Do you read the road?
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Do you read the road?
I acquired the idea by watching time trialists on the grand tour events. Am fortunate to live in the country-side without a ton of traffic except on the 55 MPH state highways which I try to avoid. But on the lesser traveled roads, with climbs and curving roads, I try to read the road to lessen my effort and/or to increase my speed. I’m not talking about going over the center line or taking unnecessary risks, but taking the more gradual incline on the outside, or inside, of a curve or maximizing a downhill before a short steep climb. There are countless examples of reading a road to my/our advantage. Of course having a Varia, makes it so much easier. I find the mental aspect of analyzing the road a nice compliment to the riding itself.
Who else?
Maybe a better question is how you read the road?
Who else?
Maybe a better question is how you read the road?
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Last edited by rsbob; 03-06-23 at 12:16 AM.
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Read the road? You must be kidding... Absolutely! And anyone will tell ya, I don't ride fast.
It's just a matter of survival. After my last accident I got read my rights. Next bike accident and no more ridding for me so I have more than enough incentive to read the road for sure. I often drive a route tying to determine how I am going to make it on my bike. And there are many routes around my AO that although beautiful I know I am not able to climb. Further more after my last accident I lost allot of my proprioception. So now am I not only reading the road I am kinda like keeping an eye out for potential spots I can ditch if things get out of hand... Ha
In the old days I could blast down a mountain road caring minimally about what was around the next blind bend. Now days I just can't imagine how I could do that...
It's just a matter of survival. After my last accident I got read my rights. Next bike accident and no more ridding for me so I have more than enough incentive to read the road for sure. I often drive a route tying to determine how I am going to make it on my bike. And there are many routes around my AO that although beautiful I know I am not able to climb. Further more after my last accident I lost allot of my proprioception. So now am I not only reading the road I am kinda like keeping an eye out for potential spots I can ditch if things get out of hand... Ha
In the old days I could blast down a mountain road caring minimally about what was around the next blind bend. Now days I just can't imagine how I could do that...
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I read "On the Road," but I wasn't on the road when I read it.
I read traffic messages painted on the road.
I am waiting for the audiobook.
I'll be here all week ... please tip your servers.
I read traffic messages painted on the road.
I am waiting for the audiobook.
I'll be here all week ... please tip your servers.
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#4
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I guess I read the road. More specifically…or more broadly maybe…I just pay attention to all my surroundings using all my senses. (And is why I don’t wear ear buds while riding.) What’s ahead on the road, what’s behind on the road…vehicles, debris, incline, etc, what’s down this side street, why is the driver still in that parked car just ahead, will his door open, what’s that smell/noise, road is smoother/less resistant, etc. I find that it makes for not only a more efficient ride, but a safer one too.
Dan
Dan
Last edited by _ForceD_; 03-06-23 at 08:00 AM.
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#5
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I ride roads with no shoulders so I keep to the far right. I do like having my bike computer display the percent grade, since Colorado offers lots of climbing. With a 46/30 crank and 10-36 cassette I can stay in the big ring on grades up to 8%. I have done 10% in a 46/32. I know my routes so well that I know exactly where to use the little ring. There are numerous sections that can be done standing in the big ring or seated in the little ring as an option.
Last edited by DaveSSS; 03-06-23 at 02:17 PM.
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My roads are like the encyclopedia of potholes. I read all day.
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I don't read roads, the road reads me.
Joking aside, yes I do, especially when I am not riding flats. It is important to do this in order to preserve energy, spend it where it matters, etc., especially during longer rides. For an advanced cyclist, it's a must.
Joking aside, yes I do, especially when I am not riding flats. It is important to do this in order to preserve energy, spend it where it matters, etc., especially during longer rides. For an advanced cyclist, it's a must.
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There is me, the bike, the road, whatever other scenery, and hopefully nothing big and metal and vaguely threatening .... the scenery is to look at, the bike is to operate, and the road provides both the medium and the challenge. Sometimes I want to hard route, sometimes I want anything but ... I never want the debris, ripples, beds of gravel and construction scrap, bits of broken grille and headlight ... nor the sandbars, grass or pine-needle piles .... but I pick my line as carefully as the conditions demand.
Definitely good to really carve a turn coming into a short, steep uphill .... because by the top I am either tired or exhausted, and tired is better .....
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Yeah, me too. I read the road and decide all things about speed, whether to move over for loose grit or bad pavement and leaves or straw and several pages of more stuff. As well I feel the road so I know how well my tires are gripping for the speed and what other things the vibrations through the frame tell me.
