Bicycle riders ?

I love bikeriding. But am no where near professional competition. Just use it to get everywhere. I would love to ride in a marathon or one of those huge treks they have here in NYC that are range from 20-100 miles.

When I lived in Queens I used to ride my bike a lot just to get places when I didn't wanna walk and I didn't want my parents to drive me. I really enjoyed it but I need a new bike so I haven't rode a bike in a while.

Stay in your ****ing lane then, people.



Seriously, out here there are WIDE designated bike lanes EVERYWHERE. And for some reason (don't know why) bike riders (both the casual cruisers and the spandex-adorned "serious" ones) ALWAYS ride on the white line or just outside it, leaving this huge 5-6ft. lane completely empty.

In the eight years I've been here in SoCal, I've nearly hit 3 or 4 bikers (accidentally, of course) and have had to get on the horn to countless others.

I'm like "YOU HAVE A WHOLE LANE...USE IT!"



Anyone else notice this phenomenon? I see it every single day.

Among cyclists, is it seen as uncool and reactionary to actually ride INSIDE THE LANE? I'm just asking...someone let me know, okay?

One day, back in the summer, this one asshole was - I'm not kidding - IN THE STREET, about 2 feet.

I had to swerve around him and nearly sideswipe a car to the left of me. I went up the road about 5 blocks, pulled in to a 7-11 and waited for the cyclist to arrive and I yelled motioned him over and actually asked "man, why are you out in the road and not in the lane? Did you see me almost hit that other car to avoid plowing into you?"

He looked at me like "don't question me..." (total yuppie type to begin with) and smirked and started pedaling away.

I called him an "inconsiderate cocksucker..." and wished him luck and safety (sarcastically) and he flung me the bird and we left and went our separate ways.

He's probably dead by now, if that's his usual method of riding.

Yep, I no longer ride road bikes (Older Trek 5500) but I do ride mountain bikes (Trek Y33) quite a bit

I just keep around a customfitted mountain bike. Its pretty good, good parts, if only I had the cash to replace those wreched rockshocks (dont ask).

[quote]Seriously, out here there are WIDE designated bike lanes EVERYWHERE.<hr></blockquote>

Hah, not in Halifax.

[quote]Originally posted by pscates:
<strong>Stay in your ****ing lane then, people.

</strong><hr></blockquote>

When riding here in Chicago I wind up yelling things like "OPEN YOUR ****ING EYES" to most of the bad drivers. After all the only reason so many people could be such bad divers is if their eyes were close. Or mindlessly chating on the cell phone. Or in such a hurry they need not look for other traffic. Or drunk.

[quote]Originally posted by Scott H.:
<strong>After all the only reason so many people could be such bad divers is if their eyes were close. Or mindlessly chating on the cell phone. Or in such a hurry they need not look for other traffic. Or drunk.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I have/am/do none of the above. I'm just cruising along in my lane like a regular, normal driver...only to have to pull a bit further to the left (oftentimes crossing a bit into the lane beside me) because a bicyclist is riding the stupid white line of his lane, even though he has a generous 5' or so of open lane.

I've just never understood this...that's why I posted the above "rant" because to me it is rude and shitheaded behavior...not to mention DANGEROUS!

Believe me, I'm not out to hit anyone and I've nearly been into sideswiping accidents with cars to my left in my efforts to safely clear some of these chucklehead cyclists who, for whatever reason, don't want to ride in the center portion of THEIR lane.

It would be like me driving down the freeway with my left tires on (or beyond) the lane divider and making those on the left of me nervous and, in turn, scooting more to THEIR left.

Yes, there are plenty of bad car drivers out there...for all the reasons you mentioned.

But I ain't one of 'em.

Bike Lane? What's this?

[quote]Originally posted by pscates:
<strong>

I have/am/do none of the above.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I didn't say you were. I can rant on my fellow cyclist too. But we're not the ones driving two tons down the street at 40MPH while chatting on the cell phone drunk in a hurry.

I was thinking of selling my Yeti ARC for a road set-up, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I put together that bike from scratch just the way I wanted, and lots of the components are now ancient anyway. Most of the stuff is 1997 model year.

I would love a SyCip custom roadie though.

