Newbie Warning: Tips For Riding On Roads

MattMoore

Afternoon all,
Decided that this was the year I am going to get fit, always enjoyed riding on tow paths etc but most practical is riding on the roads to get my fitness up.
Never really ridden on roads, and I'm expecting that I will end up riding in the evenings too. Luckily all of the roads round where I live are lit, so this makes things slightly easier.
Just wondering what advice you can give me to make myself as noticeable as I can to cars, and to try and avoid getting run over!

Thanks in advance

Matt

chuckcork

MattMoore wrote:

Afternoon all,
Decided that this was the year I am going to get fit, always enjoyed riding on tow paths etc but most practical is riding on the roads to get my fitness up.
Never really ridden on roads, and I'm expecting that I will end up riding in the evenings too. Luckily all of the roads round where I live are lit, so this makes things slightly easier.
Just wondering what advice you can give me to make myself as noticeable as I can to cars, and to try and avoid getting run over!

Thanks in advance

Matt

Running red lights is bound to get you noticed by drivers who would otherwise completely blank you...

iain_j

You can never have too many lights and reflectives.

And ride in the 'primary position' - a good few feet out from the kerb, where drivers will see you, not tucked into the gutter where they'll either not see you or try and squeeze past you.

Keep your eyes peeled - be observant and check over your shoulder when you're moving about, even just to avoid potholes. Give plenty of arm signals too.

And the most important one I was given - assume drivers haven't seen you, even when it's your right of way - eg. passing a side street. Even if they have seen you, some will pull out on you anyway. Most don't, but if you're expecting them to do the stupid thing then it won't be a suprise when they do.

greg66_tri_v2.0

Welcome MattMoore!

A few off the top of my head:

- get good bright lights.
- try to get as close to the speed of the traffic around you if you can (that means fast *and* slow)
- know the surface on your route well - where are the holes/cracks/slippery white lines etc
- don't ride through puddles. You don't know what the surface is like under the water.
- don't get on the left hand side of a long vehicle. Sit behind it or pass it on the right.
- don't let traffic push you into the kerb. Keep 1m or so out.
- use your peripheral vision. A lot.
- use your ears.
- have fun.

greg66_tri_v2.0

iain_j wrote:

And the most important one I was given - assume drivers haven't seen you, even when it's your right of way - eg. passing a side street. Even if they have seen you, some will pull out on you anyway. Most don't, but if you're expecting them to do the stupid thing then it won't be a suprise when they do.

+1

And despite what you might think to being with, no one else is either trying to hit you or wants to hit you. Remember that. It's useful.

lost_in_thought

The above is good advice... especially the golden rule of assuming drivers haven't seen you.

I would add the following as supplementary info!

-- Be aware of opening doors, in stopped traffic and parked cars
-- Be wary of bendy buses and other long vehicles overtaking you.
-- Ride assertively, pretend you are a car rather than doing things like scooting round the edge of roundabouts.
-- You can try to alleviate the golden rule's effect by attempting to make eye contact with drivers who are looking like they might pull out on you, for example. It sounds daft, but sometimes works.
-- Be aware that people in cars, buses, lorries and on foot often presume cyclists aren't travelling much faster than 10mph and behave accordingly.

dav1

I find that having a light on the seat tube, as well as on a backpack is very useful for being seen.

Bright front light makes cars think twice before just pulling out (probably because they cant see you are a cyclist). In my experiance as soon as a driver notes that you are a cyclist they stop accounting for your speed and assume you will take ages to reach them.

other then those pomits it has all been said really.

Make sure you dont do things like skip red lights, and those other blatent breaking of the rules some people do to avoid irritating drivers. I always find that motorists with a hatred for cyclists will be the most dangerous when passing of all (in some cases because they are hurling abuse out of the window then then watch where they are going... but thats a rant that doesnt belong here)

so yeah, welcome to the club

Kenjaja1

The above is all good advice and will do mch to keep you safe. There will, however, be times when it may get a bit frightening. Remember it is better to be wary of a ton of metal moving at speed than to assume it ain't gonna hit you!

