My bottles gone...........

davelakers

After a fall and near miss last week, almost ending up under the wheels of a van, and the tragic news about TheGreatGatsby, I have no desire at all to get back on my bike for my commute. My route is 12 mile each way with 90% on unlit b roads. While most of the roads are quietish there have been a few ropey moments, mainly caused by idiots who cant be arsed dipping their full beam when coming towards me. Im fully lit, 3 lights front and back (all very bright) and Im probably more visible than during daylight hours, but its not a relaxing activity anymore.

Has anybody else gone through this? Shall I just stop being soft?

LeighB

I know how you feel, I still ride to work but it only take 10 minutes on a cycle path. Normally I would go out a couple of times during the week after work but I have been going running with the dog instead. The car divers not dipping their lights is a problem as you end up ‘blinded’ for a moment. If circumstances allow I would wait for the weather to improve and then start your commute again. I have still been getting out at the weekends for 2-4 hour rides and I think this is enough at this time of year.

davelakers

LeighB wrote:

I know how you feel, I still ride to work but it only take 10 minutes on a cycle path. Normally I would go out a couple of times during the week after work but I have been going running with the dog instead. The car divers not dipping their lights is a problem as you end up ‘blinded’ for a moment. If circumstances allow I would wait for the weather to improve and then start your commute again. I have still been getting out at the weekends for 2-4 hour rides and I think this is enough at this time of year.

Thank God Im not alone. Part of it is that I hate the boring monotony of the car journey. Its 30 minutes of hell as opposed to what should be 45mins of exhilaration!!

Out Sat and Sun this week, weather permitting to get my fix.

blorg

What front lights do you have? My Fenix TK11 causes light dipping in 99% of cases, sometimes even from around a corner. For the 1%, pointing it straight at the driver generally gets compliance. I dip it myself once the drivers have done so (have been flashed when I have failed to do so.) And you can even get brighter

Personally the dark/cold doesn't bother me but I would be concerned about ice; was in a crash on black ice last Saturday that left two of the crashees with broken limbs (I escaped with ripped tights, road rash and bad bruising.) If there is low risk of ice I'm happy to head out in the dark.

sicknote

This sort of thing got me off my bike for 10 years ( it was going to be 6 month and my daughter had just been born ) and have just got back to it after teaching the kids to ride.

Sometimes wish I had not taken the time off but glad to be back

boybiker

No I had this same conversation with a friend the other day as I said to him you can say you are going to give it up but you know and I know that once you start cycling it does something to you, gets into your blood and its going to be with you for the rest of your life, you might stop for a bit but you'll be back

scapaslow

For me cycling is a pleasure and not a necessity (in terms of getting from A to . So, if it is unpleasant or dangerous outside i use the turbo.
Forcing yourself out in conditions you don't enjoy seems counter productive.

Its only a couple of weeks now until daylight begins to lengthen again!

JonBurns

I think at the moment it just seems to be too risky to be out on the bike commuting (my commute would be unlit country roads). The recent weather is damn cold and pretty risky with ice etc. It's also pretty tricky with the sun being so low (if it's out).

I'm driving at the moment but I do see some guys riding to and from work and they're lighting is simply woe full.

I think this winter I'll be mountain biking around Delamere forest on a monday night as much as possible then just out for an hour or so on the road during the weekend.

I have so much admiration for people who still commute at this time of year and would love to try it sometime, but just can't seem to do it.

I'll crank back up around March time.

Be safe though guys!!

Nuggs

I think we all need to be sensible about the risks we take.

If it's icy, or the roads you cycle on are dangerous at a particular time of year or in the dark, then it's a journey best avoided.

However, if we lived our lives free from risk, as well as being nigh-on impossible, it would be pretty boring.

