tigat

I am a one handed road bike rider. My left arm has gone missing at the shoulder. With my usual riding partners, expectaions on signals are something we can discuss and adapt, a mixture of verbal, head movements, small flicks of my hand and habit.

My concern is the impromptu joining with an experienced, and well practiced but unfamiliar group of riders. I always ask, even if it's a request to join forces with just one other rider. As a rider, I am smooth, predictable, and strong enough to take my share of pulls in every setting I've run across.

What I have found, however, is the faster the group, the more conscientious most riders are at hand signals. On the receiving end, the info is much appreciated. On the sending end, I wish I could reciprocate, but spending that kind of time no handed in close proximity with others would likely diminish rather than add to group safety.

No one has complained, but I was in a pretty fast pace line in an organized ride when the tail end rider of 4 (I was second) crashed hard on an expansion joint that none of us saw or signaled until we hit it. If I had been on the front at the time, I'd feel even worse about the crash.

One solution is obviously to stay away from groups of strangers. No fun. Another thought is to hide out in the back, where no one is depending on me for information or assistance. Almost worse than not being there in my view.

I'd be interested in other thoughts.

bbattle

I would just speak to my fellow riders: "Gravel! Pothole! Poseur! Hey, look! Starbucks!"

cderalow

i rode in a MS century in June with a guy who was missing his right arm. he was the most talkative person I've ever heard on a bike.

not only was he great at calling out every possible road obstacle, but he sung and pointed out sights and even talked some history.

I'd take that approach personally if i were missing an appendage.