Ok, let me preface this with the fact that I just bought my first road bike, a Trek 7200 FX. I took her home from the bike store and was shocked at how...hmmm....how shall I put this....assholian (New word!) drivers are. I had absolutely no shoulder to ride on during parts of my ride home. Well, some of these jackasses didn't care and sped by going about 50 MPH in the lane I was riding in! They didn't even get over to pass me. I was so angry and scared at the same time. I have a new respect for all bike riders and what they (no we ) have to go through. Anyone have similar stories or remedies for this problem?

Be careful....its the best advice any of us can give or take....

Get the Take-a-Look mirror mounted on your helmet. It's invaluable if you're gonna be on tight roads a lot. And always have a exit strategy.

k, thanks for the advice. Did you guys get real peeved at first too? I mean, there were two lanes and these people think just because we're on a smaller vehicle, we don't get the whole lane. I wasn't even trying to take up the whole lane! I just need to stay calm I guess, because panicking will lead to loss of control and possibly an accident.

Move yourself further out into the lane if there's no shoulder. If you give them room to pass dangerously close, they will. Search this forum for "VC" or vehicular cycling, there is a ton of info on it.

I thought about that but I've heard horror stories about drivers hitting cyclists (sometimes on purpose) when they use the entire lane.

I still get pissed every time it happens. If I'm moving fairly fast (mid 20's), and cars are passing me to close in a 35-40mph zone, and I have no shoulder, I may take the lane on my own--especially if there are two lanes moving in the same direction. I don't do this to hold up traffic, but I feel that if traffic is forced to slow down and actively move around me I'm safer than if they are just whizzing by paying no attention. Its obviously best to try not to be on busy roads without shoulders, but sometimes it just can't be avoided. A helmet mirror can be good and bad. I feel that I am safest paying attention to what is in front of me and making sure that I have enough room to do what I need to and stay safe (here's where taking the lane comes in).

That happens far more rarely than a cyclist being hit by a passing car's mirror or an old lady that "didn't see you". you're better off the more visible you are--even if that means the middle of the lane.

I hate that too. If there is no shoulder and you dont feel that the lane can safely fit you and the car, you are within your rights to take the right lane by riding further into the middle than normal; forcing cars to either pass you in the left lane or not pass at all. This can be scary too, but if you give it a try you will probably feel safer this way, I do.

I am also a VA cyclist, in the mega-suburb that is Virginia Beach, till I get back to school in Richmond. I think suburban riding is more scary/dangerous than urban or rural because there are usually a few huge, high-traffic arteries that you HAVE to go on, and no parallel routes like in a real city with a grid-like layout.

After my accident, I learned a few things. Now I always assume that drivers to not see me. Also, what VA cyclist said is very important. Ride in the lane and make people go around you. This is not only important in preventing people from trying to squeeze by you, but also you are easier seen by cross traffic if you are in the lane vice on the shoulder. I was hit by a guy running a stop sign and if I would have been riding more in the lane and not along the shoulder, I would have had time to react to it and maybe avoid the whole thing.

wow, sorry to hear that. Are you ok?

All the above suggestions are good, but....

sometimes you just need to find a different road to ride on with a lower speed limit and/or less traffic flow, particularly when you're just learning to deal with traffic.

You're more likely to get run down from behind if you are too far to the right on a narrow road. You don't leave yourself room to maneuver safely around obsticles and cars try to pass you too close or with insufficient forward visibility (around a bend, over a hill, etc.).

As a bicyclist for 15yrs and a motorcyclidst for 25yrs, the best advice is "always assume all vehicles do NOT see you". Regardless of your rights to be on the road as a bicyclist, always be careful and keep your perimiter in check and have an idea of an escape route if and when necessary. Hey - when it is a bicyclist against a cage or any other vehicle ... guess who loses that battle.

A mirror or two (handlebar, helmet, etc.) is of utmost importance if you plan on riding on busy roads. As someone else said ... some times, you may need to make a decision that a particular road is simply too busy and dangerous to travel.

Be careful, safe, and have fun!

Edited for superior spelling!

Yep, back on the saddle now. Just hope the same doesn't happen to you.

I agree with all thats been said. However, I'm a lot more comfortable riding with traffic now than when I started out; you do get acclimated to a degree.

