Riding with congestion
 

I never realized how good I have it, in terms of cycling, until today. I normally ride on early in the morning and on country roads. There is little traffic and not a ton of stops. I got home from work around 4pm and the family was out of town. Sounded like time for a nice 20 mile ride. Uuggg the frustration of riding with traffic for a change. It started with people in the neighborhood coming home from work turning into driveways. Once on the road it was more of the same. Biking is just not enjoyable with all the forced stops and cars turning. Next time I get home early, I am hitting the trails instead. Anyway, I would hate to live in a big city and have to deal with the distractions on every ride.

I know what you mean. Most of my riding is in the adjoining county, which is the least populated in the state and still has no traffic lights. I can go 60 miles without putting my feet down. On an average 25 mile ride I might be passed by half a dozen cars. There is commuter traffic in the after work period, but driveways are far enough apart that it's never an issue. I didn't ride when I bought this house, but feel very lucky I chanced into some of the best riding roads that can be found anywhere

I expected this thread to be about allergies.

For decades, I only rode in rural areas. Now I live in Portland OR so practically all my riding is urban.

You can't ride for speed, time, or relaxation. And between issues with theft and things breaking up your speed, it's almost pointless to have nice equipment.

But in a city, you never ever get passed by idiots drag racing at over 100mph, what constitutes a "hostile dog" or a dangerous road is a joke, there's enough ambient light that visibility is great year round, and everything moves so slowly that you have an excellent chance of walking away if you get hit (though chances of being hit are much higher).

If I could take one or the other, rural riding is a million times better, but urban is OK.

I think I've got it pretty good here in Ann Arbor. A 10min warmup ride through "city" and I'm in the country in just about any direction, though heading due east requires some planning as it's mostly post-industrial decay all the way to Detroit.

Even riding in town isn't so bad, as there are lots of bike lanes, great secondary roads, a riverside MUP, and various trails and parks that can be stitched together for a fun ride. We don't have mountains, but nice rolling terrain with some ~3min/7% climbs that are great for quick repeat workouts.

I'm out in the suburbs of a large city so congestion is not really a problem unless you're riding with the flow of traffic in the morning between 7-9 AM and 3-7 PM. Even then it's not so bad. I went out early this morning against the flow, not that it mattered at 6AM, and my first stop light was at about 30 minutes, and then perhaps every ten minutes or so there'd be another light.

I've also ridden in that big city during rush hour and it's exactly as the OP described. Not only that, but there are a ton more parked cars, so the probability of being doored is high, and the corridors and roads are just that much more narrow. It's not a pleasant experience.

The trails in the city aren't much relief for congestion either, with all the commuter cyclists, children, skaters, walkers, runners, etc.. So if you ride during those busy times pick your poison.

I do almost all my riding in the urban/suburban. When I've ridden on vacation in the country I freak out a little because I feel so isolated. There's the loose dogs too. I guess it's whatever you're used to.

I used to spend a lot of time in Ann Arbor; great time there!

I thought this thread was going to be about a stuffy nose.

Not all big cities are the same. I live in an area of Philly that is very close to the business district. I can get from my house to a wooded valley area with a trout stream (a bear was even spotted there a few months ago) with about five blocks of street riding.


But in general, I agree. I don't do road rides after work anymore. Traffic in the city and the 'burbs makes such riding unpleasant.

I'm the same. After work I ride the one mountain bike trail near me or most often, hit Zwift.

Some of the greatest rides of my life were commuting in heavy traffic.

More subdivisions will be build on rural farmland as the economy picks up. Then what? I ride where I live. Traffic is a fact of life and surrendering the roads to motorists isn't the solution.

Take the lane when you need it and give it back when you are done. That's all.


-Tim-

I hear what you are saying. If you have no choice, than you have no choice. I am primarily runner first. I love running alone. I run early in the morning when nobody else is out. It is great because I can relax and be alone with my thoughts. I have been running the same route for 13 years. It never gets boring. Even if there is traffic, I almost never stop. I can easily run behind a car turning onto the road. Biking is far different though. You have to be much more cautious as the options are more limited. I have to pay far more attention to cars backing up, doors opening and cars turning onto the road that I am on. It is just more of a distraction, which makes it less relaxing. I am just thankful that I live in an area where I can normally ride or run without the distractions. From now on, I will stick to the trails after work. No harm in that as I was a mtb guy before I was a road guy. I love both.

I hear ya.
If If I hit my normal route at the wrong time of day it can be frustrating. Usually just the first couple of slowdowns though. Then I simply resign myself to the fact that I am going to be offpace and try to simply enjoy the ride more

I live in a very dense city; lots of cars - and pedestrians, stop lights, pigeons, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0slP...6zPoymgKaIoDLA

But luckily there are areas that are car free; Central Park, Hudson Greenway/Westside path, East river Greenway, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9-K...IoDLA&index=71

You don't say where in Florida you live but I am assuming it is not someplace like Tampa or Miami.

I grew up in Miami and used to jam traffic on a regular basis, but I agree it's nice not to have to stress over it.

Now that I am in L.A. I usually do morning rides, but believe it or not traffic is really not that bad on the West Side for the most part...

I've done this for the past 11 years as well. I used to like taking a new/different route each time, but the last few years I felt it takes too much mental effort to map out the route in my head so I just go with the same route, more or less, all the time.

Cycling on the road, however, I have to take into account the time of day, day of the week, as well as the bike I'm riding. You cover a lot more ground on a bike, so some consideration needs to be taken to avoid heavily congested areas, poor condition roads, riding in to a setting/rising sun, speed limit, etc.

Good assumption. I actually live in SE Georgia, which is a suburb of Jacksonville. I would probably be too frustrated to ride in Jacksonville. I see guys in the bike lanes all the time. They have to stop for cars turning and lights. I don't have to deal with any of that where I live, unless it is in the afternoon. There is a military base and when traffic leaves there, it sucks. Outside of that it is great.
I grew up in Tampa and if you live out in the suburbs it is great. Not so much if you are closer to town though.

Who ever took this video is living on borrowed time and money.

Just in the first minute he could have taken out kids crossing in front of the school bus (he didn't slow down) or be taking out by the parked truck (he rode so close to it).

You need to prepare for the worst situation, where as he/she is assuming the best.

I wish it was like that but I've just heard of too many people getting hit.

Me too!

Nothing like a night time trail run with a headlamp in the dead of winter. :D

Don't get me wrong. I prefer to ride with no cars. It's just that I commuted 10 years, 5 days/week, 20 miles each way on Long Island. To me traffic is a fact of life and I'm comfortable with it because I lived it daily. Its not a big deal.

Now in the Atlanta suburbs it is very rural west of me and people near me are spoiled. They miss some amazing local riding because they feel the need to get in the car and drive an hour west so that they can ride their bike.

All I'm saying is that traffic should not stop anyone from riding.

Riiight. Because school buses let kids off mid block in the middle lane.

Honestly though... he simply is comfortable in traffic and you (apparently) are not. Rather than admit your own weakness, it's far more reassuring to label him as "living on borrowed time", thereby safely preserving your sanctimonious sense of superiority. Well played! :thumb: