I think I'm done with road...
Discussion
I got into road cycling around 12 years ago and it was great, with all the physical and mental benefits we all know.
I got into a bit of a hole chasing average speed, spanking myself every ride and judging how good a ride was by what the average was. Obviously it is an ever increasing target and I was getting a bit bored with it.
A few years ago my friend introduced me to gravel and I didn't look back, much more engaging and challenging riding, more sociable, still physically very hard, closer to nature and most importantly away from traffic.
When I did go back on the road, the attitude to cyclists and driving standards was getting to me, it seemed like every ride you'd have a close call or punishment pass.
Enjoying the plus point of not almost being killed every ride, my journey off road continued and I got a hard tail mtb and later a full suss and so the road bike barely gets used now.
Today we had some dry weather and I had 90 minutes to spare so I thought I'd do the local fast roadie loop and give it a dig for old times sake.
Literally 2 minutes out the door, some
almost takes me out on a roundabout, I mean inches away, probably the closest call I've had.
There's just too many incapable, distracted or deliberately aggressive drivers to potentially ruin a ride now.
It's got to the point where I honestly wouldn't recommend anyone I care about to start road cycling, and if that's my view to protect others, why aren't I protecting myself...
So yeah, I think my roadie days are over, maybe group rides only?
I got into a bit of a hole chasing average speed, spanking myself every ride and judging how good a ride was by what the average was. Obviously it is an ever increasing target and I was getting a bit bored with it.
A few years ago my friend introduced me to gravel and I didn't look back, much more engaging and challenging riding, more sociable, still physically very hard, closer to nature and most importantly away from traffic.
When I did go back on the road, the attitude to cyclists and driving standards was getting to me, it seemed like every ride you'd have a close call or punishment pass.
Enjoying the plus point of not almost being killed every ride, my journey off road continued and I got a hard tail mtb and later a full suss and so the road bike barely gets used now.
Today we had some dry weather and I had 90 minutes to spare so I thought I'd do the local fast roadie loop and give it a dig for old times sake.
Literally 2 minutes out the door, some
almost takes me out on a roundabout, I mean inches away, probably the closest call I've had.There's just too many incapable, distracted or deliberately aggressive drivers to potentially ruin a ride now.
It's got to the point where I honestly wouldn't recommend anyone I care about to start road cycling, and if that's my view to protect others, why aren't I protecting myself...
So yeah, I think my roadie days are over, maybe group rides only?
lizardbrain said:
Beach is one option yes. Fattie ebike ideal for this
Nothing is risk free, but I would personally feel safer cycling without a helmet somewhere like a quiet gravel path (or Amsterdam city centre), vs a road with a helmet.
I believe the research into ABI in cities where < 5% of cyclists wear helmets due to well developed infrastructure, does back me up on this,
Safest of course is to wear a helmet at all times, no question.
Safer still would be to get an exercise bike and stay home. Pick your point on the scale
Fair enough, I was only going to say I stacked it on a slippery fire road last year on my gravel bike and cracked my helmet. Granted I was bombing it and being stupid but still, it's easily done.Nothing is risk free, but I would personally feel safer cycling without a helmet somewhere like a quiet gravel path (or Amsterdam city centre), vs a road with a helmet.
I believe the research into ABI in cities where < 5% of cyclists wear helmets due to well developed infrastructure, does back me up on this,
Safest of course is to wear a helmet at all times, no question.
Safer still would be to get an exercise bike and stay home. Pick your point on the scale
irc said:
I don't wear a helmet when cycling. I have decades of commuting and touring including three times across the USA without an injury accident.
Cycling is actually safe. There was 34 million miles done on Boris Bikes before the first fatality.
https://understandinguncertainty.org/fatality-risk...
So it is safe for the average rider. Put a bit of thought into your riding and be better than average and it is even safer.
I don't really want to go off in that direction but tourists pootling round at 5mph is quite different to what I'd assume most people get up to on bikes of a weekend.Cycling is actually safe. There was 34 million miles done on Boris Bikes before the first fatality.
https://understandinguncertainty.org/fatality-risk...
So it is safe for the average rider. Put a bit of thought into your riding and be better than average and it is even safer.
Congratulations on your safety record.
Bryanwww said:
Got a road bike after years of mountainbiking and it's mega stressful being on the road with cars - weird obsession with overtaking cyclists regardless of what's happening on the road ahead. Really feels like people are driving looking not more than 5 meters ahead.
The cycle lanes with the posts in them don't make me feel particularly safe either as they are just more obstacles to be aware of, while still managing to spit you out into the main road at the worst spots.
The term is MGIF (must get in front) and yes they are morons.The cycle lanes with the posts in them don't make me feel particularly safe either as they are just more obstacles to be aware of, while still managing to spit you out into the main road at the worst spots.
Castrol for a knave said:
Oddly enough, I get less hassle and fewer close passes when wearing an Army cycling top, than I do wearing my club one.
Not that it means I am hard. I think drivers suddenly link the rider to being an actual real, living breathing person.
Could be an overlap between the mouth breathers driving aggressively/incompetently and those with a fetishisation for the armed forces? I expect if you had a full union jack kit they would probably salute you on the way past and invite you back for tea and cake.Not that it means I am hard. I think drivers suddenly link the rider to being an actual real, living breathing person.
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