Share the Road?

THE CYCLIST, PART 1

Dave, his bike, and the Pacific!

This will be a short series of two articles; The Cyclist Part 1 provides a background and bounds the discussion while The Cyclist Part 2 brings you, the reader, to the table.  Weigh in, comment, and ask questions.

Many of you know my recreational exercise-of-choice is cycling but this is likely of little interest as so few of my friends and relatives are, themselves, avid cyclists.  Then it occurred to me that the non-cyclists out there are actually the motorists who smile at us, tolerate us, hold us in disdain, and (in rare cases) dislike us completely.

There is a long and negative history between the motorist and the cyclist and, like most other negative human interactions, it is likely based on a lack of communication and one or two really bad-news encounters.  The roadside sign that reads "Share the Road" is rarely heeded by either group - motorists and cyclists just do not see eye-to-eye.  This sometimes leads to confrontation and, with a 4,000 pound car vs. a 17 pound bicycle, there is no contest - the cyclist losses each and every time.

Because of the high emotions invested in this relationship, I thought it might be interesting to swap perspectives on the "Share The Road" concept; I will provide one view as both a cyclist and a motorist and you can weigh in with your own thoughts, comments, and questions.  Considering the mushrooming population of cyclists and the crush of automotive traffic vying for the same chunk of asphalt, this could turn into a most interesting discussion. 

So, in The Cyclist Part 1, let's just set the scene and narrow down the discussion. 

• Mountain Bikers: The cyclists we are not talking about here are the mountain bikers - they are normally up in the woods happily careening through the trees and underbrush along a single narrow trail... the animals look on in amazement and then scurry out of the way.  These cyclists are of little impact to you - the motorist.

• Leisurely Cyclists: We are also not addressing the recreational cyclist who rides at a slow to moderate speed around their neighborhoods or on wide paved bike trails - they sit atop a hybrid bike that is designed for comfort and exercise and are pretty tentative when it comes to auto traffic.  Some may inappropriately ride on local sidewalks. 

• Kiddos: We are also not talking about the kids on BMX bikes or the rusting Walmart Huffy. These youngsters pose a danger to themselves and those around them but this is a parenting issue that could be the subject of a future blog... but I think not.

The three main groups of cyclists that motorists most often come in contact with are the commuter and, what I will call, the recreational rider. A smaller, but significant group of cyclists, is the athlete... the racer.

• The Commuter: The commuter cyclist usually rides alone, can be seen in street clothes or what looks like workout garb; they tend to be rather unobtrusive.  The commuter rides various styles of bike - many are on road bikes or the more upright hybrid and they almost always have fenders, lights, and a storage bag draped over the rear fender - a comfortable but fast ride is what they need and an ultralight racing machine is not required.  Their single-minded focus is to get safely to and from work and save a few oil wells or some gas money along the way.  With an eye on-the-sky, their biggest concern is inclement weather.  The cycling commuter is very confident in traffic and has learned how to negotiate it most adroitly.

• The Groupie: So that leaves the nemesis of the motoring world - what I will call the group rider.  This is the population of cyclists that you may have the most angst with; they ride in groups of 8 to 25 individuals and move at a pretty good clip (17 to 30 MPH).   The group cyclist  is mounted on a very light thin-tired road bike with drop handlebars.  They are dressed in tight fitting clothing - the signature padded shorts with a colorful bike jersey - a race-team replica or one that advertises a local bike shop.  And the most disconcerting issue for most motorists - these folks are riding in large packs.  Right off the bat, packs imply aggression, hunters, armies, gangs, and cooperative chaos.  If you pay attention you may be surprised at how close they are riding to each other - 10 or 20 inches often-times separate a rider's lead tire from the bike directly in front; that seals it... these folks are reckless risk takers. This breed of cyclist rides in what's called a pace line... normally a single file string of riders.  Much to the displeasure of motorists, one or two riders occasionally pop out of the line into the travel lane and they ride side-by-side with their buds.  If and when you pass them you may also hear unintelligible yelling and screaming and that simply confirms your impression that these folks are just an out-of-control group of mindless misfits.

