Mayberry32

Most of you are probably giggling already. I love cycling. I have ridden a mtn bike for years and love it. However, I have 3 kids and a business to run, so I can't get out to a state park to ride my mountain bike as often as I'd like. I just got a road bike and logged 15 miles today. Luckily, I have a huge neighborhood and a few other side roads and another neighborhood right next to me. So, I can ride 20 miles wothout any repeating scenery, but that is going to get old quick. Today, I got brave about 5 miles in, hit the yellow lined road outside my neighborhood, got passed by 2 fast cars, got scared and hauled ass back to the safety of my neighborhood. I am scared to death of cars going 50-60 mph passing me. I live in a very country, rural area, outside Athens, GA. It's not a busy city street. These are rolling country roads. But, drivers texting, talking on the phone, not paying attention, etc are a huge concern for me. Is there any way to get over this? I want to enjoy this sport to its fullest. I just don't want to die doing it. Maybe some sort of rear view mirror that might, at least, let me see cars as they approach? I know this is probably the dumbest question ever asked here. But, if anyone has an idea, I'll greatly appreciate it.

bassjones

There are mirrors that attach to,your helmet. The only way to get over the fear is to ride in traffic more. Wear brightly colored clothing and helmet - I like bright orange or safety yellow.

ClarkinHawaii

Let's face it--cars and the fools that drive them are dangerous as hell.

It's hard to find the fine balance between foolhardiness and overcaution.

But if your gut feeling is that a given situation is too dangerous to risk, don't risk it.

Everybody has to decide for themselves if the reward is worth the risk.

Like you, I am pretty much boxed in to "neighborhood riding"--about as interesting as riding a trainer, but a lot more dangerous--but nowhere near as dangerous as the highway.

I vote for common sense.

greenlight149

Have a blinking light, it makes you more visible to drivers. But sometimes I find drivers don't realize how close they actually are, and big trucks are the worst, the draft sucks you into the road after they pass....but you learn to anticipate it.

doctor j

I have a Third Eye bar end mirror on both of my road bikes. They do give me some piece of mind.

You will need to increase your on-the-road miles a little at a time to get comfy with the idea.

I believe hi-viz jerseys help although some would argue otherwise.

I have a Cygolite Hotshot tail light that, according to a motorcyclist who passed me, is quite visible in daylight. He passed me and later stopped at a rest area. I rolled into that same rest area while he was there, and he commented on my light. As I recall, he said he noticed it about a half mile distant from me.

FrenchFit 

What, you are scared of two tons of metal going 50 mph passing you at 3 feet, worried that your spouse and chikdren will grow up without you? You should be scared, it is not a fair fight. A mirror will not protect you.

I've been a cyclist commuter and night rider, but with kids well on their way in college and lots of life and medical insurance. I suggest you do a risk/reward analysis, it may cause you to drive your road bike to a protected path or safer bike route. If you are compelled to road ride out the door now, then move to a more of a bike community.

There was a saying among motorcycle riders that there were two types of riders; those that have been hit and those that will be hit.

smarkinson

Everyone's scared of cars.

Your choice if road (and when you ride on them) can help though. There are some roads around here that I would never ride on because the roads are too narrow and the traffic levels too high.

Interestingly I love riding on the pacific hwy. Dual carriageway with a 110kmh speed limit but a nice 3m wide shoulder all to myself and with the traffic it feels like a permanent tail wind.

Visit the local bike shop to see if they have any regular group rides (safety in numbers) and for any suggestions they might have on good riding roads.

Also you can check out the strava heat map. This shows the popularity of roads among the strava users. Might help suggest which roads to ride on and more importantly which to avoid.

Long Tom

Yeah, a car will chew you up and spit you out. It's smart and correct to fear the damn things.

$50-75 buys you a bright-as-god red rear blinker. That makes a huge difference, IMHO. Much harder for Little Ms. Textypants to not see you as she comes up behind you. Next up is a comparably bright front headlight/blinker. Again, fitty bucks gets you there. That greatly ups your odds against getting left-hooked by oncoming traffic, and also whacked by driveway pull-outs when you are ripping a downhill at 37 mph. Now you've solved the "visibility" part of this equation- which is a huge, huge part- for like $125 or less. So do that.

Situational awareness is key as well. Sometimes subtle maneuvers on your part can help prevent squeeze-passes where you end up with you, the ******* passing you, and an oncoming vehicle all in the same place at the same time... by slowing down a bit, or speeding up, or (and this can be counterintuitive) taking the lane, just to force drivers to be smart and not do the idiot move. That would be a rare move for me but it's definitely in the toolbox.

