I ride along state and US (US 29) highways every day, no problems with this if you pay attention to what you are doing. these both have good well maintained bicycle lanes that I find easy to use. If you are really uncomfortable, then stay off of them, by all means. Riding where you are very nervous doesn't accomplish much. Not every one is scarred of them, however, and most of us are very much alive, last time I checked.

If the MUP or mtb/trails suits you best, then get the bicycle, and equipment, that you need, and enjoy every minute of your riding. Spending time putting other's riding choices down is pretty juvenile, and counter-productive, time better spent riding, IMHO.

Bill

As this thread has progressed I've looked back over my relatively brief cycling "career". I'm not counting the knock about the neighborhood riding as a kid.

The result is that I can't remember any more rectal orifice encounters on the bike than in a motor vehicle. In the ambulance I've had people ignore the lights and siren, race me, cut me off and countless other things. In the car or truck it is pretty routine for people to duck around from behind to in front to make an immediate right turn. Depending on the community deliberately attempting to cause a collision is pretty common.

But I've only had one serious personal injury. That was when another bike hit me head on. We made eye contact and he kept it until we coillided.

Bottom line: For me rectal orifices are such no matter the transportation mode. A person can drive/ride defensively. But sooner or later someone is very likely to get hurt. So, don't even think of the small stuff. It just wastes energy that could be used staying alive.

... I didn't think I was putting down anyone's riding choices? I admire those that have the courage to ride on the shoulder of busy state roads. I don't have the nerve, at least not yet

Not you, DBrown, that is directed at those that like to berate other's choices. You are seeming to be a good contributor here, you have lots of good questions, that need to be answered, when someone is getting back into riding, at our ages. I should have been clearer, but personal attacks are a bannable (sp?) offense.

Bill

I suffer the most regular, routine abuse on what was formerly a country road that now conveys upper middle class commuters to and from their bedroom communities on the outskirts of northern VA-DC sprawl. They're lined up on one side of the road, shouting at me that I should be riding on the paved path with the other recreationalists. I prefer the road.

Shouts each time I ride this road now. It's sad. I suppose one day I'll be run off this road and killed... Oh well.

I started doing this a long time ago as well. Don't actually put my foot on the ground unless I have to stop. Often when they see my foot off the pedal, hovering above the ground, the car having the right of way will go on. This speeds up the process instead of waving at each other like the 2 toon gophers;

"Please, you go first."
"Oh no, you first."...

As with most anything people are engaged in, there will be the 2% of malcontents, the anti social types that hate everything and everybody. Life is easier if you try to pay no attention to them if you can.

About 20 years ago when I lived in the Boston area I took my mountain bike out for a ride in the neighborhood during a massive blizzard. Huge fluffy flakes were falling at a ridiculous rate, accumulating at over 2"/hour. It was kinda fun. But practically every driver that passed me felt compelled to roll down their window and yell "Get off the road!" or "You're crazy!" at me.

I'm a born and raised redneck who was taught courtesy and respect for all. I believe the people being discussed here are just "good for nothing rude jerks and jerkettes."

Yea, we've chatted about this, eh? I think it's all pretty much bullying behavior, ultimately rooted in the perpetrator's insecurities/frustrations.

For me:

1. The most courteous demographic award goes to the manual laborers heading to work with their lawnmowers and stuff in the back of their beat up pick up truck.

2. The least courteous demographic award goes to the 20-30yo males in their $40K full-sized pickups.

I've noticed an inverse correlation between income and courtesy. I dunno if wealthier people are in more of a hurry, more type-A, more entitled, or what.

The wealthy are less likely to actually throw things at you or confront you. Sure they may honk the horn or shout something but usually they are cowards and know they'd end up losing in an actual fight. If you say "bring it" to a bunch of rednecks in a truck, you might just get your wish. :)

Was I dissed or complimented? The other day a passing motorist (well, actually, the passenger) shouted out his car at me: "Nice bike, you a-hole!" I had to agree... It is a nice bike!

200 yards from home last weekend, after one of the best rides of my life, some redneck kid in a 4x4 pickup shouted out of the passenger window, "NICE ASS!" On the same ride I got the diesel black cloud treatment about 20 miles out. It's one thing if you're coasting, quite another if you're climbing and already gasping for every last molecule of o2. If I had video I might've tried to sue, that's a form of assault, IMO. But the GoPRO was left home that day.

In 1987 I narrowly missed being hit by a half-full beer can spinning and sailing past my head. Got lots o' suds though. This was before I wore a helmet, so it was kind of nice to cool down a little.

199/200 vehicles give me more than enough room when they pass, they're courteous, and a couple even wave. Most rides are uneventful. Sometimes weeks go by without a close call. We always remember the idiots.

