BadBoy10

I live way east near the beach and have recently dedicated myself to bicycling destinations within 10 miles. Two days ago, I decided to travel to a friend's house after work. The commute: 10 miles.

Cutting through the city, I forgot one street does not have bike lanes, sidewalks AND is EXTREMELY dark.

By the time I realized my error--I was too far on the street to retreat. My pace was swift, you know when your legs kick in and you start to zoom along BAMMM!---I hit a DEEEEEEEP pothole. I felt the impact and was in shock/slow motion as I flew over the handlebars and hit the pavement (three claps for helmet, gloves and long sleeves). Then realized the impact had thrown me in almost the center of the lane! In reflecting, I think if it was "my time" --a car would have hit me simultaneously as I realized the car. Deer in headlights -- there would not have been enough time to move--react. Thankfully, a car was not approaching-the road was deserted (east-west bound traffic). This road leads into the Florida Turnpike and is usually heavily traveled.

I am pretty banged up, lots of bruises. I thought about it later and I realized the streets are in really bad shape and the sidewalks are worse. They are in crappy condition and the patchwork fill-in worse. Roads in my city are in really bad shape.

Cycling has made me very aware of every bump in the road, uneven pavement, glass, rocks, I see and feel everything. Damn it hurts! I was on the Schwinn--the impact shifted the handlebar alignment--everything else ok. The Schwinn is more comfy than my road bike. Recently, I was fascinated with purchasing a folder now --ehhh-- I want something heavy, a tank.


Do you take the "straight line" routes to your destinations or do you take shortcuts?

Has commuting made you more aware of the condition of the roads? Has your city/town made road improvements?

If you have ever been in a crash, were you nervous about jumping back in the saddle?

*Clearly, 3 lights on the handlebar are insufficient. Feel free to PM me with light suggestions.*

TomCat_Ford

I wouldn't call them shortcuts, but I typically try to find alternative routes if roads are in rough shape. Thankfully, there aren't too many bad roads were I ride, but there are a few and I avoid them when I can.

As for crashing, I had a similar incident to yours just over 2 years ago. I was riding at night and ended up going over my handle bars. I was wearing a helmet, but wasn't wearing gloves or a long sleeve shirt like you were. I was off the bike for over a week because of a messed up finger, bad road rash on my left shoulder and back, a deep, long gash on my left arm (probably should have had that one stiched up), a bad limp, and a bruise on my forehead. I'm also fairly positive I had a slight concussion. I'm glad that I was wearing a helmet, though. Had I not been, I would probably would have been knocked out and not found by anyone till morning if I didn't come to. But with that said, I was back on my bike as soon as I felt like I could ride.

My next major incident was just 3 weeks ago when I sprained my ankle pretty bad (I still have a limp and it still swells up a little bit). I was on my trainer starting my second week of recovery and I have been riding outside since the start of week three outside. While I still have issues walking, I have zero problems when I'm on the bike.

I just cannot stay off from my bike!

keystothekid

I live by a major university and they tend to do a lot of road work on the side streets during summer since most residents are gone. Well, I was taking a fairly unfamiliar experimental route home from work a couple of weeks ago and ended up going up hill on this road they were working on. They had stripped the layer of pavement down and basically diamond grated the whole thing. It was the most miserable road I've been on, condition wise. I thought I'd head a block over and get on a different side street, but they were doing about 4 blocks so they were all in the same condition! It was only about 5 blocks of riding but it was miserable! That being said, I went back this week and the road is brand spankin' new! Maybe it's just in my head but I feel a real increase in speed on nice pavement. Maybe it's the confidence that allows you to just kick into full gear...idk. But I feel your pain.

Also, the route I commute on mostly has a lot of bus traffic so I end up hitting a lot of long perpendicular cracks (about 2 inches wide) in the street. Hate it. Also, concrete. Hate concrete.

As for routes, I play around. Sometimes certain streets seem less inclined than the others. I like to keep it fresh.

BadBoy10

Hi Tomcat:

Oh! WOW! Thank you for your response--you know--I was feeling quite sorry for myself and now realize obviously albeit death--many people have been seriously injured. You know, I am not sure the realization how dangerous cycling can be truly sets in until you have been injured. I continued on my commute but I know I need to seriously get a better light than the 3 I have on the handle bars because I noticed when riding I am looking ahead not down. This is unconscious I think and it wasn't until this tumble did I take into account--dang--I need to pay a lot more attention to the pavement. I mean you notice glass and bumps but if you start to really kick it into high gear--it is as if you have a goal in mind so you are looking at the light at the end of the tunnel. The road issues I have noted because of the lack of comfort while riding the road bike. I have been miserable on the Trek with 23 tires. Fast but excruciatingly painful riding.

"Upgrading" to the oldie steel Schwinn --and much larger tires...this forum really has been beneficial in so many of my purchases.

Hope your ankle heels --do you have a splint?

BadBoy10

Hi Keystothekid:


What kinda bicycle do you ride?

