Taking the full road on descents
#1
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Taking the full road on descents
How fast do you think you have to be going in order for it not to be ******y to take the whole road on a descent? i don't drive so I don't really know how it feels from the cars point of view. On my commute to work I usually take the main hill at low 30s, and feel fine taking the whole road because the speed limit is only like 35. I was riding in the hills this week, on unfamiliar fast roads with a 50 mph speed limit, and I found myself taking the road even so. I was going mid 30s, but im not confident with descending and didn't feel happy staying in my bike lane. At what point do you come out of the bike lane and claim the whole road? In my mind like just be patient the hill will be over soon you can pass me then...
#2
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I will only take the road if I am doing the speed limit and there are no cars around. Any other time I think you would be just pissing off drivers.
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I can’t put a number on it, it’s more a vibe. I’ve overtaken (slow-moving, obviously) motorised traffic on downhills, but I’ve also moved over to allow them pass. There are descents around here that have enough twists and turns that I’m confident I won’t slow down a car significantly unless they’re in a big hurry. There’s also others with longish straightaways where I can pull to one side and let them through. My speed on those straights is probably getting towards 40mph and above, and in the corners low to mid 20s.
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that's what the garmin varia radar is for...just sayin.'
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Whatever speed is required to make your descent safe. Where I ride, the roads are narrow and the pavement is so bad you need absolute freedom to dodge holes. You don’t get that a foot from a curb or the grass.
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If I'm matching or exceeding the speed limit, I don't have any qualms about using the full lane, likewise if there are safety implications as Mo describes.
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Depends on the road, there are plenty of descents around here where a car can't/won't keep up with a bike, I'll use the whole lane in that scenario since I know if there's a car behind me, they're not going to take any of those curves as fast as I will. When it straightens out, I'll move over so they can pass. Coming down off the parkway, it's usually the cars slowing the bikes down. lol
#15
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Descending >30mph on an often debris-strewn shoulder, especially with cars passing within a foot or two? No thanks.
AFAS taking the whole road: narrow, winding, adequate sight lines- yes.
AFAS taking the whole road: narrow, winding, adequate sight lines- yes.
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I'll take more and more of the lane as speed and safety dictate, but I'll try to allow cars to pass when I can. The decision to move further into the lane is unrelated to posted speed limits, but is instead based on need.
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#17
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How fast do you think you have to be going in order for it not to be ******y to take the whole road on a descent? i don't drive so I don't really know how it feels from the cars point of view. On my commute to work I usually take the main hill at low 30s, and feel fine taking the whole road because the speed limit is only like 35. I was riding in the hills this week, on unfamiliar fast roads with a 50 mph speed limit, and I found myself taking the road even so. I was going mid 30s, but im not confident with descending and didn't feel happy staying in my bike lane. At what point do you come out of the bike lane and claim the whole road? In my mind like just be patient the hill will be over soon you can pass me then...
I mostly ride in the city, so I have a lot of roads to choose from. As much as possible I do big descents on low traffic roads. I usually get to ride anywhere I want, meaning I can avoid debris and imperfections in the pavement. Also people are in less of a hurry. There's a long, steep one coming out of West Seattle, most days I have it to my self, when there's car traffic they usually wait until the bottom to pass. A lot of other ways down the hill lead to freeway on ramps, and they're incredibly uncomfortable no matter where I ride. So I don't use them.
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As others have said...it depends. If my speed is holding up traffic, I'll stay out of the way as well as I can, considering the conditions of the road and how they affect my safety. If my speed is faster than traffic, I'll take the whole road.
Here's an example from my ride last weekend, on a road that is twisty enough where decently-skilled cyclists are significantly faster than cars...
Earlier on this descent, I had one motorcycle pass me and one car move out of my way. It was a lovely day with more cyclists on the hill than cars
Here's an example from my ride last weekend, on a road that is twisty enough where decently-skilled cyclists are significantly faster than cars...
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I really like my Varia radar.
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If a motorist cannot safely pass a slower moving vehicle safely, they should not be licensed to drive. Motorists are not entitled to go as fast as they want.
Take up as much road as you need to be safe.
Take up as much road as you need to be safe.
#21
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Don't panic!
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In Virginia a bicycle is considered a vehicle and technically has the right to the full road. Within the law is a stipulation that slower vehicles have to move over for ones doing the speed limit. So I tend to only take the road if I am doing the speed limit or close. But when you think about it a car, a vehicle, is not required to do to do the speed limit, in some cases like on higways there are minimums, but I don't know if there are on general roads. But for the sake of advocacy I don't like to piss off drivers.
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In Virginia a bicycle is considered a vehicle and technically has the right to the full road. Within the law is a stipulation that slower vehicles have to move over for ones doing the speed limit. So I tend to only take the road if I am doing the speed limit or close. But when you think about it a car, a vehicle, is not required to do to do the speed limit, in some cases like on higways there are minimums, but I don't know if there are on general roads. But for the sake of advocacy I don't like to piss off drivers.
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The long descent I'm most likely to do, the cars can't really go much faster than I do and there's no shoulder most of the way, so I use the whole lane. There are one or two sections that are straight and long enough, and wide enough, for passing so if a car is behind me, I'll pull as far right as is safe to let them by.
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The full road? You mean you want to take up all the lanes? How will you do that?
Otherwise, I'm always in my lane whether on a bike or in a motor vehicle.
Otherwise, I'm always in my lane whether on a bike or in a motor vehicle.
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#25
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Pissing off drivers during a descent really isn't a concern for me. My safety is worth more than the minor slowdown they may experience.
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