Do you take on main roads and dare to ride next to a lot of passing cars?

[steveyo]

Originally Posted by Kerv

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck8bM97Hh3I

For the ultimate in playing in traffic, check out this vid of the completely crazy Adam Cohen (from the DVD Inner Balance)

He's not crazy, he's crazy-good.

[fluxusmaximus]

Originally Posted by steveyo

When I do ride roads, I try to wear a flashing red light or two and bright clothing. I feel more visible than on a bike, especially with how tall a 36er is. Even a rider on a 29er is taller than a bike, and the rarity of a uni also makes people notice us more, (I hope).

Still, a local acquaintance and peer of mine (40-something, dad w/3 kids) was killed near here, on his bike, by a woman driving on Ambien (sleeping med.), so I believe it's best to avoid traffic whenever possible. One stupid error on her part cost him his life, and cost his kids their father.

At least don't get complacent and think you're safe doing so - stay alert and wear a helmet (except if you don't, Rowan ). You never know when someone will make a little (or big) mistake and run into you with their 2 ton vehicle.

That's the sort of thing I'm talking about. I trust my riding skills to not kill me but I have no faith in everyone else to not kill me with an error in judgment.

[phlegm]

Whether or not you should feel comfortable riding on the road depends on the location as well. I'm fortunate to live in a place with lots of cyclists, so I feel relatively safe on most roads. But I've also lived and visited places where I would avoid riding on the road.

Also, I actually feel safer on my 36er than a bicycle, because I'm more visible and it seems drivers are more cautious when passing me.

[Phil_on_uni]

I ride to work every other day.... and I ride on the busiest street in town...

[deadbeatpope]

I prefer not to ride with cars if avoidable. Sidewalks, trails, bike paths are my main routes. I can't see any good coming from riding in automobile traffic. If anyone makes a mistake the loser will be you. I don't wish to be honked or shouted at and don't care for the exhaust fumes. Straying from the car issue - I like to ride where there aren't many people but other cyclists don't bother me.
By the way - anyone else out there who likes to ride in the middle of the night when no one is around?

[wobbling bear]

big reason for not riding in traffic: spurious interrupts (programmers private joke here )

[Splodge]

Originally Posted by deadbeatpope

IBy the way - anyone else out there who likes to ride in the middle of the night when no one is around?

Since winter arrived here a few months ago (my first proper one on a Uni) I've ridden every few days in the dark......I love it
- will almost be sad to see summer......actually that's rubbish....but I do love riding in the dark.

[Snip0075]

Night rides are some of my favorites. Now that winter is coming on I have to bundle up more and watch for ice though...

[siafirede]

Yes, you kind of have to ride with traffic if you live in a city. The best thing to do is to see if your city has a bike map available for common routes that bicyclists have deemed safe or that have bike lanes.

In Denver, there are certain roads that either
1) have bike lanes
2) are known bike routes, in that they are just a normal road, but they are slower moving roads than parallel roads b/c of stop signs or traffic lights, so cars should learn to stay away from these roads and go on the faster ones.

Just make sure you ride defensively, assume that no one sees you and assume that cars will not obey the traffic laws and give yourself at least 3 feet of space from a parked car so you don't get door'd. I ride with a bright red blinky light, reflectors, a huge yellow backpack, and a flashing headlight.

Unicycling is almost safer than bicycling in a city b/c you are higher up, more straight, and cars give you more space when passing.

I usually prefer biking in the city vs unicycling, but in winter, unicycling is king. We have been hit with some really cold temperatures and snow, my bike doesn't handle well in hard pack snow, but the 36er has no problem. Just the other night I unicycled downtown on snow in -27F degree(with windchill) temps on the trusty nimbus 36er w/ 150s and ski goggles/balaclava.

[Tak]

Originally Posted by wobbling bear

big reason for not riding in traffic: spurious interrupts (programmers private joke here )

I find that many cyclists have overridden the default interrupt handler with a noop.

[semach.the.monkey]

Originally Posted by siafirede

Unicycling is almost safer than bicycling in a city b/c you are higher up, more straight, and cars give you more space when passing.

Also, a unicycle is more maneuverable than a bike. Typically, you don't travel as fast as you can on a bike. And, if you are unlucky enough to get hit by traffic, there is much less chance of getting caught up with the frame or handlebars.

STM

[rob.northcott]

I don't like unicycling on faster roads. In town isn't too bad (except for balancing at junctions if you're not so good at hopping or idling), but on roads where people are passing at 50mph or more (often very close if they're in BMWs or 4x4s) it just feels way too dodgy - I'll stick to a bike for those.

Rob

[DSchmitt]

i hate riding on roads. i hate the noise mostly. but i just feel its dangerous. even when i used to ride the road bike. people just can't drive. and some people try to get as close as possible to you.


plus people seem to head toword what they're looking at...haha...why cops on the side of the road always get crashed into.

[JerryAttrick]

That's called Target Fixation.

Given that riding a unicycle on the road is so (relatively) uncommon, I suspect we stand a higher than normal chance of being hit by cars.

Jerry

[idiorythmic]

Originally Posted by siafirede

..give yourself at least 3 feet of space from a parked car so you don't get door'd...

Unfortunately most of roads I could ride on don't allow that much room; if I moved three or four feet over I'd be in front of the traffic. To avoid the traffic I need to be six inches from the mirrors of the parked cars, (which means, btw, that if I get doored then the cars passing me will get doored as well)