OBRA: OBRA Chat: ride right..a commentary..

Jack Bennett

2007-10-24

I know you didn't want to start a big mirror discussion, but I can't resist a reply:

With a mirror I am more or less always aware of what's behind me just with quick glances at the mirror. Those who can hold a line and look back are not generally going to be checking as often as I do. I like knowing what's around me all the time.

That said, I absolutely do not trust the mirror when I'm moving out of my line. That always deserves a direct look.

Also, if you think helmet or glasses mirrors are, well, dorky, check out the Italian Road Bike Mirror at http://www.aspirevelotech.com -- subtle but effective.

Jack

Matthew Klahn wrote: Both of you seem to have missed the original poster's point:

> They've been commenting recently on the "jerks on bikes" who ride 2,3, 4 abreast and block them from passing on our narrow backroads..

Sounds like people on group rides, and not individuals seizing the lane.

And, a lot of people that I know don't ride with mirrors because they can both look backwards and still hold a line. I don't want to start a big mirror discussion, but I have found that I don't need a distracting mirror that only gives me a small view of my 6 o'clock when I can just look behind me and see everything.

Matthew Klahn

On 10/24/07, Long, Steve wrote: That's exactly how you should ride. This is NOT riding with either arrogance or ignorance. It's riding in a maner that keeps you alive. If you take up one third of the lane, then fast moving traffic has to slow down. When they get close and look like they are yielding, I then, and only then, move over to make it look like I'm being considerate. They don't seem to get at mad this way.

one, little, itty, bitty safety device will help keep you safer than riding without it. And, I know that most of you think a mirror mounted to your sunglasses is uncool, but, I'll take uncool over dead or maimed any day of the week. I absolutely DO NOT trust them out there.

---------------------------------
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On Behalf Of Chris Alling
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 1:58 PM
To: Don Hanson; obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] ride right..a commentary..

Don

I can appreciate your sentiment but personally the narrower the road is the closer I ride to the center line. I will give the traffic behind the chance to pass me on the other side of the road like any other moving vehicle that they would pass. As you know there are places were the fog line is painted right on the edge of the road if I do not have the ability to move my entire vehicle and body to the right hand side of the fog line I ride in a spot in the traffic lane that will make the cars behind pass me in a legal way. I have found with experience that if you ride to close to the white line traffic will at times take your left elbow off trying to pass when there is oncoming traffic. I am not going to change my ways I have found that it works for me and scares me far less often than when a car tries to squeeze by with on coming traffic.

Chris

---------------------------------

> Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:44:34 -0700
> From: dhanson@gorge.net
> To: obra@list.obra.org
> Subject: [OBRA Chat] ride right..a commentary..
>
> Since the rains began, many more cyclists have been showing up out east of the mountains. Hey, when you come out here don't leave your brains at home. Give the vehicles room, even if there are fewer than in your normal area and it seems to you like you can ignore em.. I have many farmer rancher and fruit-grower friends who know I am a cyclist. They've been commenting recently on the "jerks on bikes" who ride 2,3, 4 abreast and block them from passing on our narrow backroads..
> Please, everyone...don't be selfish and block the motorists when you think.."Geeze, this is cool, there is no traffic..."
> Keep on with the "I'm cool, I ride a bike, everyone can just go around me, or wait..." attitude and it won't be long before these backwoods drivers start retaliating..I can see it beginning already..
> Thanks,
> Don Hanson (near Hood River)
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman /listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

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jakebigham

2007-10-24

Matthew, Don and others-
I am under the impression that riding more than two abreast is
actually against the law.
Riding side by side You and a companion may ride side by side on the
road, but only if you dont impede other traffic. If traffic doesnt
have enough room to pass you safely, ride single file.
A friend was stopped in Wasco Co. this summer when were just starting
a ride by a sheriff who made the claim it was illegal to ride two
abreast in Oregon. I told him (politely) that I thought that was
incorrect, so I looked it up later. The passage above is from the
ODOT bicyclist manual 2006. Maybe some of the lawyers on the list can
add their professional views on this -Jake
On Oct 24, 2007, at 2:47 PM, Matthew Klahn wrote:

