merider1

After hearing about the lady hit last weekend, I’ve been thinking more about my own riding. I’ve been at this for 3 years without any accident (other than the “I fell over at a stop because I forgot to clip out…duh-uh…” type thing). I’m sure a fall will inevitably happen and it scares me. Not enough stop me from riding, mind you, but enough to get me thinking. I’ve had some VERY close calls (e.g., I was almost hit by a motorist in South Pasadena on a Sunday morning over a year ago), but nothing to write home about.

What I’d like from all of you who live and ride in around the So Cal area and on our heavily trafficked streets, are the names of roads that you’d recommend avoiding if at all possible. Also, share your “War Stories” here – if you’ve been hit, fell, slid out due to a tire blow out, etc. Perhaps I and other members will learn from your stories – Where did it happen and why? What did you do during? What did you do after? Were you injured/scraped up/bruised? And if so, were there methods you used to heal faster? - these types of details would be helpful!

For example, Renee did a write up on her fall on GMR in a separate thread and her story reminded me to not take that road for granted! So, if you are so inclined, please tell your stories here….

spindrifter

Well, I was on rollerblades (not a bike), on Van Nuys Blvd. once, near Oxnard St.
and, well... I got mugged, they ran and caught up to me. Yeah so- AVOID that area like hell

Indolent58

Here's some for San Diego -

1. Hwy 67 between Lakeside and Scripps Poway Parkway. It would be a good climb but it's more like a freeway than a road.

2. PCH between Old Town and the Airport. It is a signed bike route but there is an underpass and a blind right-hand merge at Barnett Ave that is scary dangerous. Don't go there.

Mr. Beanz

I had a scare in Carbon Canyon about 3 or 4 years ago. Actually my fault though. I knew my rear tire was wearing thin. I went to the shop but they only had orange sidewall Conti's. So I said fo'get it, one more ride,then off to another shop.

We rode over Grand Ave. in Diamond Bar/Chino Hills. Return trio thru CC. It was a very hot day and the road had been newly repaved with black tar stuff. I was flying down the hairpin turns traveling towards C-hills. A suburban behind me but can't pass cause the roads and turns are too narrow. Right in the turn, my back tire blew!

I fishtailed about 3 or 4 times. Not even sure how I stayed up. Oh yeah, I remember the last time, the pedal whacked me on the archiiles. Probably how I kept upright on that fishtail. I went into oncoming traffic as I had lost most control of the bike. I thought I was going head on, but the car slammed on his breaks sensing I was in trouble. The Suburban behind me did the same. I saw the edge of the road and a steep bank. I was just about to dive down into the wash when my bike came to a stop.

Luckily I stopped before anything too bad happened. My rear CXP 30 was tacoed. The people pulled up and asked if I need a ride into town. I refused the offers as my bud was only a couple of minutes behind. I picked up my bike and walked to the side of the road. The drivers took off and I looked down. My legs were shaking uncontrollably for a couple of minutes!

That's when I learned, you don't play with worn tires!

AND Carbon Canyon is one tight road! DO it early if possible!

merider1

Listen, mister, you'd better be glad I have a good sense of humor AND that I'm constantly hijacking threads, or else I'd scold you right now.

merider1

Oh, and here is a huge "dumb question" but what exactly does "tacoed" mean with respect to a tire? I'm trying to envision it, but I just can't.

Indolent58

Via Rancho Parkway in Escondido between I-15 and Del Dios Highway. Sections are narrow with no shoulders. I got lightly brushed by the mirror of a truck on that road a few weeks ago. Just a fraction closer and I would have been down.

merider1

Thanks, Fred! I'm getting my tires checked tomorrow!

OC Roadie

Picture your wheel folded in half, like a taco shell.

Mr. Beanz

CXP30 is a rim, not a tire! The tire was worn causing the blow out. I fishtailed like a fish out of water bending the rim all up like a taco!

Indolent58

Tacoed

ronjon10

jsigone

that road is part of my lunch loop I do sometimes. Never had a prob on there yet and been doing that route for about 2 yrs now.

Mr. Beanz

I'm getting hungry. Who brought up tacos anyway?

merider1

and...oh yeah...

Pamestique 

I think most roads with cars can be dangerous shoulder or not - just look at the injuries and deaths off Santiago Canyon. Always ride with caution. It's important to take whatever lane you can - if there is no shoulder then you need to ride out in the lane and not between parked cars. Visibility is key - I feel many accidents occurred simply because the driver did the see the rider.

One story - a number years ago I as riding along Ocean Avenue, Long Beach after having lunch in Belmont Shores. I heard a car horn and I pulled to the right, but cars were parked along the shoulder. Next thing I know I'm floating up off my bike. A car passed me towing a large boat, the boat was very wide and one of the hooks along the side gaffed me and pulled me off my bike. I ended up dropping off into the curb. I was alittle bruised up. The car and boat kept going. My bike, thank goodness, was OK.

Also last Sunday riding through the Marine base a bus got so close to me the mirror touched my shoulder plus I was almost tossed off by bike due to the wind the bus created. I sometimes think areas like the Base are dangerous even though there is a wide shoulder - it's just so remote - you don't know what idiot is going to come up from behind and razz you (I know the bus driver was just being an idiot - he had alot of road away from me). Guess that can be solved by riding with a mirror (which I don't but should).

