Back to biking to work

I know this is a topic that has probably been beaten to death but I have
some questions for those who do. I moved from town 3½ years ago to a
rural area approximately 5 miles from where I work. When I lived in town
(only 1 mile away from work), I biked to work everyday, even riding home for
lunch.

When I moved out of town, I thought I had to give up bicycling to work as:
1) there is only 1 road to town from where I live (dead end road), and the
traffic is moderately heavy on it, and at high speeds once out of town.
2) it was 5 times farther (okay 5 miles is not far, but riding home at lunch
is out of the question).

So now, 3½ years later I've gained weight and miss riding. Mostly, I miss
riding. I've been tossing the idea of riding to work out to my wife and she
is not crazy about the idea (we both used to ride to work) because we know
how the traffic is.

I've read a lot of the safety stuff on the net and it emphasizes taking the
less travelled road. In my case this isn't possible.

My question is:

What best practices do you recommend for this type of road? Can you still
use the little flag on the bike - are they effective? How about an
safety-orange hunter type vest? Also note that I work from 6am-3pm, so
while there is less traffic in the morning, it is usually dark.

Thanks for any ideas, I'd really like to do this.
Duke
Take out Don'tSpamMePlease in direct replies

--
Everything in moderation.
Except excess.

Do what I do. I don't bike to work everyday. 2 or 3 times a week. I also
travel a busy road and must deal with traffic. I ride 4.5 miles to work. I
wear clothes that I would normally wear for a 30 or 40 mile ride and change
once I get to work. I leave clothes at the office and change when I get
there. In the summer it is hot even at 7:00 am so I don't ride too hard
going to work. It is sometimes dark when I ride to or home from work. I
have a clip on red led light for my rear and a handlebar mounted light on
the front. I don't ride home for lunch because that would just not work.
On Mondays we always have a lunch meeting. So I try to ride that day. On
Friday's we leave at noon so I also try to ride that day. On Tuesday and
Thursday I pick my son up from preschool on my lumberjack so riding is out
those days. If we have a vendor that wants to do a lunch'n'learn on
Wednesday, I will ride on that day as well.

Just be safe and watch out for those taxis that you pass illegally


"Duke" wrote in message
...
I know this is a topic that has probably been beaten to death but I have
some questions for those who do. I moved from town 3½ years ago to a
rural area approximately 5 miles from where I work. When I lived in town
(only 1 mile away from work), I biked to work everyday, even riding home
for
lunch.

When I moved out of town, I thought I had to give up bicycling to work as:
1) there is only 1 road to town from where I live (dead end road), and the
traffic is moderately heavy on it, and at high speeds once out of town.
2) it was 5 times farther (okay 5 miles is not far, but riding home at
lunch
is out of the question).

So now, 3½ years later I've gained weight and miss riding. Mostly, I miss
riding. I've been tossing the idea of riding to work out to my wife and
she
is not crazy about the idea (we both used to ride to work) because we know
how the traffic is.

I've read a lot of the safety stuff on the net and it emphasizes taking
the
less travelled road. In my case this isn't possible.

My question is:

What best practices do you recommend for this type of road? Can you
still
use the little flag on the bike - are they effective? How about an
safety-orange hunter type vest? Also note that I work from 6am-3pm, so
while there is less traffic in the morning, it is usually dark.

Thanks for any ideas, I'd really like to do this.
Duke
Take out Don'tSpamMePlease in direct replies

--
Everything in moderation.
Except excess.

On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 14:06:05 -0600, Duke wrote:


What best practices do you recommend for this type of road? Can you still
use the little flag on the bike - are they effective? How about an
safety-orange hunter type vest? Also note that I work from 6am-3pm, so
while there is less traffic in the morning, it is usually dark.

I'm not a big believer in the flags -- they are kind of a hassle to ride
with. The probably do improve your visibility, so that's a plus.

I used to commute 52 miles/day (round-trip) 2-3 times a week in good
weather, now I'm reduced to a 12 mile/day commute to the ferry dock
because my job location changed. My 52 mile commute had every kind of
traffic - country road with the occasional 85mph motorist, and packed
urban with average car speeds at 15-20 mph. My current commute is straight
through the downtown of a small city with a lot of outbound commute
traffic.

Wearing something easily visible (like the vest) sounds like a good idea.
It probably would not hurt to put a blinkie or two on the back and front
of your bike either.

