Busy Road

chromedome · June 2007

Hi,just another quick question.I know probably alot of you commute in the city & have traffic to deal with,but my intended 5 mile route is a busy 'B' road,it is also a bus route & the vehicles travel quite fast.
Would this put you off or am i been a wimp?

Just want to be safe than sorry

Ian

domtyler · June 2007

I go on busy B and A roads all the time, indeed most official time trials are conducted on fast stretches of dual carriageway. You will soon get used to it, being hit by a car from behind on an open road is extremely rare, the real danger points are junctions, this is where you need to be on high alert. If you don't believe me, go out in a car and wait until you come across a cyclist on a straight stretch of road. They are visible from a long way off.

In short, you will be fine, you are being a wimp! [;)]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Porridge not Petrol
________
WORLD RALLY TEAM

Gussio · June 2007

Am sure that you will soon get used to the road and traffic so no, you shouldn't let it put you off.

Make yourself seen - use good lights front and back, high viz jacket / rucksack cover, etc.. This will become increasingly important when days become shorter and the weather closes in. Don't be tempted to ride *right* up against the kerb - you are a valid road user and being a metre or so away from the kerb discourages drivers from trying to squeeze past (also, driving in the gutter is the quickest way to get punctures).

Bon chance!

chromedome · June 2007

Thanks for the advice,i'm really up for this & just didnt want to find out the traffic was too bad.Its not helping with all this rain either lol...
I think i'm going to have a 1st attempt tomorrow morning

I knew I was going bald when it was taking longer and longer to wash my face...

cupofteacp · June 2007

Many of cycle through area considered "busy" e.g Straford one-way system, bow flyover, the embankment.

When you start it feels very intimidating, but as time progresses and your speed and confidence increases you'll wonder what you were worried about.

You'll still get people who don't understand say "Oh cycling in .. Isn't that dangerous"

One of my friend recently said that I was being irresponsible cycling as I have a family, I then pointed out that my family has a history of heart disease and I have high blood pressure and that without regular exercise I'm guaranteed to die early.

Cycling is not that dangerous, I think if you look at the stats for risk per mile, walking is the most dangerous then cycling then cars.

15 * 2 * 5
* 46 = Happiness

chromedome · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cupoftea

Cycling is not that dangerous, I think if you look at the stats for risk per mile, walking is the most dangerous then cycling then cars.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I better not get off my bike & push it then...[:D]

Thanks again

I knew I was going bald when it was taking longer and longer to wash my face...

dondare · June 2007

There are some roads that are not suitable for cycling on. I don't know the one you mean, but perhaps there's a better route.

"da sapienti et addetur ei sapientia doce iustum et festinabit accipere."

Hackbike 6 · June 2007

One of my friend recently said that I was being irresponsible cycling as I have a family, I then pointed out that my family has a history of heart disease and I have high blood pressure and that without regular exercise I'm guaranteed to die early. 

Some people have some funny ideas.

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 Cycle Commuting since 1981 

Cycling Proficiency Test 24 May 1977 (30 years ago)

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Brains · June 2007

Cromedome - Are we talking London ?

If so go to a cycle shop and get the FREE TFL cycle maps, they cover everything inside the M25 - also available by post from TFL website

Go home and with a highlighter pen find the optimal route, no 'A' roads will be included and probaly few 'B' roads, but the route will wiggle about, but show you paths and backstrees you never knew existed.

It will take you about 2 weeks to master the route, the first day you will get lost all over the place, but stick with it as you can spend the entire summer refining the route, so that you know which bit to take depending on conditions, time and what you feel like

chromedome · June 2007

Sorry Brains not London,up in Stoke on Trent (Crewe area to be honest)So country 'B' roads

I knew I was going bald when it was taking longer and longer to wash my face...

domtyler · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Hackbike 6

Some people have some funny ideas.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You should know! [;)]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Porridge not Petrol
________
ADVENTURER

Hackbike 6 · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by domtyler

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Hackbike 6

Some people have some funny ideas.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You should know! [;)]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Porridge not Petrol
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I know you.[:X]

Hackbike 8 Commuting Debut 09/09/2006Dawes Audax 2006 New 20/09/2006 

 Cycle Commuting since 1981 

Cycling Proficiency Test 24 May 1977 (30 years ago)

 Ride to work part 1 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/ypjapc
Ride to work part 2 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/2jfagu
Ride to work part 3 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/2jcldv 

Most Sickening Car Advert 2007 http://tinyurl.com/36nq2e

Albionrider · June 2007

Chrome
When I first started I tended to use the quiter backstreet feeling that these would be less dangerous - how wrong i was, loads of junction, side streets, parked cars speed bumps etc. Then decided to cycle on A roads and busy b roads and I feel much safer, it can be a bit unnerving at first but as you get used to your route you will learn where the danger areas are.
Get a copy of cyclecraft (as recommeded by loads on this forum).

Always Outnumbered, but Never Outgunned

dondare · June 2007

Albionrider, what is your commute?

"da sapienti et addetur ei sapientia doce iustum et festinabit accipere."

Brains · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ChromeDome

Sorry Brains not London,up in Stoke on Trent (Crewe area to be honest)So country 'B' roads

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I still think the same rules apply, just get hold of a good map and a highlighter pen. You can work out the optimal route that is all backroads, and then when you ride it you refine it - it will still take 2 weeks to work it out on the ground

nibblescp · June 2007

Even better, use Google Earth to plan your route. Mind you I'm in a city so maybe we get better satellite coverage. Fantastic for working out your proposed route and finding roads you didn't know about.

chromedome · June 2007

Yeah i have looked on Google Earth,i think there is only one route.
Well i tried it today,1st time coming into work on my bike,5.5miles took 26mins,i have my big knobbly tyres on & a bit unfit.Hardly any cars on the road so will have to wait till 1pm for the journey home for that pleasure.

I knew I was going bald when it was taking longer and longer to wash my face...

Jeremy Parker · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ChromeDome

Hi,just another quick question.I know probably alot of you commute in the city & have traffic to deal with,but my intended 5 mile route is a busy 'B' road,it is also a bus route & the vehicles travel quite fast.
Would this put you off or am i been a wimp?

Just want to be safe than sorry

Ian
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Make sure the cars etc. leave you enough room when they overtake. If you don't know how to do that, "Cyclecraft" tells you how. There's a new edition out.

Newbies always ride too close to the kerb.

Jeremy Parker

Jeremy Parker · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by nibbles

Even better, use Google Earth to plan your route. Mind you I'm in a city so maybe we get better satellite coverage. Fantastic for working out your proposed route and finding roads you didn't know about.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Google Earth is fantastic in London, but not so good out in the country. Where Google Earth is not good, Microsoft's Virtual Earth is usually not too bsd, although the interface is clunkier

Jeremy Parker

The Endorser · June 2007

What a cracking good idea!

Eating baby elephants since 1969

Busy Road

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