New commute, new problems...
- Thread starter magnatom
- Start date
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If only.BentMikey said:
The two roads that I suffer this most are both fast, narrow and have ropey sightlines. But as soon as Joe Motorist sees that national speed limit sign, he's going to drive at 60mph+, safe or not.
Kaipaith will know one of the roads I'm thinking of as I believe its part of his commute on the B3090 just after leaving Hursley towards Winchester. It can all go from nothing to scarily close pass in the matter of a second and the only bail-out option is the bushes.
That's why if I'm planning a ride along unknown roads I'll try to avoid the fast country B-roads unless it's an overnighter.
Origamist said:
At that section it is changing from a 30 to national speed limit. The road actually has sections of 30, 40 and national speed limit all along it, so I am getting experience on quite a variable road. Good experience....as long as it doesn't kill me.
You can travel all along the road if you follow this link.
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
Bollo said:
It's easy to blame the road for not looking back often enough. You might be able to justify that if you're already looking back every 3 seconds or so. Are you?
Origamist
Legendary Member
magnatom said:At that section it is changing from a 30 to national speed limit. The road actually has sections of 30, 40 and national speed limit all along it, so I am getting experience on quite a variable road. Good experience....as long as it doesn't kill me.
You can travel all along the road if you follow this link.
Thanks, I noticed a nice pub on the left!
Origamist
Legendary Member
BentMikey said:
I thought the 3-5 sec was guidance for drivers who can check their mirrors with only a few degrees of head movement?
In certain circumstances it is worth repeatedly looking behind (longer look, glance etc), but I don't think you can expect cyclists to metronomically check over their shoulder at such tight intervals without compromising forward observation.
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
It's a good point, but I certainly would not want to be surprised by overtaking traffic like Bollo has been, especially not on fast rural roads and the associated deathrates. I don't think metronomic looking back is necessarily the way forward either - like much involving high quality cycling, it's about planning ahead and flowing through and around problems. I'd be looking back more often when just past a bend, and less often when towards the end of a straight.
Of course it's easy for me to say, and easier to do on the recumbent which has a mirror almost in my forward view. I'm not nearly as good at looking back when riding the upright.
Of course it's easy for me to say, and easier to do on the recumbent which has a mirror almost in my forward view. I'm not nearly as good at looking back when riding the upright.
Origamist
Legendary Member
BentMikey said:
Indeed, you can't be that prescriptive with regard to rearward oberservation - it can take 3 secs to have a good look behind and resume looking ahead.
Once you know the roads you will have a better understanding of where lifesavers are of particular use, where you might want to adjust your road postion etc. That's not to say regular shoulder checks are not important in themselves, but I still "expect to be surprised" (apologies for that Rumsfeldism) from time to time, particularly in the rush-hour on national limit roads where vehicles are obscured by other vehicles; where sightlines are compromised; where drivers are distracted/speeding; when I need to focus on competing stimuli and when the weather is wet and windy.
If I went back to rural commute, I'd use my glass mounted mirror again.
Origamist
Legendary Member
Origamist said:
Looks like it could come in handy. No prices at the moment on that site though.
