Would you ride it??

[DeniseGoldberg]

I would definitely ride it. Of course I rode across the country alone, so that probably tells you where my thought process lives...

Roads without shoulders - just make sure that you are far enough into the driving lane that a driver knows they will need to move to the left to get around you. In other words, ride like you belong there. I'm sure that you'll be fine.

--- Denise

[Bike Goddess]

I agree with the others in the above comments! I ride alone most of the time when I am going to do a long ride. I carry a cell phone (turned on), and I tell others where I am going to be.

I also have to ride on roads with no shoulders. I too, just ride as though the road was mine. Never had a problem. People are considerate. I think you'll be fine. Probably the best thing to do is to go down that hill, and just go aways down the road. Try it out. See for yourself. Be sure that someone knows you are gone, and when they should expect to see you back.

You mention that you know of other cyclists go out that way. Anyway you can contact someone and arrange for a ride together?

BTW- Good luck on your training. I think it is awesome that you have set this goal for yourself! Please let us know how it goes when the big day rolls around!

[Running Mommy]

Thank you SOO much! See I AM being a weenie! How can I be an Ironwoman and be a weenie like that?! ha ha ha
I'll be out there tomorrow morning and will report back. happy riding girls! Have a good- SAFE- weekend out there!
Denise

[Grog]

Roads without shoulders - just make sure that you are far enough into the driving lane that a driver knows they will need to move to the left to get around you. In other words, ride like you belong there. I'm sure that you'll be fine.

I couldn't agree more with Denise. When there's little space, or on tricky spots on the road, I drive about 2 feet INSIDE (left of) the line so the drivers definitely can't miss me. If I know there's a car behind me and the driver can't pass me because of incoming traffic on the other side, I'll move to the right side once it's clear that I've been seen (but before the driver becomes irritable).

If you're sticking too close to the right, not only you're less easy to see, but also it's easier for the drivers to think they can pass you without going in the other lane. When you are clearly in the right lane, it becomes obvious that they have to change lane.

On roads with shoulders, I sometimes ride on the car lane too, especially near intersections where I know many drivers make a right turn and will be tempted to pass me and turn right right in front of me because they underestimate my speed. By moving in their lane, I force them to wait for me to cross the intersection and they can make their turn after I'm gone. I do this as diligently as possible, avoiding to make drivers unhappy (because when they become unhappy they're dangerous to other cyclists)

[Veronica]

Not a weenie - just cautious about the unknown.

V.

[Aint Doody]

Grog--you have some really good suggestions here. I'm going to put a link to your post on our club website! Thanks for sharing........

[Bike Goddess]

Grog- Ditto for me! I ride as you do- so I can be clearly seen. The intersection trick is especially important. Often when I come close to an intersection where the car on my right is waiting to cross OR make a left turn onto the road where I am, I make specially sure they see me. That means getting out in the lane! I also wear bright color jerseys or jackets so I can be seen easily. Our club jerseys are yellow- we can be seen quite well!!!!!

[Grog]

No prob' ladies.

Another cool trick I read - not sure whether it was here or elsewhere - was : when you get in a situation where a driver has to consider you in planning his/her manoeuver (intersections in particular), downshift and spin your legs faster. If you're moving your legs at a slow pace, you look like you're going slowlier, if you spin faster, you look faster in their head. So they're more likely to wait. I haven't tested that in a rigorously scientific procedure though, your mileage may vary!

Another thing I do when I see a car coming in the other direction, preparing to turn left right in front of me, is think outloud a strict "NO" while looking at the driver. It's likely that most times they don't even see me, but it probably prevents me from slowing down/showing hesitation because I feel authoritative!!!

In all cases: keep your fingers well positioned over the brakes and think of an escape route at all times. Also works while in a paceline: if the car DOES turn/if the guy in front of me crashes/if that squirrel does cross the street instead of staying nicely put under his tree there, what do I do? I was riding in the middle of a paceline on a fairly high overpass the other day and thinking of my escape route if I went endo... quite creepy! but generally it's a good thing to think about it.

[Nanci]

Hey Running Mommy,

When you do your IM, they're gonna throw you out in traffic, so you may as well get comfortable with it now so you aren't all fearful during your race.

I used to be scared like crazy riding without a bike lane- now I still don't like it on some roads, but on others, further out, people aren't in such a hurry and they move over into the whole other lane. Now I really only get nervous when there is traffic from both directions and the car behind you won't move over because of oncoming traffic.

Seems like drivers are worse-behaved in the afternoon/evening, too, so you could go on your adventure very early Saturday or Sunday until you were more comfortable with the route.

Like others have said- I worry less if I feel really visible. Get a dayglow vest and one of those 10 LED tail lights- they are only about $30 or something, and last 100 hours!! I used mine during the day last Sunday, since I had noticed on a brevet that a lot of people used them during the day, and they really _were_ visible- same thing for vests.

Hey, another thing, I think, if a driver moves way over and even slows down a bit, wave at them to thank them for their consideration! That way they _know_ you appreciated their thoughtfulness and will be more likely to behave that way the next time.

Nanci

[SadieKate]

Running Mommy, this describes my area to a T. When I am by myself I ride the most heavily bicycled roads because the drivers are accustomed to us out there. I always take a cell phone and tell someone, but it is such a liberating experience to ride by yourself and venture out. I tend to stay away from the very few roads that are used by the backroad high speed commuters but flat farmland usually has roads on a 1-mile grid so its easy to go another route. And, you know, those farmworkers are the ones who recognize me and waive both from the fields and from their cars. They remember me. Someday, I may need them. The close encounters have come from the male Caucasian pick-up and van drivers.

Another cool trick I read - not sure whether it was here or elsewhere - was : when you get in a situation where a driver has to consider you in planning his/her manoeuver (intersections in particular), downshift and spin your legs faster. If you're moving your legs at a slow pace, you look like you're going slowlier, if you spin faster, you look faster in their head. So they're more likely to wait. I haven't tested that in a rigorously scientific procedure though, your mileage may vary!

This would scare the crap out of me to try this. Usually drivers underestimate my speed any way and pull out in front illegally. I downshift if there is a stoplight/sign, but not too far as I want to be able to apply power if necessary. If the light is green, I may be sprinting.