bryan123

yes this is for regular riding NOT CUMMUTING ONLY REGULAR AGAIN I REPEAT THIS THREAD IS FOR REGULAR RIDE!!!!!!

Before you ride don't u ask ur self the following: Am i gonna get into a accident? am i gonna get kidnapped by some a**hole? is someone gonna take me? am i gonna get shot? im 13 and i always ask ur self. so don't u fear when riding?

ctyler

Where do you live that you have to worry about that? I'd move.

Retro Grouch 

Your question is actually a variation on the common "What tools and spare parts do I need to carry with me?" thread. The answer is that there is an infinite number of bad things that could possibly happen every time you get on your bike. Most of them won't.

Achieving balance in all areas of your life is a lifelong quest.

AlmostTrick

You can worry about bad stuff happening to you no matter what you're doing, not just riding a bike. Cycling is pretty safe, especially if you learn how to ride safely in traffic, and use discretion on where you ride. Paying attention in English class helps too.

bmclaughlin807

+1

I rode many thousands of miles on my bikes when I was a teen. I grew up in the mountains, and not only were there lots of nice roads to ride, there were a ton of trails. Very often, I'd be out of the house by 7AM and not come back till nearly dark.

Life is full of risks, the dangers of cycling are VERY low compared to other risks you face every day, risks that everyone faces, and most don't realize it.

What I find funny/sad is that most of the people that tell me I'm crazy for riding, that it's too dangerous are over-weight (some seriously) and have all the associated health problems.

blonduathlongrl

Am I going to get into an accident? always a fear in the back of my mind. Doesnt stop me from riding, driving, walking across the steet.

Am I gonna get kidnapped by some a**hole?
no, I dont know who would be in the right frame of mind would want to take me home. Im way too demanding and I love good cooking!

Am I gonna get shot? they better not miss!

chephy

Sheesh, man - where do you ride? Sounds like a craphole! Um, no, I don't worry about getting shot, and I didn't when I was 13 and out for a ride either. I also don't worry about kidnappings. Accidents - I realize we are all vulnerable but the risks of cycling aren't so bad and I know how to do it safely.

What is it about cycling that brings out the fear in people? Do you worry about going to the local grocery for a popsicle? How about going to school - with all those school shootings shouldn't you be scared? I won't talk about being inside a moving car: insanely dangerous!

And how is "cummuting" that much different from a "regular ride", whatever that is, in safety aspect??

Chris L

Nope. The fact is, if you worry about what might happen on a ride, you'll distract yourself from the more important task of dealing with whatever is happening, and that's when it becomes dangerous.

mlh122

Am i gonna get into a accident? usually not before the ride, if im riding and i hear tires squealing i might ask that.

am i gonna get kidnapped by some a**hole? my family isn't particularly rich, and im 200lbs and sometimes very bad gas, so no

is someone gonna take me? same answer as kidnapping

am i gonna get shot? up in the mountains where i ride i often hear gunshots, it makes me nervous and annoys me, but as long as they sound far away i'm not too worried, when there's no echo i might ask that question.

Nachoman

I know what you mean. Kabul to Kandahar can be a nasty ride.

chephy

slowandsteady

Translation: My mommy won't let me ride my bike because we live in a bad neighborhood and she is concerned for my safety. Please convince my mom she is wrong.

v1k1ng1001

Just remember to tuck and roll if you wreck, ride in a zig zag if being shot at and kick testicles / punch throats / gouge eyes if being abducted. Now enjoy your ride!

Mchaz

Yes, that is why I have given up riding. I just lock myself in my safe room and read BF all day.

v1k1ng1001

A recent report by the surgeon general shows that surfing BF will inevitably lead to a chronic bike pr0n addiction. No cure yet exists!

DataJunkie

Life is too short to spend it worrying about the what ifs.

dave80909

NO FEAR

except dying in the gutter with a belly full a cheap booze !!

Where do you live ?? maybe you should buy a cheap stolen
raven .25 auto to kill the bad guys...or your friends when they
get smart mouthed with you. (ok just kidding ...don't buy a gun)

chipcom 

When they tag this kid for killing half the town, don't be surprised when the FBI comes a knockin on your door!

dave80909

I remember listening to the G. Gordon Liddy show...he recommends a head shot
for the cops, because they wear bullet proof vests.

Seriously...he said that on the radio !!

I'm in Colo springs...just about everyone has a gun here. I stay out of the way of
pickup trucks.

GGDub

Turn off Fox News and go ride your bike. Your state of mind will thank you.

edp773

A suggestion - This is a forum, and unlike a chat room or text message. most readers prefer and will take you more seriously if you type out the words correctly.

I did not worry about those things when I was thirteen because my reactions and bike handling skills were good enough to avoid almost all problems encountered.

Today, the only time I worry is if a automobile gets too close or someone gets aggressive. Then I worry about the situation as it unfolds. But this rarely happens compared to the hours and miles spent on a bike. The chances of me getting killed in an automobile are much higher.

As someone else said life is too short to worry about what could happen. Then look at the down side of what will happen if you do not enjoy yourself and excercise.

BlazingPedals

Unfortunately, the irrational fear of violence/kidnapping is why most of this generation's youth are driven everywhere. In reality, most violence and kidnapping is done by people they know - estranged parents, weird neighbors, etc. Always be aware, but don't let fear ruin your life!

jrmohan

Back when I was thirteen I had one mindset:

1. I'm too fast to get caught or shot
2. I never see cars on my route

Also, fear is no fun, I prefer to believe I'm invincible

Adiankur

I have fear about getting run over when Im not riding. It is only because I was run off the road by a truck before. So yes, I think about it when Im not riding, but when im riding Im not worried about that im just focused on riding properly, and having a good time. I do have one fear when Im riding though. When I am doing mid 30's on my bicycle downhill, I often have the thought that crashing right at that moment wouldnt be a good idea, so I make sure not to do that. I ride a mtb so getting up to that speed seems a little strange, maybe I would be more comfortable on a road bike at that speed, but I can't be sure until I try it.

Kidnapping: Unless it is a serial killer, a serial killer or a serial killer, I doubt ill be kidnapping, and they would likely have to kill me to catch me and we all have to die.

Shooting: Only one area I really think about that in, and its a very short area, out in the open, with a lot of bicycle traffic. I just dont ride there in the dark.

Honestly, if I lived in an area with a lot of crime and violence, I probably wouldnt ride either. I would probably consider trying to get a bunch of friends into riding and go out in groups. My grandmother told me that she rode in a group back in the 20's. Once she rode ahead of her friends, and a couple of police stopped her and told her to stay with her group, as it wasnt safe to ride alone. What was true then can be true today, there is safety in numbers. Well, maybe not safety. Just make sure you take a slower friend with you, and throw them to the sharks.<----Joke Always look out for your friend.