The stayin alive feature article is one of the better articles on safety. However one key safety consideration was overlooked.
The time and compass directions of the ride can make the difference between life and death. I remember the story not all that long ago of a ride in St Louis being run over because he was riding slightly uphill into the raising sun and the SUV driver had sun blindness. So time your rides so you avoid riding into the sun when it’s just above the horizon: naturally that’s east in the morning and west in the evening.
And second the notion that riding is not a time to be enjoying an ipod. Those prius are very very quiet. It’s always good to know what is coming behind you.
And second the notion that riding is not a time to be enjoying an ipod. Those prius are very very quiet. It’s always good to know what is coming behind you.
I agree, we have to be careful. What I don’t understand is this last statement. Would it matter if it were a 20k lb. dump truck coming up behind you? You’re supposed to ride as far right as a possible, so if you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing it really doesn’t matter if it’s a dump truck or a Smart car, if they hit you, you’re screwed.
I like the sound in my ear. One ear, right, and I listen very low, most of the time I can’t even hear it… But what I fail to understand is what difference it makes. (I understand the emergency vehicle thing.) But if a car barreling down the road is going to hit me, it’s gonna hit me. I can’t keep turning around every time I hear a car to see if it’s aiming at me or riding past.
CS
What I don’t understand is this last statement.
CS
If you are following the guidelines in Slowman’s article, you would have a cushion a 12-24inches to move over. If you hear a 20000lb dump truck, you will be able to time your move so that you can avoid getting nipped. If you are leaving the proper cushion, but don’t hear the prius, you can’t act appropriately.
Good article. I am in fact one of “those riders” that used to ride from manhattan beach up to Cross Creek, through heavy traffic, and mostly social junk miles (if there is such a thing), to get to good riding. For a number of reasons, not anymore. If I want to ride to the rock, or climb Latigo, I am driving to Pepperdine to start
But another thing I might be lowering myself to. A helmet mirror. Yes, geeky, but it does seem to add an additional level of awareness of what’s behind you
As for music, I just find that when I ride with it, which is very rare (maybe twice in 4 years?) I just sort of get “out of it” and don’t really pay close attention, my mind wanders. I think it makes “me” a less safe cyclist