As a person who deals with first aid issues alot (mostly my own) I recommend always carrying alcohol wipes and bandaids with you. The best way to treat a nasty road rash, cut or scrape is to clean it thoroughly - water bottles come in handy for this and then to scrub it as much as you can stand it with the wipe. Bandage to protect from road grit and dirt. When you get home, use warm water and soap and scrub. Dry with clean towel and apply a fresh bandaid. Kept the wound covered and clean until a good scab develops. I personally like to use Neosporin - it works for me - but some people have other ideas. Most important is getting dirt, grit and debris (and thus infection) out of wounds. One reason why legs and arms should be clean shaven (no hair ).

merider1

Thanks, Pam. Wow, both incidences sound frightening! Also, I too shave my arms as well as my legs. I've been teased by my friends, but I've always heard that riders should shave both. Thanks for the advice.

lsits

Cajalco Road between Corona and Lake Perris. There's no shoulder. Big rigs use it as a shortcut between the 15 and the 215.

kb5ql

Riding through South Central... Figueroa, Vermont, Hoover. Take your pick.

ovoleg

cool now I know where you live...I'm going to go and stalk you !

Jaguar27

The worst road I've ever ridden is Moulton pkwy/El Toro Rd...no bike lane/narrow road, tons of speeding traffic...I actually felt a speeding Bus overtaking me brush my left arm....

I actually commute to and from work every Day now, it's only 2 miles...part of it on the BB trail...I've found a way through parking lots, side streets etc...and about 40 yards on the sidewalk...I bought a 29'er MTB for the commute so I don't have to change in and out of road gear...works out great...

The best way to treat road rash is wash daily with Antiseptic soap and slather with neosporin...keep the wound covered for at least a week with 3M non-stick Pads and hold in place with a Bandage....the old tale of "Let it dry out" is completely wrong!!

I treated my wife's road rash like that after a major crash, she lost huge patches of skin, probably at least 2 or 3 layers in places,some we kept covered for two weeks... now she has absolutely zero scarring...us Guys love scars, we show them off at the Pub, but it's different for Girls...right girls?

urbanknight

I avoid almost any section of Ventura or Victory. Heavy traffic and no bike lane.

Mr. Beanz

That's a shame. About 10 years ago, we used to ride around Lake Mathews. Was a nice open area. Van Buren,Mockingbirdcyn(?) Ramona(?) Up Cajalco and near Tom's Farms. Last time we rode thru there, it was crazy with new homes and traffic!

philmcb

Two weeks ago I decided to ride the bike to pick-up my car from the mechanic. I live in Calabasas. The mechanic is around North Hollywood.

This was a Friday afternoon. Now that I think about it, not very bright on my part. At any rate I found my way to Sherman Way. I'll put that as an "also ran" as a great street to get killed on. A few spatterings of bike paths which end abruptly and guide you directly into the right hand lane.

But, the best street in the Valley to rip you a new one is Sepulveda Blvd. Nothing comes close.

To make a long story short. An idiot pulls directly in front of me and stops. I then plow into the back of his newish Toyota Corolla, catapulting myself approximately 4 to 5 feet vertically and landing with a glancing blow on his trunk, then continuing on to slam my face against his bumper, and succuming to the final insult of being nailed by my bike.... in the mouth, of course.

I felt something hit my teeth and I thought "great.... always wanted to play hockey anyway". After I wrestled myself out of the pedals I had to check out the mouth. My hand displayed a considerable amount of blood. Terrific. Checked again. Still bad, but not exactly gushing.

I go up to the passenger side window to speak to the driver. He gives me a dirty look and gets out of the car, goes to the back and starts looking for damage to his car. So, I'm standing there, and at this point I'm speechless. He says I hit his car and should look where I'm going. I tell him that he pulled in front of me, causing me to crash. I pointed at my bleeding mouth to emphasize this. I don't think he understood my point. Anyway, he kept rubbing on the tiny mark my tire made and cursing about me hitting his car, meanwhile I'm looking at my jersey and it's pretty bloody. Not a pretty picture.

Now it gets nasty. I basically told him to go screw himself and turned to walk away. I hear him saying something in a language I don't speak and it didn't sound good. I turned around saw he was coming at me and ready to make his move, so to speak. I have a rule that I live by.... if I know someone's about to hit me, I always hit them first, or attempt to. I'm not a fighter, street brawler, whatever... and I really didn't feel like getting hit in the face again, so grabbed the bike by the bars with my left hand and the seat with my right hand and hit the mf full on with a horrifying upward swing of the bike. If your familiar with tennis, think of a topspin backhand.... think of everything from his waist up as the ball. Definitely stopped his progress.

I was shaking all over. I continued to walk away and I looked back to see him sitting under a tree. He didn't look so good. Worse than me... but just a little bit. I felt kind of bad that it had to end up like that, but sometimes instinct takes precident and things happen. I'll survive. He'll survive. But like they say on TV: "Don't try this at home".

And don't be stupid like me and ride on Sepulveda.

urbanknight

On that street, the likelyhood of getting killed is split between drivers hitting you and gangsters who will knock you off your bike to mug you.