Cyclists: lose the angry pills

I can't help but feel the way cyclists conduct themselves on and off the bike doesn't contribute much to their safety on the road. Cyclists often seem to have a hair trigger and totally lose the plot at even quite mild, sensible discussion or the most trivial of driving issues.

Now Remember, I'm a roadie and commuter myself. I'm well aware that studies have shown motorists are typically the wrongdoers in accidents involving cars and bikes and that cyclists aren't nearly as well protected as drivers and thus suffer ramifications of accidents far more severely.

I just though feel that launching straight into a bitter rant (be it on Facebook, or the road) and leading out with a statement like "all drivers are dickheads", totally puts the motorists offside, so they'll shut down and stop listening, thus stopping you make any decent points and perhaps changing their behaviour. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

It also adds to the idea that cyclists are illogical psychos that don't listen to reason. That's not helping. Showing we are entirely sensible and reasonable people does far more for the cause.

So keep this in mind next time you're involved in a fracas, be it on the road, on the internet or a chat at the office. No dramas taking a nice firm, clear, pro cycling position, but make sure it's not a bitter rant. That might be the popular route with mates in the cycling club, but you'll probably do some damage to how cyclists are perceived and treated.

Lycropia: the reason the cyclist road toll is up?

This is bloody interesting (and an exceptional ad):

It's funny - I knew what was coming (I'd seen a similar test in Mythbusters, with a zombie rather than break dancing bear) and I still missed it.

The ad sums it up well - if you don't consciously look for something even while concentrating, you probably won't see it. This article in the NZ Herald reaches an identical conclusion. It's also perhaps THE reason there are so many cyclist - car crashes of late (and the stats show drivers are by and large the at fault party).

I'm coining the term Lycropia - the cycling version of myopia (near sightedness). Drivers have a blind spot for cyclists. And people are dying as a result.

And fluro lycra doesn't address the issue either - if a bear suit & moonwalking won't fix it, a bright shirt won't either.

This actually makes perfect sense to me, and explains a few incidents. (yes, it's anecdotal, but indulge me this once). I was crossing the road at Bronte beach the other day, and for those who don't know Bronte there's two steep road decents feeding into the beachfront. A family was crossing the road at the base of one of the decents (not at the pedestrian crossing BTW before you ask), and I saw the father and two kids look up the hill right at the cyclist. It was a bright day, the sun was behind us, the rider was maybe 15 meters away - literally impossible to get a better view of the cyclist. Yet having looked squarely at him, they stepped straight out and damn near got skittled (I reckon the cyclist was probably doing 50 odd, so it would have been ugly). I can only guess they were looking for cars and Lycropia kicked in.

Of course rather than apologise, and clearly being in the wrong, the pedestrian parents proceeded to give the cyclist an earful.

So cyclists: be aware of lycropia, and never assume anyone has seen you.

And drivers & pedestrians: Appreciate cyclists are in fact road users , and make sure you are looking for them.

And authorities: get this ad on the Telly post-haste

Pedestrians: Sometimes Victims, Sometimes Perpetrators

If I'm writing a blog about cycling safety, at some point I need to address pedestrian issues......try googling cyclist and pedestrian.

Pedestrians and cyclists are uncomfortable bed fellows. Incidents are disturbingly commonplace. Yes, cyclists are banned from riding on sidewalks, but there are increasingly large numbers of "shared zones". The laws for shared zones place the responsibility for avoiding crashes squarely on cyclists, with signs stating Give way to Pedestrians such as these:

The problem being cyclists also need to adhere to the laws of physics. So if a pedestrian decides they want to run across the path to get a picture of the cute schnauzer, things can end badly for both the cyclist and pedestrian.

So my tips for cyclists riding in shared zones:

• Drop your pace. If you want to put the hammer down, do it in a more appropriate spot.
• Announce your presence. Ring your bell, or call out (something like "cyclist on your right") when you are approaching. 
• Give the pedestrians a wide berth. The more the better. They may have been wearing an MP3 player or be tuned out and not heard your call/bell.

And my tips for pedestrians:

• Be aware you are in a shared zone and make sure your behaviour reflects that. Take a look before changing directions, keep to the left side and don't walk five abreast down the path.
• Don't tune out just because you're off the road
• Cyclists move at varying speeds (anything from 10-35 km/h on flat terrain, depending on the rider and situation). Make sure you look long enough to assess their speed before crossing their path.
• Don't push to the front at traffic light crossings. It's quite amazing how often pedestrians will push past waiting cyclists at a don't walk sign, in spite of the fact the cyclist was there first, and the cyclist will have to pass them within 5 meters

Join a cycling club (and yes, you will be slower)

Joining a cycling club is something every beginner cyclist should do. Club rides make cycling safer (safety in numbers) but also massively help your own learning curve as a cyclist (they'll show you the ropes in terms of group etiquette, basic bike maintenance & repairs, how to ride safely on the road and you'll also have someone to ask those questions you have as a newbie, like do I wear undies under my lycra). Most decent clubs run a beginners ride once a week or month. Go. You'll also probably meet some nice people who live & ride in your area, so you'll also get the tips on good places to ride (and avoid), best routes to commute, best local coffee, etc, as well as make some new friends. And if something bad does happen on a ride, you'll be riding with people equipped and prepared for such situations.

Too many beginners fall into the thinking "I might slow them down", which is a shame as they will benefit the most from the experience around them on a club ride. And yes, you probably will be slow to start. Guess what though? People don't care. The people from the club leading the ride (who are quite probably very experienced and fit) don't lead a beginner's ride with the expectation they can blast along at their normal speed. Quite the contrary. Beginners rides are riddled with mechanical issues and have a slow average speed. Why? Because the cyclists are beginners. And that's true of everyone on a beginner's ride - they know what to expect.

