Night Riding - Towpaths

[Tangoup51]

I'm going to be undertaking a fair bit of towpath night time commuting.
I'm paranoid about a few things.

- How would you deal with potential attackers / unfriendly faces on towpaths?

I encountered this during my courier rounds in the nearby city, towpaths are not lit.

I felt vulnerable, staring down a group of hooded youths 5-10 meters up the path -illuminated awkwardly by my overpowered light- I had read about reports of muggings taking place in these areas (but was a while ago) and even if I hadn't, it'd be so easy for them to take away £1000 worth of bike while i'm left flopping in the canal like a fish.
There's hardly room to turn around in good time as the f*@£#king paths are 4-6 feet wide aswell.

No one says that they may be attackers, but how would you prepare anyway?
Being with clipless pedals & shoes really impedes my ability to react & fight. - This scenario is a rare occurrence and most times its only an individual harmless person, but the topic here is paranoia, afterall.


-Falling into a canal.

It's nearly happened to me, but when I think about it; it should happen more. - The paths aren't wide and seldom are they protected,- often loose surface with sharp corners & speeds in excess of 12-15 MPH, it's a recipe for disaster that doesn't happen often.
but if it did, what are the outcomes?

Does using clipless pedals (while clipped in) increase the potential of drowning?

Does your bike float or do you lose it forever?





-

 

[BurningLegs]

I doubt I would use the path to be honest. Is there an alternative route?

 

[ianrauk]

If you are that worried - find an alternative route.

 

[Tangoup51]

Of course there's alternative routes, but this is something you're bound to encounter on any towpath at some point. - Not trying to avoid it, trying to deal with it.

 

[Slick]

I used to commute on a section of canal path on dark winter's morning's. I did meet the odd strange character, but what I discovered was that all the muggers were all tucked up in their nest at 6am when I was doing it. They're not daft.

 

[Slick]

Clipless pedals don't increase the chance of drowning, your bike would sink but you wouldn't. Best stick to the path and get good quality lights, maybe carry a spare.

 

[MontyVeda]

Presume the humans you encounter aren't going to mug you. They may be as curious of you as you are them. Most people aren't muggers, even if slightly stoned and wearing hoods
Do your very best to not fall in the water. Reducing speed may help.

 

[roadrash]

It's nearly happened to me, but when I think about it; it should happen more. - The paths aren't wide and seldom are they protected,- often loose surface with sharp corners & speeds in excess of 12-15 MPH, it's a recipe for disaster that doesn't happen often.
but if it did, what are the outcomes?

this ones easily dealt with.......slow down

 

[Tim Hall]

I'm going to be undertaking a fair bit of towpath night time commuting.



-Falling into a canal.

It's nearly happened to me, but when I think about it; it should happen more. - The paths aren't wide and seldom are they protected,- often loose surface with sharp corners & speeds in excess of 12-15 MPH, it's a recipe for disaster that doesn't happen often.

So there's part of that equation under your control. Slow down to a speed appropriate for the conditions.

but if it did, what are the outcomes?

Does using clipless pedals (while clipped in) increase the potential of drowning?

Does your bike float or do you lose it forever?
-

Canals in the UK, generally speaking, aren't very deep. If you fall in, keep your mouth shut and stand up. Locks can be very deep though.
Look where you want to go, not at where you don't - ir look at the narrow bit of path going round a bridge, rather than the canal you'll fall into if you get it wrong.

@MontyVeda I think you're missing a "not" from your post...

 

[MontyVeda]

....

@MontyVeda I think you're missing a "not" from your post...

?

 

[Tim Hall]

?

Soz. I didn't adapt the speed of my reading to one appropriate to the conditions . I could have sworn you said:
"Do your very best to fall in the water", which would be a Bad Thing. But you didn't, so all is well.

 

[Tangoup51]

Presume the humans you encounter aren't going to mug you.

In darkened tow paths in areas that aren't the friendliest, it's safer to make the opposite assumption.

So there's part of that equation under your control. Slow down to a speed appropriate for the conditions.

Canals in the UK, generally speaking, aren't very deep. If you fall in, keep your mouth shut and stand up. Locks can be very deep though.
Look where you want to go, not at where you don't - ir look at the narrow bit of path going round a bridge, rather than the canal you'll fall into if you get it wrong.

Great advice - Though, target fixation does not effect me on towpaths.

Clipless pedals don't increase the chance of drowning, your bike would sink but you wouldn't. Best stick to the path and get good quality lights, maybe carry a spare.

I highly doubted that it would, but thought to ask out of curiosity. -i've seen clips of bikes falling into canals and they remain afloat on their side, but that might change within a set time period.

Thanks for your advice, all.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

If you are worried about your bike sinking use Ortlieb/roll-top pannier(s) or a roll-top drybag inside and leave a bit of air in.

 

[growingvegetables]

In darkened tow paths in areas that aren't the friendliest, it's safer to make the opposite assumption.

IME, commuting times are probably far and away the safest time to "assume"?

a) The ******s are tucked up in bed (where I'd like to be if I'm honest, but needs must ).
and
b) Dunno about your tow-path, but the tow paths in Leeds are "heavily commuted" at commuting times; lots of people on foot and on bikes. ******s don't want an audience .

 

[Tangoup51]

IME, commuting times are probably far and away the safest time to "assume"?

a) The ******s are tucked up in bed (where I'd like to be if I'm honest, but needs must ).
and
b) Dunno about your tow-path, but the tow paths in Leeds are "heavily commuted" at commuting times; lots of people on foot and on bikes. ******s don't want an audience .

They're not the best times to assume, but they're the most often times that I assume.

- I don't know how many muggers sleep between the hours of 5-8 PM.

- That's a good point, there's typically more commuters around. -but round here theres a vast choice for tow paths and there's not that many cycling commuters here, so even at the most frequent of times, it's not all that busy - but good point never the less.
.