Aren't those cracks nasty? Often bike lanes are not available, the street is narrow, so--sidewalk it is and gosh darn those things are uneven. Like riding in a valley. I am talking the sidwalks with a straight uninterrupted path. You mention the university and road improvements--I noted while visiting yet another friend way on the West side of town (way out) in the subs---gorgeous miles and miles of larger bike lanes and smooth perfectly paved sidewalks and gorgeous bicycle paths couple of miles long. My friend graciously once again invited me to move out of "that god awful city living." She told me of this morning group of "jogging mothers and their strollers" and a "bunch of cyclists like Lance Armstrong."


I wonder if other cities have the same phenomenon--well I guess it is a stupid question clearly--prosperity--better living. I don't live in a dump. I actually live a mile from the intercoastal and the homes are quite pricey nevertheless the pavement sucks.

TomCat_Ford

I ride 700x28c tires (Kenda Kwest), and they're not too bad on the rough stuff. I ride them on gravel trails as well. As long as I'm careful when cornering, they do just fine. I can cruise around at 16-17mph pretty easily on loose gravel with them. It does take some practice, though!

As for my ankle, I was in an air cast for a little over a week. I was on crutches for two weeks. It's taking longer to heal because of the severity of the sprain, but I think that it is healing up nicely, albeit slowly.

BadBoy10

I was traveling on 700 x 23 (not good). All I know now --the tires are 38 and feel better. Bike is clearly much heavier and the shifting is not the best but---I think if I had crashed on the Trek--the outcome would have been worse. I am not confident the Trek would have survived. I have pictures of my nasty scrap and am going sometime this week to look at the hole. It felt like the front wheel went very very deep in a hole in the road.

Be safe.

Canada Panda

I keep two lights on my bike - they're actually just high-powered flashlights from my job doing security-type work for the city. One is a 120 lumen light that I use on lit streets; this is purely for traffic in front and coming out of driveways to notice me. On unlit streets, I use an 800 lumen light which is adequate for maintaining 20 mph while spotting road hazards. I think the lowest I'd go for a forward light on unlit streets would be 450 lumen.

I have them attached using three hose clamps lined with 1" wide adhesive weatherstrip to protect the paint on the flashlights - one goes around my stem, with two more clamps looped through on each side which hold the flashlights. You need to keep a flathead screwdriver or a really thin key in order to loosen or tighten the clamps. For more modular lights like a SureFire, I believe they make specific bicycle handlebar clamps (and the strike bezel can be an effective defensive device).

chefisaac

If I can suggest, spend some money on your lights and dont go with low lumen lights. Lights, in my opinion, is for ME TO SEE and for OTHERS TO SEE ME! I go with a 1000 lumens on my helmet and about 600 on my bars. The one for my helmet is priceless and love it a lot. I can see so much. I point it a little further away so I can avoid some of the bad road/glass on my commute. With the bar light, it is pointed a little closer to me so I can see there too.

The fact is that your lightening sounds like it sucks. If you cannot see what is in front of you, you need to reevaluate your lightening. What I dont get is people going with 100 lumen light. Pointless in my opinion.

chefisaac

I am not sure what you mean by shortcuts and straight line routes. A straight line route is something I do with my car. Usually by bike, I have to modify for way I go to avoid certain streets, etc. I can cut through areas that cars cannot go and park in places that cars could only dream about (I REALLY LOVE that aspect of riding. Could be a long line to get into the farmers market but not for a biker!!! )

Commuting has opened up my eyes to whats around me but to be frank, getting the city to do anything is a real bit$h.

BadBoy10

Straight line=Theoretically, Point A to Point B is a square you take the line route as opposed to cutting across the square.

BadBoy10

Yeah no pun: hindsight is 20/20--yes..I need better lights. Clearly.

BadBoy10

I have read others are using flashlights. I will research SureFire and am going to purchase ---asap! Thank you.

Trifusion

Google is your friend, it has found me many a bike path I was unaware of. Use the Maps beta for bike paths.

Greg

a1penguin

Surefire are VERY expensive lights. For under $100 you can set yourself up with two flashlights, 18650 batteries and charger. See the Under $50 thread and check out www.budgetlightforum.com for inexpensive flashlight reviews.

Bike Gremlin

I always use shortcuts. That's one of the advantages of going light -bicycle, or on foot.

Commuting, riding bicycle generally, has made me more aware of the road quality. As well as motorcycle.

WHenever I crash, I get back to riding immediately. The more you THINK, the worse it gets. I'm happy if I know what has caused the crash, so I can, perhaps, avoid it next time and learn from experience. After all, it's a 2 wheel vehicle - you WILL fall. Again and again and again.

3 lights? Nothing is sufficient if you ride "faster than you can see", if you know what I mean. I have one small, dim light for summer, so when darkness falls I take it real slow. Behind the line of sight, I expect a parked lorry, with a big pot hole just in front of it. Never outrun your sight - car, bike, whatever.