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Old 09-28-09 | 09:31 PM
  #18  
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aley
Goathead Magnet
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 673
Likes: 11
From: Albuquerque, NM

Bikes: Surly LHT, Cannondale Caffeine F3

It happens to me, but only occasionally - lane positioning and riding pace (even in a bike lane) can help avoid it. Oddly, maintaining a high cadence also seems to help - the only times recently that I've had a close call with a right hook were when I was tired, and when I'm tired I tend to mash instead of spin. My hypothesis is that, when your legs are moving fast, drivers tend to think you're moving fast, regardless of whether you're in your lowest gear or not.

It can be very difficult for a driver to judge a cyclist's pace, though - I had an eye-opening experience a couple of weeks ago when I was driving and passed a cyclist not too far from my turn. He was going faster than I'd expected, and I ended up having to go to the next turnoff so that I didn't turn too close in front of him. I felt like an idiot, but at least I didn't run into him or force him to make emergency evasive maneuvers.
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