buzzman

I think this question gets to the gist of some of the flaws in what I will call a "strict vehicularist" interpretation of how to ride a bike. I use that term because many of us who post in here ride vehicularly on a regular basis but also ride in a variety of ways suitable to the myriad of conditions we may be exposed to on our bikes.

While there is a fairly long list of differences between "driving a bike" and "driving a car". (mass, velocity, acceleration capacity etc.) one that probably defines the "difference" best is that we are talking about 4 wheeled transport as opposed to 2 wheeled transport. This may seem like a small difference but, in fact, it represents a substantial shift in the way both vehicles travel. Anyone who mountain bikes, as I do, in an area where some of the trails are shared by 4 wheeled ATV's can attest to the difference in the footprint and environmental impact that 4 wheels have over two. They turn a small foot path into a road with only a few passes. 4 wheels require a road two require an earth space only as wide as one tire and the air space above only as wide as the a** or the shoulders of the rider.

It comes down to aspects of geometry and how 4 wheels track in space as opposed to 2. 4 creates a more linear space while 2 offers more circular options. Not as many as a unicycle, which can reverse directions in an instant but again BMX'ers and mountain bikers can easily demonstrate how quickly a 2 wheeled vehicle can become a one wheeled vehicle.

But how does this versatility, so easily demonstrated in an urban parking lot or on a mountain trail, translate when this same vehicle is on the road? For one thing roads, even pre-auto, have been designed for 4 wheeled vehicles since Roman times. 4 wheeled vehicles (or 2 wheeled side by side) want to go straight and have large turning radii. Strict vehicularists suggest that bicycles should ride "predictably", "in a straight line", "as a vehicle" basically mimicking the behavior of the automobile- something a bicycle is more than capable of and, IMO, is a worthwhile strategy to employ in many situations. However, we have so much more potential and there are many times when it should be realized and can often be a life saver.

Thinking in too linear a mindset limits the cyclist and may result in an inability to adapt to unexpected or unpredictable occurrences. The strict vehicularist (again IMO) treats the bicycle in a restricted manner. It would be like someone limiting what kind of music can be played on a piano ie. only classically scored in 4/4 time and ignoring, in fact, out and out denying, that the same instrument can play an improvisational jazz riff in 5/4 time that jumps to 5/8 in the next instant.

So what else should vehicular cyclists know? You're on 2 wheels not 4- feel free to improvise once in a while.