Safety Concerns

[doog]

I'm not after a bike that will stop you getting run over by a truck, that was just the catalyst for the safety push on next year's ride. My question about bike types comes from a variety of situations where I suspect a mountain bike would've potentially avoided someone falling off. Here's 3 examples:

1. You're going down a hill and you hit a bit of gravel or mud that's collected on the surface of the road. You make a mistake and break at the wrong moment. Would larger tyres give you a greater chance of holding it and staying on?

2. You're driving along a fairly road wide enough for 2 vehicles and nothing else. A a lorry is coming in your direction, when a coach decides to overtake it. You have no choice but to go off the road. If you're on a road bike, that probably means you fall off. If you're on a mountain bike, you might be able to stay on.

3. You're going along a road made from huge flagstones joined together, that have a drainage gap, the exact same width as your tyres between them. You can guess what happens next.

All 3 are real examples btw. Am I talking bollocks by assuming that all 3 could've possibly been avoided on a mountain bike?

That focus's the mind somewhat...

Take a look at Breton Bikes http://www.bretonbikes.com/

Obviously it isnt Vietnam but they go into a hell of a lot of detail about their bikes / wheel size etc. I appreciate your punters are on their own bikes but looking at your post above 26", wider tyres (ie MTB) might be the answer...or at least the minimum requirement.

 

[srw]

2. You're driving along a fairly road wide enough for 2 vehicles and nothing else. A a lorry is coming in your direction, when a coach decides to overtake it. You have no choice but to go off the road. If you're on a road bike, that probably means you fall off. If you're on a mountain bike, you might be able to stay on.

3. You're going along a road made from huge flagstones joined together, that have a drainage gap, the exact same width as your tyres between them. You can guess what happens next.

All 3 are real examples btw. Am I talking bollocks by assuming that all 3 could've possibly been avoided on a mountain bike?

Are you sure these are roads you want to encourage inexperienced cyclists to ride along? They're roads I'd avoid as an experienced cyclist - too risky.

 

[mmmmartin]

I suggest you ride the road beforehand to check any problems before you send two dozen riders down it. Avoid busy roads at busy times, maybe beast your riders out of bed at 4am to get the busy road out of the way before it gets busy. Avoid busy roads if you can by routing the riders around problems. And as you have support vehicles why not stick the biggest one right behind them and force the traffic to slow down behind that vehicle. I appreciate rerouting to different roads might not be possible in Vietnam and you can never do anything about a bad driver in a big lorry, of course. One phrase to remember is: "What would you tell the coroner?" if you have done everything humanly possible you can sleep easily in your bed.

 

[mmmmartin]

And FWIW I don't think the bike makes the slightest difference to safety. Falling off is something that happens, irrespective of the bike and the road surface. Wearing helmets might lessen the extent of a potential head injury, then again it might increase the chance of heat stroke.

 

[sidevalve]

I don't think the distance is an issue tbh. They're all inexperienced riders, but they do train for months prior to the ride to get their fitness up. In 5 years doing it, we've never had anyone fail to get to the destination in time, and that's with regular photo stops. That's one of the reasons why, if it's necessary, the slowness of the mountain bikes shouldn't be a big issue. It's worth mentioning that when I did the ride 2 years ago, we had two older riders with us. One of them was an experienced triathlete and the other had had a bike purpose built for the trip after consulting with a specialist shop. Both showed up on mountain bikes (admittedly one was a carbon fibre one that was almost lighter than our road bikes).

A good point but not quite what I was aiming at. Fitness and the ability to cover the ground is not the issue, as you say the distance is not that great anyway but the problem is inexperience. A rider may decide to "push on" rather than just "sit it out" thinking I can get through that gap [which may be true if all goes well] but more experience and maybe more time says No chance - just let 'em sort themselves out then I'll go past etc etc.
As for being forced off the road then true a MTB might just make it but after being driven off the road by 40 tons of insane truck not many of us would be able to much clear thinking anyway. Besides, falling off beside the road is a lot less scary than on it and the injuries would probably be much less serious.
As for gaps in the road - well ok but most of europe seem to manage with tram systems and tram lines and they seem to manage ok on road bikes.

 

[Ticktockmy]

Having cycled through most of the SEA countries over the years including Vietnam, I don't think quite frankly you can do very much more than you already have done safety wise. How can you plan for the driver who thinks it ok to drive the wrong way up the road, or pull into the side of the road with out checking. or the Motorcyclists who swarm around you in their droves. I used to use a touring bike for my extended rides, but long ago I realised that a Mountain bike provided the best overall ride, this allows for tarmac and rough old side roads and tracks. I would suggest that you should allow the riders to use a bicycle that they are comfortable with. Brief them to the major problems they will have on the road, if you can you should try to show a video of what road/traffic conditions can be like. but try not to make them to unsettled about it, as a nervous cyclist is a danger to themselves.

 

[Yellow7]

Most people over-look the importance of a rear-view mirror, in my opinion being more important than a helmet, as prevention is better than cure. The helmet mounted mirrors are okay but I only wear a helmet when I have no choice but to use major roads so I use a handlebar mounted one, which I have recently changed for a different type, in-fact I'll put new post on here comparing the difference between the two. but again, a mirror really does improve one's safety and may have possibly avoided your group's accident.

26" as opposed to 700c "road" style. I guess 29" is the new 26" these days

Profpointy, In Asia 26" wheels are the norm hence easier to get replacement tyres, and make for a stronger wheel.

 

[HelenD123]

Most people over-look the importance of a rear-view mirror, in my opinion being more important than a helmet, as prevention is better than cure.

Good point. I was checking mine literally every 3 seconds on some of the busy Canadian roads. It gives you the chance to anticipate when two trucks will pass at the same point you happen to be on the road and hop onto the shoulder for safety.