Cycling on high traffic roads without a shoulder can be nerve-wracking. I aim for either higher speed roads that have a wide shoulder, or lower speed roads that have less traffic. Both of those seem to work well for me.

I certainly agree with you jazzy. I am fortunate though to have rather good roads with room for cyclists and a more or less tension free relationship with the drivers in this area.

Every once a while I still have a driver that decides to zoom pass me just a few inches from my left handlebar. Yes, it still ticks me off, especially when there's another lane that's free... So in these situations, you have to be extra attentative to keep your bike going straight. Other times, you just have to take the whole lane up because it's just not safe for them to try to pass you in that existing lane. There has been a couple of times I almost wipe out trying to go on a shoulder because junk on the side of the road caused my rear wheel to loose traction. Losing control of a bike is never good when you're riding in traffic! These days, I usually try to time traffic when I pedal through areas w/o shoulders (try to get in when there are few cars and sprint to a safer area).

It is the most common for new cyclists to fear being hit from the rear. Most "experts" claim this is one of the least common car/bike collisions. That doesn't mean it can't happen, and of course it does. I think a greater instance is impacts where roadways meet.

Turning cars are a very large threat to cyclists and when you get to an intersection, NEVER assume that a car sees you. Generally crashes occur when the cyclist assumes the car sees him and it doesn't. The cyclist, and car proceed to the point where it is too late.

Otherwise, remember to have fun with that new bike. There can be a great deal of fear created by reading some of the posts on here. Cycling is a relatively safe activity and some claim it is safer than riding in a car. I don't know if I buy that just yet, but I still think it is pretty safe if you use common sense.

Follow some of these tips:

* Avoid congested roads with narrow shoulders.

* Where high visiblity clothing.

* Get a good helmet mirror. Don't use it in traffic until you are familiar with it. It takes practice.

* Make them RUN OVER you. Yeah, seems backwards, but get out there and take your lane. I always say to myself while riding, "you are going to have to run over me because I'm not letting you hit me with the side of your car."

* Never ride into a setting or rising sun. This is a common way that cyclists are killed.

You will find that if you move over close to the shoulder (or road edge), then cars will pass by you very closely. They see you way over on the right and think "I can get through that space." They see your position as allowing them to take the lane from you.

You need to ride the "Right Track". That is, ride on the track that the auto's right tire would make. You will find that most autos will then wait behind you until it is safe to pass and then will move all the way into the other lane to do so. When you want to tell the autos to not pass you at all, ride the left track.

I usually ride the left track when no cars are behind me. When I see a car in my mirror, I wait until just before they slow down, I look over my shoulder at them (this lets them know that I see them), then if it is safe to pass, I move over to the right track. This communicates to them I see you and it’s OK to pass. In order to pass they have to cross the center line. Since they must go partially over the line, most drivers go all the way over and change lanes to pass – giving you lots of room. If it’s not safe to pass, I hold the left track and signal to them to wait. As soon as it is safe, I move over and tell them to go. As they pass I wave a thanks.

Remember, you are a vehicle. Ride like a vehicle. Take control of the road. Be predictable. Signal you intentions. Drivers will understand what you are doing and will treat you more safely.

This statement is tossed around a lot, and seems in conflict with the principles of VC.

The most important thing is to ride so that drivers will see you. One does this by riding somewhat in their path to get on their radar.

If you assume you're invisible, and ride to fit this assumption, you'll have to stay out of the lane of travel of motor vehicles. Which is the surest way to ensure you are invisible to traffic.

Solid.

Riding assuming that drivers do not see you is vastly different than riding so drivers do not see you.

Good advice...I posted a while back that I almost got myself killed at an intersection when I first got my mirror. I was so absorbed trying to get used to using it that i went right through a known stop sign and a car had to lock up to avoid nailing me. I felt like a real a55. I always say go find an abandoned air strip to learn to use a mirror before hitting the road with one.

MikeR's got it down. I also make a point of it to try and make eye contact with drivers as much as possible. For instance, if at an intersection, I'll turn around and make eye contact with the driver, so when the light turns, he'll be more apt to be cautious and give you the room. If on a straight away and you feel traffic is getting closer (group think), slow and turn to make eye contact with the next car that's behind you. Of course, make sure there's nothing dangerous in front before turning your head!!

And hand signals, hand signals are soooo important.