[dplasters]

There are two different passing issues happening.

On say, a four lane interstate, the most likely scenario is the last car in a line behind a slower moving vehicle in the right lane is going to be the one who passes first. As a hole opens up in the traffic existing in the left lane, the last car in line will have the first chance to merge left, thus passing first.

On a two lane road, the opposite is true. A bike path is obviously much more like a two lane road than a four lane interstate. What you have is people riding like its a four lane road on a two lane bike path.

You get this because we are spoiled drivers who live in an area where there are so few two lane roads left, let alone ones that even allow for passing, no one knows how its supposed to work anymore.

My personal opinion is that you should always check your left when moving left. Defensive driving, defensive riding. A scenario like that could very easily end up with someone clipping your bars or front wheel and you’re the one eating it. At that point, I’m not sure you really care who is in the right or not.

[dplasters]

Despite my rolling the dice on so many miles without a flat tire, I was not punished with a flat on the way home. That’s good.
I was instead greeted with 30 solid minutes of rain. That’s bad.

But the cars were nice. That’s good.
But my hands were actually pruney when I got home from all the rain. That’s bad.

[dplasters]

@dkel 119713 wrote:

In my experience, remarks like this guarantee you will flat.

Soon.

Very soon.

I was aware of the risky mojo in posting. I’ve been debating posting “when the heck am I supposed to get my first flat??” for a while though and figured I’d just bite the bullet and do it.

To be fair, I use very very very robust and heavy tires. Thickslick Urban Elite 700×25.

[dplasters]

@Crickey7 119707 wrote:

That’s a lot of hundreds.

It is.. I typed it.. posted it.. read it… and said “I think it makes me sound more grandiose.. its staying.”

[dplasters]

I’m like 3,500 hundred miles in and still haven’t had a flat….

You’re all clearly doing it wrong.

[dplasters]

@hozn 119422 wrote:

Why not just get the Ludwig built with/for the Alfine hub?

http://www.schindelhauerbikes.com/en/bikes/Ludwig.html

Not willing to go di2 just to get hoods. Much prefer drops with hoods.

I’ve thought about getting a kinlin rim. I haven’t see what kind of weight difference there really is.

I’d not heard anything about the hubs wearing out. That sounds really odd and I’m not sure how that would happen. Given that I rode my S2 through the whole winter and several reviews say it is worthless in the winter I take it all in stride. I’m a low fuss rider.

It is definitely a one or two person shop in Wyoming. Beltdr.com is the site.

[dplasters]

@Sunyata 119397 wrote:

(I went to JMU)

Go Dukes.

[dplasters]

How I miss the days when being astride good solid horseflesh was my primary means of commutation.

[dplasters]

It is so pretty…..

[ATTACH=CONFIG]8995[/ATTACH]

[dplasters]

@rcannon100 118726 wrote:

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Rule 37.

[dplasters]

@GovernorSilver 118537 wrote:

I stand corrected.

Regarding the “helmets optional” point, helmets are optional in DC or VA (just checked the VDOT site) for anyone over 14 anyway, so I don’t understand why the article emphasizes that.

Because you could get hit by an 18 wheeler going 50mph over the speed limit that is running a red light and the next line in the article would state if you were or weren’t wearing a helmet. Like it would make a difference. If you didn’t have the helmet on “you had it coming” and “were riding recklessly”.

On the article:

Lets be quip too, upwards of $1,000 on a bike? That is what the wheelset costs. Don’t low-ball them like that.

There is a real issue of using public infrastructure that is meant as a means of transportation as your personal training ground. Feeling like you’re entitled to a good workout, other users, be they motorized, or human powered be damned is something I have witnessed. This isn’t an appropriate way of addressing that issue. The article says if I use curvy bars and have brake hoods I’m a jerk. Solid.

I’m dismissive and I don’t even own bib shorts.

[dplasters]

@GovernorSilver 118398 wrote:

or when the lane width is too narrow to share with a motor vehicle

So in VA I’m supposed to ride my bike as close to the right curb/edge “as safely practicable” but wouldn’t that lead to weaving – that is, you ride closer to the curb when there’s no parked cars (and their doors!) to worry about, but have to ride further away when the parked cars are there. :confused:

Not that it is super relevant to the situation but I bolded what is to me the most important part of that law. A few feet from the edge/curb to me, a foot or two for my width, 3′ to pass aka I ride dead center in the vast majority of lanes I ride in.

Yes, cyclists are vehicles and are subject to the speed limit. Dismal’s point is that so are cars. 15mph on a flat road is a simple task for many… so why not cycle where you’d please?

Bicyclists operating a bicycle on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place under conditions then existing shall ride as close as safely practicable to the right curb or edge of roadway

[dplasters]

To the two cyclists I saw on Lee Highway out in Fairfax this morning (particularly the one with the Noblis Jersey on that appeared to be riding toward Fairview Park). Sorry I wasn’t out there with you today. The hangover is still with me, and with this heat, did not need to be tested.

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[dplasters]

@lordofthemark 117630 wrote:

…That single lane would be wide enough to encourage speeding (this is a 25MPH zone) You still have a one single lane down the middle of the street, but now you have these striped lanes, that make drivers think their lane is narrower (it is not when there is no cyclists, but I am told they will still think it is) and so they will be less likely to exceed the speed limit.

My sense of the politics of this is that the neighborhood really wanted it – they do want traffic calming, and this is the cheapest practical way to achieve it……. I doubt anyone in the neighborhood will complain, because they all wanted this – and motorists from elsewhere will seldom see it, because they have no reason to go there.

I love this about neighborhoods. Everyone drives too fast in their own neighborhood. They know its a problem, yet can’t seem to solve it themselves.

[dplasters]

@dplasters 117285 wrote:

Yeah, I intend on calling them but I worry about timing. The officer that took my information and incident report said he was going to be calling and seeing if they could get the driver’s information but felt it was a slim chance since he didn’t expect they record gps/tracking information for an average work van.

Not to hog the thread, but I just got a call from the officer and they do have GPS on their vehicles, but they also have subcontractors who don’t have GPS. Either way, it is nice to see that they are taking it seriously.

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