> Both of you seem to have missed the original poster's point:
>
> > They've been commenting recently on the "jerks on bikes" who ride
> 2,3, 4 abreast and block them from passing on our narrow backroads..
>
>
> Sounds like people on group rides, and not individuals seizing the
> lane.
>
> And, a lot of people that I know don't ride with mirrors because
> they can both look backwards and still hold a line. I don't want to
> start a big mirror discussion, but I have found that I don't need a
> distracting mirror that only gives me a small view of my 6 o'clock
> when I can just look behind me and see everything.
>
> Matthew Klahn
>
>
> On 10/24/07, Long, Steve wrote:
> That's exactly how you should ride. This is NOT riding with either
> arrogance or ignorance. It's riding in a maner that keeps you
> alive. If you take up one third of the lane, then fast moving
> traffic has to slow down. When they get close and look like they
> are yielding, I then, and only then, move over to make it look like
> I'm being considerate. They don't seem to get at mad this way.
>
> one, little, itty, bitty safety device will help keep you safer
> than riding without it. And, I know that most of you think a mirror
> mounted to your sunglasses is uncool, but, I'll take uncool over
> dead or maimed any day of the week. I absolutely DO NOT trust them
> out there.
>
> From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-
> bounces@list.obra.org] On Behalf Of Chris Alling
> Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 1:58 PM
> To: Don Hanson; obra@list.obra.org
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] ride right..a commentary..
>
>
> Don
>
> I can appreciate your sentiment but personally the narrower the
> road is the closer I ride to the center line. I will give the
> traffic behind the chance to pass me on the other side of the road
> like any other moving vehicle that they would pass. As you know
> there are places were the fog line is painted right on the edge of
> the road if I do not have the ability to move my entire vehicle and
> body to the right hand side of the fog line I ride in a spot in the
> traffic lane that will make the cars behind pass me in a legal way.
> I have found with experience that if you ride to close to the white
> line traffic will at times take your left elbow off trying to pass
> when there is oncoming traffic. I am not going to change my ways I
> have found that it works for me and scares me far less often than
> when a car tries to squeeze by with on coming traffic.
>
> Chris
>
>
>
>
>
> > Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:44:34 -0700
> > From: dhanson@gorge.net
> > To: obra@list.obra.org
> > Subject: [OBRA Chat] ride right..a commentary..
> >
> > Since the rains began, many more cyclists have been showing up
> out east of the mountains. Hey, when you come out here don't leave
> your brains at home. Give the vehicles room, even if there are
> fewer than in your normal area and it seems to you like you can
> ignore em.. I have many farmer rancher and fruit-grower friends who
> know I am a cyclist. They've been commenting recently on the "jerks
> on bikes" who ride 2,3, 4 abreast and block them from passing on
> our narrow backroads..
> > Please, everyone...don't be selfish and block the motorists when
> you think.."Geeze, this is cool, there is no traffic..."
> > Keep on with the "I'm cool, I ride a bike, everyone can just go
> around me, or wait..." attitude and it won't be long before these
> backwoods drivers start retaliating..I can see it beginning already..
> > Thanks,
> > Don Hanson (near Hood River)
> > _______________________________________________
> > OBRA mailing list
> > obra@list.obra.org
> > http://list.obra.org/mailman /listinfo/obra
> > Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>
> Peek-a-boo FREE Tricks & Treats for You! Get 'em!
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

Matthew Klahn

2007-10-24

Both of you seem to have missed the original poster's point:
> They've been commenting recently on the "jerks on bikes" who ride 2,3, 4
abreast and block them from passing on our narrow backroads..

Sounds like people on group rides, and not individuals seizing the lane.