But I stay in my lane, unless I can see well down the road in front of me. And especially I stay in my lane on blind curves with the expectation that others coming the other way may not be in their lane.
But I stay in my lane, unless I can see well down the road in front of me. And especially I stay in my lane on blind curves with the expectation that others coming the other way may not be in their lane.
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#10
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Another way to put it is finding the best line.
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Admittedly, when in places that have almost 180° switchbacks with a -5% slope, I'm not adept at picking my line. We just don't have those here. But when I go to Colorado and ride, I have to be more cautious around those.
Maybe one day I'll take them with more confidence.
Maybe one day I'll take them with more confidence.
#12
Senior Member
Read the road? You must be kidding... Absolutely! And anyone will tell ya, I don't ride fast.
It's just a matter of survival. After my last accident I got read my rights. Next bike accident and no more ridding for me so I have more than enough incentive to read the road for sure. I often drive a route tying to determine how I am going to make it on my bike. And there are many routes around my AO that although beautiful I know I am not able to climb. Further more after my last accident I lost allot of my proprioception. So now am I not only reading the road I am kinda like keeping an eye out for potential spots I can ditch if things get out of hand... Ha
In the old days I could blast down a mountain road caring minimally about what was around the next blind bend. Now days I just can't imagine how I could do that...
It's just a matter of survival. After my last accident I got read my rights. Next bike accident and no more ridding for me so I have more than enough incentive to read the road for sure. I often drive a route tying to determine how I am going to make it on my bike. And there are many routes around my AO that although beautiful I know I am not able to climb. Further more after my last accident I lost allot of my proprioception. So now am I not only reading the road I am kinda like keeping an eye out for potential spots I can ditch if things get out of hand... Ha
In the old days I could blast down a mountain road caring minimally about what was around the next blind bend. Now days I just can't imagine how I could do that...
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I ride the road instead of reading it.
Fly fishing and riding are two activities that put me in my "nothing box" meaning I'm not going to analyze the road while riding it. Just ride.
Fly fishing and riding are two activities that put me in my "nothing box" meaning I'm not going to analyze the road while riding it. Just ride.
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I acquired the idea by watching time trialists on the grand tour events. Am fortunate to live in the country-side without a ton of traffic except on the 55 MPH state highways which I try to avoid. But on the lesser traveled roads, with climbs and curving roads, I try to read the road to lessen my effort and/or to increase my speed. I’m not talking about going over the center line or taking unnecessary risks, but taking the more gradual incline on the outside, or inside, of a curve or maximizing a downhill before a short steep climb. There are countless examples of reading a road to my/our advantage. Of course having a Varia, makes it so much easier. I find the mental aspect of analyzing the road a nice compliment to the riding itself.
Who else?
Maybe a better question is how you read the road?
Who else?
Maybe a better question is how you read the road?
#15
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Excellent observation. Its all about being prudent and thoughtful, analyzing the path of least resistance, deciding whether gambling is really the best thing to do in the long/short run and trying to maximize the return while not putting oneself at risk. Winner!
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I definitely ride my bike differently than how I, say, walk around my house, or walk around the block. When I am out taking pictures i do things even differently again, and differently again for roads/civilized locales versus woods and such.
I don't often see the need to consider braking points and apexes when going to the kitchen to get coffee, and there is a lot less chance of oncoming traffic.
I don't often see the need to consider braking points and apexes when going to the kitchen to get coffee, and there is a lot less chance of oncoming traffic.
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I acquired the idea by watching time trialists on the grand tour events. Am fortunate to live in the country-side without a ton of traffic except on the 55 MPH state highways which I try to avoid. But on the lesser traveled roads, with climbs and curving roads, I try to read the road to lessen my effort and/or to increase my speed. I’m not talking about going over the center line or taking unnecessary risks, but taking the more gradual incline on the outside, or inside, of a curve or maximizing a downhill before a short steep climb. There are countless examples of reading a road to my/our advantage. Of course having a Varia, makes it so much easier. I find the mental aspect of analyzing the road a nice compliment to the riding itself.
Who else?
Maybe a better question is how you read the road?
Who else?
Maybe a better question is how you read the road?
__________________
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I definitely ride my bike differently than how I, say, walk around my house, or walk around the block. When I am out taking pictures i do things even differently again, and differently again for roads/civilized locales versus woods and such.
I don't often see the need to consider braking points and apexes when going to the kitchen to get coffee, and there is a lot less chance of oncoming traffic.
