Does Road Riding Ever Get Less Stressful?

[ccbloom]

There are lots of great suggestions here. Thanks so much everyone!

don't be such a purist. until you get up to speed, take your bike for rides in your car.

When I can go more than 12mph for 10 miles, I'm going on a real ride

CC, where do you live? I'd be happy to go out with you, if you want to meet up somewhere.

I'm near Worcester. I'd love to meet up!!!

[Owlie]

ccbloom--You're not alone in stressing over road riding. My college campus is smack in the middle of Cleveland and is near a hospital, so it's quite busy, especially now that school is back in session. Even though I know drivers around here are used to seeing cyclists, and dumb ones at that, it still makes me nervous. The roads are not always well-maintained, I don't know all the streets... I'm also not from the area, so I don't know bike trails, and I don't have a car to get to them even if I did.
We have a cycling club. It's mostly--if not, entirely--guys who like going way too fast for me. I have learned some good ride routes from them. (I just tell them that I can't make it, but I'd like to know the route.)

I just try to make myself as visible as possible and head out early on weekends when there aren't as many cars or freshmen around (because they haven't figured out how to cross streets yet). There are a few neighborhoods around here that I'd like to ride in. Yes, it involves walking my bike across a couple of intersections to get there, but it beats getting squished!

[Crankin]

Will PM you about meeting up.

[PscyclePath]

CC:

Being a little nervous is okay. It helps you to stay alert, and it's simply Nature's way of reminding you that you may not have enough experience at this (yet) to feel fully confident. Ride where you feel comfortable, and as you gain confidence (and skill!) you can work your way up to more complex situations. I know it sounds a lot like a cliche, but a lot really is "getting used to it."

A good video that I use in nearly all my adult classes is one called "A Cyclist's Eye View," distributed by the League of American Bicyclists. It's available on YouTube:

ABC Quick Check:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VziOIkNXsE

A Cyclist’s Eye View:
Part 1. -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFjCza5e1kw
Part 2. -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIr3mI96FZk
Part 3. -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLu0DHPeYm8

You might also want to check out one of the League's Traffic Skills classes, and see if one is available in your community. These include not just lectures on traffic rules, road hazards, and how to fix flats, but also several hours of supervised, coached riding in the typical traffic in your community.

Tom

[ccbloom]

Thanks, Tom. I'm going to watch the videos today. There is a Traffic Skills class available towards the middle of this month, and I'm hoping to attend it as well. You're right, I'm going to need to gain more skill and confidence and try and get used to it.

I'm definitely buying a mirror today, too.

[staceysue]

Thanks for providing those videos, Tom. I watched them, too.

CCbloom, I hope you don't mind me posting a question in your thread. It's about the same subject and maybe the answers will address some of your questions.

If I want to go further than 10 miles, I have to get on our busy highway. It's a 2-lane highway with smooth, wide shoulders and a large # of big logging trucks. Speed averages about 65mph. The shoulders disappear as the highway slows down for about a mile through a very small town, and then reappear on the other side of town. The logging trucks create a lot of wind - enough that I might fall if I wasn't prepared.

I've been riding on the shoulder going the opposite direction from the traffic, so that I can see the drivers and make sure they've seen me - and also so I can see if it's a logging truck or not and be prepared to keep my balance. When the shoulders disappear through town, I just continue slowly on the sidewalks (watching out for pedestrians).

A few miles after town, I get off onto the old highway, which is slower (avg 55mph) but very curvy and doesn't have a shoulder. I ride in the right hand lane, but switch lanes on the very sharp curves so that I remain visible to traffic coming toward. I'm afraid if I stayed in the lane where they couldn't see until they were right up on me, I'd get hit.

Am I doing it right?

[maillotpois]

I've been riding on the shoulder going the opposite direction from the traffic, so that I can see the drivers and make sure they've seen me - and also so I can see if it's a logging truck or not and be prepared to keep my balance. When the shoulders disappear through town, I just continue slowly on the sidewalks (watching out for pedestrians).

A few miles after town, I get off onto the old highway, which is slower (avg 55mph) but very curvy and doesn't have a shoulder. I ride in the right hand lane, but switch lanes on the very sharp curves so that I remain visible to traffic coming toward. I'm afraid if I stayed in the lane where they couldn't see until they were right up on me, I'd get hit.

Am I doing it right?

NO NO NO!!

Ride in the direction you are going!!! Always. Please! Riding going opposite traffic is unsafe on so many levels: Cars expect bikes to go with traffic, you can disrupt bikes going in the correct direction and pose a danger to any cyclists who are doing what they should be doing.

I can't even imagine switching lanes mid curve That requires you to cross the road - with cars possibly coming up behind you.

Please ride on the RIGHT side of the road (assuming you aren't in the UK) - as far to the right as it is safe to be.

Sidewalks are not meant for bikes, but it's a heck of a lot safer than riding on the wrong side of the road.