Paranoid

[sookiesue]

I've been road cycling for just over a year now, and until last week hadn't had any close encounters with cars. But on each of my last three rides I did. The routes have stayed the same, my biking behavior has stayed the same (cautious), but for some reason the cars have been getting too close for my comfort.

In the first two situations, I predicted that the cars may pull out in front of me. A road T's into the road was riding on, and drivers looking to turn left across (my) lane onto the road I ride on have to look into the evening sun before they cross. Seeing a cyclist might be legitimately more difficult than usual in this situation, so I slowed before reaching this spot, and sure enough, the cars pulled out. If I had maintained my speed I would have been hit. Twice on two different days.

The third situation was much less understandable, it was just a careless driver. Four-way stop, I slowed and waited (didn't put my feet down, but was stopped) as the car to my left who had the right-of-way crossed the intersection. Then it was my turn. I entered the intersection as a car approached on my right, sort of stopped at the stop sign, then entered the intersection THAT I WAS ALREADY IN. I swerved to avoid being hit, the driver finally noticed me and slowed/stopped in the middle of the intersection, then carried on across the road, once I was out of her way.

So now I'm feeling very paranoid about riding, even my beloved routes. So much so that I am not going to do a bike ride tomorrow because my husband is out of town and I don't want to risk the danger when I have a babysitter taking care of the kids. I scheduled the babysitter so I could do a ride! Now I'm all nervous. Damn.

When I was 19, (a long, long time ago...) I was hit by a truck on my bike and dragged under its trailer. Miraculously, I wasn't hurt - and I wasn't even wearing a helmet! But my confidence was trashed, and it kept me off the road for about 20 years. I finally started last year. I love cycling, it gives me a freedom and strength I never thought I'd experience this way.

Any tips on how to overcome the nerves and enjoy my solo rides again?

I ride with a flashing red light on the back - should I try a flashing white light on the front even during the day? Is that even allowed?

[redrhodie]

Oh, can I relate! I get paranoid when the sun is low in the sky. You can use a white blinky. It should help, but ride like you're invisible anyway.

I was doored when I was 14 and that killed my desire to ride also for 20 years, so I do understand. A good book to read is "The Art of Urban Cycling", I think it's by Robert Hurst. It gave me a lot more confidence.

Do you have any bike paths around? That's a good option for the days when you feel freaked out. Or, ride when there's less traffic, early morning, or after morning rush hour.

I hope this helps.

[lph]

Oh I can relate, but I can see that you're already thinking of the right things. Riding with the low sun at your back you ARE virtually invisible, and it took me a few near misses at one certain spot on my morning commute to realize that... There was one roundabout where at a certain time of day I had the rising sun right at my back, and I hadn't noticed until I turned around to check for myself. Couldn't see a thing. From then on I simply rode as if I were impossible to see at that particular point. It goes against the "be visible"-creed, but you can't win against 10 000 lux or whatever it is.

I also ride as if any car ahead of me or beside me WILL do a right turn and cut me off. That means I either speed ahead or pull back a little if there's a bike lane, or take the lane a bit more if there's not, when approaching an intersection. Most of them never do cut me off of course, but I don't even get into the spot where I would be squished if they did.

Cars crossing from another direction are harder to predict, and every now and then somebody will just behave like an idiot. Making eye contact helps.

It takes a little thinking, but it does help imagining how you look from a drivers perspective, on every point along your route. They're looking for large fastmoving objects with bright lights, we're small, slower and often darker with less lighting. An obnoxiously bright blinking light and a high-vis jacket will make you more visible and most important, more noticeable. But you still will be invisible in certain situations.

[sookiesue]

Thanks, Lph and Red - ride like you're invisible but do your best to be visible - those are good words to ride by.

I always keep my high-vis jacket tucked into the stretchy bands on the back of my camelbak, even when it's hot out, because I figure it helps cars behind me notice me, but I hadn't rigged up anything for the front on those days when it's too warm (finally!) to actually wear the jacket. I'm going to my LBS to pick up a bigger brighter white blinker next time I head out for a ride.

I just placed a request for the Hurst book at my library. I should have it in a couple of days!

There aren't bike paths nearby, but I'm so lucky to be out near country roads to ride on - the stop signs and intersections are few and far between, and most (MOST) drivers are aware of the high-usage of these roads by cyclists. I suppose that's why these recent incidents rattled me. I'll try to turn the experience around and treat it as a reminder to trust my instincts and use common sense and caution, rather than let it deter me from the riding that I have grown to love!

[ny biker]

Ankle bands are another way to add something hi-viz regardless of the weather.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodNN_2020N.html

You can buy wrist bands at RoadID, also.