I prefer Mountainbiking to road biking. It gets you closer to nature, there is more adrenaline, and its just plain more exciting to be speeding at 20mph down a singletrack about 3 feet wide where anye misstep will slam you into a tree, a stump, or off a cliff (happened to a freind of mine)

[quote]Originally posted by Adam11:
<strong>Only thing is that you will probably need new shoes as the clipless pedels are prbably quite different for your Mountain Bike.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Naw. You can get SPD pedals for a road bike. Worse comes to worse you slap some ATB pedals on the road bike. Who cares? It's not like your Lance Armstrong.

[ 12-02-2001: Message edited by: Scott H. ]</p>

No kidding, that's probably what I'd do anyway. I want double-sided pedals.

I hate the multiple personalities many bikers get. Sometimes they want to be treated them like cars, other times they want to be treated like a pedestrian.

I've had close calls with bikes a few times as a pedestrian.

If there's no bike lane and you're riding in the middle of the street. . . SPEED THE HELL UP!

[quote]Originally posted by groverat:
<strong>I hate the multiple personalities many bikers get. Sometimes they want to be treated them like cars, other times they want to be treated like a pedestrian.

I've had close calls with bikes a few times as a pedestrian.</strong><hr></blockquote>

That's why I only ride in the street. IMO the most dangerous thing for a cyclist to do is "transition" from "pedestrian" flow to "street" flow. The main problem being you pop off the sidewalk, for example, faster than any pedestrian would. So drivers look at the corner and see no one there and then the look the other way for traffic and when the look back there's a bike there.

I could write volumes on this stuff.

[quote]Originally posted by groverat:
<strong>If there's no bike lane and you're riding in the middle of the street. . . SPEED THE HELL UP!</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yea like me going 15 and not 5 is going to make a difference when the cars are going 45? Might I suggest the cars slow down. Seems to me most cars are going twice the speed limit all the time anyway.

IMO there are two problems that wont get fixed.

1) The roads are built with bikes in mind.

2) Theres no real enforcement of the traffic laws on anyone at all. Bikes or cars.

Most drivers don't seem to know how to overtake cyclists. It is only the occasional one will slow down and give me a lot of space (if they are able to do so). Others will just ignore me and fly past without giving me any additional space, even if there is a whole lane with no oncoming traffic at their disposal. Others will honk their horn before passing, which scares the **** out of me. Others will yell out the window and throw things at me, but that's fodder for another topic.

Riding a bike in town is bad... there are maybe three bike lanes that I've seen.

I never bike on the sidewalk. It's more dangerous than biking on the street. When I bike in Berkeley streets, I can keep up with traffic.

Bikes aren't supposed to be on sidewalks. They are subject to vehicle laws.

Anyway, I hate biking down University Ave. here. People go 45 MPH. They don't give you room on the shoulder of the road. The air they displace at that speed is enough to knock some cyclists over.

If you've never studded your own tires and gone winter mountainbiking over snowy hills and frozen lakes, you haven't lived. :cool:

[quote]Originally posted by pscates:
<strong>I've just never understood this...that's why I posted the above "rant" because to me it is rude and shitheaded behavior...not to mention DANGEROUS!

Believe me, I'm not out to hit anyone and I've nearly been into sideswiping accidents with cars to my left in my efforts to safely clear some of these chucklehead cyclists who, for whatever reason, don't want to ride in the center portion of THEIR lane.

It would be like me driving down the freeway with my left tires on (or beyond) the lane divider and making those on the left of me nervous and, in turn, scooting more to THEIR left.

Yes, there are plenty of bad car drivers out there...for all the reasons you mentioned.

But I ain't one of 'em.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hi. I'm a newbie in here (I only heard about the AppleInsider forums after they were in their "hiatus," so I'm checking them out now), but I don't think I'd be out of line in answering your question (to the best of my knowledge). It sounds like you're genuinely interested in getting an answer.

I'm a bike rider, too, and although I ride much more off-road than on, I've put in plenty of miles on the pavement.

Anyway, the riding-on-the-line thing? It's all about the friction. Even a skinny-tired road bike is going to feel a difference (drag) between the smoothness of the painted surface and the roughness of even well-laid blacktop or concrete. It's all the more noticeable on a fat-tired mountain bike.

That's probably not always the reason, but it often is, and it will usually be the reason for any unusual position the bike rider will put him/herself in on the road.

Doesn't mean it isn't stupid to do it when there's a lot of safer space available, but that's the why of it. I am very often frustrated to infuriated by the stupidities I see bike riders doing over and over again, but car drivers get a share of their own jerks, as well.

Hope that helps.

[ 12-04-2001: Message edited by: thin shadow ]</p>

Thanks. That does make sense, I guess.

But is it worth risking getting hit by a car, or causing said car to hit another car in an effort to avoid a line-riding biker?

To me, that's one of those "big risk, small gain" investments.

[quote]If you've never studded your own tires and gone winter mountainbiking over snowy hills and frozen lakes, you haven't lived.<hr></blockquote>

I plan to do that this winter. Galbraith mt which is where I bike is high enough elevation to get some good snowfall. just need to find a spare tire and some screws . Can you imagine dirtjumping in the snow? Dear lord thats gonna rock.

Just got back online tonite. I got caught in the crossfire between Excite@Home and AT&T. So now I guess I get to jump into a whole bunch of discussions late and see how many threads I can kill doing it.

Getting back on topic, I have a Cannondale road bike. I haven't done any mountain biking although I am planning on getting a mountain bike. They are better for riding in the city. I'll take the Canondale out for weekend daytrips and use the mountainbike for an every day mule. But I won't be doing too much more biking before the weather turns. It's been amazingly warm here lately but this can't last for much longer.

[quote]Originally posted by Falcon:
<strong>

I plan to do that this winter. Galbraith mt which is where I bike is high enough elevation to get some good snowfall. just need to find a spare tire and some screws . Can you imagine dirtjumping in the snow? Dear lord thats gonna rock.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Go for it man, I promise you'll have an unforgetable experience <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />

Word of caution: when studding your tires (tyres for the UK lads) make sure there is adequate protection on the inside wall of the tire between the stud and the inner tube! Other wise you may find yourself going through a small cycle shops supply of tubes!! There may be some place that sells already studded tires now? I've done it before in unstudded knobblies which can be fine on the snow but when going across frozen lakes and ponds? :eek:

Studded tires scare me, especially since I still use semi-slicks for nearly everything...knobbies aren't my style...and I wouldn't like to endo and have my bike w/studded tires land on me, which I do a lot...

[quote]Originally posted by roger_ramjet:
<strong>I am planning on getting a mountain bike. They are better for riding in the city.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I don't know about that. Road bikes are so much faster than mountain bikes. Plus any mountain bike will be geared for mountains and not street. For the city I might get an old but good road frame, put some thick tires on it.

[quote]Originally posted by Scott H.:
<strong>
I don't know about that. Road bikes are so much faster than mountain bikes. Plus any mountain bike will be geared for mountains and not street. For the city I might get an old but good road frame, put some thick tires on it.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Not looking for speed in the city. I'm thinking potholes and the shocks you get on a mountainbike. I can always change the chainring and rear cassette if I don't like the gearing. I don't know jack about mountain bikes though.

[quote]Word of caution: when studding your tires (tyres for the UK lads) make sure there is adequate protection on the inside wall of the tire between the stud and the inner tube! Other wise you may find yourself going through a small cycle shops supply of tubes<hr></blockquote>

I have heard that the poor-mans fix for this is good oldfashioned American DuctTape. Ducttape is like the force, it has a light and dark side, and it holds the universe together. Sorry couldnt resist.

[quote]Studded tires scare me, especially since I still use semi-slicks for nearly everything...knobbies aren't my style...and I wouldn't like to endo and have my bike w/studded tires land on me, which I do a lot...<hr></blockquote>

True true you would have to go a little bit easier. I remember on my last ride with my possy it was so incredibly muddy that I endo'd 4 times, fell of a brige, plus my platform pedals cut a 1-2 inch gash into my leg to the bone... it was so much fun.

[ 12-07-2001: Message edited by: Falcon ]</p>

[quote]Originally posted by Falcon:
<strong>plus my platform pedals cut a 1-2 inch gash into my leg to the bone... it was so much fun.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

I raked the back of my leg across the chain ring at the beginning of the summer. It's a nice scar to show people because it's on my calf just under my sock, "Here, check this out..."

I have ATACs, no need to worry about pedals making a gash in my calf.

As for riding a mountain bike in the city...

1) get semi-slicks
2) pay attention to gear ratios...A lot of mountain bikes these days have tiny chainrings and large cogs...You probably want your large chainring to have at least 46 teeth and your small cog to have 11 teeth or fewer.

[quote]I raked the back of my leg across the chain ring at the beginning of the summer.<hr></blockquote>

Ack those can get messy . I bet it was fun to. The funny thing about my gash is that I didnt feel a thing. One moment I was powering through this hudge puddle up to my ankles on the bike, and the next I hit this mud pack and bam my front tire looses traction and slips and sinks, and down I go my foot sliding back behind the pedal and my body then pulling my leg back over the pedal and through the pedal. I get up to cheers from my buds I guess it was cool to watch. Look down with blood gushing out of my leg, open it with my hands, see bone, and go "oh this is a bad one."

For "city" tires I use IRC Metros. I used to ride the Avocet cross but the skinwalls on those tires don't seem to last at all.

On my road bike for "city" tires I have Michelin <a href="http://cycleus.webmichelin.com/tires/axialbisport.htm" target="_blank"> Axial Bi-Sports </a>. They have a little bit of tread down the middle and say they are a little thicker. Which is good because I was always picking glass out of the last pair which were full road slicks.

[ 12-08-2001: Message edited by: Scott H. ]</p>

dragging and old thread back up

I just got some new wheels for my bike. Some $70 cheap-os from Nashbar. Not too cheap, on sale. I'm just waiting for my chain whip and shimano cassette tool to show up and I'll put them on. It will be odd not to hear spokes ticking and brakes rubbing while I ride

I also recently got some new gear for my bike. I picked up a pair of Avid Mechanical Disk Brakes, XT disk hubs, and a snazzy T.H.E. front fender to keep the mud out of my eyes where barreling 45-50+ down the logging roads. Though I havent been able to install the disks yet becuase my disk hubs havent arrived grr.

Dennis Leary said it best on track 12 (President Leary) of his "Lock 'N Load" CD:
[quote] Let me tell you somthin' else! When I'm President of the United States, all you assholes who ride bikes in the city, LOCK AND LOAD! OK? You're goin' down. Yeah, what the FUCK are you people thinking about, eh? You wanna ride a bike in the city? Move to China, go ahead! Eat some rice for the rest of your life. Are you fuckin' insane riding a bike around the middle of Manhattan traffic, huh?! There is no speed limit in New York! Have you noticed that? Have you ever seen a speed limit sign in Manhattan? No they don't exist! Red lights here mean stop if you want to! Last guy who got a speeding ticket in Manhattan was the guy who crashed his plane into the Empire State Building back in 1937-wake the fuck up and smell the maple nut crunch!
They drive me fuckin' NUTS! Have you had that experience? When you are gettin' out of a cab and you open the door and a BIKE guy smashes into the car door! And then he gives you that attitude: "Hey man, thats my space!" No it isn't! Thats the space for the door to fuckin' open asshole!
They got they're little spandex pants on, they're little gloves, 'n they're riding around. "I have the right to ride my bike right in the middle of traffic. I have my little whistle. Flan-flan." I HAVE A HORN! BONG-BONG! YOU'RE DEAD!
And you rollerbladen' assholes, LOCK AND LOAD! Lock and load. With your pink spandex and your headphones on, dancing doin' the hustle in the middle of traffic. Make up your mind, dance or drive OK asshole? Just make up a descision.
fuck... I don't get it. You know? Why don't you just put on clown-pants and ride a unicycle right down fifth avenue? "Hey, look at me!" Why don't you PARASAIL right down broadway? "LOOK AT ME! I HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THIS!" No you dont, snip-snip your out! Happy now? <hr></blockquote>

I could go on about the cops who ride bikes, but I think this is enough! <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />

Denis should know that some of us who ride LOCK AND LOAD. Better hope he gets the first shot off.

Denis should know that some of us who ride LOCK AND LOAD. Better hope he gets the first shot off.