And, a lot of people that I know don't ride with mirrors because they can
both look backwards and still hold a line. I don't want to start a big
mirror discussion, but I have found that I don't need a distracting mirror
that only gives me a small view of my 6 o'clock when I can just look behind
me and see everything.

Matthew Klahn

On 10/24/07, Long, Steve wrote:
>
> That's exactly how you should ride. This is NOT riding with either
> arrogance or ignorance. It's riding in a maner that keeps you alive. If you
> take up one third of the lane, then fast moving traffic has to slow down.
> When they get close and look like they are yielding, I then, and only then,
> move over to make it look like I'm being considerate. They don't seem to get
> at mad this way.
>
> one, little, itty, bitty safety device will help keep you safer than
> riding without it. And, I know that most of you think a mirror mounted to
> your sunglasses is uncool, but, I'll take uncool over dead or maimed any day
> of the week. I absolutely DO NOT trust them out there.
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] *On
> Behalf Of *Chris Alling
> *Sent:* Wednesday, October 24, 2007 1:58 PM
> *To:* Don Hanson; obra@list.obra.org
> *Subject:* Re: [OBRA Chat] ride right..a commentary..
>
>
> Don
>
> I can appreciate your sentiment but personally the narrower the road is
> the closer I ride to the center line. I will give the traffic behind the
> chance to pass me on the other side of the road like any other moving
> vehicle that they would pass. As you know there are places were the fog line
> is painted right on the edge of the road if I do not have the ability to
> move my entire vehicle and body to the right hand side of the fog line I
> ride in a spot in the traffic lane that will make the cars behind pass me in
> a legal way. I have found with experience that if you ride to close to the
> white line traffic will at times take your left elbow off trying to pass
> when there is oncoming traffic. I am not going to change my ways I have
> found that it works for me and scares me far less often than when a car
> tries to squeeze by with on coming traffic.
>
> Chris
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> > Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:44:34 -0700
> > From: dhanson@gorge.net
> > To: obra@list.obra.org
> > Subject: [OBRA Chat] ride right..a commentary..
> >
> > Since the rains began, many more cyclists have been showing up out east
> of the mountains. Hey, when you come out here don't leave your brains at
> home. Give the vehicles room, even if there are fewer than in your normal
> area and it seems to you like you can ignore em.. I have many farmer rancher
> and fruit-grower friends who know I am a cyclist. They've been commenting
> recently on the "jerks on bikes" who ride 2,3, 4 abreast and block them from
> passing on our narrow backroads..
> > Please, everyone...don't be selfish and block the motorists when you
> think.."Geeze, this is cool, there is no traffic..."
> > Keep on with the "I'm cool, I ride a bike, everyone can just go around
> me, or wait..." attitude and it won't be long before these backwoods drivers
> start retaliating..I can see it beginning already..
> > Thanks,
> > Don Hanson (near Hood River)
> > _______________________________________________
> > OBRA mailing list
> > obra@list.obra.org
> > http://list.obra.org/mailman
> /listinfo/obra
> > Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>
> ------------------------------
> Peek-a-boo FREE Tricks & Treats for You! Get 'em!
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman
> /listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>

Long, Steve

2007-10-24

That's exactly how you should ride. This is NOT riding with either
arrogance or ignorance. It's riding in a maner that keeps you alive. If
you take up one third of the lane, then fast moving traffic has to slow
down. When they get close and look like they are yielding, I then, and
only then, move over to make it look like I'm being considerate. They
don't seem to get at mad this way.

one, little, itty, bitty safety device will help keep you safer than
riding without it. And, I know that most of you think a mirror mounted
to your sunglasses is uncool, but, I'll take uncool over dead or maimed
any day of the week. I absolutely DO NOT trust them out there.

________________________________

From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Chris Alling
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 1:58 PM
To: Don Hanson; obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] ride right..a commentary..

