Trucks on Narrow Twisting Roads
#76
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And the "deer scenario" I mentioned WAY up this thread was to illustrate that if, as a cyclist, you get hit by a vehicle (esp. modern SUV and pick-ups) moving 50+ mph, you will be blown to pieces just like many, many deer (and hog) parts and pieces I have seen roadside. You're not going to get "scratched up". You will get blown up, literally. So think long and hard before "taking a lane" on any road you please.
I can't make this message any clearer. If you don't understand it, fine. Stop responding to it. It's very straightforward to most ppl and goes without saying to the majority of cyclists I would bet.
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#78
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If you are "taking the lane" on a roadway with fast traffic and poor sight-lines, which people say they do here, then you are basically "standing" in the lane given the speed differential between you (the cyclist) and the motorist doing 50+mph. The only exception I can think of is bombing down a mountain pass (or big hill) cycling at near or over the speed limit, which I have done a thousand times.
And the "deer scenario" I mentioned WAY up this thread was to illustrate that if, as a cyclist, you get hit by a vehicle (esp. modern SUV and pick-ups) moving 50+ mph, you will be blown to pieces just like many, many deer (and hog) parts and pieces I have seen roadside. You're not going to get "scratched up". You will get blown up, literally. So think long and hard before "taking a lane" on any road you please.
I can't make this message any clearer. If you don't understand it, fine. Stop responding to it. It's very straightforward to most ppl and goes without saying to the majority of cyclists I would bet.
And the "deer scenario" I mentioned WAY up this thread was to illustrate that if, as a cyclist, you get hit by a vehicle (esp. modern SUV and pick-ups) moving 50+ mph, you will be blown to pieces just like many, many deer (and hog) parts and pieces I have seen roadside. You're not going to get "scratched up". You will get blown up, literally. So think long and hard before "taking a lane" on any road you please.
I can't make this message any clearer. If you don't understand it, fine. Stop responding to it. It's very straightforward to most ppl and goes without saying to the majority of cyclists I would bet.
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#79
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Based on behavior i have witnessed personally, and writings here on A&S, YES, yes I do think some ppl are unaware.
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I would wholly agree there could be conditions where it is a poor idea to take the lane. Or for that matter to ride a bicycle at all. I don't see a lot of high speed traffic coming around blind corners so this seems a more theoretical contention.
#81
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Having toured 36 states and provinces I have witnessed my share of this, and also been the "problem" more times than I want to admit. Not taking the lane per se, just not having any space to be out of "their way".
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Bike the Appalachians. Or almost any rural mountain road where the locals know every turn like the back of their hand. Many drive like bats out of Hell not expecting to see anything but another bat out of Hell ahead or behind them. Enter someone in the road doing 12 mph.
Having toured 36 states and provinces I have witnessed my share of this, and also been the "problem" more times than I want to admit. Not taking the lane per se, just not having any space to be out of "their way".
Having toured 36 states and provinces I have witnessed my share of this, and also been the "problem" more times than I want to admit. Not taking the lane per se, just not having any space to be out of "their way".
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Bike the Appalachians. Or almost any rural mountain road where the locals know every turn like the back of their hand. Many drive like bats out of Hell not expecting to see anything but another bat out of Hell ahead or behind them. Enter someone in the road doing 12 mph.
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If you can't convince people after repeatedly making your argument, it is worth considering the possibility your argument could be flawed.
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Bike the Appalachians. Or almost any rural mountain road where the locals know every turn like the back of their hand. Many drive like bats out of Hell not expecting to see anything but another bat out of Hell ahead or behind them. Enter someone in the road doing 12 mph.
Having toured 36 states and provinces I have witnessed my share of this, and also been the "problem" more times than I want to admit. Not taking the lane per se, just not having any space to be out of "their way".
Having toured 36 states and provinces I have witnessed my share of this, and also been the "problem" more times than I want to admit. Not taking the lane per se, just not having any space to be out of "their way".
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#87
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Bike the Appalachians. Or almost any rural mountain road where the locals know every turn like the back of their hand. Many drive like bats out of Hell not expecting to see anything but another bat out of Hell ahead or behind them. Enter someone in the road doing 12 mph.
Having toured 36 states and provinces I have witnessed my share of this, and also been the "problem" more times than I want to admit. Not taking the lane per se, just not having any space to be out of "their way".
Having toured 36 states and provinces I have witnessed my share of this, and also been the "problem" more times than I want to admit. Not taking the lane per se, just not having any space to be out of "their way".
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as a cyclist the lorries and trucks worry me the most, they have so many blind spots and find it hard to squeeze through certain spots, I ended up taking out some life protection just in case with sports fs who were very helpful. I just know many of friends that have had near misses with lorries, better safe than sorry!
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Bike the Appalachians. Or almost any rural mountain road where the locals know every turn like the back of their hand. Many drive like bats out of Hell not expecting to see anything but another bat out of Hell ahead or behind them. Enter someone in the road doing 12 mph.
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Does George Hincapie still live in Greenville SC? I seem to remember him remarking (years ago) that that area of SC is great for training.
In the running world, some say Hill-Training is speed training. I suppose the same can be said of cycling. (of course as long as you don't do hills too much, otherwise your fast-twitch muscles will be sacrificed).
In the running world, some say Hill-Training is speed training. I suppose the same can be said of cycling. (of course as long as you don't do hills too much, otherwise your fast-twitch muscles will be sacrificed).
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gooseneck34: It sounds like you're from across the pond maybe England. I have seen many YouTube videos from there were the trucks will pass bicyclists with little to no room. I also read that the #1 cause of adult bicyclists deaths in England is being doored. Being struck by an opening door and thrown into traffic in front of a truck is all to common in England.
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Certain roads in Preston County West Virginia are the only place I've ever driven where the speed limit is actually too high. Doing 50 around some of those turns is almost race car level stuff.
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Try driving In Palm Springs general area where the majority of the miles through and between the cities are posted at 50 MPH but they have some good bike lanes. However in pure residential areas, it a more sane 25..
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#100
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The problem, of course, is that motorists do not obey the limits. No matter how fast I drive (sometimes 5-7 over the limit on straight roads) there is ALWAYS a pickup truck or SUV nearly pushing me down the road NASCAR style. Which of course encourages me to slow to EXACTLY the speed limit, because, yes, I'm a d**k like that.