Screw road bikes, way too scary/dangerous..for me
I did a solid ass ride yesterday (with my gravel bike) and almost got hit by a motorcyclist who passed me probably going over 125mph, on a normal road. Insanity. This is exactly why I DO NOT own a road bike! I do love the road bike speed and the look of those bikes but screw riding on roads 100% of the time out on my rides. It’s simply WAY too dangerous and scary for me. This is why i decided on a gravel bike instead. That way i can ride in the woods, forests, trails, small dirt/gravel roads, quieter ****tier paved roads, etc. Of course i have to ride on normal roads here and there but i avoid it as much as possible. man, i just don’t get how road bike dudes/women risk it, hours at a time out on only roads. just my random rant...
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I think it depends on where someone lives...also road choice is critical. But, as for the fun on gravel, it is different than road riding, but no less so. Nothing quite like bombing down long gravel descents and climbing a huge hill (or mountain) and taking in a stunning natural panorama.
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Yeah, general traffic danger is a commonly cited reason for riding gravel instead of paved roads. Everyone's risk tolerance and perception is different, so its great that there are so many types of surfaces we can use for cycling.
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Riding on secluded gravel roads and trails where no-gooders can prey on others with little fear of being seen or caught carries risks too. Some of us feel safer on semi busy / busy roads.
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Originally Posted by AlmostTrick
(Post 22010938)
Riding on secluded gravel roads where no-gooders can prey on others with little fear of being seen or caught carries risks too. Some of us feel safer on semi busy / busy roads.
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Originally Posted by eaglesandcycling
(Post 22010809)
I did a solid ass ride yesterday (with my gravel bike) and almost got hit by a motorcyclist who passed me probably going over 125mph, on a normal road. Insanity. This is exactly why I DO NOT own a road bike! I do love the road bike speed and the look of those bikes but screw riding on roads 100% of the time out on my rides. It’s simply WAY too dangerous and scary for me. This is why i decided on a gravel bike instead. That way i can ride in the woods, forests, trails, small dirt/gravel roads, quieter ****tier paved roads, etc. Of course i have to ride on normal roads here and there but i avoid it as much as possible. man, i just don’t get how road bike dudes/women risk it, hours at a time out on only roads. just my random rant...
Try riding with Trucks. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5357769d90.jpg OR https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f32761d7ef.jpg |
Originally Posted by 10 Wheels
(Post 22010946)
You need some growing up.
Try riding with Trucks. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5357769d90.jpg lol.. **ck no |
Sharon has 200,000 Safe Miles on Her LEGS
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3daba8d3f2.jpg |
Originally Posted by eaglesandcycling
(Post 22010941)
interesting. what do you mean? like being attacked by people? where do you live??
Regarding your dangerous motorcycle buzz did you see it coming? Were you maintaining space to your right to glide into so you could increase your safety buffer? If no to either then I consider that a failure to properly take full responsibility for ones safety. |
Originally Posted by eaglesandcycling
(Post 22010941)
interesting. what do you mean? like being attacked by people? where do you live??
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Originally Posted by AlmostTrick
(Post 22010938)
Riding on secluded gravel roads and trails where no-gooders can prey on others with little fear of being seen or caught carries risks too. Some of us feel safer on semi busy / busy roads.
99 out of 100 the complaint is that roads are dangerous due to distracted drivers vs gravel and singletrack is dangerous due to ne'er-do-wells jumping out and attacking you. On rural roads and singletrack I am more concerned that a deer will error when running and impale me. Seriously, that is what I fear more than being hit by a car and for sure more than being attacked. |
Originally Posted by billridesbikes
(Post 22011056)
My scariest time with my bike doesn't involve traffic. It was riding downhill on a rarely traveled gravel trail. I must of hit a soft spot, or rut, or rock, to this day I really can't remember. I flipped over the handlebars and lay on the ground unconscious for 5min? 10min? again I really don't know. When regained consciousness my helmet and face where covered in blood. Luckily I made it back, I must have looked really bad because cars kept stopping to ask if I was OK when I got back to town. I never really rode my MTB alone again. Not sure if any cars would stop for a cyclist fallen on the road these days, but I'm hoping the odds are little better.
