How can you tell.....

[BikeHN]

I feel ya Crankin! Fastest I've hit so far is 35.5mph (on a 'safe downhill'), I was feeling quite proud until I heard others after the ride talk about hitting upwards of 45mph. I know what prevents me from descending well is my head. I have this reoccuring thought that when I'm flying downhill, I'll hit a sharp rock and bust the front tire and go airborne into a ravine or face first into a tree. Yes, quite graphic I know, but nonetheless it's that thought that keeps me fearful of going downhill.

[Owlie]

I feel ya Crankin! Fastest I've hit so far is 35.5mph (on a 'safe downhill'), I was feeling quite proud until I heard others after the ride talk about hitting upwards of 45mph. I know what prevents me from descending well is my head. I have this reoccuring thought that when I'm flying downhill, I'll hit a sharp rock and bust the front tire and go airborne into a ravine or face first into a tree. Yes, quite graphic I know, but nonetheless it's that thought that keeps me fearful of going downhill.

Are you me? Well, for me it's potholes. There are lots of them (and poor attempts at their repair) around here.

[e.e.cummings]

In my mind, this is what clues me to a person who is either 'new' or may not be exactly new, but not that serious about riding:
-does not wear a helmet
-wears a helmet but does not fasten it
-cannot turn head to check behind without going off course
-cannot drink from water bottle without getting wobbly
-entire kit is spanking new - bike, clothes
-wears underwear under cycling shorts
-odd wearing of clothes - once saw a guy with a long cotton sleeveless shirt tucked into a pair of cycling shorts
-rides too fast for the situation (although these might not be new, just knobs who don't care about their safety or others)
-is not at ease with clipping in and out - really fears stopping
-someone who weaves around, is unpredictable in their riding
-takes being passed personally - hard to imagine that it is an experienced rider - or maybe just someone with a very large ego!
-someone whose bikes is overflowing with gadgets and gear, or has huge panniers for a day trip (granted, my husband is experienced, but he cannot seem to go for a day ride without packing the kitchen sink. All I need is my wallet, my keys, my cell phone, and my undersaddle kit. )
-training wheels (LOL)

[Aquila]

I look in a mirror

Or down at my right leg, where there is ALWAYS a mark from my chain, even if I haven't gone 10 feet yet.

[BluOrchid2]

I'm not new to cycling, but in about 3 weeks all of my gear is going to be brand new. So be careful who you are poo-pooing and calling newbies.

I've had a hybrid bike for about 9 years. Rode it a lot for the first five years, pulling my daughter behind me in a Burley. When she got too big for the Burley, I didn't get to ride much because she was too little to keep up with me on rides obviously, and I didn't want to go off by myself on rides in the evenings when my husband finally got home from work. So haven't ridden much for the past 3-4 years, until this year.

This summer I've ridden several 20-30 mile rides, most with my husband on his hybrid bike. We decided a couple of weeks ago that we needed and deserved nice road bikes. And today he ordered them. In about three weeks, I'll be riding a 2011 Dolce Elite Apex Compact.

My helmet is also 9 years old (I know) and I'll be getting a new one to match my new bike colors as soon as I can find one. I bought new gloves because I lost one of my old ones. I'm getting new shoes because I'm going to have clipless pedals. I guess I can still ride in my bike shorts that I have; no need to buy new ones of those.

But I guess when I take a drink and can keep from wobbling, you'll all know I'm an old pro. LOL

[Crankin]

Me, too.
I started riding in 2000.
Guess I'll always be a newbie to some.

[lisathew8lifter]

When their helmet is on backwards I'd guess they were new. Yes, I've seen this on a supported ride. :/

THAT is the best thing i've heard in a long time!!! i wonder if the helmet is more protective that way?

[lisathew8lifter]

I look in a mirror

Or down at my right leg, where there is ALWAYS a mark from my chain, even if I haven't gone 10 feet yet.

i thought that was JUST ME! that happens to me EVERY ride! what the heck?

[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

[socalgal59]

when I went to Speedplays I fell over on a perfectly level and smooth bike path because I forgot to kick out! I had ridden with toe clips for years and did what I always did to get my foot out of the clip--only this time it didn't work because I was attached to the pedal. So I just fell over on my side at near zero speed. At that point I had been riding for 10 yrs! Talk about embarrassing!