Humans have a strange way of assessing risk. After the 7 July bombings, hoards began pedaling to work. However, the number of deaths on London's roads vastly outnumbered those killed on 7/7. People had effectively swapped to a less 'safe' mode of transport to avoid a perceived threat.

j.p.seagull

I had an accident just over 2 years ago, something went between my front wheel and the fork crown, knocked the front mudguard loose and i went from 25 mph(downhill) to 0 using my teeth as a brake. vey quickly. 5 replacement teeth and 9 months of dentall work.
however I decided not to let it get me down. I was lucky nothing hit me on the main road, everyone who picked me up were very caring, I almost felt I owed it people I didn't know to get back on. I find I can't go as fast as I used too, (nerves) and i unclip going over the section of road where I fell. However, I am so grateful I carried on riding. I took it easy at first, different bike, and very careful. I worked up again to daily commuting. I suggest if you are still doubtful, reduce the amount to when the weather at it's best, get your confidence back and then work back to normal. good luck, it's worth it.

ChrisLS

...lot's of threads and posts on here at the moment about spills on black ice. I came off myself last week...my ribs are still sore where I slapped onto the cold hard road...I have always carefully watched the weather forecast and checked outside for signs of the slippery stuff but still got caught out...anyway what I was getting to was, yes I can understand being nervous about riding the roads this time of year...take a rest for a couple of weeks or a month, don't risk an injury when conditions are dodgy as it could mess up your riding for next year...

unclemalc

boybiker wrote:

No I had this same conversation with a friend the other day as I said to him you can say you are going to give it up but you know and I know that once you start cycling it does something to you, gets into your blood and its going to be with you for the rest of your life, you might stop for a bit but you'll be back

Funnily enough, I was actually thinking of using the bike again, as I had done too much walking recently and I was geting grief from an ankle (bearing in mind I spend a lot of time on my feet at work).
BUT, on my way home I watched a car take out a (well-lit) cyclist simply because the driver was in a hurry to turn a corner ( - fortunately no damage, except to feelings).

So I thought - "Nah, not yet... :? .".

davelakers

I rode all last winter without any incident at all and Im much better equipped this year. Ive decided to say bollox to it and, weather permitting, get back on it next Tuesday. One full week of commuting in the car (1st for about 12 months) has driven me insane!!

boybiker

Got to say that riding along a bit of unlit road with very few cars around tonight I was overtaken by a feeling of dream like unreality as I was going along, prolly due to the fact that I couldn't see anything beyond my own lights. i was aware of being very careful round corners and lacking in visual clues as to my speed.

davelakers

Ive gotta say that the feeling of bombing down a quiet, unlit but well known country lane in the dark is quite exhilerating, it feels faster somehow.

nwallace

The dodgiest I have ever felt on a bike was the other week while dropping the road between campy and templeton (Gourdie brae in the dark ha no chance) on the way into Dundee, my Single Shot Plus demopnstrating that its usefuleness on shared use is fine but hopeless on real roads, and the fact I was using the lights of the vehicle behind me to see the road. Unfortunately it was a bus with poor headlights, rather than a rep-mobile + sports pack HIDs. Felt like I was going very fast.


I've had a few dodgy moments in cars , someone overtaking on the Cupar -> St Michaels road just after the Dairsie circle, somehow decided that it was a good idea to overtake on a blind crest, thankfully he forced his way back into a gap when he eventually saw by 4 full beam lamps, but not before I had got my speed down to low 2nd gearish.

Also see lucky escapes or the remains of accidents about 50% of trips on the A9 north of Perth. Some of the skid marks you see appearing out from the mists of time when it's damp are seriously scary. Until it was resurfaced there was a 20m long set of skid marks leading from the southbound lane into the northbound carriageway at the start of the dual carriageway after Drumochter. <Shudder>

Cleat Eastwood

I got hit by a car in june and was outof action for about a month. 3 days of which i lost feeling in my left arm. When I got back on the back i was I have to admit nervous, more cautious about cars behind me or pulling out. But strangely I have now started riding further from the gutter, taking the middle of theroad as if to say I'm here, I'm safe. Get out there, get on your bike, and ride proud but safely.