Safety on Cycleways...

I recently decided to buy a new road bike and bought myself a nice Malvern Star Oppy A5 (Alu frame, carbon forks, full 105 group and Mavic Aksium wheels). The Carbon ones would have been nice, but there is always a bit nicer bike going for a bit more money... I absolutely love it. I've registered for the Bicycle NSW commuter challenge (2000km goal by end of march), and for the ride2work day next Wednesday. All looking good.

Then on Tuesday I had a nice ride along the Parra Valley cycleway. Without going into too many specifics, I overtook one group of riders by slowing down and going past. I don't usually call out as I'm not sure what I can say to a recreational rider that wont make them do something silly. Anyway, there was another small group of riders just up ahead that were obviously related to the first. They were on the left side, so I aimed for the right of the track and accelerated to get around them. Fatal mistake :doh:. A person behind called out a warning to the group in front and one of them turned 90 degrees across the track and stopped - obviously mistaking the warning for a hail or something similar.

This left me with nowhere to go, and no time to stop. I wasn't going very quick as I had slowed down so much a few meters back, but I was on the power, so stopping wasn't as effective as I would like. Anyway, I T-boned the poor guys wheel and went up an over the bars, landing on my left wrist and hip. He managed to brace himself so didn't go down. One neat side effect of cleat shoes is that when you go over your handle bars, the bike follows... Cheapie CELL bike gloves saved my hands beautifully, but didn't stop me spraining my wrist or brusing/grazing my hip. Had X-rays on the wrist and it's all ok, just hurts like hell though getting better.

I picked myself up and everyone checked if all was ok. My bike was scratched on the head tube, but the forks and wheels appeared unscathed. I'll be going over the carbon forks pretty closely but the look fine at the moment. Utterly stunned that the front wheel was still perfectly true, which makes me think it didn't bear the brunt of the crunch.

So, the long of it is that I'm wondering what others do on cycleways. Do you call something out when overtaking, or just slow down to a crawl every time? Overtaking commuters/more serious cyclists isn't really a problem but recreational riders are less predictable and as I learnt my fears about calling something out and it being misunderstood are well founded. I have decided that school holidays (only realised it was on the way back to work :doh: ) are a great time to not be on some cycleways, but other than that not sure what to do in the situation. Maybe just calling 'Overtaking' is clear enough for at least the adults to understand. I've no problems with overtaking kids at a crawl for safety of all concerned though.

Anyway, hope to be back on the bike soon. Fingers crossed the wrist is good enough for the ride2work next week :2tsup:

Cheers,
Dave

Dave,

Not good news about the crash. It is a difficult situation as most people will react in different ways.

I am purely a work and home commuter and generally that means I am around similar individuals who generally have gathered enough experience to be predictable in busy conditions.

When approaching pedestrians on a shared path I generally slow down to a point where I think I can stop if needed and pass as widely as possible. Often a warning or a bell would spook people even more than just passing and I have seen situations where they hear a bell and move right into the passing zone. Generally as long as you are not whizzing past them closely at speed there isn't an issue.

In your situation perhaps the best approach is to yell out "passing on right" so they know you are coming and from where.

The bigger issue for me as a keen commuter cup challenger is legitimately passing a slower commuter only to have them push past the line at the traffic light, where they take off so slowly trying to clip in then you get stuck behind them again and have to try and safely pass them again before the entire operation starts again at the next set of light.

Note: if you have been taken down legitimately by a CCC, overtaking by creeping over the stop line at lights is poor form.

Get better soon

Stinky

What about a handlebar bell? Always worked when I rode as a kid. Ring it early so that cyclists and pedestrians have ample warning.

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Originally Posted by Sir Stinkalot

In your situation perhaps the best approach is to yell out "passing on right" so they know you are coming and from where.

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I think that sounds reasonable. Will use it next time.

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Originally Posted by Sir Stinkalot

The bigger issue for me as a keen commuter cup challenger is legitimately passing a slower commuter only to have them push past the line at the traffic light, where they take off so slowly trying to clip in then you get stuck behind them again and have to try and safely pass them again before the entire operation starts again at the next set of light.

Note: if you have been taken down legitimately by a CCC, overtaking by creeping over the stop line at lights is poor form.

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I wholeheartedly agree! The CCC is great fun though I typically use it when on a training ride at lunch. Do you follow the rule that you only get a point if they *look* like they should be faster than you? ie, better bike, more lycra, etc?
*Edit* The other rule is that you only lose a point if they look like they should be slower than you. No points lost for the BMC SLR01 or the Orbea Orca that blows past :D

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Originally Posted by Vernonv

What about a handlebar bell? Always worked when I rode as a kid. Ring it early so that cyclists and pedestrians have ample warning.

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I wish it did work Vernov, but...