I don't often see the need to consider braking points and apexes when going to the kitchen to get coffee, and there is a lot less chance of oncoming traffic.
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I ride the same roughly 40 miles of road constantly, and I put the segments together for routes of 15-70 miles , depending on how far I want to go, how fast I want to go, and what kind of riding I feel like. Experience has put road-reading beyond conscious thought now - I downshift at a particular point because a hill's coming up, or I get in the drops for this particular section where I want to be aero but have more control over a patch of rough pavement than aero hoods allows, then I'll switch to aero hoods after for the next little bit, or as I approach one intersection where the stop sign doesn't allow me to see far enough up one crossing road I make sure to count the approaching cars in one direction to see if I'll have to stop for them, then as I get closer focus on the other direction which I can't see till after I can no longer see up the first road, or where the pavement is cracked and raised near the edge of the road so I always move a bit closer to the center. Things like that, I find comforting. This also includes knowing where the best patches of poppies by the roadside are, or those several plants of clover with the big scarlet flowers, where I can go into full tuck and hit almost 40 mph for a few seconds before the next little rise where I need to be two gears lower to sprint over the top.
So, at this point it's more memory than reading.
So, at this point it's more memory than reading.
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There's been some research among endurance runners on associative vs. dissociative cognitive styles. Roughly, associative = tuning in and dissociative = tuning out. Those who tune in pay attention to the road surface, their breathing, their stride, monitoring their HR, environmental changes, etc. Dissociative runners do much less of this. I think there may be some research trying to correlate cognitive styles with performance, but I don't think the causality goes from cognitive style to performance so I never bothered to think that changing styles would improve my performance.
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I was impressed!
I was hanging out at a local rest stop on one of my extended routes. It's the Rocky Hill Ranch mountain bike trail about 12 miles from my house. Mountain Biking is one of those things I missed as getting old like skate boards, or Hack Sack. Anyway I go there on my long rides just to see whats been going on on the mountain bike flavor of things. There is always allot of intrest in my old rides. But WOW... I am always impressed with the mountain bike engineering and advancements in their construction and use. Some of those bikes are engineering dreams.
But I am also impressed with hearing the conversations of those ridding the more difficult trails. Like "...right before this point hang left for a skip then get ready for a climb..."
Ha... Its not just reading the trail but getting a summary of its plot... Bravo!
https://www.rockyhillranch.com/getting-here
I was hanging out at a local rest stop on one of my extended routes. It's the Rocky Hill Ranch mountain bike trail about 12 miles from my house. Mountain Biking is one of those things I missed as getting old like skate boards, or Hack Sack. Anyway I go there on my long rides just to see whats been going on on the mountain bike flavor of things. There is always allot of intrest in my old rides. But WOW... I am always impressed with the mountain bike engineering and advancements in their construction and use. Some of those bikes are engineering dreams.
But I am also impressed with hearing the conversations of those ridding the more difficult trails. Like "...right before this point hang left for a skip then get ready for a climb..."
Ha... Its not just reading the trail but getting a summary of its plot... Bravo!
https://www.rockyhillranch.com/getting-here
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#22
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I ride roads with no shoulders so I keep to the far right. I do like having my bike computer display the percent grade, since Colorado offers lots of climbing. With a 46/10 crank and 10-36 cassette I can stay in the big ring on grades up to 8%. I have done 10% in a 46/32. I know my routes so well that I know exactly where to use the little ring. There are numerous sections that can be done standing in the big ring or seated in the little ring as an option.
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#24
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There's been some research among endurance runners on associative vs. dissociative cognitive styles. Roughly, associative = tuning in and dissociative = tuning out. Those who tune in pay attention to the road surface, their breathing, their stride, monitoring their HR, environmental changes, etc. Dissociative runners do much less of this. I think there may be some research trying to correlate cognitive styles with performance, but I don't think the causality goes from cognitive style to performance so I never bothered to think that changing styles would improve my performance.
I can assure you that I used both styles simultanously from the start to the finish.
Last edited by seypat; 03-06-23 at 10:20 PM.
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#25
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Obvious typo. I use a 46/30 crank. My little ring doesn't see a lot of use, but I have several climbs up to 13-14% grade where I can use a 30/28 standing or a 30/36 seated. I use a 10-33 cassette too, but all I gain is a 14T sprocket that sees little use, since I go up a lot and down a lot. I actually get to use my 46/10 top gear on a modest descent.