Would you ride it??

[Running Mommy]

Ok girls, I've got a question for you. I need to know if I'm being a weenie or not. As you all prolly know I'm traning for an Ironman which means monster miles on the weekends. I'm training alone, so I've been staying up in my relatively traffic free neighborhood doing multiple loops. The same old loop is getting really old. It's a 10 mile loop, but I found last weekend after the 4th loop I was mentally fried. I tried changing up directions and adding side streets, but I barely made 72 miles before I wanted to shoot myself.

Well if I ride down the back side of my hill I get into a farming community that alot of clubs use for their weekend rides. I've never ventured down there myself for a couple of reasons. First there is really no shoulder AT ALL for at least the first 6 miles. Then it opens up to nice flat road with a small shoulder for the next ten miles. Now there are just a few farms out there and really no traffic but I'm kind of afraid to ride out there because of the lack of shoulder. I'm just afraid that some whacko is going to come by and clip me. Also the area is pretty much farmland and bare desert so it's pretty isolated.
It would be a nice relatively flat, virtually traffic free ride I suppose, but I'm just caught up w/ the "what ifs". The area also houses alot of immigrant laborers who probably got their drivers license in another country. I'm not trying to offend anyone, but I've been the unfortunate victim in my car more than once to their sub par driving skills. So being on a bike kind of freaks me out.
But like I said, I hear the local clubs ride out there alot, so maybe I'm just being a weenie?
Whadya think girls? Am I being a weenie? It sure would be nice to change my scenery!

[DebW]

I don't know your area to give advise, but chances are that I'd ride the farmland alone. Though the poor drivers do sound scary. I'd make myself as visible as possible with a big triangle reflector strapped on my back and blinking LED lights even in daytime. What about putting your bike in your car and driving someplace with good scenery and where you'll feel safe? Or recruiting a training buddy, or even a friend with a car to shadow you the first time you go there.

[CorsairMac]

My century route takes me through a fairly long stretch of road that has no shoulder and at one point I have to cross an interstate onramp. The first time I rode that I was scared to death I was gonna get nailed and ya know what?......I didn't. The majority of the drivers out there are very considerate to bikers, I've even had people slow down to let me cross over (I wish they wouldn't but there ya are). My route takes me out about 50+ miles from my home and I ride alone and unsupported, and I wouldn't give up that route for all the tea in China! (ok....I might be tempted for a new carbon fiber Trek - but I'd have to think about it pretty seriously). I just make sure I have my cell phone with me and I let several friends know I'm riding a century that day so they keep their phones with them in case I get into trouble. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how considerate most drivers will be to you, especially out in the country where they have plenty of room to pass you. Go! Enjoy the scenery! and tell us all about it when you get back!!

[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........