Audible warnings are useful for when a driver/jaywalker hasn't seen you - but don't leave it too late. You can use an airzound or similar device to make the noise or tou can save yourself the money and learn to shout very loudly. Shouting "Stop" loud enough to be heard by the driver and someone 5 miles away is surprisingly effective. It will also get other people looking in your direction ant they could become important witnesses if you end up having an accident (You are much less likely to have a shunt if other road users know you are there.)

Finally I would suggest you start with a little road riding at a time and begin on relatively quiet roads. The same dangers exist but are less frequent and quiet roads are not so intimidating. As you gain confidence so you can do more road riding and then get on to busier roads. Build up your confidence in your own way and in your own time.

Best of luck - you will soon enjoy it as much as your other cycling

tardington

Yes yes yes. And SCALPING of course.

Bassjunkieuk

tardie wrote:

Yes yes yes. And SCALPING of course.

HEHE, the whole SCR thread should be required reading along with Cyclecraft (check your local library for this, lots of excellent advice in its pages!) for any new commuters :-)

Greg66's advice is pretty much spot on so I can't add much more then other then it does become easier as you get more experience! You'll learn to read the road and drivers a lot better and will be able to anticipate the dangers ahead.

For me I've become so used to being out on the road on my bike I actually feel less aware of whats going on around me in my car as I have various metal pillars obscuring parts of my view and can't hear the traffic around me! It really is amazing how much you navigate in traffic using your ears as well as your eyes! Anything from a revving engine to the click click click of another cyclist will alert you to things you have yet to see!

The key advice tho is to treat ALL other road users as IDIOTS that way you won't be surprised when they do something stupid!

jimmypippa

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

tardie wrote:

Yes yes yes. And SCALPING of course.

HEHE, the whole SCR thread should be required reading along with Cyclecraft (check your local library for this, lots of excellent advice in its pages!) for any new commuters :-)

Greg66's advice is pretty much spot on so I can't add much more then other then it does become easier as you get more experience! You'll learn to read the road and drivers a lot better and will be able to anticipate the dangers ahead.

For me I've become so used to being out on the road on my bike I actually feel less aware of whats going on around me in my car as I have various metal pillars obscuring parts of my view and can't hear the traffic around me! It really is amazing how much you navigate in traffic using your ears as well as your eyes! Anything from a revving engine to the click click click of another cyclist will alert you to things you have yet to see!

The key advice tho is to treat ALL other road users as IDIOTS that way you won't be surprised when they do something stupid!

Which is why I don't use an ipod, or anything like that.

MattMoore

Wow, thanks for all the replies folks, have had a good read through and taken in alot of very useful info so far.
Fortunately the area I live is relatively quiet, so there wont be too many cars about.
Another thing I did think about whilst out and about in the car tonight was that I might try and only negotiate left hand bends and junctions for a while
and if I DO have to turn right, I'll do my best to make it out of 3 left turns instead

Kenjaja1

MattMoore wrote:

Wow, thanks for all the replies folks, have had a good read through and taken in alot of very useful info so far.
Fortunately the area I live is relatively quiet, so there wont be too many cars about.
Another thing I did think about whilst out and about in the car tonight was that I might try and only negotiate left hand bends and junctions for a while
and if I DO have to turn right, I'll do my best to make it out of 3 left turns instead

You'll either get dizzy and fall off or get burnt for being a witch if people spot you riding withershins around their area :?

cougie

When I was young I read Richard Ballantines cycling book from cover to cover again and again. That was full of useful tips.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richards-21st-C ... 0330377175

Or this one for city cycling :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/City-Cycling-Ri ... 06BTPG1T8R

dunker

don't always believe indicaters, 9 outta 10 they're going where indicated but just in case wait for them to turn and don't assume the car/bus/van/lorry is going left just cos the indicater is blinking.