But make no mistake. You are right to fear cars. Up to you if the cost/benefit is worth it to you. I LOVE my long pastoral rural rides and feel that in general, it's possible to coexist with cars. Just BE SEEN and be cautious and (very occasionally) take charge when that's the correct move.

banerjek

Riding more will help, but don't try to force it. Rather, choose routes that will let you gradually work up your comfort. I personally am a huge believer in mirrors because they tell you who can see you and who can't -- I ride pretty far left so when the cars shift out even a few inches, I can tell they can see me and are paying attention. A super bright tail light does make a big difference. Don't go cheap on that. A decent one should be clearly visible in bright sunlight from 100 yards away.

bmcer

It really is a matter of perspective. Waking up and getting out of bed every morning is a calculated risk. Where I live, there is little choice but to ride on the shoulder of some high speed and traffic roads. The alternative is to use local MUPs that are so plagued with gang bangers and rip-off artists that even the local LE riders whose job it is to secure these routes are told by the PD that has jurisdiction to avoid them.

But still, I ride whenever and wherever I can..

See, a couple years back, I quietly dropped dead (yes, clinically dead, no pulse, no respirations for something like 5+ minutes) after a short, uneventful ride of maybe 3 miles to meet up with my riding group at a Pete's Coffee. Long story short, I was successfully resuscitated by a total stranger, and after a double bypass graft, I returned to the life I still love, biking and all, after maybe 4 weeks of basic rehab and recovery. Had that SCA event occurred just a few minutes earlier or had there been no one around who was trained in CPR, I would not be writing this. Pure "D" dumb luck. The surgeon who did my CABG told my wife there was no reason in hell why I survived except maybe what years of riding had done for my overall condition. After that, cars are the least of my concerns.

The point is, there are no guarantees. Life is a crap shoot. You can let the fear scare you into a lifeless little box, or you can embrace the risks, do what you can to mitigate them, and live a healthy, fulfilling life right up until die.

You can either spend your time waiting to die, which we all do sooner or later, or you can use whatever time you're fortunate enough to get to live as large as you can. Take your pick.

BTW, I can tell you with some authority that this isn't all there is.

bruce19

I have no prescription for anyone else. Probably because of many years of motorcycling, I don't fear cars. I am, however, very aware that my attention to them is critical. So, I prepare myself as best I can with helmet, mirror (bar end) and blinkie light. Then I ride as if I am one of them, albeit much slower, and I act in ways that make me as visible as possible.

mawashi

In your shoes as well, have a business n tons of responsibilities n yes I hate idiot drivers as well.

The sad truth is u could blink like a x-mas tree n still get run over. Texting, driving under the influence or just plain blind, I have more than a few stories of friends who were killed riding.

Mtb trails are your friends for now.

datlas 

Can you join a local bike club? You may feel safer in a group, and motorists are likely to be more careful passing a group of riders.

Igualmente

+1. I have a road nearby that I have decided is too dangerous. It is because of the number of large trucks using it as a shortcut and some of the drivers' habit of toying with others' lives. And I generally stay away from anything that is busy and 50mph +, although those may not always be the most dangerous situations.

rpenmanparker 

Surely you must have some quiet roads where you live if it is truly rural.

silversx80

Number one cause of death in the U.S. is heart disease; followed closely by cancer. Then, respiratory disease, accidents and stroke (respectively), which don't even add up to the # 2 cause.

Death on on a bicycle will fall in that # 4 category... along with vehicle accidents, slips and spills, industrial mishaps, etc. however, riding your bike will help fend off dying in the top category.

Life is terminal. I made sure that when I go my family will be taken care of.


As far as being afraid of cars, I know I am. I was hit by one on my bike and it didn't feel too good, but I still can't wait to get back on the road. I'll be making changes to the time of day, and roads I take. My one light obviously wasn't enough of an alert, so more of those to hopefully increase the chance of being seen.

JohnJ80

Exactly right - everyone scared of cars and that's healthy. But that doesn't mean you can't ride with them.

Route selection is key. Finding roads with wide shoulders is a big one. Finding roads that are lightly traveled are another. Having a rear light that is daylight visible is a good thing - gives you something like 19% greater chance of being seen. Garmin has a neat device coming out that gives you warning about an approaching vehicle and adjusts rear lighting accordingly. Big advantage if you know they are coming. (Garmin Varia).

There are, however, some areas of the country that I would not consider riding on the road. Those places where they pavement ends 1/4" to the right of the white line are a good example. Point in fact, I wouldn't live there.

The other big piece is not to think about riding "in" traffic because you "are" traffic and have as much right (some say more) to be there. Aggressively asserting your position on the road (safely) and thinking/riding like a motorized vehicle works well. There are innumerable articles about how to do this. Riding with someone who is practiced in this can be very helpful.


J.

bakes1

What are the national averages as far as car related cycling injuries and deaths are concerned?
I am willing to bet that many, many more people are injured playing recreational and school sports.
I am not saying cars are not dangerous but I think some people have the wrong perspective.
If it is that much of a concern why even get on a road bicycle in the first place?

cmark84

In my area, our county is very proactive about health and posts a lot of bike paths and signs. I think having the city engage in this and provide awareness is one small step that can make an impact. I know as a driver which areas have bike paths and I tend to look out more (especially behind me) before making right turns. During the spring season, they even put up digital signs that say "bicycle riding is back in effect, please drive responsibly".

