Double Bass DB bicycle thread

[fdeck]

Oops, I mis-spoke.

A couple days ago it was particularly nasty. We got about an inch buildup of mush, topped with a crust of ice. Same storm that knocked out power in southeast Michigan. I was just too heavy to float on top of the ice, so I had to crunch through it, and just don't have a low enough gear for that. So I ended up walking my bike half of the way to work. A friend who usually passes me on the bike path... passed me on the bike path. I noticed that he was in his lowest gear, and he's a stronger guy too.

On the way home, there were enough cleared sidewalks to ride on -- that's often preferable to the streets when it's really bad, and I just dip out into the street when there's a pedestrian. Then my chain fell off. Fortunately I've got my little axle wrench along. Then I noticed that my rear wheel was wobbling ... broken spoke.

While fixing the broken spoke, I noticed that an adjacent spoke on the bike wasn't "woven" properly -- you're supposed to cross them in a particular way to make the wheel stiffer. Maybe it contributed to the broken spoke, who knows, but I can only blame myself since I strung that wheel up in the first place.

All fixed now. Brought the rim tape inside so it will warm up and hopefully adhere to the rim, so I don't have to buy new rim tape. I'd be annoyed if tinkering with bikes wasn't part of the fun.

 

[Ed S]

Last week the temps were in the 30s, and my sister and I hit the trail heading north. Perfectly clear until one spot that was along the N side of a big warehouse and - as I found out - a sheet of ice. I thought I could pass it going slow and steady, but the bike just slid out from under me and I went down in slow motion, landing on my butt, with the back of my helmet just barely kissing the pavement.

As I told my sister the next day, no bruise on my butt - but a big crack running all the way through it!

We didn't get the snow you got in WI - just a ton of rain. The crushed limestone trails will need a while to dry out...

 

[Jim Dombrowski]

I live in Colorado Springs, and was running errands in my car this morning. 25 degrees, wind chill factor at 16, with light snow flurries. I saw a guy riding a bicycle in shorts! Probably not planning on having children.

 

[SoonerBill]

The first big charity ride of the year in OKC is this weekend. It's supposed to be in the 70s. But I have ridden it a few times watching for patches of ice. Definitely not in shorts though.

 

[Ketbass]

I live in Colorado Springs, and was running errands in my car this morning. 25 degrees, wind chill factor at 16, with light snow flurries. I saw a guy riding a bicycle in shorts! Probably not planning on having children.

Heat not cold is the s***m killer believe it or not. Fun facts! Either way, might of been trying to avoid costly cryogenic freezing too!

 

[Ed S]

Simple question - you are on a designated bike path, crossing a road. An approaching car flashes its brights at you. What is the driver trying t convey?

More details - this is a bike path I ride often - including this morning with my sister. She described a situation experienced by a co-worker of her husband - an avid biker. Races regularly, some minor sponsors, multiple very nice bikes, puts in A LOT of miles. He was riding around dusk, with multiple lights on himself and his bike, front and back. At this point the bike path crosses a 4-lane suburban road. That stretch of road runs pretty much between forest preserves, with a mile or so between stoplights, so the traffic can move. At the marked crosswalk, there is a button to signal yellow flashing lights. The biker signaled the lights, and began to cross. Traffic was near non-existent, with one car coming towards him at a decent speed. The car flashed its lights. As a biker, how do you interpret that? How do you react?

If I get a few responses, I'll fill in the rest of the story. I've asked a few people (maybe 5-7), and have been surprised that all of the bikers interpret it one way, and all of the non-bikers differently.

 

[neilG]

Simple question - you are on a designated bike path, crossing a road. An approaching car flashes its brights at you. What is the driver trying to convey?

I've always thought, at least when driving a car, that flashed lights was the "you go ahead" signal, but caution is always advised. I'd want to see that car at a complete stop before I proceed.

 

[turf3]

Well, with probably a hundred thousand miles on a bicycle and several hundred thousand miles behind the wheel, I'd interpret that as "go ahead, I see you" but I would "trust, but verify". I would make ABSOLUTELY sure our vectors couldn't intersect.

 

[Ed S]

You guys confirm my previous survey. The few bikers I spoke with - including my sister, me, and the biker in question, interpret it as, "I see you, go ahead." On our ride this morning, at a different street one car flashed its lights as it slowed to let us cross. I've been shocked that EVERY ONE of the 5 or so no-bikers I've asked interpreted it as "Look out!"

Well, it turns out the driver meant, "Look out, shager - I'm gonna hit you!" Which he did. Caught the back tire. Snapped the bike in half, taking the back half along with the car - which didn't stop. The biker was INCREDIBLY lucky - no broken bones, but in A LOT of pain, can hardly walk.

