Wooried about the roads

[Old timer]

Just started to ride again and having just read the thread where the young lady was injured.

I live in the country, traffic might not be such a problem but I`m nervous about the wet roads with leaf litter.

Do most bike spills happen around traffic? I`m tempted to lower the pressure in my tyers to get more grip but know it will make for harder riding.

Also, I don`t wear a helmet which makes me more careful. Am I wrong?
Luckily I had a number of years on motorbykes which gives you road sense and teaches you to be wary of road conditions. I must admit that when I`m around cars I tend to take charge and don`t give them a chance to push past me and find that it works quite well( till you meet the nutter that is)

 

[BentMikey]

I think that's called wisdom. I'm also careful on wet roads, and even more so whenever there's organic matter on the roads. Most bicycle crashes happen as the only vehicle involved. I don't wear a helmet either (well sometimes, but that's usually because my tailbox is full, not because I want to).

 

[rh100]

Hi Old Timer, these threads make me a little nervous aswell.

I can highly recommend a book called Cycle Craft, I became aware of it from this site, and is easily available from somewhere like Amazon. A lot of it is about how to take charge of your own position on the road.

The helmet is a hot topic. I always wear mine, be daft not to. It's not about you being carefull, it's about others, and they don't always see you so the argument about them giving you a wider birth due to lack of a hat sounds like something from lala land to me. But it's a choice you have to make yourself. Think of a load of guys on a building site, and if they decide not to wear hard hats because it makes everyone more careful, I don't think so. A hard hat wont save you from a falling girder, but might save you from a falling hammer. Same thing on a bike IMO.

 

[Old timer]

I think that's called wisdom. I'm also careful on wet roads, and even more so whenever there's organic matter on the roads. Most bicycle crashes happen as the only vehicle involved. I don't wear a helmet either (well sometimes, but that's usually because my tailbox is full, not because I want to).

Thanks

I`ve just been talking it over with my wife who thinks I should get a helmet. I usually don`t like wearing hats and at my age I don`t want to look conspicuous or mutton done up as lamb but I think I`ll get one.
I`m not near any cycle shops other than Halfords (6 miles) and they do seem to have a good selection.

 

[joolsybools]

I'm worried about you letting air out of your tyres, instinct tells me this isn't a great idea but I'm not very technical. What do others think?

 

[GrasB]

Most drivers haven't ridden a bike in years & some never have at all, they simply have forgotten or never knew what you consider a road hazard. My piece of advice is when coming up to danger points take primary & do frequent shoulder checks. One thing I've found is drivers often respond to these, they seem to register you're starting to get concerned about something in/beside the road ahead & so try to work out what you've seen or are concerned about. So be confident & assertive without being aggressive & try to let drivers know you're concerned about the road ahead so you minimise the risks.

From personal experience peds & the smaller end of medium sized mammalian quadrupeds are far more problematic on the roads than drivers.

 

[marinyork]

You're right to be cautious about wet conditions. Bikes do handle differently. Leaves, drain covers when wet, concrete, tram tracks, diesel can easily take you off when wet.

As for actual collisions and SMIDSYs some happen in predictable places, some don't.

 

[jonny jeez]

Hi Old timer.

Don’t be put off by reports of accidents. Most people have no incidents at all and those that do are not that serious (as Ian will testify this morning).

If you put it all into context and consider how many people ride bicycles, compared to how many accidents, its far less dangerous than many other activities.

The difference is, YOU can make the difference. RH is spot on, cyclecraft is a really good place to start and (if you really are an old timer) then it will appeal as it is not full of modern mumbo jumbo, just good basic common sense.

Your “Take charge” attitude will serve you well. Cycle craft will let you know how to use that and your experience and convert it into a safe riding style. Failing that, ask as many questions as you can here, you’ll always find a response or two will help and this is the busiest of the Cycle-chat forums so there are always plenty of “friends” to call on for advice…..so don’t be a stranger. (no questions are too daft...trust me I've asked a few!)


Mrs Old Timer sounds like she is on the ball…have you tried looking at online options like Amazon to buy a helmet…if bike shops are far anf few.

Here is a link (just click on the word link that is underlined)

have fun

Jonny

PS I started riding to work in July and have collected over 1500 miles since then with only one Altercation (that was partially my fault)so ride easy and you’ll get an easy ride.