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Originally Posted by Sir Stinkalot

Often a warning or a bell would spook people even more than just passing and I have seen situations where they hear a bell and move right into the passing zone.

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...this has been my experience too. :no:

Went for a 8k run today, and am feeling better so I reckon I'll have another crack at the bike on Monday. Wednesday is a 32k Berowra to Parramatta ride, so I'll see how the Commuter cup goes :cool:

Thanks,
Dave

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Originally Posted by Ozkaban

I wholeheartedly agree! The CCC is great fun though I typically use it when on a training ride at lunch. Do you follow the rule that you only get a point if they *look* like they should be faster than you? ie, better bike, more lycra, etc?
*Edit* The other rule is that you only lose a point if they look like they should be slower than you. No points lost for the BMC SLR01 or the Orbea Orca that blows past :D

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Dave .... I have a few advantages as a commuter cup challenger:

With my commuter bike setup everybody looks like they should be faster than me which is a huge advantage in gaining points:

• I ride a Kona Dew Deluxe (flat bar) with full mudguards;
• At 6'2" and with the assistance of my flat bar bike geometry, I am as high on the road as a mini bus, turning me into a huge sail as I approach a head wind - further emphasising that I am slower than everybody else;
• I wear a suit and tie with a bright red raincoat;
• I utilise a backpack to carry my lunchbox;
• I don't have any special peddles or shoes - just street shoes;
• At least I don't have panniers!

My second huge advantage is that I don't have far to travel. Essentially I can go full wack for my entire trip and still feel fresh. I am a finely tuned machine for a 3km ride on flat roads before 8 hours of work or rest and then turning around and doing it again. Most other commuters who obviously have much further to travel than my good self are not aware of this advantage and just see my advantage 1 above as a good opportunity for an easy win! Any further than the 3km and I am a crumbling mess.

I did get blown off the road earlier in the week by a tradie on a road bike who pulled up in front of me while I was waiting for the lights (the pet hate). I was about throw down the gauntlet when I noticed that his calf muscles were larger than my thighs as he tore away from the lights. To my credit I did keep close and I think he was surprised ..... before too long however my 3km were up and I was needing a nap! :zzsoft:

:bike3:

The best thing I ever did was starting out on a motor bike instead of a car. It taught me to anticipate everything.
I'm not going to add any further advice here but on the weekend i came around an almost blind corner on a bike track to see two oldies (even older than me) riding abreast across the track without a care in the world. I'm not the world's quickest thinker but i called out 'I'll go on the dirt' and all was OK. Luckily I was riding a mountain bike or it could have been nasty.

Graham

Not good Dave, but good to read that it looks like minimal damage to the bike, and importantly yourself.

Slowing down and yelling "passing on right" seems to work well for me.

Nathan.

Went for another ride through the area at lunch today. Perfect weather. I remember thinking how lucky am I to be in a place and a job where I can do this at lunch :2tsup: Wrist still hurt a bit, but not too bad.

Whenever I approached anyone I slowed down and called out "Passing" Several people jumped about 6 feet when I did that, but they all jumped left, so not a bad outcome :cool: Feel much more confident with the whole situation. Still slowed to a crawl when I came up on kids though.

Oh, and I scored about 4 points on the commuter cup :2tsup: One was a fairly serious looking female cyclist going up a hill having a break, taking a drink, but no mercy for the weak I say :D:D:D

Oh and Stinky - 3km isn't a commute - it's a sprint! I'd be at least tempted to go around the block once or twice :D

Cheers,
Dave

Hello mate

I have cycled all my life and raced for 8 years, now I just commute to work and I see all shapes and sizes everyday.

Its funny but padestrians and bikes alike respond better to a bell than shouting out. I put a $100 on everytime I shout out a warning passing right the said rider or walker turn to the righ into my path, if I have a bell they turn left out of the way. A bell might not be "cool" but they definatley work well.

Racing cyclists have funny etticate but the general rule applies have a glance back before overtaking and when you make a decision go with it, hesitation always seems to end up in a bad situation happening.

My last point is......lights, I light myself up like a Christmas tree!

Cheers Milo

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Originally Posted by Milo

My last point is......lights, I light myself up like a Christmas tree!

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This is a pet hate of mine. Around here there are no street lights. Where they do have some - they are 100m apart. The amount of times I see a lycra'd up rider on the side of the road, with wither no lights, or some teeny weeny red light that would not be any brighter than the red LED on your tv remote.....

This seems the same though when I drive up to the Sydney suburbs at night - I see the same thing.

Some cyclists don't get it - YOU NEED TO BE SEEN!

I haven't done any night riding, but when I do I will be lit up like a Chrissy tree. I have a pretty bright red rear light that doesn't flash a consistent pattern (you'd know it, its pretty common) to grab attention, and I make sure its on unless its absolutely sunny.

Nathan.