Here's where it gets good. The biker has some kind of app on his phone, such that if he stops moving, it sends out some kind of alert. So it pegged the exact time of the accident. When the cops came, they were able to look at traffic cameras down the road - AND THEY CAUGHT THE *******!"

Just a reminder to all of you - you can't be too careful!

 

[lermgalieu]

You guys confirm my previous survey. The few bikers I spoke with - including my sister, me, and the biker in question, interpret it as, "I see you, go ahead." On our ride this morning, at a different street one car flashed its lights as it slowed to let us cross. I've been shocked that EVERY ONE of the 5 or so no-bikers I've asked interpreted it as "Look out!"

Well, it turns out the driver meant, "Look out, shager - I'm gonna hit you!" Which he did. Caught the back tire. Snapped the bike in half, taking the back half along with the car - which didn't stop. The biker was INCREDIBLY lucky - no broken bones, but in A LOT of pain, can hardly walk.

Here's where it gets good. The biker has some kind of app on his phone, such that if he stops moving, it sends out some kind of alert. So it pegged the exact time of the accident. When the cops came, they were able to look at traffic cameras down the road - AND THEY CAUGHT THE *******!"

Just a reminder to all of you - you can't be too careful!

!!! What an a-hole.

 

[james condino]

There is a reason I gave up road riding years ago.....

Beautiful sunny springtime in Appalachia with endless flowers & trees blooming. The pollen is more challenging than the spring bears!

My son has his first race of the season this weekend in the US Gravity Nationals downhill series. Full face helmets, body armor, and lots of crashes; should be exciting. It is good fun for the people on the race course, but terrifying to watch as a parent!

 

[Ed S]

My son has his first race of the season this weekend in the US Gravity Nationals downhill series. Full face helmets, body armor, and lots of crashes; should be exciting. It is good fun for the people on the race course, but terrifying to watch as a parent!

How old? Good luck!

 

[Jim Dombrowski]

Terrible story. Sorry for your friend.
I would never cross in front of a car until I was sure he was stopped.

 

[Ketbass]

Terrible story. Sorry for your friend.
I would never cross in front of a car until I was sure he was stopped.

Sorry about your friend and his $XX,000.00 bike. After thousands of miles on a road bike I’ve learned the hard way to never trust a vehicle. I’ve had to many near misses over the years combined with some high speed wrecks. I’m riding recumbent and mostly on the bike trails. We have over 330 miles of paved MUPs here in the Dayton area and I’m good to ride all of them. I do miss those days of rolling along in a peloton at 30+ mph. But my life is less stressful now and don’t need the “thrill” to alleviate the stress anymore.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I haven’t ridden on roads with cars in years. Too many distracted idiots on the roads, and it only takes one.

 

[VictorW126]

I have traveled on bicycle many thousands of kilometers on highways and can say the following.
1) Most motorists believe that a cyclist is a pedestrian and should ride on footpaths.
2) Drivers give clear signals to each other, but their signals to the cyclist may be inadequate.
3) Drivers are confident that the bike is moving slowly and can stop instantly.
4) In the event of an accident, the first words of any driver are: "This is a road! This is not a place for a bicycle!".
5) Drivers do not think at all that the washer fluid from their glass gets into the cyclist's eyes, stones fly from under the wheels, the air flow from their car significantly affects the bike.
This is reality. This does not mean that you should not ride. Think, be smart and careful. Don't trust others, trust yourself. When you are driving on a highway, don't stick to the side of the road, ride on a par with everyone, as if you were riding a motorcycle/scooter. The more space you take up, the more visible you are. Travel in groups of several bike-people. Wear bright clothes. Equip your bike with flashing lights if you're riding alone. (When riding in a group, flashing lights are very disturbing to those who follow you and tire their eyes, it is better to switch them to constant mode)
Nobody wants to crush you. Just be visible and predictable.
Movement is life. According to statistics, the probability of dying in an accident while in a car is higher than when riding a bicycle.

 

[turf3]

The only thing I'd disagree with is the flashing lights. It is almost impossible to judge distance and speed of a flashing light. Despite the popularity of flashing bicycle tail lights, on the theory that the flashing light will capture drivers' attention, bicycle tail lights and headlights should be continuous. Motorists are trained not to hit things glowing red or white. The strobe-effect flashing white headlights are particularly offensive. I have been known to cry out "Ow! My corneas are on FIRE!" when faced with these. You'd be better off with a rear reflector only, than a flashing red light.

I nearly got run over by a group of cyclists one evening as I was on foot crossing a dark road; they all had flashing head and tail lights and it was simply impossible to tell from brief flashes how many there were or where they were or how fast they were traveling. And I've been a cyclist for decades with as I noted probably a hundred thousand miles on the road.

