What Bicycling Rules do you follow that Experience has taught you?
02-25-21, 04:30 PM
#77
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02-25-21, 08:09 PM
#78
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What if you have to adjust your spokes? I ride Single speed also. I got this thing about having an arrow straight tire, so I can adjust my brake pads down to a 1/32" clearance without the pads rubbing.
02-25-21, 08:22 PM
#79
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When cars pass me, I think to myself it's the second car that can kill. You can hear a car coming up but you can't hear the 2d one if they are following each other so it's a reminder to be careful when a car is passing you because you don't know how many cars are behind it.
02-25-21, 08:43 PM
#81
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When cars pass me, I think to myself it's the second car that can kill. You can hear a car coming up but you can't hear the 2d one if they are following each other so it's a reminder to be careful when a car is passing you because you don't know how many cars are behind it.
Years ago I heard an ambulance coming up behind me so I pulled toward the curb. It passed and as I was going to give the curb some room, a send ambulance passed with no siren. It was close.
02-25-21, 09:52 PM
#82
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Never ride close to the line on the side of the road. It "encourages" vehicles behind you to attempt to squeeze by without going into the opposing lane to pass.
Ride far enough away that a car passing you will be forced to go into the opposing lane of traffic. Hopefully, it will encourage the driver to make a safer pass - safer for you & safer for them.
Ride far enough away that a car passing you will be forced to go into the opposing lane of traffic. Hopefully, it will encourage the driver to make a safer pass - safer for you & safer for them.
02-26-21, 12:24 AM
#83
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Always wear sunscreen. 
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02-26-21, 03:24 AM
#84
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I don’t ride against traffic. I stop at stop signs and red lights. I use vehicular cycling rules whenever possible. I have a helmet with lights and turn signals but still use arm signals. I don’t ride MUP’s.
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02-26-21, 10:16 AM
#85
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Never seems a helmet with turn signals. Care to share a picture? How do you activate them?
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02-26-21, 10:33 AM
#86
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The white LED's turn yellow on one side and flash when turn signal is activated , same on the back only red
02-26-21, 12:30 PM
#87
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- People in your riding group will blow right through stop signs, and then complain about vehicles doing the same
- Wear a Road ID to give contact information. Keeping it on your bike is good, but in an emergency, you may be disconnected from your bike
- If I want to add some distance but I'm wondering if I can make it, pedal away from home half of that distance. You will need to come back
- Wear knee sleeves unless it's warm. Us people of a certain age have to keep our joints warm and lubricated
- I have to put an event on the horizon or I find reasons to not ride as much as I want/should
02-26-21, 02:39 PM
#88
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Riding out from your car you are feeling good and moving along at 16 mph with little effort, all that training is starting to pay off, plus those new lighter tires, so I'll put on an extra 5 miles today, right?
Wrong! The wind is behind you and you are going to pay a big price for that extra mileage after you turn around.
35 years of riding and I can still get caught with this one.
Wrong! The wind is behind you and you are going to pay a big price for that extra mileage after you turn around.
35 years of riding and I can still get caught with this one.
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Last edited by bykemike; 02-26-21 at 08:31 PM.
02-27-21, 11:29 AM
#89
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02-28-21, 10:58 AM
#90
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My will to live is as strong as anyone’s. I use my eyes and ears to determine if it’s safe to turn. I don’t live in an area with bike lanes. I ride where the traffic is intermittent and moving @ 55mph or better, on two-lane winding roads. Be predictable, follow the rules of the road. When it’s time to turn onto a different road I rotate my head and actually look to see if there are any cars, log trucks, motorcycles or giant RVs closing on me. It works.
If I was riding on city streets I would keep my head on a swivel and my ears in operation to stay alive. I would not be scanning a set of eleven mini mirrors bolted all over my bike. I would turn my head and look. Why? Because a direct view of traffic works.
I have a Garmin Varia that tells me about approaching vehicles behind me, but I don’t rely on it as my indicator of whether or not it’s safe to turn. It’s a situational awareness aid for the times when I’m cruising and vehicles pass me, so that I know they’re coming. (I have it set to chirp.) I am an interactive bike rider- my head turns, my hands & arms signal turns and stops when someone is behind me, and I am more than just a passenger on my own bike. I’m pretty fortunate to live in an area where there are miles and miles of great paved road riding, and tons of dirt road/gravel riding. Not many people. Tourists, though, lots of those all summer long. I just don’t find mirrors all that helpful. Look at the real traffic, not a reflection of it. Be certain. Be safe.