One more little detail to get settled - there are idiots on bikes... there are idiots in cars.  That single fact is what drives the angst, spins up the emotions, and forms the basis for this discussion.

This discourse will also benefit from a general understanding of those cyclists who ride in packs; road cyclists fall into the following general categories:

• Bike Snobs:  These are normally middle aged men with well paying jobs - BMW drivers.  They have the latest gear with bikes in the $6,000 to $10,000 range, riding outfits that cost hundreds, and they are fit and they know it.  While they missed-the-boat on the pro cycling tour, they pride themselves in leading the pack and winning what is commonly known as the "town line sprint."  Most of their conversations revolve around their average speed, power ratings, and new bike gear.  Bike snobs often have more than one bike - inclement weather?  He shows up with his rain bike.

• Racers: There is a large amateur bike racing community with men and women who train for and participate in a wide variety of races - triathlons, track (velodrome) racing, cyclocross, stage races, and criterium races... just to name a few.  These are the true athletes and you will see them on the group rides simply getting ready for a more formal race event.  You may also find racers riding in a team group - they are preparing for a team event and are on a training ride.  As riding in a mixed group often does little to prepare them for their race beyond speed, you also will see them riding alone or in pairs - usually going at a blistering pace.  

A Group Ride - California Wine Country

• Fitness Buffs & Fat Busters: This last group makes up the majority of the group riders you will encounter and they are out there on-the-road for many reasons - one of which might be to burn some calories in order to slim down or to remain their svelte selves.  There are all sorts of other reasons why this cyclist may have selected a fast group ride as a means of achieving fitness or slimming down - usually the need for a lower impact form of exercise or to add some variety to their jogging routine.  While they don't normally race, participation in charity rides is common - riding a "century" 100 mile course is a great way for them to challenge their endurance, achieve a noble goal, and support a worthy cause all in one fell swoop.  The group ride is a means to prepare for these events.  When the weather turns cold or rainy, unlike the racers, you might run into these cyclists at the "Y" taking a spin class or working out on the treadmill.  These riders set themselves up on some very good road bikes that stretch their budget up into the $2,000 range.  Split between men and women, they ride at a fairly brisk pace but not what one might consider a race-day pace. 

Be Afraid... This is a Gang?

As I mentioned, all three of these groupings are gross generalizations intended to begin our conversation.  And again, all three groups are sprinkled with one or two idiots.  That said, cyclists participating in a group ride are, for the most part, very normal people who are loving the bonding experience and teamwork necessary to ride with the group, they may be reliving the childhood thrill of riding a bicycle, and some get off on feeling the adrenalin rush associated with the high physical exertion required of a group ride.

Hopefully this background sets the table for our continuing discussion.  The Cyclist Part 2 is where you join in the discourse - in the comments section of this blog, on my Facebook page, or via e-mail (cc103acs@gmail.com); pose a question or two you might have about cyclists riding in large groups on our public roads.  I will also pulse my fellow workers at Langley Air Force Base on their questions and perspectives - they are not shy about commenting on cyclists; I hear it all the time.  I am also doing some basic research on cycling law - what are some of the exceptions to the normal motor vehicle laws that cyclists are exempt from - you will be surprised.

As a minimum, the next cycling segment will touch on what is going on inside that group ride; your questions or insights will be invaluable.

If Only... you would weigh in.  So, come on... what really pisses you off about cyclists and why?  Do you wonder what motivates them to mass in groups?  Why to they yell so darn much while they ride?  E-mail me your comments or post them at the end of this blog.  And before you go...  get the feel for a group ride through video...

Food for Thought and just to get you thinking, the embedded video shows an extremely fast group of riders.  You will only rarely happen upon a group such as this.  They are likely a mix of Bike Snobs and Racers - riding in what's called a double rotating pace line.  While perfectly legal to ride two abreast and out in the traffic lane, this group is likely causing some perturbed motorists to roll by with very negative impressions.