Does Road Riding Ever Get Less Stressful?

[ccbloom]

I'm a newbie to road riding (had a MTB years ago and used to ride it regularly on back roads so the traffic was minimal) so as far as actually riding goes, I'm pretty comfortable. Now that I'm riding on more traveled roads, I feel like I'm holding my breath every time a car goes by, and I let out a deep breath when I realize they haven't clipped me. What can I say? I don't trust a lot of the people driving around here. The roads I'm sticking to now don't have lots of traffic, but in my mind, that's just another reason for the driver to pay less attention to the road.

Does it get any easier? Less stressful? Or is there always that little irk that you might get hit from behind? Would a mirror help ease me a bit?

[Biciclista]

a mirror would help immensely. I am not sure I could comfortably ride without one, I have grown so accustomed.
Also pick your roads and pick your times.

[ccbloom]

Also pick your roads and pick your times.

That's something I'm really trying to be conscious of doing. Until I'm fairly comfy with the new bike, I've been doing a 3 mile loop to the local park and riding 4 miles on the track there (they allow bikes on it). I'm also pretty nervous about picking a road, running into a rough patch, trying to avoid it and realizing there's a car right on my tail too late. It doesn't help 90% of the roads around here are notorious for being horribly maintained!

[tulip]

You might want to ride with a local cycling club to find good roads and good routes.

[ccbloom]

Thanks, Tulip. I've looked into a couple and they do have rides Mon and Wed each week. The rides are a little longer than I can handle right now at 15 miles, but I'm getting there. The other issue is the "local" clubs have rides that are about 10 highway miles from me, so their routes really aren't all that close. I'm still looking, though.

I guess I would prefer to not have to drive to ride my bike, ya know? I would rather just get out and go. I don't live in a crazy busy area (it can be when school gets out and such). I plan to do some rides, so the driving to ride is inevitable.

[ccbloom]

Emily - great points. I've been trying to wear brighter clothes, but I think I need to buy even brighter Any excuse to go shopping.

I wish I could find friends to go riding with.

[Cataboo]

I guess I've been road riding for about a year and a half now? Things that used to scare the hell out of me really don't bug me at all anymore. I tend to look at the road ahead and keep track of cars to the side or behind me... So that if there's a rough patch of road, I've got the option of just plain stopping if a car is too close to me. Or I can swing out into the road a bit in advance so that a car coming up behind realizes where I am and can get out of the way. I don't hug the edge of the road like I used to, because that gives me nowhere to go if the shoulder turns to crap... I tend to ride on the white line...

There's a link somewhere on here for bike safely that has some good hints on the common accidents that cyclists get into that may help you.

Cars for the most part seem fairly aware & pretty good about cyclists around here.

There's a highway near me that allows cyclists on it - and while I don't find it pleasant, I don't find it a huge deal to bike up the highway for a mile or two with tractor trailers coming by doing 70 mph... I do stay far into the big wide shoulder on it, however.

[Crankin]

CC, where do you live? I'd be happy to go out with you, if you want to meet up somewhere.
Yes, you do get more used to traffic situations. I do things/ride in places that I wouldn't have done 5 years ago. My best advice is be alert, assertive (but not aggressive), and act like the vehicle that you are.

[emily_in_nc]

I second the rear-view mirror suggestion. If you're not doing so already, wear really bright colored jerseys. Yellow, orange, red, and bright pink are good, as well as bright prints. Dark colors make you nearly invisible to motorists, especially if you're riding at certain times of day. Add a rear red blinky light if you ride anytime near dusk. I also think that > 1 roadie riding together are more visible than just one lone rider, so if you have a friend you could ride with, you might feel more comfortable.