Laminarman

Well, had my first very close pass by an 18 wheeler last night. NOT FUN. He had no other place to go with oncoming traffic, I was on a narrow shoulder (almost no shoulder in the ONE damn place the road pinches down). I saw him watching me in his mirror to check on me after he passed. But sheesh...you people every get used to this!!!?? Strong side wind, plus him passing at about 55mph too close for comfort, and I felt my sphincter grab that seat harder than I thought possible as I felt the suckage pull me towards the road. Just wondering if I'm a wuss, but I didn't find it enjoyable at all.

colombo357

No, you don't get used to it in the sense of that you'll be fine. You get used to it in the sense that you've accepted your fate and will inevitably get run down by a truck, car, or motorocycle, which can result in a light bump on the elbow or complete dismemberment and death.

If you can't accept this, change your route. Drive to better roads if you have to. Even consider picking up mountain biking on weekdays when traffic is heavy.

Megiddo

The only place 18 wheelers pass me I have a pretty big shoulder, but some locations I have dump trucks, school buses and the like. It's scary, no way around it... and I can't imagine getting used to it.

knobster

There was an alternative that the driver could have used. It's called slow down until it's safe to pass. I had some ahole do this to me with a motor home. He had no oncoming traffic. I guess he just was not happy I was riding my toy on his road.

mocolotion

I got buzzed by a motorhome towing a car once and it only missed me by about a foot. About a mile up the road the same motorhome was stopped just on the other side of a covered bridge, wherein the driver (a geriatric old bat) had torn the passenger's side mirror off. Up the road, their cohort was driving another motorhome in reverse to go back to where their friends were and they forced me off the road. Making matters worse, the same two motorhomes then buzzed right by me again just up the road, again coming to within inches of me.

If I'd known where they were heading I've have met them there and sent them to an early grave.

Velo Vol 

I don't often get passed by 18 wheelers on two-lane roads, thankfully.

Varina Drag

I've found the bigger trucks are actually much better at slowing down and waiting than your typical "got to be there now" drivers. Trucks usually give me a wide enough berth, it's the cars and SUVs that pass close by even with no other traffic around that make me wonder what is going on in their heads.

superNoid

Yikes!

Laminarman

Thanks for the help. I thought maybe you folks had bigger coconuts than me and just shrugged it off. I can't see me doing that, it was just scary. And I've spent the day thinking about what the hell I'm doing out riding. But I love it and therein lies the dilemma. I have 80 acres of land and will start mountain biking more I guess during heavy traffic hours. This road has been great for me for a while, just a bad coincidence.

gjb483

Every week I have to deal with logging trucks hauling equipment/timber, dump trucks and 18 wheelers for a few miles on my favorite routes. These drivers are usually more generous and spatially aware than the non-professional drivers of large vehicles, not to say that it isn't unnerving when they do pass me. Thankfully, they're easy to hear.

Zizka

Don't ride in narrow shoulders. Problem solved 95% of the time. Make it clear to drivers that they will have to change lanes to pass you and they usually will.

Megiddo

True, I have a blind turn that people go way around me crossing the double line. There were be a head-on collision soon and it's gonna be ugly!

Joemess

Fun ain't it.... my favorites are the logging trucks who get paid by the load with the tops of pine trees sticking about 20 feet out the back flailing around... LOTS of fun...

Joemess

Around here that is a good way to end up as a good ole boys hood ornament.

elunty

I don't think its that big a deal, i get passed by like 10 big trucks every night when i go for a ride (its on a main highway, so its bound to happen). I got passed by an 18 wheeler carrying a house one time, that one was sort of interesting.

Laminarman

I guess you get the Big Coconut Award then!

jfmckenna

THIS.

Ride your bike right where the passenger side tires of the car would be on the road. Once you hear them slow down to get around you give them some room. A driver will ALWAYS try to tread the needle if you let them.

fordmanvt

I had someone do this and honk at me. I motioned that he should come back, and he stopped. I asked him why he honked and he got defensive, saying I shouldn't be to the left of the white line (the shoulder in this section is about 1" wide). He never understood why I was in the lane. When I asked him if he thought it was a safe situation he said no, and admitted he shouldn't have passed me, whether I was right or wrong to be in the lane.

nancyj

Greyhound buses used to be even worse. The sound like a car coming up on you and seem to have even more suction. Though tandem trailers scared the bejeebers out of me and they are so commonplace now.

Worst of all were motor homes and weekend drivers.

LesterOfPuppets

I never get used to that close of a pass on shoulderless roads. Tried the take-the-lane gig for a couple of years, but that's no go for me, either. On winding, well treed roads where every corner is a blind one, but the locals roll at 55mph it's just pure terror the whole way even if you're in the lane. I need at least 3 ft. shoulder or a bike lane. If I'm gonna ride up to Olympia, I take the freeway most of the way (it's legal on most of that stretch). 30 trucks an hour passing 10 ft away @ 70 mph is better than 2-10 trucks an hour passing 2 ft away at 50 mph.

hairnet

shoulda caught the draft and freaked him out with your disappearance

superflylondon

My main route is a two lane highway with light traffic but the occasional dump truck (grave pit) or farm vehicle. Very wide shoulders for 99% of the highway, then I am on side roads where only farmers pass who move way over and go slow (awesomeness). But there is one section for about 500 meters that is no shoulder, steep short hills so very poor visibility if a car tries to pass.

I take the lane the entire time I am in that section. I don't give a rats arse who honks or gets ticked off having to wait for me, that section of road is so narrow and terrible pavement I can't let drivers try and squeeze by. Happened once too many times in a danger for me, and the oncoming drivers forced almost into the ditch. I am respectful and drop the hammer in this section so I get it over with fast. Always fun running that section after coming home from a long day out! huge effort.

Take the lane if you have to be in that area, if it is a long section I'd find another route.

logdrum

Take the lane and remember that semi drivers are much better drivers than the rest of the population. Get away from bumper pulled motor homes as those will just drift even if the driver doesn't mean too. I pull trailers (because of horses) quite a lot and I prefer a goose neck as much as possible and very cautious when I am bumper pulling. Most people aren't specially the once in a while pop-up-camper puller.

brian416

In a situation like the OP was in, I moved into the lane and force them to slow down, I'm not going to right getting sucked under the trailer because they're in a rush.

I've found OTR truckers to be some of the safest drivers out there, its the guys driving double trailer dump trucks and loggers that are very dangerous.

Reynolds 

I've been in that situation quite a few times and yes, I was scared. Now I tend to avoid a road near my home where 2 semis crossing don't leave room for a bicycle. Had to go to an unpaved, bumpy shoulder, but managed to stay upright.