 

[lermgalieu]

The only thing I'd disagree with is the flashing lights. It is almost impossible to judge distance and speed of a flashing light. Despite the popularity of flashing bicycle tail lights, on the theory that the flashing light will capture drivers' attention, bicycle tail lights and headlights should be continuous. Motorists are trained not to hit things glowing red or white. The strobe-effect flashing white headlights are particularly offensive. I have been known to cry out "Ow! My corneas are on FIRE!" when faced with these. You'd be better off with a rear reflector only, than a flashing red light.

I nearly got run over by a group of cyclists one evening as I was on foot crossing a dark road; they all had flashing head and tail lights and it was simply impossible to tell from brief flashes how many there were or where they were or how fast they were traveling. And I've been a cyclist for decades with as I noted probably a hundred thousand miles on the road.

1000% agree. Flashing lights should NOT be used by cyclists ever, other than a mild flashing red on the rear of the bike. I've been temporarily blinded by these so many times - it's very dangerous to other cyclists. Moreover, some of us (me) are photosensitive, and these lights can even trigger a migraine.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Simple question - you are on a designated bike path, crossing a road. An approaching car flashes its brights at you. What is the driver trying t convey?

More details - this is a bike path I ride often - including this morning with my sister. She described a situation experienced by a co-worker of her husband - an avid biker. Races regularly, some minor sponsors, multiple very nice bikes, puts in A LOT of miles. He was riding around dusk, with multiple lights on himself and his bike, front and back. At this point the bike path crosses a 4-lane suburban road. That stretch of road runs pretty much between forest preserves, with a mile or so between stoplights, so the traffic can move. At the marked crosswalk, there is a button to signal yellow flashing lights. The biker signaled the lights, and began to cross. Traffic was near non-existent, with one car coming towards him at a decent speed. The car flashed its lights. As a biker, how do you interpret that? How do you react?

If I get a few responses, I'll fill in the rest of the story. I've asked a few people (maybe 5-7), and have been surprised that all of the bikers interpret it one way, and all of the non-bikers differently.

I interpret that as "Lookout here I come," as in someone behind you in the left lane of the freeway flashing brights to say "Get out of the way" or someone flashing brights when they see someone beginning to pull out of a driveway or something. It's an announcement to "See me I'm here and I am not slowing down."

I'm a lifelong road cyclist. Years of racing. Years of training on the road. Rode hours yesterday and will today. I live in Atlanta. The principle of bike riding on the road here is this:

"Assume every car is going to do the worst thing possible for you at any moment, with absolutely no warning, as if you don't exist."

In ATL, you don't ever trust cars, ever.

This is the way.

 

[turf3]

1000% agree. Flashing lights should NOT be used by cyclists ever, other than a mild flashing red on the rear of the bike. I've been temporarily blinded by these so many times - it's very dangerous to other cyclists. Moreover, some of us (me) are photosensitive, and these lights can even trigger a migraine.

Another thing that people seem unable to grasp is the anatomy of the human eye. Each of us is fitted with this thing called an "iris", a self-adjusting orifice. In low light conditions it opens up and in high light conditions it contracts.

Now if the world is in low-light conditions (like, night, you know - it happens once every day), well, the iris will open up. Now if you flash a bright light into the eye, the iris will contract, leaving the person the eye belongs to temporarily night-blind. Furthermore, if it's flashing you can't compensate by looking elsewhere as you can with a steady light. You don't know where it's going to be next.

This is why the automotive lights arms race is inherently counterproductive. MORE LIGHT! they scream, so the auto manufacturers put ever-brighter-aircraft-landing-lights on the front of cars, drivers' irises contract even more, and they can see less and less unless it's lit up like the sun, and the idiots conclude the solution is EVEN BRIGHTER LIGHTS. I really feel sorry for the traffic cop in his dark blue uniform that has to work an accident at night with every light for miles around set on "Stun" including the incredibly bright lights on the back of his cruiser - so all those drivers passing the policeman in his dark blue uniform are effectively night-blind to anything less bright than - say - the front end of a Santa Fe locomotive.

I really think anyone who proposes brighter lights at night needs to be taken out to the woods at night with no artificial light and told to find their way home. The actual experience of discovering just how much you can see at nighit if you'll just do it naturally might be enLIGHTening for some of these poeple.

Anyway, NO FLASHING LIGHTS on bicycles, not if you want other people to actually be able to tell where you are and how fast you're moving. This is basic human vision anatomy, a knowledge that seems to have been almost totally lost in the last 30 years or so.