Old 09-17-06, 12:00 AM
  #13  
John C. Ratliff
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Location: Beaverton, Oregon
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For the road shown, ride the shoulder if there are log trucks. People, even it cars, do not realize how much load these trucks haul. They cannot stop quickly, cannot swerve to avoid a cyclist, and sometimes cannot pass. Don't put them in a bind by riding in the roadway, as they may not have a choice in where they drive.

On uphills, many of these roads in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest have curves. Log trucks can be very long, and can cut across the shoulders on hard right turns. Be aware of this, and be prepared to bail if you see one coming up behind you with a tight curve ahead to the right.

If the roadway is one-lane (yes, we have those, and they are called "logging roads," but many cyclists use mountain bikes on them), be aware that on a downhill, a fully-loaded log truck simply cannot stop within about a quarter mile of initiating the breaking and maintain control. Look up the roadway, and see if you can see a dust cloud on the road--that is a log truck headed your direction. Look as far up as you can, and if you see one, get off the road, preferably on the inside of any curve. If the truck looses control, it will go on the outside of the curve (and maybe over the edge--that has happened.

John
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