Addiction LXXVII
02-03-20, 09:07 AM
#4276
he said member
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02-03-20, 09:09 AM
#4277
Should Be More Popular
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Another consideration is a Varia radar. My friend who lives in DC (and also commutes) has one and likes it. If I lived in an urban area with lots of cars I would definitely get one.
02-03-20, 09:09 AM
#4278
Senior Member
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After being rear ended, I find it hard to believe you don't have a camera back there. Don't tell me it's because you don't have the money. Don't tell me you don't know better-you do brain ****.
Wednedsday, Thursday, Friday.... You should have all this on tape, plate number, and the militia's biggest pita.
Wednedsday, Thursday, Friday.... You should have all this on tape, plate number, and the militia's biggest pita.
02-03-20, 09:14 AM
#4279
Senior Member
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02-03-20, 09:16 AM
#4280
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02-03-20, 09:21 AM
#4281
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I may be kidding myself, but I think even my deaf old ears are almost as good as a Varia. I also have trouble understanding the concept of use. If you're out in the middle of the road for some reason, yeah, you consider pulling right, but if I'm in the middle of the road it's because of broken pavement or lack of passing room and I'm not going anywhere. Speed of approach? I don't know how to act on that either.
02-03-20, 09:29 AM
#4282
Should Be More Popular
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I may be kidding myself, but I think even my deaf old ears are almost as good as a Varia. I also have trouble understanding the concept of use. If you're out in the middle of the road for some reason, yeah, you consider pulling right, but if I'm in the middle of the road it's because of broken pavement or lack of passing room and I'm not going anywhere. Speed of approach? I don't know how to act on that either.
02-03-20, 09:35 AM
#4283
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...last Friday being a notable exception.
02-03-20, 09:40 AM
#4284
So it is
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And, filing those cars into the memory banks, because you don't have time to do it on the fly. Never know when you may see them down the road.
02-03-20, 09:47 AM
#4285
Vain, But Lacking Talent
I'm trying to think of a logical way to put it, but against all logic I feel like strapping cameras to my bike would be admitting to defeat and sucking the fun out of riding.
02-03-20, 09:48 AM
#4286
So it is
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You've got cameras front and back, don't you? Since I have a Varia out back, I've been thinking about a camera for the front, for documentation of both the fun and the not-so-fun varieties. But then I think about the practicality of a front only for the not-so-fun use cases. I'm thinking that it would be great for close passes, but might be useless in the event of an actual hit. Any thoughts along those lines?
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02-03-20, 09:55 AM
#4287
Mostly Harmless
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Well yesterday was... unusual for winter. It was basically a sunny summer day for someplace like Wisconsin. I had to slather on sunscreen. The Garmin recorded a high of 79 American.
I did a double loop which turned out to be 44.65 miles. There was a massive wind out of the south which beat me up pretty bad, but also made for an amazing push on a long north bound stretch. On my first run through there, I was cruising along at 30 mph without even putting out a bunch of power. On the second run through, the wind had actually died down quite a bit and I was only doing like 23-ish. I thought I was just tired, but I passed a flag that had previously been flapping hard in the wind and it was just sort of fluttering. With the stronger winds, I didn't even try to fight the headwind, opting for recovery-ish pace, and then pushed a bit when the wind was to my advantage.
Got a nice PR on a section with a really steep hill. Overall, it was good ride, but I could tell I still need more endurance. The power was still there at the end of the ride, but I was just generally fatigued. Probably mostly overthinking things. I just want to do well at the next event which will be 30 miles of gravel.
Either way, it really was an amazing day to be out on the bike. Before the ride, the family and I did a picnic lunch at the park. I could write several more paragraphs on my kids and them getting older (about to be 4 for the boy and 8 for the girl), but if you have kids you know what I mean.
I did a double loop which turned out to be 44.65 miles. There was a massive wind out of the south which beat me up pretty bad, but also made for an amazing push on a long north bound stretch. On my first run through there, I was cruising along at 30 mph without even putting out a bunch of power. On the second run through, the wind had actually died down quite a bit and I was only doing like 23-ish. I thought I was just tired, but I passed a flag that had previously been flapping hard in the wind and it was just sort of fluttering. With the stronger winds, I didn't even try to fight the headwind, opting for recovery-ish pace, and then pushed a bit when the wind was to my advantage.
Got a nice PR on a section with a really steep hill. Overall, it was good ride, but I could tell I still need more endurance. The power was still there at the end of the ride, but I was just generally fatigued. Probably mostly overthinking things. I just want to do well at the next event which will be 30 miles of gravel.
Either way, it really was an amazing day to be out on the bike. Before the ride, the family and I did a picnic lunch at the park. I could write several more paragraphs on my kids and them getting older (about to be 4 for the boy and 8 for the girl), but if you have kids you know what I mean.