If I was riding on city streets I would keep my head on a swivel and my ears in operation to stay alive. I would not be scanning a set of eleven mini mirrors bolted all over my bike. I would turn my head and look. Why? Because a direct view of traffic works.
I have a Garmin Varia that tells me about approaching vehicles behind me, but I don’t rely on it as my indicator of whether or not it’s safe to turn. It’s a situational awareness aid for the times when I’m cruising and vehicles pass me, so that I know they’re coming. (I have it set to chirp.) I am an interactive bike rider- my head turns, my hands & arms signal turns and stops when someone is behind me, and I am more than just a passenger on my own bike. I’m pretty fortunate to live in an area where there are miles and miles of great paved road riding, and tons of dirt road/gravel riding. Not many people. Tourists, though, lots of those all summer long. I just don’t find mirrors all that helpful. Look at the real traffic, not a reflection of it. Be certain. Be safe.
02-28-21, 08:51 PM
#91
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02-28-21, 09:00 PM
#92
Senior Member
[QUOTE=70sSanO;21937586]Never look “over” your prescription glasses if they slide down while you are in the drops.
Not true, my left eye is 5/20!!! I wear glasses because of my right eye and it only corrects to 20/20. I frequently slide my glasses down on purpose in the winter when I come inside.
Cheers,
Way up North,
David]
Not true, my left eye is 5/20!!! I wear glasses because of my right eye and it only corrects to 20/20. I frequently slide my glasses down on purpose in the winter when I come inside.
Cheers,
Way up North,
David]
03-01-21, 12:10 PM
#93
Junior Member
Wow, lots of good info here, and paranoia wins the prize always.
I'm both a cyclist and long time motorcycle rider. I ride my bicycles exactly like I ride my motorcycles. I assume that everyone driving a car, truck or motorcycle is a homicidal maniac waiting for the opportunity to kill me the moment I take my attention away.
I'm both a cyclist and long time motorcycle rider. I ride my bicycles exactly like I ride my motorcycles. I assume that everyone driving a car, truck or motorcycle is a homicidal maniac waiting for the opportunity to kill me the moment I take my attention away.
03-01-21, 12:21 PM
#94
Member
Never ride close to the line on the side of the road. It "encourages" vehicles behind you to attempt to squeeze by without going into the opposing lane to pass.
Ride far enough away that a car passing you will be forced to go into the opposing lane of traffic. Hopefully, it will encourage the driver to make a safer pass - safer for you & safer for them.
Ride far enough away that a car passing you will be forced to go into the opposing lane of traffic. Hopefully, it will encourage the driver to make a safer pass - safer for you & safer for them.
03-01-21, 01:07 PM
#95
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"Your shadow points to danger." The longer the shadow, the more the sun is in the eyes of motorists coming from that direction.
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03-01-21, 01:12 PM
#96
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Never assume they see you, if you don't see their eyes you don't know for sure.
Ride 3' from parked cars since most people never look back before opening the door.
Right turn after stop doesn't mean much to most drivers.
Stop signs are just a suggestion for most drivers.
If an unleashed dog jumps in front of you, aim for the owner
Runners on a MUP will make a 180 without looking over their shoulder.
Ride 3' from parked cars since most people never look back before opening the door.
Right turn after stop doesn't mean much to most drivers.
Stop signs are just a suggestion for most drivers.
If an unleashed dog jumps in front of you, aim for the owner
Runners on a MUP will make a 180 without looking over their shoulder.
My only addition is always carry a spare tube AND a patch kit. I get a lot of ribbing about that rule, but those who rib readily humble themselves when they need my "obsolete frame pump."
03-01-21, 01:22 PM
#97
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My #1 rule (particularly when riding out in rural areas) is "Do not make the drivers mad. That is when they do stupid stuff and they are bigger than you:".
dave
dave
03-01-21, 01:24 PM
#98
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+Always wear a garish kit
+Daytime running lights -- front and rear -- are essential
+Use hand signals and gestures often (absent a certain single digit if you can) -- drivers appreciate it.
+Cyclists may use the lane -- when in doubt, do it. Safety first.
Common thread in the above: TO BE SEEN
+Daytime running lights -- front and rear -- are essential
+Use hand signals and gestures often (absent a certain single digit if you can) -- drivers appreciate it.
+Cyclists may use the lane -- when in doubt, do it. Safety first.
Common thread in the above: TO BE SEEN
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03-01-21, 01:29 PM
#99
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03-01-21, 01:34 PM
#100
Junior Member
Never trust a dog chasing you.
Always keep your bike between you and any dog that is chasing you. Get off and walk away with the bike between you and the dog. Never trust a dog that is chasing you.
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