How can you tell.....

[Catrin]

I do believe a person who doesn't wear a helmet is not an experienced, i.e., knowledgable cyclist.

I am always taken aback when out riding when I see someone (usually male) on an expensive road/racing bike, full kit and NO helmet. I really do not understand those who ride motorcycles without a helmet. Indiana has no helmet law, but really, don't they understand what happens to the skull when it hits the ground unprotected? Perhaps this comes from a belief that it can never happen to them?

-.....
-They have to walk bicycle across at a traffic light because they are in too high a gear and don't understand your instructions for how to downshift.

I will still walk my bike at most busy intersections. Not because of my shifting, but because it still takes me a little longer to start than other cyclists and I don't want to p*ss off impatient drivers. I am working on this, but in the end, will do what feels safe to do.

This is the nice thing about my country roads - I just don't yet care for urban cycling. I suspect that this is entirely related to experience though, as I get more, I will become more confident on urban roads. I just don't see the fun in having to stop for a light at every block or so... Of course there are busy intersections in the country, they are just further apart