Originally Posted by mstateglfr
(Post 22011136)
99 out of 100 the complaint is that roads are dangerous due to distracted drivers vs gravel and singletrack is dangerous due to ne'er-do-wells jumping out and attacking you. On rural roads and singletrack I am more concerned that a deer will error when running and impale me. Seriously, that is what I fear more than being hit by a car and for sure more than being attacked. |
Originally Posted by mstateglfr
(Post 22011136)
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3789bfafbd.gif
99 out of 100 the complaint is that roads are dangerous due to distracted drivers vs gravel and singletrack is dangerous due to ne'er-do-wells jumping out and attacking you. On rural roads and singletrack I am more concerned that a deer will error when running and impale me. Seriously, that is what I fear more than being hit by a car and for sure more than being attacked. |
Originally Posted by shoota
(Post 22011269)
You've obviously never had a gun pulled on you by a redneck in a truck...
A couple years ago someone rolled coal at a stop sign, that was both pathetic and the most confrontational a car has been with me. Pulling a gun = me needing new bibs |
Originally Posted by mstateglfr
(Post 22011276)
No that hasnt happened to me. Thatd for sure be something that stuck with me for a long time.
A couple years ago someone rolled coal at a stop sign, that was both pathetic and the most confrontational a car has been with me. Pulling a gun = me needing new bibs |
Originally Posted by shoota
(Post 22011291)
Yeah it wasn't fun. Rolling coal is a common thing around here unfortunately.
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Originally Posted by eaglesandcycling
(Post 22011335)
wth does 'rolling coal' mean?? lol
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Originally Posted by eaglesandcycling
(Post 22011353)
haha. nice..yah, im in Europe (im American though). that American redneck type doesnt really exist here :) Euros have their own special type of rednecks but US rednecks are very special!! ;)
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Originally Posted by shoota
(Post 22011269)
You've obviously never had a gun pulled on you by a redneck in a truck...
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Originally Posted by mdarnton
(Post 22011849)
For all of the fear that people have for Chicago, apparently city thugs are better citizens than rural rednecks. I've never been threatened here.
Can't say I ever felt unsafe at any point. But I've ridden thousands and thousands of gravel miles in rural IA and also haven't ever felt unsafe. I really hope a gun being pulled out of frustration on a cyclist is something that only one poster can claim. That isn't something that should happen anywhere in any situation. What the hell, thats insane. |
Originally Posted by mstateglfr
(Post 22012216)
I grew up in the north and northwest suburbs and as an adult have ridden countless miles in the north, west, and southwest as well as downtown on the north side.
Can't say I ever felt unsafe at any point. But I've ridden thousands and thousands of gravel miles in rural IA and also haven't ever felt unsafe. I really hope a gun being pulled out of frustration on a cyclist is something that only one poster can claim. That isn't something that should happen anywhere in any situation. What the hell, thats insane. |
I donated my old and well-worn road bike to a bicycle co-op in 2019 because I live where gravel trails are everywhere and I was tired of being limited to pavement on 700x25 tires. I rode it on gravel sometimes, but it wasn't as fun as the mountain bike was on gravel, so I bought a Cross Check to replace the Allez. Now I can head out on a weekend morning with no particular destination in mind and ride road, gravel, and off-road trails without thinking I'm on the "wrong" bike.
Thankfully, I was motivated by fun instead of fear. |
I own both a road and gravel bike. I do ride the gravel bike on paved roads to get to 'gravel', when it's wet out and I trust the gravel bike more, and in the winter. If I didn't use the gravel bike on the roads at these times I would probably ride outside only 70% of the time I do now.
Regarding safety on roads, my strategies and thoughts (I use a combination of as many of these as possible): - use a really bright tail light; sometimes a safety vest if dark out - mainly riding alone, as far to the right as safe; only ever ride with one other person and we're both on the same page re: safety - a street where I live has a 40-50k limit and bike lanes both sides...this is my road out of town, and then it's primarily country roads (still have to be careful though) - ride when it isn't busy (very early in the morning, lunch time on a weekday, after dinner); choose routes based on time of day and avoiding busier routes is priority #1 - look back when clear and safe ahead of you (if a bunch of cars coming, or a truck or something--which is rare--pull over, stop, ride on sidewalk (that's for busier roads) - stay relaxed, smile and enjoy the ride! |
Originally Posted by AlmostTrick
(Post 22010938)
Riding on secluded gravel roads and trails where no-gooders can prey on others with little fear of being seen or caught carries risks too. Some of us feel safer on semi busy / busy roads.
Dave |
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