02-03-20, 09:56 AM
#4288
So it is
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They'll hit you whether you have a camera, or have a child strapped to your bike. My intent is strictly proof, in order to make life a living hell from that point on.
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02-03-20, 09:56 AM
#4289
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I would have gotten a camera a long time ago but for that feeling and just not wanting to be a weenie.
02-03-20, 10:00 AM
#4290
So it is
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When I have a little chat with that driver a few days past the incident, I really have never once felt like a weenie. They are rather surprised they're not nearly as anonymous as they thought.
02-03-20, 10:02 AM
#4291
Should Be More Popular
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02-03-20, 10:04 AM
#4292
Senior Member
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I may be kidding myself, but I think even my deaf old ears are almost as good as a Varia. I also have trouble understanding the concept of use. If you're out in the middle of the road for some reason, yeah, you consider pulling right, but if I'm in the middle of the road it's because of broken pavement or lack of passing room and I'm not going anywhere. Speed of approach? I don't know how to act on that either.
As far as how actionable the info is... Yeah, I hear you. I find out to be of more value in some situations than in others. It has changed my default position to be further out, often in the passenger side tire track where the pavement is smoother. When I get a notice, I'll move over when they're closer. I could be fooling myself, but between my movement and the changing light pattern, I think these things make me more visible and demonstrate awareness to drivers and I've been passed much more cordially since. If I'm on a road where there's enough traffic, this just isn't practical, though.
02-03-20, 10:04 AM
#4293
Senior Member
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And what is it with the damn drivers? I went out for a cold, wet, 50 miler yesterday and was so beat down after the fifth punish pass that I found myself psychically unable to stop going into the gutter every time I heard a vehicle approaching. 
Of course, that didn't help.
Of course, that didn't help.I only had one encounter with an idiot driver yesterday. They actually gave me a lot of room, but in order to do so they pulled into the oncoming lane with traffic approaching, causing the oncoming traffic to brake in order to avoid a head-on collision
I at least felt a little vindicated when the passer got honked at by the other drivers they endangered.
02-03-20, 10:13 AM
#4294
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That's always the rub. I don't have a Varia, but I do ride with a helmet mirror. It lets me monitor approaching traffic to make sure that they are moving over to give me some space. I guess I'm lucky that essentially everywhere I ride I can dive off into the ditch if I'm not confident that I've been noticed.
Whether I would be able to make that decision in time for it to matter without being overly cautious all the time is another issue.
Whether I would be able to make that decision in time for it to matter without being overly cautious all the time is another issue.
02-03-20, 10:16 AM
#4295
cowboy, steel horse, etc
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I still don't know the outcome. I was hoping to be able to guess from the comments.
In other news. I have a dilemma. Having found spokes to have become unobtanium, I was going through lots of possibilities for acquiring wheels. With this new gig I've got, there are wheels aplenty. But they are 9 speed. 130mm I'd assume. All my bikes are spaced at 126mm. I guess I will learn the art of cold setting.
In other news. I have a dilemma. Having found spokes to have become unobtanium, I was going through lots of possibilities for acquiring wheels. With this new gig I've got, there are wheels aplenty. But they are 9 speed. 130mm I'd assume. All my bikes are spaced at 126mm. I guess I will learn the art of cold setting.
02-03-20, 10:19 AM
#4296
serious cyclist
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You've got cameras front and back, don't you? Since I have a Varia out back, I've been thinking about a camera for the front, for documentation of both the fun and the not-so-fun varieties. But then I think about the practicality of a front only for the not-so-fun use cases. I'm thinking that it would be great for close passes, but might be useless in the event of an actual hit. Any thoughts along those lines?
02-03-20, 10:21 AM
#4297
serious cyclist
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That sounds rough.
I only had one encounter with an idiot driver yesterday. They actually gave me a lot of room, but in order to do so they pulled into the oncoming lane with traffic approaching, causing the oncoming traffic to brake in order to avoid a head-on collision
I at least felt a little vindicated when the passer got honked at by the other drivers they endangered.
I only had one encounter with an idiot driver yesterday. They actually gave me a lot of room, but in order to do so they pulled into the oncoming lane with traffic approaching, causing the oncoming traffic to brake in order to avoid a head-on collision
I at least felt a little vindicated when the passer got honked at by the other drivers they endangered.
02-03-20, 10:24 AM
#4298
Senior Member
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This was kinda my thought, too.
02-03-20, 11:03 AM
#4299
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AG and I did our normal loop, which is usually fine, but there's one part where there's a roundabout, followed by a slightly-narrow gentle descent with a nasty bump right on the shoulder. Going through the roundabout we tried to wait for an Odyssey, which held up longer than it should have so we went. Then it refuses to pass in the area where it would have been easy... and finally passes directly where it means we have to eat the bump straight on. I hate when they think they're being polite like that.
02-03-20, 11:13 AM
#4300
he said member
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