How slow is too slow for the road?
05-22-10, 01:34 PM
#26
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This seems to be the favorite scary thing of the "must ride my bike on the street at all times" crowd to repeat, but in most places it is actually completely to bike on the sidewalk or the street. Where I live most paths that are built along streets were done so with the idea that people could bike on them as well as walk on them. I only avoid biking on sidewalks where there's storefronts, or in downtown where it's packed, or - obviously - everywhere where it seems safer to bike on the street.
05-22-10, 02:16 PM
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You were inside on a stationary bike.. you had no wind resistance. Wind resistance is huge. If I have a nice tailwind I can run at 20 MPH like it's nothing.. if I have a headwind 7 or 8 MPH can be torture. With no wind I'm usually around 14 or 15.
BTW, I'd like to second the idea the a car likely won't notice the difference between you riding 10 or 20 MPH unless they're following you for an extended time.
BTW, I'd like to second the idea the a car likely won't notice the difference between you riding 10 or 20 MPH unless they're following you for an extended time.
05-22-10, 02:42 PM
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Yes, we have those signs to. Like "No Parking" signs, the reason they exist is because normally you can bike there. They put up a sign because it's a special case where you cannot bike.
05-22-10, 02:46 PM
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if you are indeed refering to me 'Calico' Bianchi thank you. 
is it illegal to ride where they used to be once they roll them up at 9pm? LOL
is it illegal to ride where they used to be once they roll them up at 9pm? LOL
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05-22-10, 04:02 PM
#32
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Lol, reminds me of being a kid. "There are starving people in Africa, ya know. You need to eat all that food on your plate!".
Staying off an empty path in favor of riding with no shoulder in heavy traffic and poor visibility for cars to see you because somewhere else there's a different path filled with moms with stollers, pedestrians, and senior citizens is ridiculous.
Staying off an empty path in favor of riding with no shoulder in heavy traffic and poor visibility for cars to see you because somewhere else there's a different path filled with moms with stollers, pedestrians, and senior citizens is ridiculous.
Let me guess, you also don't stop on red lights and stop signs. Why would you? You're on the bike.
05-22-10, 04:10 PM
#33
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Aaron
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05-22-10, 04:12 PM
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Are you serious? You're OK with knocking somebody over, just so YOU feel safe on your bike? That's not better than attitude displayed by a motorist trying to get a cyclist off the road. This is so sad.
How do you figure it's not true? Doesn't get any more true than a city bylaw. Or do you live by different laws that the rest of us?
Let me guess, you also don't stop on red lights and stop signs. Why would you? You're on the bike.
How do you figure it's not true? Doesn't get any more true than a city bylaw. Or do you live by different laws that the rest of us?
Let me guess, you also don't stop on red lights and stop signs. Why would you? You're on the bike.
05-22-10, 04:59 PM
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Lol, reminds me of being a kid. "There are starving people in Africa, ya know. You need to eat all that food on your plate!".
Staying off an empty path in favor of riding with no shoulder in heavy traffic and poor visibility for cars to see you because somewhere else there's a different path filled with moms with stollers, pedestrians, and senior citizens is ridiculous.
Staying off an empty path in favor of riding with no shoulder in heavy traffic and poor visibility for cars to see you because somewhere else there's a different path filled with moms with stollers, pedestrians, and senior citizens is ridiculous.
05-22-10, 10:01 PM
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Yeah that's sort of the situation here. No shoulder, curvy, sort of steep hill (curves not steepness mean no visibility) and a completely unused sidewalk. Since I'm so slow in that stretch, I don't think I'm a hazard for anyone walking (8 mph max isn't hard to stop when you're going uphill). Going downhill on that same stretch, I'm on the road, but them I'm hitting 25 mph or more on a road where the limit (not always stuck to, this is Boston after all) is 30.
05-22-10, 10:02 PM
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05-22-10, 11:22 PM
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I paid a $25 fine in San Jose, California for riding on the sidewalk... you just need to check with your local area laws and follow them. Never assume anything or take advise from out of area folks... as you can see it is different everywhere.
I guess you could get PaulRivers contact information and if you ever get pulled over you can refer law enforcement to him and he can defend you. Of course if you are in the Minneapolis area, it sounds like 98% of the sidewalks are good to go.
Enjoy your rides and stay safe.
I guess you could get PaulRivers contact information and if you ever get pulled over you can refer law enforcement to him and he can defend you. Of course if you are in the Minneapolis area, it sounds like 98% of the sidewalks are good to go.
Enjoy your rides and stay safe.
05-23-10, 07:03 AM
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Here, the law appears to be the same as that in Minnesota where you can ride on sidewalks outside of business districts, but I still won't do it 90% of the time. Just in this hill where I don't feel safe on the road at my current speed. Also, not sure what constitutes a business district in the eyes of whatever cop is out ticketing that day, so, even if it were safe and convenient, I wouldn't do it elsewhere, but this stretch is pretty rural. Well as rural as you can get and still be in the suburbs.
05-23-10, 09:42 AM
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I love the "Stall Speed Inicators", I don't have those.
05-23-10, 08:51 PM
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I think I'd be hearing those most of the time...
05-24-10, 09:25 AM
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05-24-10, 09:47 AM
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The stationary bike I was using also had levels. I was working out at level 15 or 16 for 30 minutes (though I then took two months off before I hit the road, so that might have had an effect). I like machines that can provide a "random" setting so you are doing varying intensity (or resistance) for like 30 seconds to a minute and then it changes. Those give me deadlines to press toward and get me more pumped.