Don

I can appreciate your sentiment but personally the narrower the road is
the closer I ride to the center line. I will give the traffic behind the
chance to pass me on the other side of the road like any other moving
vehicle that they would pass. As you know there are places were the fog
line is painted right on the edge of the road if I do not have the
ability to move my entire vehicle and body to the right hand side of the
fog line I ride in a spot in the traffic lane that will make the cars
behind pass me in a legal way. I have found with experience that if you
ride to close to the white line traffic will at times take your left
elbow off trying to pass when there is oncoming traffic. I am not going
to change my ways I have found that it works for me and scares me far
less often than when a car tries to squeeze by with on coming traffic.

Chris

________________________________

> Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:44:34 -0700
> From: dhanson@gorge.net
> To: obra@list.obra.org
> Subject: [OBRA Chat] ride right..a commentary..
>
> Since the rains began, many more cyclists have been showing up out
east of the mountains. Hey, when you come out here don't leave your
brains at home. Give the vehicles room, even if there are fewer than in
your normal area and it seems to you like you can ignore em.. I have
many farmer rancher and fruit-grower friends who know I am a cyclist.
They've been commenting recently on the "jerks on bikes" who ride 2,3, 4
abreast and block them from passing on our narrow backroads..
> Please, everyone...don't be selfish and block the motorists when you
think.."Geeze, this is cool, there is no traffic..."
> Keep on with the "I'm cool, I ride a bike, everyone can just go around
me, or wait..." attitude and it won't be long before these backwoods
drivers start retaliating..I can see it beginning already..
> Thanks,
> Don Hanson (near Hood River)
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

________________________________

Peek-a-boo FREE Tricks & Treats for You! Get 'em!

Chris Alling

2007-10-24

Don

I can appreciate your sentiment but personally the narrower the road is the closer I ride to the center line. I will give the traffic behind the chance to pass me on the other side of the road like any other moving vehicle that they would pass. As you know there are places were the fog line is painted right on the edge of the road if I do not have the ability to move my entire vehicle and body to the right hand side of the fog line I ride in a spot in the traffic lane that will make the cars behind pass me in a legal way. I have found with experience that if you ride to close to the white line traffic will at times take your left elbow off trying to pass when there is oncoming traffic. I am not going to change my ways I have found that it works for me and scares me far less often than when a car tries to squeeze by with on coming traffic.

Chris

> Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:44:34 -0700> From: dhanson@gorge.net> To: obra@list.obra.org> Subject: [OBRA Chat] ride right..a commentary..> > Since the rains began, many more cyclists have been showing up out east of the mountains. Hey, when you come out here don't leave your brains at home. Give the vehicles room, even if there are fewer than in your normal area and it seems to you like you can ignore em.. I have many farmer rancher and fruit-grower friends who know I am a cyclist. They've been commenting recently on the "jerks on bikes" who ride 2,3, 4 abreast and block them from passing on our narrow backroads..> Please, everyone...don't be selfish and block the motorists when you think.."Geeze, this is cool, there is no traffic..."> Keep on with the "I'm cool, I ride a bike, everyone can just go around me, or wait..." attitude and it won't be long before these backwoods drivers start retaliating..I can see it beginning already..> Thanks,> Don Hanson (near Hood River)> _______________________________________________> OBRA mailing list> obra@list.obra.org> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
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Don Hanson

2007-10-24

Since the rains began, many more cyclists have been showing up out east of the mountains. Hey, when you come out here don't leave your brains at home. Give the vehicles room, even if there are fewer than in your normal area and it seems to you like you can ignore em.. I have many farmer rancher and fruit-grower friends who know I am a cyclist. They've been commenting recently on the "jerks on bikes" who ride 2,3, 4 abreast and block them from passing on our narrow backroads..
Please, everyone...don't be selfish and block the motorists when you think.."Geeze, this is cool, there is no traffic..."
Keep on with the "I'm cool, I ride a bike, everyone can just go around me, or wait..." attitude and it won't be long before these backwoods drivers start retaliating..I can see it beginning already..
Thanks,
Don Hanson (near Hood River)