Yen

We rode in the Tour de Palm Springs last weekend. Hubby completed his first century (in high winds!), I rode the 25-mile route.

Anyway my comrades and I arrived at the starting line a little late and ended up starting with the 10-mile group. Starting out, there was every manner of bike, trike, and rider. And then there were several people "riding" an upright thingamajig on which the rider stands and propels the "bike" in back-and-forth motions with the arms, causing it to serpentine about 4 feet to the side in each direction. I was concentrating on just staying upright -- in the wind, clipped in, surrounded by very slow riders -- and hoping and praying one wouldn't hit me and knock me over. One of my group heard a cyclist go down and thinks he was hit by one of these "bikes".

They presented an unnecessary hazard and I'd like to contact the organizers about my concern. Can anyone identify it so I can call it by name?

Bill Kapaun

So, someone "thinks" someone was hit?
IF someone actually did go down in front of a bike, they wouldn't have been hit because??

Yen

He heard it happen behind him, and believes that rider was hit by one of these things going to and fro.

cranky old dude

Was it one of these....?

https://www.trikke.com/

...ridden like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnk_SvhoUk4

Artkansas 

You should get better evidence. It sounds like a prejudiced judgement from here. But I can see how one of those is not really suitable for use in large groups.

I think that cranky old dude probably identified it right as trikke.

Gravity Aided

It's not legal for mass start races if it has Spinacci Bars

DEK

I hate having to pass someone on those things. One the MUT they end up taking most, if not all, the trail with the stupid swaying motion. And don't even get me started on seeing them trying to go up a hill.

John_V 

I know the feeling. On a ride with DEK, a while back, there were several of these things (6 or 8) on a MUP that we were riding at. There is an overpass on this MUP that goes over a major road below (I think 6 lanes and a median) that we had to climb and they were also trying to climb it at the same time. I think DEK was able to get in front of them but as I tried to make the climb and pass them, there were two of these that were swinging way out into the oncoming lane of the trail. I kept yelling "On your left" but that did nothing. I couldn't slow down at that point so I continued to climb and go around one of the two going into the other lane. Just as he swayed to the right, I started to pass him, but he cut it back to the left, again into the oncoming lane, and damn near ran me into the fence. I think if they are going to ride one of these things, they should at least be proficient enough with them so that they can stay in one lane to propel themselves.

Yen

Yes Cranky, that's it. There were several of them riding to the left of the cyclists but swaying way over toward them. It posed an unnecessary risk and I feel they don't belong in a crowd of cyclists.

I'm not going to make any false accusations in my letter -- I'm sorry I mentioned it here. I'll only describe the risk they pose to riders who were trying to maneuver in a crowd, in the wind, and suggest they allow them to ride in their own group and start behind the 5-mile riders.

Laserman

No way those things should be mixed in with regular bikes.

Monoborracho

There is a dude here in Smallville who rides one of those around our local HS & football stadium, which is also the evening walking/jogging path. El es stupido!

wtaylor

Hi Yen. I was in the 25 mi too. I didn't see any of the "machines" you mentioned-- but yes, it was tough enough clipped in with all the wind and some slower riders weaving around on conventional bikes. It wouldn't have taken much cause a collision.

Yen

wtaylor, you said it very well.

stapfam

Our London to Brighton and we have a few riders--About 33,000 and all of them will try and knock you off your bike. Bikes and I can understand where they are going and you can spot the one that could cause you a problem and stay out of their way. However for the past few times I have done the LtoB there have been inline skaters doing the event. They have not caused me a problem but they do take a lot of width of road and the steep hills are where I kept my eyes out for them.