Just wondering, when you guys ride roads, where do you position yourself? I know it really depends a lot on the circumstances and conditions, but I mean generally. I'm also talking just roads with one lane going each direction. Also, if there's a wide/decent shoulder and you do use it, where do you position yourself in it?

I already voted, but to clarify: what's your definition of wide vs. narrow shoulder? The shoulder actually has to be pretty narrow (less than 2 feet) for me to ride to the left of the line.

i would call 2ft WIDE. where i am from there is 2-4in of pavement right of the line. depending on the traffic, i STILL ride to the right/on the line.

I like to weave all over the place, driving erratically and unpredictably, so that drivers know to stay well clear.

Stupid jokes aside, I'll ride to the right of the lane if the lane is 14' or more wide, on the shoulder if it's "improved" and free of obstacles, and right in the center of the lane if it's < 14'. I'll ride on the sidewalk if the speed limit is above 40mph.

Shoulder? What is this thing you speak of shoulder?

In the city we ain't got no stinkin' shoulders. We have curbs. Granite ones. You either ride in the lane or you take the bus.

My default position is in the right tire track. This generally clears the storm drain grates. Generally.

Shoulders. Pffft.

On streets I take the right tyre track and if there is a wide enough shoulder I will take that... and in some cases will ride on a narrower shoulder as to avoid being run over by cars doing 70mph.

Weaving like you are a little drunk actually makes a lot of drivers give you a wide berth...

As with most, this isn't a simple question; Sometimes the shoulder is fine. Sometimes it is so full of detritus, that regardless of width it isn't wise to stay right of the line. Sometimes despite extraordinarily narrow shoulders, I'll do my best to stay right of the line, to let the impatient cars get past me (presuming it is safe to do so), and minimize the unhappiness I feel from behind me.

And every once in a rare while I take to grass or sidewalks... on purpose.

Where I live, shoulders are so rare that they don't seem to accumulate much debris; but when I have them, I use them, as drivers here are mouth-breathers with myopia.

There are streets here, as well, where taking to the road is near-suicidal... mostly in the ghetto, where I live. A half-mile from my driveway is the most dangerous street in the city for a bike -- 2 lanes, no shoulders, and ABSOLUTELY NO CARE FOR ANOTHER PERSON'S EXISTENCE, WHETHER 2-WHEELED OR 4! (Maybe it's the subwoofers -- they may cause brain damage.... it DOES seem that the louder the stereo, the lower the IQ) Some people who live on that road actually think they're still outside the city, just because this road was outside the city 50 years ago.

Main-artery roads here are deadly; secondaries are sweet, and residential areas are kid-friendly... for the most part.

EDIT: When I say "deadly", I refer to cars passing a cyclist so closely, the cyclist can reach in the car and take a drink from the console; maybe a bit of hyperbole, but not much.... That, to me, is recklessness, and endangering me, just because 'you' as a driver can't move over or wait three f'n seconds. There HAVE been cyclists killed here in just those circumstances! (Four in the last five years....)

It really just depends on the shoulder. I do a mix of just about everything.