I think the most important thing is to focus on riding safely. To me that
means riding predictably, without sudden excursions left or right.
Signal your changes. When you come to a traffic situation, ask yourself
what you would do if you were in a car, and place your bike appropriately
-- for instance, I think passing a line of cars on the right is not very
safe -- if I were in a car, it would be harder to see a cyclist coming up
on my right, so I either wait for the line to move, or pass on the left,
depending on the situation. Don't make left turns from the right lane (get
into the left turn lane). Don't block cars trying to right turn on
red if you can help it. Don't switch from sidewalk to street and back -
the cars won't be able to figure out what you're up to. Pay attention to
what's going on around you -- don't be the only one left moving when
everyone else has pulled over for an ambulance. If you run a red light, be
prepared to have a previously invisible Hummer take you to your reward.

You didn't give your location (and there's no reason to reveal personal
information in this newsgroup if you don't want to), but you should become
familiar with the traffic laws pertaining to bicycles in your area. Most
places in the US, they boil down to "operate your bicycle as a vehicle in
traffic". Some locations have restrictions, such as bike lanes (bikes must
stay in the bike lane, mostly) or blue zones for busy intersections, or
bridges where bicycles are prohibited.

Try riding your route at a less busy time than rush hour once or twice,
to become familiar with it and to be ready for the normal parts of the
ride - stop signs, lights, parked cars, etc. You can't change your route,
but maybe you can change the time you travel if you're not comfortable
with traffic at 6am or 3pm. Being a lazy slug, I am thinking of
changing your work schedule to something in the 10am-7pm range, you, on
the other hand, might want to consider something earlier than 6am as a
start time if there's any flex in your schedule.

My bet is, that once you've done the 5mi commute once or twice, you won't
want to go back. With enough ride time, you might get fast enough to go
home for lunch.

Two things I've learned from my commutes:

1. A blinking red taillight, headlight (it doesn't have to be a 40-watt
blinder) and reflective tape make you MUCH safer, especially in twilight
when visibility sucks and driver haven't turned on their lights yet. The
reflective tape's optional, but I can really tell the difference by how much
space drivers give me, and the bike is easier to see to the side.

2. Tire liners are vital if you are forced to the debris-laden shoulder for
most of your trip.

"Duke" wrote in message
...
I know this is a topic that has probably been beaten to death but I have
some questions for those who do. I moved from town 3½ years ago to a
rural area approximately 5 miles from where I work. When I lived in town
(only 1 mile away from work), I biked to work everyday, even riding home
for
lunch.

When I moved out of town, I thought I had to give up bicycling to work as:
1) there is only 1 road to town from where I live (dead end road), and the
traffic is moderately heavy on it, and at high speeds once out of town.
2) it was 5 times farther (okay 5 miles is not far, but riding home at
lunch
is out of the question).

So now, 3½ years later I've gained weight and miss riding. Mostly, I miss
riding. I've been tossing the idea of riding to work out to my wife and
she
is not crazy about the idea (we both used to ride to work) because we know
how the traffic is.

I've read a lot of the safety stuff on the net and it emphasizes taking
the
less travelled road. In my case this isn't possible.

My question is:

What best practices do you recommend for this type of road? Can you
still
use the little flag on the bike - are they effective? How about an
safety-orange hunter type vest? Also note that I work from 6am-3pm, so
while there is less traffic in the morning, it is usually dark.

Thanks for any ideas, I'd really like to do this.
Duke
Take out Don'tSpamMePlease in direct replies

--
Everything in moderation.
Except excess.

For twenty years the bicycle was my ONLY form of transportation. The
only one I owned, anyway.

I rode to and from work, approximately 7 miles each way, five days a
week, 52 weeks a year, through rain, and sleet, etc.etc.etc. I had a
trailer which I used for shopping. I even carried the fifty pounds of
feed for the animals in it, pulled behind my trusty steed. And this was
in "El Lay".

Now, I live where the air is cleaner, motorists are nicer and the ride
to work is actually scenic. But it's too far! So I got an economical
truck. I still ride, just not all the way. I drive the first 9 miles,
ride the last 7. But not when it's raining.

- -
"May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

Duke wrote:

My question is:

What best practices do you recommend for this type of road?

I'd like a little more information. What's the road's lane width?
What's the shoulder like? What's the speed limit? How smooth or rough
or gravelly is the surface? How are the grades, and how sharp are the
curves.

If it's wide enough to safely share lanes, I wouldn't worry at all. If
it's too narrow to share (due to narrow lanes, lots of potholes, gravel,
or whatever) it's more complicated. If sight lines are good, light up
and reflectorize to satisfy yourself (check it out from a car to see
what your bike looks like) and perhaps add a rear view mirror to give
yourself confidence.

