Originally Posted by
BobbyG
I've biked to work most days for 27 years. In my 30s I felt as invincible as I did as a kid in Chicago. (Truth be told, I should have ended as a smudge on Lincoln Avenue back in the late 1960s). But some time in my 30s, enough close calls taught me to not "out ride my brakes" and always "leave an out" and to always "expect the unexpected".
And when I discovered bikeforums in the mid 2000's I learned strategies and attitudes for safer riding.
Whatever satisfaction I've lost from not biking with total abandon is somewhat made for up by the satisfaction and smugness of knowing I am biking smarter than the average, more casual cyclist. It's kinda ego-centric, but it keeps me safer.
[MENTION=86375]Paul Barnard[/MENTION] thanks for sharing. It's this kind of story and reminder that helps us all ride more safely. And thank goodness it didn't end worse or that you had to witness anything like that.
Good strategy. The problem is with enough traffic that "out" is not always there to be found. Same with driving. You can leave space in front of you and so ****** will move in to fill it.
I love it when someone ways "just stay out of the door zone" as it there's no other cars or traffic around you. People on your right won't move out of the way or look out for you if a car or truck forces you in that direction. Riding is dynamic and sometimes you only have as fraction of a second to choose the lesser of two evils.
In the case above, they individual is middle-age so its not likely he will take to any suggestions. And if he's been riding for a while that you'd be telling him anything he doesn't already know. Hopefully, this near accident experience will be enough to teach him better.
BTW, that wasn't' a personal comment aimed at you. Rather, a general statement base on a general perspective that a good segment of cyclist have.