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Ride 16 - Traffic, Slow and is there a better city to ride in?
Hey Ok Ride 16 - I joined a group in Roswell, GA for a 7:30 AM ride. I had a map - so figured when they dropped me I would find my way. They also said there's be cue sheets. Well no cue sheets, a few bridges were out - so we were off on a new route to the old route. In any case - I was a bit nervous (after Ride 15 and the fall in front of a car.) But I was prepared.... cautious. I would be sure and have one foot clipped in at all stops. I would not try to zoom off as I tried to clip my foot in. I could do it!
Ok - off we went. Well... I lost the gorup on the first hill... No biggie...could see the last straggler for some key turns...then lost them but figured out they must have gone along the river...did that - looked at the map. Anyway - Lots of Hills..but I was fine. Lots of traffic, but I was fine. At one point I ended up on a major traffic roaad - Holcolm Bridge - but I was fine. Anyway It was a short ride since I got lost... About an hour and 11.5 miles.. I left the leaader a note on his car to say I made it back so they would not wonder where I went and then headed out. So I am not sure I love riding in the city. Tomorrow I am off to the rural roads..farm country to ride rolling hills. Shoud be calmer..Harder, but calmer. So my question to my noble Clydes....Should I move to a city that has more bike trails and is less trafficky? (Also need a major airport to travel to as well.. Usually my clients are from Texas, Minneapolis and East.) Do you get used to traffic? And some of these rides I am alone - as I am dead last...but I am so happy to be out and to meet cyclists. |
Originally Posted by Missbumble
(Post 7092276)
Hey Ok Ride 16 - I joined a group in Roswell, GA for a 7:30 AM ride. I had a map - so figured when they dropped me I would find my way. They also said there's be cure sheets. Well no cue sheets, a few bridges were out - so we were off on a new route to the old route. In any case - I was a bit nervous (after Ride 15 and the fall in front of a car.) But I was prepared.... cautious. I would be sure and have one foot clipped in at all stops. I would not try to zoom off as I tried to clip my foot in. I could do it!
Ok - off we went. Well... I lost the gorup on the first hill... No biggie...could see the last straggler for some key turns...then lost them but figured out they must have gone along the river...did that - looked at the map. Anyway - Lots of Hills..but I was fine. Lots of traffic, but I was fine. At one point I ended up on a major traffic roaad - Holcolm Bridge - but I was fine. Anyway It was a short ride since I got lost... About an hour and 11.5 miles.. I left the leaader a note on his car to say I made it back so they would not wonder where I went and then headed out. So I am not sure I love riding in the city. Tomorrow I am off to the rural roads..farm country to ride rolling hills. Shoud be calmer..Harder, but calmer. So my question to my noble Clydes....Should I move to a city that has more bike trails and is less trafficky? (Also need a major airport to travel to as well.. Usually my clients are from Texas, Minneapolis and East.) Do you get used to traffic? And some of these rides I am alone - as I am dead last...but I am so happy to be out and to meet cyclists. |
Rolling hills farmland sounds dreamy. I'm in NYC - plenty of traffic here.
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Originally Posted by The Historian
(Post 7092327)
Philadelphia, PA. Dedicated bike lanes, extensive trail network in the city and surrounding counties, active bicycle clubs - including BCP with 800 members, signed state bike routes, many bike-friendly parks and historic sites, low-traffic rural roads in Bucks and Chester Counties, and covered bridges. Also there's good riding just outside the 5 county metro area, in Lancaster and Berks Counties.
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come out here and ride with me. I am dead last as well!
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I live in philly and I'll second that its a very good bike city. that bike club offers rides at 5 or 6 different difficulty levels. they go form 20mph for 100miles to like 10mph average for 10miles.
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cohophysh - sounds good!
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The more you ride in traffic, the more you get used to it and figure out how best to ride. Assert yourself, take some space for yourself for your own safety, stay out of the door zone, etc.
As for new cities, maybe Denver? It's a skinny place so they must have some stuff to do out there and places to do it. |
Originally Posted by mesasone
(Post 7094148)
Isn't philly no. 1 in bike thefts across the nation? Something to consider...
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traffic you get used to just act like you belong there. as far as utility living in the city for a bike is great but to get some good distance. rural roads are where its at.