But again, more detail would yield better answers.


Can you still
use the little flag on the bike - are they effective?

I suppose you could. I haven't seen one in use for ages. There are
shorter, more convenient versions I've seen advertised, that hang
horizontally to the left, to assure clearance.

How about an safety-orange hunter type vest? Also note that I work
from 6am-3pm, so
while there is less traffic in the morning, it is usually dark.

I'd trust lights and reflectors much more than a vest in the dark - but
if it makes you feel better, use it.



--
-------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, omit what's between "at" and "cc"]

frkrygow" "frkrygow wrote:

I'd trust lights and reflectors much more than a vest in the dark -
but if it makes you feel better, use it.

Agreed. Use the usual lights and reflectors first. However, safety vests with
reflective tape on them, like highway workers and firemen wear, can be very
effective.

Matt O.

http://www.saftypro.us sells split illumintaed vests manufactured by
http://www.polybrite.com
http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk sells rear view helmet manufactured
by http://www.reevu.com
http://www.deltacycles.com sells airzound horn
http://www.airfreetires.com sells solid polyurethane tires

Matt O'Toole wrote:

frkrygow" "frkrygow wrote:

I'd trust lights and reflectors much more than a vest in the dark -
but if it makes you feel better, use it.

Agreed. Use the usual lights and reflectors first. However, safety vests with
reflective tape on them, like highway workers and firemen wear, can be very
effective.

Matt O.

On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 12:48:22 -0800, Erik Freitag wrote:

On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 14:06:05 -0600, Duke wrote:


snip

I think the most important thing is to focus on riding safely. To me that
means riding predictably, without sudden excursions left or right.
Signal your changes. When you come to a traffic situation, ask yourself
what you would do if you were in a car, and place your bike appropriately
-- for instance, I think passing a line of cars on the right is not very
safe -- if I were in a car, it would be harder to see a cyclist coming up
on my right, so I either wait for the line to move, or pass on the left,
depending on the situation. Don't make left turns from the right lane (get
into the left turn lane). Don't block cars trying to right turn on
red if you can help it. Don't switch from sidewalk to street and back -
the cars won't be able to figure out what you're up to. Pay attention to
what's going on around you -- don't be the only one left moving when
everyone else has pulled over for an ambulance. If you run a red light, be
prepared to have a previously invisible Hummer take you to your reward.


I am not sure about making a left turn from the right lane. A perfectly
safe way is to stay in the right lane, ride across the intersection to
the right lane of the cross road, then stop and wait for green or clear
road, then on your way! No need to wobble across traffic while changing
lanes --
This is the Swanston Street turn, so named because it is the usual way of
making right turns in the middle of Melbourne, Australia (NB drive on the
left)
Peter

--
This transmission is certified free of viruses as no Microsoft products
were used in its preparation or propagation.

I'd like a little more information. What's the road's lane width?
What's the shoulder like? What's the speed limit? How smooth or rough
or gravelly is the surface? How are the grades, and how sharp are the
curves.
But again, more detail would yield better answers.


I used to run on this road every other day so I'm familiar with a view of it
other than the driver's seat. The lane width is no more than 10'. The
shoulder varies from 1'-3' grass and gravel, but falls off steeply into
drainage ditches in some areas. The speed limit is 40, but I get passed
daily in my truck going 45. Cars go more like 50 and 55 on the
straightaways. It's a mixture of gentle hills and long sweeping curves with
several 1/2-1 mile long straightaways. The surface is asphalt, not the dark
black driveway kind, but the white sort of rough kind...it sounds loud when
you hear cars on it....there are no potholes or major cracks.

The road itself is one the local bike club rides on regularly. At least I
see a crowd of them every Saturday riding out to the lake past my house.
But that is in the daytime and they all have on the neon clothes....You can
see the road here, it's the blue road with the green segment heading NW
between the captions marked "Clear Creek trail" and "Abbeville Loop".

http://www.oxfordbikeclub.org/road_routes.htm

I was gung-ho about doing it last night until my wife sort of laughed at the
idea...too far and too dark she said. She told me I'd have to get up at 3am
to get to work at 6. I measured it this morning from driveway to work
parking lot...7.0 miles exactly. Now I wonder if it is too far. So I
chickened out this morning after buying a headlight and flashing rear
reflector yesterday, but am now disappointed in myself for not trying.

Duke
--
Cheers!