collapsing door mirrors are a GOOD thing.
It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong.
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Another "Dear Cyclists, go f**k yourselves" news article. Sad.
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This car was too old to have collapsing mirrors Keith.
To the guy's credit, he made sure several times, I was OK. Shit happens, no bad intentions from him.
I got away with having to straighten front wheel in drops and a good cut on handlebar tape that I kept as a reminder.
The wise man said follow me...and he walked behind. -
Where I live in the city now I see commuters coming from UBC as I am on a cycling route. Marked with signs and a white line providing our own lane. Stunning how I still see dickheads with multiple rear lights and no or a dim headlamp. More car-cycling collisions happen from the front. You must have a bright and noticeable light on the front. That guy that is about to pull out onto the street from a parked position or side street has his lights pointing away from you so all the reflective stuff in the world does absolutely nothing. And if you are in traffic, that dinky dim light is lost in a sea of much brighter car lights. I think it is often safer at night to ride the poorly lit side roads with a good set of front and rear lights as you stand out way more.
Lance who?? -
ditto Andy. In traffic, forward facing, you should have one strobing light and one steady. Strobing to get attention. Steady because it is hard to perceive the distance to a strobing object (and you might need the steady to see!). Near misses for me went way down when I started using a strobing light.
Reflective stuff is still good and in Washington state is required (IIRC lights are actually not required).
On a bike path, you can lose the strobe. Please.
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CB2: "CK2_Rider I have to disagree. Often on my evening commute, on what I consider a wide, well lite road while using a 650 lumens headlight I've been surprised by pedestrians stepping out of the shadows. "
I agree, but I did mention that the ones I have not seen well were those coming from the side. Those that are on the road in front of me I have seen (hope that is the case in the future!). But, as I also said, I am looking for them because I KNOW they are there! I see riders, runners, cyclists almost every day on the roads I commute on so it makes sense to look for them.
From my observations of other riders on dark roads a small blinky light is not adequate. the major problem is that a single light, even if bright, is difficult to use as a distance marker. It looks the same at one 500 yards and 100 yards. Better to use two or more lights separated by a good distance. I use a rear helmet, seat and seat stay light. Each about 2 feet apart. That gives a better cue to judge distance. That's besides reflective tape on the seat stays, seat back, backpack, helmet, ankles, shoes, rims (yes, segments of reflective tape between spoke nipples), etc.
And in front a 600 lumen bar lamp and 400 lumen helmet lamp.
"The stone age didn't end because the earth ran out of stones, and the oil age won't end because the earth runs out of oil" -- Amory Lovins, Rocky Mountain Institute, rmi.org -
In 30 years of day/night commuting, I never failed to have a red blinking taillight and a strong white headlamp after dark. Only once was I hit from behind, by a drunk who had spun out on a curving entrance ramp and hit me sliding sideways. In all situations, you have to ride defensively and assume no one notices you. Make eye contact with drivers and wave them past when necessary.
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Not to start an argument here c2k,
" I'm trying to remember ANY time I didn't see a runner or cyclist ahead of me on a dark road. Nope"
If you did not see someone how can you remember them? ;)
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Not to start an argument here c2k,
" I'm trying to remember ANY time I didn't see a runner or cyclist ahead of me on a dark road. Nope"
If you did not see someone how can you remember them? ;)
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As a cyclist, former racer it POs me to see the 95 percent of cyclists who ride out in the middle of the road at low speeds. Either move it or ride on the shoulder, and if there is no shoulder, we the cyclists know the dangers.
Perfect example, I ride in Baja, and when there is no shoulder, or blind curves, shine....
A great cyclist anticipates safety issues, and deals with them before they happen.
Look at Levi Leipheimer, a safe rider, but one little mistake on a road he does not know, kablam!
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