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Originally Posted by Missbumble
(Post 7092276)
Hey Ok Ride 16 - I joined a group in Roswell, GA for a 7:30 AM ride. I had a map - so figured when they dropped me I would find my way. They also said there's be cue sheets. Well no cue sheets, a few bridges were out - so we were off on a new route to the old route. In any case - I was a bit nervous (after Ride 15 and the fall in front of a car.) But I was prepared.... cautious. I would be sure and have one foot clipped in at all stops. I would not try to zoom off as I tried to clip my foot in. I could do it!
Ok - off we went. Well... I lost the gorup on the first hill... No biggie...could see the last straggler for some key turns...then lost them but figured out they must have gone along the river...did that - looked at the map. Anyway - Lots of Hills..but I was fine. Lots of traffic, but I was fine. At one point I ended up on a major traffic roaad - Holcolm Bridge - but I was fine. Anyway It was a short ride since I got lost... About an hour and 11.5 miles.. I left the leaader a note on his car to say I made it back so they would not wonder where I went and then headed out. So I am not sure I love riding in the city. Tomorrow I am off to the rural roads..farm country to ride rolling hills. Shoud be calmer..Harder, but calmer. So my question to my noble Clydes....Should I move to a city that has more bike trails and is less trafficky? (Also need a major airport to travel to as well.. Usually my clients are from Texas, Minneapolis and East.) Do you get used to traffic? And some of these rides I am alone - as I am dead last...but I am so happy to be out and to meet cyclists. As for traffic, just get used to it, I live in a major city, Toronto, the largest city in Canada, at just over 2.5 million people, I absolutely hate driving a car downtown, my bike however, no problem, I love riding downtown. I am starting to look for routes north of the city though, as I want more distance, then I can get within the city. |
Try getting a helmet or handlebar mirror. It made a huge difference to me when it comes to riding in traffic.
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moving from roswell..
you could always take refuge in the mtns of north georgia. Somewhere like dahlonega so your a straight shot down 400 into atl and eventually to the airport, or you could always move up here to Asheville, NC where you see cyclist everywhere even on major roads. From here it's an hour to the greenville airport and 2 hrs from charlotte and ten min. from the asheville airport. There are group rides every night of the week and you can cycle the blue ridge parkway everyday.
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Originally Posted by gotls1
(Post 7104995)
Try getting a helmet or handlebar mirror. It made a huge difference to me when it comes to riding in traffic.
I tried the helmet mirror...fawgetabout it. No way could Imanage that. Is the handlebar mirror doable??? I could not see out of my helmut mirror... I would go batty! |
Originally Posted by justintime8425
(Post 7105085)
you could always take refuge in the mtns of north georgia. Somewhere like dahlonega so your a straight shot down 400 into atl and eventually to the airport, or you could always move up here to Asheville, NC where you see cyclist everywhere even on major roads. From here it's an hour to the greenville airport and 2 hrs from charlotte and ten min. from the asheville airport. There are group rides every night of the week and you can cycle the blue ridge parkway everyday.
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Originally Posted by Missbumble
(Post 7106378)
I tried the helmet mirror...fawgetabout it. No way could Imanage that. Is the handlebar mirror doable??? I could not see out of my helmut mirror... I would go batty!
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Riding in traffic is a skill that every cyclist should be able to do. Don't move away to someplace with less traffic just to avoid it. Sooner or later, you WILL have to ride in traffic. If you know how, then you're prepared. If you don't...life will be miserable.
Bike paths have their own set of problems and give rise to another set of riding skills as well. They can be as dangerous more often than riding in traffic. Group riding is a third set of skills to master (riding close to others, keeping pace, holding your line, etc...) that every cyclist should know. Contact the group you rode with, ask them if they were okay with you leaving early, and see if it would be okay to come out on any upcoming "no-drop" rides. For instance, our local club does a "coached, no-drop" ride the first Saturday of every month specifically for first-time riders. Keep at it. You can do it. I've seen you (through your posts) make great strides already. As for moving? Go where the money is. Find good air quality, 4 seasons, god schools, places to shop, nice streets, low smog, etc... |
BTW, riding in rural areas has its drawbacks as well: white pick-ups with shotguns in the rear window. :D
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Move to Texas! People in cars are very concerned with your hydration, so they practically throw their drinks at you during your ride.
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+1 Head for the mountains of North GA/NC...
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