Head-on this morning on MVT

[bentbike33]

@Fairlington124 142024 wrote:

I get the vibe (including by some on this board) that many believe to have a right to maintain their speed at any cost, including to the effect of causing harm or risk of harm to other users of the trail. They are almost always in lycra on road bikes (but I will offer that most in lycra on road bikes do not bike dangerously).

Yes, an attitude adjustment from “maintain momentum at all costs” to “random interval training is the quickest route to improved fitness” is needed. While I do my best to keep the latter in mind, I still grumble when being responsible means I have to slow to pedestrian speeds before a steep climb (e.g., westbound Custis at the foot of the Two Sisters).

[mello yello]

It’s too bad that the MVT is really the only feasible option for that N/S corridor. It’s not built for the type and volume of traffic it sees. I was SB on Wednesday night and almost got clocked by someone heading north in my lane on one of the curved flyovers.

It’s why I usually take mostly street routes most of the time… I can maintain momentum in a less risky environment! (because there’s fewer pedestrians to avoid, of course, not that other thing)

[Tania]

@bentbike33 142026 wrote:

Yes, an attitude adjustment from “maintain momentum at all costs” to “random interval training is the quickest route to improved fitness” is needed. While I do my best to keep the latter in mind, I still grumble when being responsible means I have to slow to pedestrian speeds before a steep climb (e.g., westbound Custis at the foot of the Two Sisters).

Acceleration training! #crossiscoming

[bobco85]

@notmarian 142017 wrote:

Am I the one that sucks? What should I be doing differently? I call, ring, and hand signal passes, check my corners, and ride pretty slow, and I feel like I end up in really dangerous situations there. My commute is pretty short–just to College Park–but an accident here at the midpoint of my commute is pretty scary to think about.

I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong in this case, but maybe you could modify how you communicate your wishes to avoid both stress and damage to yourself, your bike, and everyone/thing around you.

As others have already said, slowing down and riding defensively help. I would add, though, that you should “take the lane” by riding in the direct center of your lane or even a bit closer to the line. This would help cut down on some of the center line passing because if you hug the right side, then people will view that as an open invitation to pass in your lane. It also provides you more space to bail on the right side.

Also, I am going to steal a piece of advice from Arlingtonrider on climbing hills on roads while taking the lane to prevent cars from passing too closely: wobble a bit every now and then. It makes you visually take up more space which causes others to keep their distance. I think this would help in a trail situation like yours, too.

[rcannon100]

@Fairlington124 142024 wrote:

I get the vibe (including by some on this board) that many believe to have a right to maintain their speed at any cost…

Well, to be fair, at the speed some of us go….. if we did not maintain that speed… we would fall over.

[notmarian]

@EasyRider 142025 wrote:

Agree. Slow ’em down and ride defensively is about all you can do. That northbound downhill to Gravelly Point is a problem area. There’s also a dirt path down to the water near that blind curve that fishermen use. You should assume that someone could step out onto the MVT from the bushes without warning.

I get all that logic about slow speeds, and I do slow down through that area because there are so many crappy sections, but my worst injury (my knee was described as “bone pulp” by my surgeons) was when I was traveling about 7mph, so I emphatically disagree that slow collisions won’t matter much. Being struck by someone going 22mph still risks a bag of hurt.

[sjclaeys]

@Fairlington124 142024 wrote:

I get the vibe (including by some on this board) that many believe to have a right to maintain their speed at any cost, including to the effect of causing harm or risk of harm to other users of the trail. They are almost always in lycra on road bikes (but I will offer that most in lycra on road bikes do not bike dangerously).

Rather than making generalities, can you give some examples of this “vibe” on this board? Reading all of the comments on this thread seem to be the opposite.

[BTC_DC]

@notmarian 142017 wrote:

My commute is pretty short–just to College Park–but an accident here at the midpoint of my commute is pretty scary to think about.

Actually sounds like a relatively long commute if Gravelly Point is just your midpoint going to College Park. ~30 miles each way?

[Tania]

@sjclaeys 142036 wrote:

Rather than making generalities, can you give some examples of this “vibe” on this board? Reading all of the comments on this thread seem to be the opposite.

I can’t give you any written examples on this forum but I’ve witnessed forum members doing some really questionable stuff while riding.

[GovernorSilver]

So far I have ridden on a trail with forum members Boomer, Powerful Pete, and worktheweb. They’re all responsible riders as far as I can tell.

[sjclaeys]

@Tania 142047 wrote:

I can’t give you any written examples on this forum but I’ve witnessed forum members doing some really questionable stuff while riding.

Fair enough, but that wasn’t what was said.

[mstone]

@notmarian 142032 wrote:

I get all that logic about slow speeds, and I do slow down through that area because there are so many crappy sections, but my worst injury (my knee was described as “bone pulp” by my surgeons) was when I was traveling about 7mph, so I emphatically disagree that slow collisions won’t matter much. Being struck by someone going 22mph still risks a bag of hurt.

Yeah, but a closing speed of 30 is still better than a closing speed of 40+. You do what you can, but there’s no magic bullet to control the other guy.

[rcannon100]

@Tania 142047 wrote:

I can’t give you any written examples on this forum but I’ve witnessed forum members doing some really questionable stuff while riding.

For example…..

[ATTACH=CONFIG]12013[/ATTACH]

[dkel]

@mstone 142053 wrote:

Yeah, but a closing speed of 30 is still better than a closing speed of 40+. You do what you can, but there’s no magic bullet to control the other guy.

Point taken, but closing speed doesn’t determine the force of the impact. Two objects colliding head-on, each at 25 mph is not a 50 mph impact; it would be the same thing as a moving object colliding with a stationary (immovable) object at 25 mph—i.e. a 25 mph impact.

Sorry. Couldn’t resist. :p

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Tania 142047 wrote:

I can’t give you any written examples on this forum but I’ve witnessed forum members doing some really questionable stuff while riding.

Anyone slower than oneself is an idiot, anyone faster is a maniac.

[Author]

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