And clubs have members of all standards. Ranging from uber-fit, shaved leg 20 somethings through to more gentler paced octogenarians.

So will you be slow? Probably. But that's expected.

If the people leading the ride want a good physical workout they'll do other rides. If they are anything like the people why typically lead rides in my club (the Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club) they are very strong riders who rack up 10000km+ per year. Even with 12 months hardcore practice, you'll still be "slowing them down". But they don't mind leading some beginners, as it will see their club grow and they love sharing their sport with others.

Lane Filtering: Pick your Moments

So I'm working thru cycling behaviors. Last post was taking the lane, this time it's lane filtering (also called lane splitting). Lane Filtering is the practice of riding between slow or stationary lines of traffic to get to the front (typically at traffic lights). Now for the drivers out there this is an entirely legal practice.

Being legal doesn't though make it automatically responsible or safe - so pick your moments.

If the cars you are passing by filtering are just then forced to either (again) pass you soon after the lights or queue up behind you, I would suggest this is a incredibly bad point to filter. As a driver, it's bloody annoying.

The right times to filter are where you are accessing a bike lane just beyond the intersection or are about to turn off.

One could of course argue that filtering is entirely legal and a driver should pass you safely regardless, but I think as a cyclist one needs to realise that filtering can frustrate drivers, and frustrated drivers don't always drive as safely as one would like. How then safe a decision is the one to filter if the driver you pass are going to be passing you, frustrated, 100 metres down the road ? It also fails the test of being a considerate road user if you are filtering simply because you can, and are exhibiting that Must Get in Front mentality which causes many an accident.

Why cyclists ride in the middle of the goddam lane

It's a common complaint from motorists. "The bloody cyclist was riding in the middle of the goddam lane. Arrogant twat. Why doesn't he stick to the left?"

(International folk - keep in mind we drive on the left in Australia. Just replace left with right).

Indeed Jeremy Clarkson just made song and dance about such things on Twitter.

The practice is actually encouraged in cycling circles. It is known as taking the lane

Taking the lane is misunderstood by drivers. In that sense Clarskon is just like others. He is stuck in the thinking the best place for bikes is on the left. That may well be true for the drivers looking to pass, but often not for cyclists. We're not riding in the middle of the lane because we are arrogant. We know and understand it's not the most convenient spot for the following cars. The centre of the lane is often the safest place to ride.

Why exactly?

A few reasons:

1) It makes us clearly visible. Failure of a driver to see a cyclist lies at the heart of many car-bicycle accidents, so being in the middle of the lane is the best way to address that.

2) The side of the road is the collection point for all manner of litter, debris, gravel, glass and other crap on the roads (as well as catseye reflectors, which often mark the edge of a lane). All rather dangerous when you're on a bike. If parking is also permitted on the left of the road, it becomes a prime zone for dooring (which occurs hen a car passenger/driver opens the car door directly in your path).

3) Drivers often feel they can squeeze past if the cyclist is on the far left of the lane, regardless of variables like total lane width, oncoming traffic, corners, crests, etc. And the cyclist often (literally) wears the outcome of poor judgements. By sitting in the middle the cyclist makes a clear statement that the driver needs to overtake properly (i.e by moving into the opposite lane) and can't try "squeezing" past.

And, yes it does mean we will hold up the odd car. By a few seconds, which they'll probably regain at the next traffic lights. In our opinion an entirely reasonable trade off for someone's safety. Particularly our own.

And yes, we would be safer riding away from cars. Shame cycling infrastructure sucks and riders are forced onto the roads.

For mine, this is the ideal topic for an education campaign. It's a practice that's badly misunderstood by drivers, is entirely legal on roads without a bike lane, and could simply be addressed with a good ad. It's also a practice that drives a big wedge between cyclists and drivers.

Roadies - swap to 25mm tyres

The standard for tyre width on a road bike for several years has been a 23mm tyre.

Over the last few years there has been a trend toward 25mm. Not just by recreational cyclists either. Orica Greenedge, FDJ, BMC Racing, Omega Pharma & Sky are just a few of the teams running the wider rubber on the UCI tour.

Going to 25mm allows you run a lower tyre pressure (perhaps 15-20 psi less) without the issue of pinch flats. Which makes for a more comfortable, compliant and this safer ride. You have that bit more rubber on the road, so your traction is also improved. The bike will have more grip and is harder to unsettle, as well as being more comfortable.

The interesting thing though this doesn't though come at the sacrifice of speed (hence the pro teams adopting it) - in fact the 25mm option is faster under most conditions. The physics behind this isn't simple. But in short, the rolling resistance (i.e. friction) created by tyres isn't so much caused by the contact area of the tyre, rather how much the tyre distorts from it's standard shape when in contact with the ground. And 25mm tyres are much better than 23mm. Aerodynamically 23mm tyres have an advantage, but the rolling resistance benefits outstrip the aerodynamic drawbacks.

The road surface also has an impact. If the surface is billiard table smooth, 23mm tyres might be the better bet, but on bumpy, coarse chip roads, 25mm tyres are the clear winner.

So throw tradition out the window, and strap on some 25mm rubber. Most bikes will take 25mm no dramas, and you're unlikely to need to change rims. You'll be safer, more comfortable, and quite possibly faster. And if it's good enough for Cadel Evans, Richie Porte, Chris Froome, Simon Gerrans, Matt Goss, Luke Durbridge, Mark Cavendish & Tony Martin, my guess is you'll cope fine.