ChrisLS

Welcome Matt, can't really add to all the good advice above...never ride with an ipod, as others have said, you need to hear what's going on around you...also, and I know others have said this to, never, never filter on the inside of large vehicles...I just stay back from them...

...stay safe and have fun...

...just one thing...don't get involved in Silly Commuting Racing...don't turn into a hollow eyed bicycle vampire ranging round the streets looking for scalps...you have been warned by one who knows...once you start there is no way back...

Hey Jax

what they all said......
and one more.....


BEWARE the Kamikaze pedestrians!...

singlespeedexplosif

And despite what you might think to being with, no one else is either trying to hit you or wants to hit you.

if only this were true of all drivers....

chuckcork

dunker wrote:

don't always believe indicaters, 9 outta 10 they're going where indicated but just in case wait for them to turn and don't assume the car/bus/van/lorry is going left just cos the indicater is blinking.

The reverse is true as well, just because they don't indicate doesn't mean they're not about to turn!

Also, be very careful at mini-roundabouts when turning right. You are invisible at such junctions, your arm held out to indicate turning right even more invisible (if that is possible), number of times I've about to do so and had a motorist completely fail to stop and had to do an emergency stop myself to avoid being T-boned.... :evil:

Which is to say, assume nothing at all times. It is safer and less likely to get you killed.

BUICK

Don't think being in a cycle lane means that cars will not pull across you without indicating, or that passenger doors won't be flung open. Take nothing for granted - and learn to enjoy the feeling of heightened awareness. It's probably as close as you can get in our urban environment to the feeling of hunting and being hunted - I reckon it does you good!

Mike Healey

Buy Cycle Craft by John Franklin, pub. Stationery Office, about £13 IIRC. Very thorough and well-thought out guide to cycling in traffic.

Buy Cycle Craft by John Franklin, pub. Stationery Office, about £13 IIRC. Very thorough and well-thought out guide to cycling in traffic.

Buy Cycle Craft by John Franklin, pub. Stationery Office, about £13 IIRC. Very thorough and well-thought out guide to cycling in traffic.

Buy Cycle Craft by John Franklin, pub. Stationery Office, about £13 IIRC. Very thorough and well-thought out guide to cycling in traffic.

Alternatively, John Franklin's Cyclecraft

lost_in_thought

Mattmoore, further to all the advice above, the thing is not to worry too much and enjoy yourself.

Be aware, take the advice into consideration, but also remember that a lot of people cycle on roads knowing absolutely nothing (like me when I started) and have a ball.

Have fun!

Bassjunkieuk

ChrisLS wrote:

...just one thing...don't get involved in Silly Commuting Racing...don't turn into a hollow eyed bicycle vampire ranging round the streets looking for scalps...you have been warned by one who knows...once you start there is no way back...

Good advice from the founding father :-D

sarajoy

Currently still working out how to get back into my toestrap easily, nevermind scalping!

I realise that SPDs might be better but I see the toeclip (without the straps currently) as a nice halfway-house.

For road advice:
- if you're a driver I'd suggest driving the route once during rush hour, and seeing what annoying things cyclists do, or how they could be more visible/indicative/considerate, and take that into account when you ride.
- as has been said many times already, it's all about awareness. Be aware, and ready for any hazards, keep your ears attuned to the traffic, and always assume the drivers will do something dangerous. They're not /all/ fools and some are really quite considerate, but we fare considerably worse than them in accidents so cautiousness pays.
- also do everything you can to make drivers aware of you and your movements! I tend to indicate with a slightly dropped right arm when about to pass a parked car (as opposed to an all-out straight-arm for a right-turn, I don't want to spook oncoming traffic).
- finally, reflectives are BRILLIANT. The more, the better. When I drive, even with decent lights, I see the reflective vest of a cyclist shining really bright way before I see their head/tail-light. At night I wear a hi-vis vest on top of the day-glo cycling jacket - it has a few nice little reflective strips, but the big shiny H on the back of a vest is invaluable.

woodgob

Beware of wet manhole and drain covers particularly when cornering. They scare the cr*p outta me. :shock: