Less Dorky Mirror - Page 2 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

06-20-2004, 10:59 PM

In article <UTuBc.20479$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]-kc.rr.com>,
"Michael" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
> Which is less dorky: a mirror on the helmet or a mirror
> on the handlebars?
>
> I've resisted mirrors all my life, but I must ride a two lane
> road with a 55 mile an hour speed limit with absolutely no
> paved shoulder. I hug the white line right now, looking back
> sometimes but with the chance of going into the road or into
> the gravel.

Some handlebar mirrors effectively widen your handlebar,
and thereby makes your bike 'wider' in the eyes of drivers.
Especially the ones that velcro onto MTB handlebars.

I scare other riders with my handlebar width + mirror.
But most of them are too willing to ride in the door
zone, anyway.

It can help to look a little scary, and a handlebar mirror
can do that. Heck, you don't even have to use it. But as
(I think it was Clint Eastwood's 'Diry Harry') said: "A
man's got to know his limitations."

A lot of folks will jump on the part where you say you
hug the white line. Actually, if you're just over the
crest of hill, that might be the best place to be, because
in that situation, there's absolutely /nothing/ you can
do to enhance your visibility. Otherwise, it's best to
be where you can be seen and respected. Even if reluctantly
respected. At least you get to keep your skin on.

You say it's a 2-lane. I assume the lanes are narrow.
Those are the most uncomfortable roads to ride on, when
the traffic is thick. If there are plentious opportunities
for traffic behind you to pass you, I'd say take the lane.
If there isn't, and there's nowhere to ditch, I'd say find an
alternate route. If there's no alternate route, I don't know
what to say.

good luck,
Tom

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06-20-2004, 11:14 PM

This sounds like a good case for riding on the wrong side of the road.
I know this will start a war but it is what I do when I 'must' ride on a
road with no bicycle lanes. When you are going against traffic at least
you can see the cars coming and pull off into the dirt on the side if need
be. I have been hit by a car while riding properly on the right with no
bicycle lane. Teenager in a low rider Datsun pickup. His mirror hit my
elbow wnough to hurt me and knock his mirror loose and the kid never
stopped. The road was wide enough for him to pull around and there was no
traffic coming. If I had been a 'Wrong Way Rider' I could have just gone
into the dirt. Being legal is a small consolation if you get killed.
BTW, this is only for country roads, which it sounds like if it is a 55
MPH road.
Now everyone else can tell me what bad advice this is.
FWIW I have to ride my MTB about 20 miles on the road to get to the good
off road stuff.
Bill Baka

On Mon, 21 Jun 2004 01:05:33 -0500, Michael <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

> Which is less dorky: a mirror on the helmet or a mirror
> on the handlebars?
>
> I've resisted mirrors all my life, but I must ride a two lane
> road with a 55 mile an hour speed limit with absolutely no
> paved shoulder. I hug the white line right now, looking back
> sometimes but with the chance of going into the road or into
> the gravel.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mike
>
>

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06-20-2004, 11:14 PM

This sounds like a good case for riding on the wrong side of the road.
I know this will start a war but it is what I do when I 'must' ride on a
road with no bicycle lanes. When you are going against traffic at least
you can see the cars coming and pull off into the dirt on the side if need
be. I have been hit by a car while riding properly on the right with no
bicycle lane. Teenager in a low rider Datsun pickup. His mirror hit my
elbow wnough to hurt me and knock his mirror loose and the kid never
stopped. The road was wide enough for him to pull around and there was no
traffic coming. If I had been a 'Wrong Way Rider' I could have just gone
into the dirt. Being legal is a small consolation if you get killed.
BTW, this is only for country roads, which it sounds like if it is a 55
MPH road.
Now everyone else can tell me what bad advice this is.
FWIW I have to ride my MTB about 20 miles on the road to get to the good
off road stuff.
Bill Baka

On Mon, 21 Jun 2004 01:05:33 -0500, Michael <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

> Which is less dorky: a mirror on the helmet or a mirror
> on the handlebars?
>
> I've resisted mirrors all my life, but I must ride a two lane
> road with a 55 mile an hour speed limit with absolutely no
> paved shoulder. I hug the white line right now, looking back
> sometimes but with the chance of going into the road or into
> the gravel.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mike
>
>

--
Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

06-20-2004, 11:14 PM

This sounds like a good case for riding on the wrong side of the road.
I know this will start a war but it is what I do when I 'must' ride on a
road with no bicycle lanes. When you are going against traffic at least
you can see the cars coming and pull off into the dirt on the side if need
be. I have been hit by a car while riding properly on the right with no
bicycle lane. Teenager in a low rider Datsun pickup. His mirror hit my
elbow wnough to hurt me and knock his mirror loose and the kid never
stopped. The road was wide enough for him to pull around and there was no
traffic coming. If I had been a 'Wrong Way Rider' I could have just gone
into the dirt. Being legal is a small consolation if you get killed.
BTW, this is only for country roads, which it sounds like if it is a 55
MPH road.
Now everyone else can tell me what bad advice this is.
FWIW I have to ride my MTB about 20 miles on the road to get to the good
off road stuff.
Bill Baka

On Mon, 21 Jun 2004 01:05:33 -0500, Michael <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

> Which is less dorky: a mirror on the helmet or a mirror
> on the handlebars?
>
> I've resisted mirrors all my life, but I must ride a two lane
> road with a 55 mile an hour speed limit with absolutely no
> paved shoulder. I hug the white line right now, looking back
> sometimes but with the chance of going into the road or into
> the gravel.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mike
>
>

--
Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

06-20-2004, 11:14 PM

This sounds like a good case for riding on the wrong side of the road.
I know this will start a war but it is what I do when I 'must' ride on a
road with no bicycle lanes. When you are going against traffic at least
you can see the cars coming and pull off into the dirt on the side if need
be. I have been hit by a car while riding properly on the right with no
bicycle lane. Teenager in a low rider Datsun pickup. His mirror hit my
elbow wnough to hurt me and knock his mirror loose and the kid never
stopped. The road was wide enough for him to pull around and there was no
traffic coming. If I had been a 'Wrong Way Rider' I could have just gone
into the dirt. Being legal is a small consolation if you get killed.
BTW, this is only for country roads, which it sounds like if it is a 55
MPH road.
Now everyone else can tell me what bad advice this is.
FWIW I have to ride my MTB about 20 miles on the road to get to the good
off road stuff.
Bill Baka

On Mon, 21 Jun 2004 01:05:33 -0500, Michael <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

> Which is less dorky: a mirror on the helmet or a mirror
> on the handlebars?
>
> I've resisted mirrors all my life, but I must ride a two lane
> road with a 55 mile an hour speed limit with absolutely no
> paved shoulder. I hug the white line right now, looking back
> sometimes but with the chance of going into the road or into
> the gravel.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mike
>
>

--
Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

06-20-2004, 11:14 PM

This sounds like a good case for riding on the wrong side of the road.
I know this will start a war but it is what I do when I 'must' ride on a
road with no bicycle lanes. When you are going against traffic at least
you can see the cars coming and pull off into the dirt on the side if need
be. I have been hit by a car while riding properly on the right with no
bicycle lane. Teenager in a low rider Datsun pickup. His mirror hit my
elbow wnough to hurt me and knock his mirror loose and the kid never
stopped. The road was wide enough for him to pull around and there was no
traffic coming. If I had been a 'Wrong Way Rider' I could have just gone
into the dirt. Being legal is a small consolation if you get killed.
BTW, this is only for country roads, which it sounds like if it is a 55
MPH road.
Now everyone else can tell me what bad advice this is.
FWIW I have to ride my MTB about 20 miles on the road to get to the good
off road stuff.
Bill Baka

On Mon, 21 Jun 2004 01:05:33 -0500, Michael <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

> Which is less dorky: a mirror on the helmet or a mirror
> on the handlebars?
>
> I've resisted mirrors all my life, but I must ride a two lane
> road with a 55 mile an hour speed limit with absolutely no
> paved shoulder. I hug the white line right now, looking back
> sometimes but with the chance of going into the road or into
> the gravel.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mike
>
>

--
Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

06-20-2004, 11:34 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>,
Bill <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
> This sounds like a good case for riding on the wrong side of the road.

If it's a high-speed, narrow-laned road w/ lots of curves
and/or hills and no opportunities for fast traffic behind
to overtake, it might be a good case for riding on neither
side of the road.

If you can do what the cars can't do, it might be worth it.
But if you can't do what the cars also can't do, it's
definitely not worth it. And cars generally can't get away
with wrong-way driving.

regards,
Tom

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06-20-2004, 11:34 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>,
Bill <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
> This sounds like a good case for riding on the wrong side of the road.

If it's a high-speed, narrow-laned road w/ lots of curves
and/or hills and no opportunities for fast traffic behind
to overtake, it might be a good case for riding on neither
side of the road.

If you can do what the cars can't do, it might be worth it.
But if you can't do what the cars also can't do, it's
definitely not worth it. And cars generally can't get away
with wrong-way driving.

regards,
Tom

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-- Powered by FreeBSD
Above address is just a spam midden.
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06-20-2004, 11:34 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>,
Bill <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
> This sounds like a good case for riding on the wrong side of the road.

If it's a high-speed, narrow-laned road w/ lots of curves
and/or hills and no opportunities for fast traffic behind
to overtake, it might be a good case for riding on neither
side of the road.

If you can do what the cars can't do, it might be worth it.
But if you can't do what the cars also can't do, it's
definitely not worth it. And cars generally can't get away
with wrong-way driving.

regards,
Tom

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Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

06-20-2004, 11:34 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>,
Bill <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
> This sounds like a good case for riding on the wrong side of the road.

If it's a high-speed, narrow-laned road w/ lots of curves
and/or hills and no opportunities for fast traffic behind
to overtake, it might be a good case for riding on neither
side of the road.

If you can do what the cars can't do, it might be worth it.
But if you can't do what the cars also can't do, it's
definitely not worth it. And cars generally can't get away
with wrong-way driving.

regards,
Tom

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-- Powered by FreeBSD
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca