Retractable horizontal 3' flag?
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2. What happens if it gets attached while you're trying to lane split other vehicles?
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I'm pretty sure I saw this guy at the Bike-to-Work day gathering with the mayor last Friday.
I know thsi photo was taken in Nashville - Here's the spot: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=nashv...12,292.89,,0,0
I know thsi photo was taken in Nashville - Here's the spot: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=nashv...12,292.89,,0,0
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In jest, I have suggested using the top of a fishing pole for this purpose. Allow it to stick out 35" and if it takes a little paint, it's the driver's fault for being to close.
I would only need it (a flag) on about a .75 stretch of my daily route. It would be cumbersome and needless for the rest of it.
Yes indeed, even with tops of the building cropped out of frame on the cyclist pic, the downtown skyline with location of the stadium were obvious.
I would only need it (a flag) on about a .75 stretch of my daily route. It would be cumbersome and needless for the rest of it.
Yes indeed, even with tops of the building cropped out of frame on the cyclist pic, the downtown skyline with location of the stadium were obvious.
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Installed the european version (40cm long) last year and after two rides a car ran into it, tearing it from it's base. The driver, a psychotic middle age woman actual stopped to check out if there was any damage to her car and yelled at me for having it in the first place!
Now when in heavy traffic, I have my home key in my left hand, which is plainly visible to all drivers and when they see it they avoid me like the plague!
Now when in heavy traffic, I have my home key in my left hand, which is plainly visible to all drivers and when they see it they avoid me like the plague!
#30
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Maybe we should make these flags to look like giant keys to scare the drivers.
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No actually I didn't notice it until you mentioned it and linked the Street View. If the original pic had the tops of the buildings I would have recognized it right away.
#32
apocryphal sobriquet
#33
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Seriously, this is probably best for touring or riding in a sub-urban environment, otherwise it becomes a hassle, especially when you want to pass narrow sections of parked cars, or other cyclists.
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Perhaps a spiked ball out there on the end might be more effective
#35
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I like the spiked ball idea, too. Make it out of sponge (Nerf?) but paint it so it looks sharp and dangerous.
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Police frequently do nothing about buzzing or other dangerous behavior, as no damage was done. If we have flags out like this and cars come in contact, wouldn't that mean that the driver basically did a hit-and-run, regardless of the damage involved?
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I had a cheap retractable toasting fork I got for a dollar from Target, attached a triangle to it, but, true to form for something so cheap, it soon broke. It was handy while it worked, though. I could extend it from 12" to 3', if I wanted to. Not that I would extend it so far, or it would have hit a bollard whilst entering the bike path, if I forgot to retract it. You can sort of see it to the right of my trike, in my profile pic.
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What do you call a cyclist who sells potpourri on the road? A pedaling petal-peddler.
What do you call a cyclist who sells potpourri on the road? A pedaling petal-peddler.
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My experience has been most people give the lane when I take. Only when I ride on the white line has traffic buzzing by me been an issue, actually even when white striping it I get nearly 6 feet. I hate it that so many poeple have to deal with this. but bright yellow spinners and arrows do look like a distraction. it would be nice if we had a more standard level of annoyance.
#40
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About the "lollipop reflectors" I posted above, they have a hinge at the rack. So if you hit something, the arm just folds. When you park your bike, you normally fold the reflector, although that wasn't done in the picture.
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Tom, I wanted it to look nice too! But your nerf ball sponge gave me another idea which will work nicely... seriously!!!
Pool sponge tubes can be found at any sporting shop and are dirt cheap (around 1 euro for a three foot section in various colors). Just zip-tie it to the back of the rack and trim away the excess length and you have a dirt-cheap decent quality "bumper" which weights close to nothing and will never damage or inflict pain. For night use, add a cheap blinker at the end.
#42
The Recumbent Quant
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Installed the european version (40cm long) last year and after two rides a car ran into it, tearing it from it's base. The driver, a psychotic middle age woman actual stopped to check out if there was any damage to her car and yelled at me for having it in the first place!
Now when in heavy traffic, I have my home key in my left hand, which is plainly visible to all drivers and when they see it they avoid me like the plague!
Now when in heavy traffic, I have my home key in my left hand, which is plainly visible to all drivers and when they see it they avoid me like the plague!
H
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My experience has been most people give the lane when I take. Only when I ride on the white line has traffic buzzing by me been an issue, actually even when white striping it I get nearly 6 feet. I hate it that so many poeple have to deal with this. but bright yellow spinners and arrows do look like a distraction. it would be nice if we had a more standard level of annoyance.
H
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Must be NICE -- the route to get to my daughter's high school (we rode it on National Bike to School Day, and last Wednesday, as well) has a relatively short section that's just ridiculous. It's a two-way, two-lane, no shoulder, and this spring, 1 trip through there out of 8, I did NOT get buzzed! Since I know the area, I know not to hug the fog line; I'm at LEAST in the right-tire track, and with my daughter, I'm almost in the oil slick. STILL get buzzed, with ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHING! The oncoming traffic begins to heel to the right and slow down, and I can hear them coming, so I'm ready for a close pass -- they ALWAYS get an earful.
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BTW, I bought a pair of used ski poles to use as trekking poles while on hikes. I carried them home across my rear rack, had some bright, reflective material at the ends facing the street, and rode home. I was given a lot more room while cars passed, this time around... nobody wants to run into a pair of ski poles.
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What do you call a cyclist who sells potpourri on the road? A pedaling petal-peddler.
What do you call a cyclist who sells potpourri on the road? A pedaling petal-peddler.
#48
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I have a unit that is kind of like this except mine is reflectorized and only has two blades. It is designed to mount on the seatstays. It is called the Whizzzer, I got mine on the 'bay. I have no idea how readily available they may be else where.
Thats the way I roll. Lots of lights, high vis, lots of reflective bits, a vertical flag, and the Whizzzer mentioned above.
+ at least 1
That is my vertical flag, aka Gadsden flag. BTW, I had the flag before the Tea Party started, it is no way a reflection of my political ideals. I chose it because of the color, because it is an American flag, and because of the phrase "Don't Tread on Me".
Mine folds and I put reflective tape on the arm. White toward the front, red to the rear.
That is my vertical flag, aka Gadsden flag. BTW, I had the flag before the Tea Party started, it is no way a reflection of my political ideals. I chose it because of the color, because it is an American flag, and because of the phrase "Don't Tread on Me".
Mine folds and I put reflective tape on the arm. White toward the front, red to the rear.
#49
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Referring to the original photo: So, if the rules of your locale are that bikes are allowed within the 3ft/1m of the side of the road, having a flag stick out 3ft from the bike means that you're either riding up against the curb or your flag is outside the 3ft allowance and furthermore, forcing passing cyclists to pass even that much further into the car lane.
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Referring to the original photo: So, if the rules of your locale are that bikes are allowed within the 3ft/1m of the side of the road, having a flag stick out 3ft from the bike means that you're either riding up against the curb or your flag is outside the 3ft allowance and furthermore, forcing passing cyclists to pass even that much further into the car lane.