Cycling Question

[recuerdeme]

Every time I see a cyclist sitting on the side of the road looking dazed because he's been hit by a car I always chuckle. jej

I used to cycle around Eastwood/Downtown but at night. Being run over by a car was a greater risk than being mugged.

[Bike4Life]

Nice topic. I'm on working vacation, Houstoner.

Here are some excellent websites on how to get started on your bike commute to work:

Biking to Work Manual

Bicycle Safety: How to Not Get Hit by Cars

At first, it will seem overwhelming but after a while, it will feel natural and confident in biking to work. I started with a Trek FX7300 hybrid which is an easy bike to get into for those who haven't rode on a bicycle in a long time. Now, I'm getting a Cannondale Synapse road bike. And even 1 1/2 years later, I was confident enough that I even rode all over Manhattan like 5th Ave, Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge, etc. I know there are some New Yorkers on this forum so they can tell you more about it.

The first thing to do is to get a helmet and a helmet mirror. Get it? Get a mirror because you don't want to be spinning your head around every time you want to change lanes. And while you are in the bike store, also get a U-lock, front and back lights cause reflectors just don't work at night. I even use the flashing lights in the day time and drivers always notice my bike. You might even want a rack and panniers to carry your wrinkle-free change of clothes but leave the heavy dress shoes and belts at work.

Now that you got your equipment together, bike clothes are optional. Just don't wear glaring white t-shirts in the view of morning drivers. Yellow, orange, and red are excellent colors to wear. I am fortunate to a have a gym shower close to my office but I've heard some people use a washcloth and powder to wash up, whatever works to look professional.

Now that you are ready to hit the road, avoid the sidewalks, especially in a business district because it's not safe and illegal. In commercial strip centers, garages, apartments, and similar places have a lot of cars that turn right and cars coming out of the parking lots usually won't notice cyclist on the sidewalks. So, get on the road and don't hug the curb. If there is not enough space for the you and the cars to pass by, then take the entire lane. Drivers will notice you and they can change to the next lane and move on. I've biked on several major streets and rarely have a problem. If there is heavy traffic ahead, then it's even safer for the bicyclist now that the flow of traffic slows down and you might even get ahead.

And never let any car make a right turn in front of you. It's the most common accidents because drivers underestimate how fast roller blades and bicycles can go. Bicycles can go between 12 to 25+ MPH. I've had a few hard brakes in this situation until a learned a new trick in getting on the road instead of on the sidewalk.

I hope you have a great bike ride.

[Oildog]

I only used my road bike on weekends. My mountain bike worked well during weekdays. Lived in midtown area. Like many big cities, part of the reason to use mtn bike is road conditions. They are okay but cracks and potholes and things dropped off trucks can cause tire problems.

[wayne2k33]

I live over in Eastwood, and work at UH. I just recently started bike commuting and I love it. The commute is three miles, and takes me about 15 min (stoplights and occasional trains included).

What can I say though... Houston is by no means a "bike-friendly city". Drivers don't ever expect you to be there, and most of them are distracted by cell phones, listening to really loud raidos, eating and driving at the same time, fishing around in glove compartments, and all other sorts of nightmares for the cyclist.

We do have a fair amount of bike lanes, shared roads and hike and bike trails, especially if you live inside the loop. My best advice is to stay on a neighborhood street route. When you are on a busy street, take up the lane so the cars can see you... DON'T ride on the curb or the side b/c Houston streets have cracks and potholes galore!!!!!!!!!! The car drivers might be pissed b/c you're "in their space", but at least you'll be alive.

It's certainly not all bad though. The amount of money I'm saving from gas is really helpful, and I'm getting into much better shape. Biking is awesome, and for those that can, I would recommend trying it in Houston. This city is really intereesting and amazing, but most of us zoom past it so fast in cars, we'd never know.

[pcaddo]

Anyone attending Riddle Ride? I just started riding again and want to try out riddle ride.