularGuy stated "I am much more experienced than I am skilled." He chose "better" as the ability to handle the bike in a varity of situations (skill). RegularGuy probably can outpace any of the folk riders I mention due to his experience.

The Lance wannabes are climbing hills "better" than I; they are going faster than I; in a race, their "better" would win. But how would they do compared to say a delivery rider in NYC? Earlier in my life I used to hang out with Veledome riders... I marveled at their sprint ability, they on the other hand could not stand to tour for a hundred miles over an 8 or 9 hour day. Different skills... we were each "better" in a different way.

Of course a combination of all the skills... speed, traffic handling, and the desire and ability to ride every day, and the endurance to do long miles, and of course the ability to sprint, could be defined as the optimum "better."

I'm just a tad under LA but better then the kindergardeners at my school. LOL. I ride and dont worry about it.

I chose to define "better" as the actual output I put into riding... the "horsepower" put into the ride.
But Mars' multi-choice answers centered around skill... "much less skilled than", "less skilled than", "more skilled than", etc.

Which of the following cycling skills can you perform (no, I'm not claiming I can perform all of them)?
An emergency sudden stop.
An "instant turn" (or "quick turn").
Riding circles while within the outline of an empty standard sized parking space in a parking lot.
Negotiate across 3 lanes of busy/fast traffic to get into a left turn lane.
Ride a wheelie.
Ride with no hands on the handlebars.
Remove a jacket without stopping.
Pee without stopping. :eek:
Look behind over either shoulder for a few seconds while maintaining a straight course with your bike (no veering).
Maintain a high cadence (80-100 rpm) for extended periods of time.
Avoid getting right-hooked at intersections.
Ride 50 miles.
Ride in a rotating paceline.
Ride a century.
Ride a double century. :rolleyes:
Maintain 25 mph for one minute or longer on a flat road with no wind.


These are the types of skills I envisioned when I read Mars' question.

If we are on bikes riding on the proper side of the road, we are equals.

Although I saw this guy one time who could hop his bike up and down on all kinds of things and could hold a trackstand forever. He was way better than me. :D

But Mars' multi-choice answers centered around skill... "much less skilled than", "less skilled than", "more skilled than", etc.

Which of the following cycling skills can you perform (no, I'm not claiming I can perform all of them)?
An emergency sudden stop.
An "instant turn" (or "quick turn").
Riding circles while within the outline of an empty standard sized parking space in a parking lot.
Negotiate across 3 lanes of busy/fast traffic to get into a left turn lane.
Ride a wheelie.
Ride with no hands on the handlebars.
Remove a jacket without stopping.
Pee without stopping. :eek:
Look behind over either shoulder for a few seconds while maintaining a straight course with your bike (no veering).
Maintain a high cadence (80-100 rpm) for extended periods of time.
Avoid getting right-hooked at intersections.
Ride 50 miles.
Ride in a rotating paceline.
Ride a century.
Ride a double century. :rolleyes:
Maintain 25 mph for one minute or longer on a flat road with no wind.


These are the types of skills I envisioned when I read Mars' question.

We each interpret "skills" in a different way... No way I could do what those guys at Sea World do on their bikes... but then I don't see them commuting to work or touring to various ends of the earth either.

Just to answer your "skill test"

* An emergency sudden stop.

Not sure what that is...

* An "instant turn" (or "quick turn").

Yes. Unless I am fully tour loaded... then nothing is happening "instantly."

* Riding circles while within the outline of an empty standard sized parking space in a parking lot.

Maybe not with my regular "truck." (Long wheelbase thing)

* Negotiate across 3 lanes of busy/fast traffic to get into a left turn lane.

Yup.

* Ride a wheelie.

Never could. Never saw it as a skill I really needed. Now bunny hop is a different thing...

* Ride with no hands on the handlebars.

Sure and make a PB and J along the way. Always wanted to make a video of this... thought it was so much fun.

* Remove a jacket without stopping.

Piece of cake. Now removeing shoes would be a challenge.

* Pee without stopping.

Not without getting the bike dirty. Guess some perhaps have longer "hoses."

* Look behind over either shoulder for a few seconds while maintaining a straight course with your bike (no veering).

Sure, can do it looking under my arms too.

* Maintain a high cadence (80-100 rpm) for extended periods of time.

You mean a normal cadence? High cadence is over 100 rpm.

* Avoid getting right-hooked at intersections.

Yes... unless the guy is in a Porche and just wants to take me out.

* Ride 50 miles.

Have ridden up to 135 miles in one day. Couldn't do it today though... would need a few weeks to work up to it again.

* Ride in a rotating paceline.

Love it... and have done it in a double century.

* Ride a century.
* Ride a double century.

Answered both above

* Maintain 25 mph for one minute or longer on a flat road with no wind.

Wow, no wind... you are being generous... yup! Have done it for over an hour. (note: past tense)


So how many points did I get... do I win?

4,087. You win.

In general though, I like to go by how I feel and how I am doing as compared to my performance earlier. If I am going farther, faster, easier and feel better, than last year, last month or last week, I am pleased with my placement among cyclists.
Amen and very well put. I'm not even reading the rest of the posts because this says it all.

If I were asked this question directly, I would respond that I may not be an expert cyclist, but I am definately an EXPERIENCED cyclist!