 

[Norm]

I'm worried about you letting air out of your tyres, instinct tells me this isn't a great idea but I'm not very technical. What do others think?

I agree that it's not good to lower the air pressure although, of course, that depends what from and to.

If you go below the recommended minimum (written on the side wall), you stand a high chance of getting a pinch puncture.

There are two joys to a pinch puncture, firstly there is a fair chance that you caused it, secondly that there are usually two punctures (snake-bite) which will need two patches.

I'm wondering why you are considering reducing the pressure. In some vehicles (nearly all off road) and on some surfaces, reducing the pressure can increase the grip but we are mostly talking about very loose surfaces and tyres designed to run at low pressures.

Also, on larger tyres (I know they are different, just for illustration), reducing the pressure can reduce the grip in the wet as the water-dispersing channels in the tread will close up, meaning that there is an increased chance of aqua-planing. Not that you can aqua-plane on a bike but reducing the depth of any pattern on the tyre will reduce it's ability to get rid of mud and muck.

Harder tyres are usually considered to be better able to resist puncturing, but that is nothing more than received wisdom, I've seen nothing to support that theory.

 

[Norm]

As for helmets, I always wear one, I have had an "off" which I believe it helped.

However, there are many who don't agree with them.

As you have mentioned it, though, I hope that this thread doesn't deteriorate into another debate about them.

Make your own decision rather than following the wishes of others and, if you want one, get one that fits properly.

 

[Arch]

Mrs Old Timer sounds like she is on the ball…have you tried looking at online options like Amazon to buy a helmet…if bike shops are far anf few.

Hmm, better to go somewhere and try a helmet on. Head shapes vary, as do helmets, and some will fit much better than others. A helmet that doesn't fit well is worse than useless. And make sure you wear it right - not pushed to the back of the head, no dangling straps and not, yes it happens, backwards.

Otherwise, I second the recommendation for Cyclecraft. Your motorcycle skills will pay off - defensive riding I think it's called.

And don't be put off by the stories on here. We all tend to remember and report the drama. People would get very bored if I posted every night "nothing much happened today..."

 

[HJ]

Just started to ride again and having just read the thread where the young lady was injured.

I live in the country, traffic might not be such a problem but I`m nervous about the wet roads with leaf litter.

Do most bike spills happen around traffic? I`m tempted to lower the pressure in my tyers to get more grip but know it will make for harder riding.

Also, I don`t wear a helmet which makes me more careful. Am I wrong?
Luckily I had a number of years on motorbykes which gives you road sense and teaches you to be wary of road conditions. I must admit that when I`m around cars I tend to take charge and don`t give them a chance to push past me and find that it works quite well( till you meet the nutter that is)

Thanks

I`ve just been talking it over with my wife who thinks I should get a helmet. I usually don`t like wearing hats and at my age I don`t want to look conspicuous or mutton done up as lamb but I think I`ll get one.
I`m not near any cycle shops other than Halfords (6 miles) and they do seem to have a good selection.

There are two things which you should read, Cyclecraft and cyclehelmets.org, then make an informed decision.

The reality is that you are more at risk of serious head injury when walking and driving that you are ride a bicycle...

 

[skudupnorth]

I wear a helmet all the time and am glad i did after my hit and run last month.Don't get me wrong,i would rather not wear it but i do think the way the roads are getting busier even with the credit crunch i feel safer.On the plus note you can attach high level front and rear lamps to give you extra viz !
Just ride with confidence and show this to other road users and you should have no problems.I find the more confidence you show in either signaling,looking around and positioning on the road you will have a safe ride no matter what.

 

[cyberknight]

Given that there have been cases reported where the courts consider it a mitigating factor that the rider did not have a helmet it is worth wearing one at least for peace of mind .
I go for the minimize as many risks as i can approach, i may look like a day glo nutter but if i do get a prang i want to be sure that the driver had no excuse not to see me .

 

[Old timer]

Thanks All

I`ll need to try the helmets on so it looks like Halfords. I found that ordering some things on line just doesn`t work or you just sometimes settle. Luckily they aren`t too expensive so I`ll get one. Luckily I`ll be riding just to keep fit and for fun so I`ll avoid wet roads when poss.

cheers