I tend to stay off the roads as a rider. We have plenty of bike trails both paved and not to use. However, it brings its own risks. Joggers and dog walkers.

Ravenwing

I worry the most about distracted drivers. Try to ride defensively, and be as visible as you can. I'm fortunate in that I live in a very rural area where there is little traffic. However, there are logging trucks, and sometimes they take up a lot of road! They don't scare me near as much as the texting teen, though. I have a mirror that mounts in the end of my drop bars, and try to remember to watch it constantly. Also going to try 'cats ears' on my helmet straps to cut down on wind noise, so maybe I'll hear cars coming up behind better. There's just so much you can do, and only you can do the risk/benefit analysis.

bmthom.gis

Look for quieter roads, or adjust your riding times. The road right in front of my subdivision can either be completely empty or super busy, occasionally it is somewhere in between. I've been out on it tons of times, as I have to go 1/2 mile to get onto quieter roads and have no way to get there other than that one road. If it is late evening or very early morning, I'll just stay on it as traffic then is super light. You get used to it. Start when traffic is light, and look for other roads that come off of that main road. If there are two lanes going each way and a very narrow or no shoulder, take the right lane. Also, look for group rides.

Wilfred Laurier

Funny you should mention that - here is a screenshot of Google Streetview near Winterville Georgia - near the OP's region of Athens:

Wheever

I grew up cycling in NYC, so I'm generally not nervous biking on heavily trafficked roads, but I still take whatever precautions I am able to make myself as visible as possible: I run a Flare-R on the back and a Knog blinder 4 in flash mode on the front. Most cars around here (Westchester county, NY,) give me a pretty good margin when passing, and I swear the Flare-R added a foot or two to that. (Ironically, when I was out over the weekend, the car that came the closest when passing me was A STATE TROOPER. his mirror only missed MY mirror by inches!) For me, the number one danger is being cut off or -hooked, which unless I'm not paying attention and/or very unlucky in landing, probably won't be fatal at the speeds things are happening in those situations. For the most part people in this kind of traffic aren't texting, it's just too dangerous even for a second, with all the traffic and cars changing speeds, etc. If they're not paying attention, they're going to be fender-bent very quickly, so texters are the exception.

Having said all of the above: OP, the roads you describe would scare the **** out of me. Long stretches of lightly-trafficked road without a lot of regular bike traffic or bike lanes are absolute invitations for texting while driving and other forms of inattention, and if the speeds are high, the likelihood of an incident being serious or fatal is very high indeed. Most of the stories of bicycle-car fatalities you read about seem to be just this scenario: someone driving fast on an empty road while texting plows into cyclists. I would actually say, OP, that other than a mirror and a big-ass Flasher like the flare-R, there's not a lot you can do. Your roads are scarier than the worst urban street.

Finally, even in this scenario, your risk of being hit or injured is still vanishingly small--much much smaller than falling in the shower, etc--but still non-zero. As many people have already said: only you can calculate how much that risk is worth to you. Someone mentioned group riding? I think you should try that. However, while It lowers the already small risk of being hit by a car, it does also vastly multiply the risks of a dumb bike-bike accident. (But those are almost always not serious and non-fatal, and usually only annoying.) In terms of Hobsons's choices, given the roads around you, that's the one I'd take.

banerjek

Rural roads can be dicey. The total number of cars may be very low, but people know there's no enforcement so you'll see some crazy stuff. I've encountered all kinds of stuff such as getting passed by two cars racing each other at over 100mph on a road not even wide enough to have a center stripe.

jaranth

I live smack-dab in the middle of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro-mess, here in Texas. It's one of the most populous cities in the world, and of course, has the associated traffic. There are several nice bike trails, but they get old when you've ridden them 300 times each. For variety, it's take a trip out of the city... or hit the city roads.

The risk of being hurt is real, but remember... fear is in the mind. Do you fear being struck by lightning? Of course, but not really... you sometimes go outside in storms anyway, vaguely aware that there's a chance of being struck... but you do it anyway. All you can do in cycling is be smart, be aware, and be safe. Follow the traffic laws, as best you can. Be proactive in looking for traffic... don't always trust others to see you.

On a related note, I do have a problem with OTHER cyclists not following the traffic laws. I'm not talking about "corking"... that's relatively safe... but, instead, things like blowing off stop signs without looking twice, or crossing intersections diagonally through the middle... stuff like that. I personally won't do it, even if there's a chance losing the group. I've never been chastised for it by other cyclists before, but it does make you look overly-cautious to some, but screw those guys! Ride smart, stay safe.