Regular Boston suburban commuter here. I'm fortunate enough to have some good bike paths and trails to commute on. I do however have some side roads to ride on as well. Rudeness abounds , I try hard to ignore. Sometimes I wave, other times I may say, " Jesus loves you" It catches them off guard I hope. My mirror helps a lot. I had one car driver, sitting in stopped traffic shout" Get a car" I turned around told him that it only takes 15 minutes more to pedal home the 18 miles than it does to drive. I pedaled away, leaving him to his thoughts, stopped in traffic. Go figure.

I agree with this. Being a jerk has a lot to do with the person and has little to do with economics.

Some time ago, I had some high school kids drive by and throw a hand full of change in my face. Fortunately I was wearing glasses or the results could have been a disaster. My daughter, then a high school senior, happened to be at school that day when some kids were bragging about doing this to cyclists in general. She promptly tore into them over their behavior. My understanding is that when junior boys are called out by senior girls, social standing is seriously impacted. I loved it. Karma.

J.

Well put, and you are right, now that I have thought it over.

This has been an interesting thread, but there has been one demographic that has not been discussed. "Honda Chicks". Honda Chick is a female, late teens to late twenties,
(Big window there) who is always speeding from point A to point B in her Honda. Could also be something from the Acura line. Honda Chick knows the very latest fashion trends,
and spends a lot of time at the mall. She also knows all about what's happening on "Dancing with the Stars", what is up to the minute on what the Kardashians are doing. (Disclaimer: A co-worker, who has teenaged daughters, had to explain to me who the Kardashians are. Being a single dude, I am not up on this at all) You! Yes, you, the old guy on that stupid bicycle, had better not get in Honda Chick's way! Honda Chick will blast you with the horn, and shriek something at the top of her rather powerful voice. After all, Honda Chick is running late for a hair appointment, and that is a big no-no!

Psst... There was a Honda Chick, living in my apartment complex some time back. She would drive through the parking lot, engine gunning and tires shrieking. She would see me on my bike, and give me the most disgusted look. I thought it was hilarious. Oh,,, Honda Chick must, at all costs, have a parking space near the door. Honda Chick is a most interesting species, well worthy of her own National Geographic special.

How'd I do?

trackhub, you nailed it!

My non-scientific observation is: Anybody in a VW Jetta or Passat is suspect. (Probably Honda Chick in the car she's making the payments on. Daddy gave her the Honda for starters...)

So now we have Honda chicks, rednecks, rich people etc.. Seems to be a fair cross section of society so I have to agree with those that have posted that an arsehole is an arsehole regardless of social standing or income. Some people just don't like people on bikes period

I've posted this story before but it sort of fits.

I was riding along a back road. A guy comes up along side me after he couldn't pass me due to oncoming traffic, Chevelle seemed pretty hopped up by the sound of the engine. Anyway he yelled at me and hit the gas burning rubber. However he either didn't know or forgot about the 90 degree left turn just up the street. He couoldn't make the corner and ran off the road. When I got to him I was laughing. He got mad and hit the gas in reverse. The ground was muddy and he got stuck. Probably good for me as he was pretty mad and I don't know if he would have tried to hit me or not.

Speaking of cars,
you can't buy and drive a BMW unless you hand in a certified letter saying your're a bonafide ahole

Blimey! It seems like you have problems in the States that I never encounter. A couple o years ago, I passed a Gypsy horse and trap; the driver decided to race me. The clip clops became faster, and I wondered what hw was going to do next.
He drew alongside; and told me good things about the horse pulling said trap. We were fast approaching a blind corner, so I drew back a bit and let him go. Yes, I had had enough! But he was right. Pony and trap combination can be a fast one!
But a couple o` days ago,. I had a race with a 14 (or so) yo lad who was with his pals. I managed to ward off any overtaking he attempted; never realized the old legs still had it. Then followed the language. I wondered "Why?" and then realised.
He had been shown up in front of his peers . . . . to coin an old English expression "They don`t like it up `em . . !
I guess I`m pretty fortunate where I live. There are loads of cyclists who even have kids in a trailer behind the bike. Not good imo.

So, if you really like this sort of thread, Bike Forums has a Whole forum devoted to this sort of thing...Advocacy and Safety.

A good tale. Sounds like you had a run-in with "old muscle car guy". A vanishing species, sadly. Alas, time always wins.

By 67 my epidermis is getting thinner , but I'm getting More Thick Skinned .. HTFU :notamused:

Good for you. Now make your statement to someone who has just had a totally un-necessary problem with any of the types
of motorists we have discussed here. The fact that some riders have stated that they have given up riding on the road
because of this, proves (to me, at least) that it is a problem. No dis-respect intended, by the way. I did have to
look up "HTFU", as I'm not up on my internet-speak.

A couple of weeks ago a riding buddy and I were on part of the loop bike path in Tucson. It goes past an elementary school where a bunch of kids were out at recess. They yelled: "Hi grandpa and grandma!" We waived. I did feel a bit old. :)

In the words of the Madagascar Penguins, "Just smile and wave boys...smile and wave."