How can you tell.....

[jessmarimba]

Also, helmetless on the wrong side of the road just reeks of newbiedom...

Where I was from, that reeked of a poor public transportation system Especially because it was usually helmetless, wrong side of an eight lane highway wearing dark clothing.

It's sort of sad that many of those who bike because they have to (rather than want to) are the ones who know the least about what they're doing. And interestingly - at least where I used to live - were far more likely to get ignored rather than screamed at by passing motorists.

[trista]

I don't think a helmet is something that comes with experience. I think it's a cultural thing. In the cycling-as-a-sport/hobby culture you see a lot more helmets than in the cycling-as-transportation culture. I rode my bike daily to and from college for 4 years and never even owned a helmet, and never saw one on a fellow student on a bike. I lived in Europe for years and don't recall seeing a helmet on the heads of the many cyclists you see everywhere, going to and from the market or whatnot. I see Latinos here in Indy riding to and from work (I assume, since they are wearing uniforms) without helmets... I doubt that they are new to their bike, they just don't wear helmets.

[arielmoon]

Mostly I see newbies not able to hold their line. I try to stay away from them especially when they get tired.


I would also like to blame newbies for all the half wheeling (wheel overlap) in the paceline but some are not that new to be doing that.

On of my group rides just had a horrible wreck due to a newbie going for his water bottle on a down hill without one hand on the brake. He was near the front of a large group and took about 10 riders down with him.

[azfiddle]

I was a newbie last summer (a re-newbie, because I used to ride a bike a lot during high school). You could tell I wasn't one of the "cool kids" yet because I didn't wear a jersey - I was in the "t-shirt club" still. You could tell when I fell over 3 weeks in a row from my clipless pedals (although it was only on group rides). The constant refrain of "On the left!" as every other rider would pass me. Except that one time when I passed a very senior citizen on a vintage 3 speed bike.

[kcmpls]

A lot of the "newbie" things mentioned I see in my neighborhood all the time. But not by newbies, but by a) Latinos b) Somalis and c) Mormon Missionaries. All three of these groups ride their bikes a lot, but they never learn the rules of the road. They (except the Mormons) never wear helmets, are always on the sidewalk, have 3 or more people on a bike, and are on bikes that clearly don't fit them. Lots of adults on kids bikes and kids on adult bikes.

Of course, I also see a lot of people, not the missionaries, on what appear to be stolen bikes that don't fit them. Like 12 year old girls on 56cm fixed gear Surlys. And that's not just the ethnicities listed above, that's the white and blacks in my neighborhood too.

Anyhoo...

I've mentioned numerous times to bike advocates and bike groups in town that those are the groups they should be targeting for bike safety and rules of the road type outreach. But they like to stick to their English only programs and don't target the real bike commuters around the city, the low income immigrants.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Of course, I also see a lot of people, not the missionaries, on what appear to be stolen bikes that don't fit them. Like 12 year old girls on 56cm fixed gear Surlys.

When I was 12 I used to ride my big brother's 10 speed that was way too big for me, when he wasn't around. It wasn't stolen.

[kcmpls]

When I was 12 I used to ride my big brother's 10 speed that was way too big for me, when he wasn't around. It wasn't stolen.

That's why I don't call the police or bother them. It could be a legit bike. But since most of the neighborhood are on bikes from Kmart and Target, when a little girl is riding at $1000 bike, it stands out.

[buffybike]

I don't think a helmet is something that comes with experience. I think it's a cultural thing. In the cycling-as-a-sport/hobby culture you see a lot more helmets than in the cycling-as-transportation culture. I rode my bike daily to and from college for 4 years and never even owned a helmet, and never saw one on a fellow student on a bike. I lived in Europe for years and don't recall seeing a helmet on the heads of the many cyclists you see everywhere, going to and from the market or whatnot. I see Latinos here in Indy riding to and from work (I assume, since they are wearing uniforms) without helmets... I doubt that they are new to their bike, they just don't wear helmets.

Interesting observation--you may have a good point. Doesn't change the fact that riding w/o a helmet is reckless, however.

[marni]

Interesting observation--you may have a good point. Doesn't change the fact that riding w/o a helmet is reckless, however.

picture your brain as an egg and then drop said egg on the sidewalk. That is your brain without a helmet.

I am pretty unabashed about calling anyone who rides without a helmet an organ donor. it's a good thing whhen they take themselves out of the gene pool voluntarily.

[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

[PamNY]

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.

Catrin, you are right to do this and I don't think it's indicative of a lack of skill or experience.

I have a friend who is a long-time NYC bike messenger. He hates the same intersections I hate.

It's very interesting to talk to him about biking because he has nothing to prove -- having made his living on the mean streets for years. He's usually not wearing a helmet when I see him -- so nothing to do with experience.

[Catrin]

.....When she got to my side I changed gears for her by turning the wheel and shifting. Then she was able to ride.

Sigh. Quite a difference from being safe and cautious

No offense taken, just wanted to point out that there is more than one reason to walk an intersection.

That being said, it has not been all that long since I had the same problem as she did - but I at least knew how to turn my wheel and shift it into an easier gear for starting. I finally got wise and figured out that I actually can start in almost any gear - as long as I am not going up-hill. Then again, how I start prevents that from even being possible anyway