Lousy Kid Get OFF the Lawn!



"Linda A," On Another Day

Some say that the youngsters today simply don't "get it." About the most they can understand is "Lousy Kid, Get OFF the Lawn!" Well, I'm here to tell you it ain't so. At least ONE kid (and possibly a couple more) has learned how to drive safer around us pesky cyclists than many of my own generation. There IS hope for the human race, and I found out about it entirely by accident.

This morning, I was taking a fellow cyclist to the airport. We'll call her "Linda A" for the sake of convenience. Being of my generation, she was either too cheap or broke to take a decent flight, and so we were going along in the predawn darkness. Up ahead, I saw a person on a bike. He had lights, and was heading along the same four-lane road we were on, and the lanes were 11-12 feet wide. This person was riding at the far right of our lane. As you might know if you've read this blog much, I favor a more prominent lane position on such roads. Seeing the person, I was reminded of why. Simply put, it took me a couple of seconds to decide whether to make a full lane change to pass the person or not. I commented on this to "Linda A." I noted that the guy on the bike would have lowered my stress level by simply making it more obvious that a full lane change was THE action to take, and I wondered WHAT sort of message the "edge hugger" guy was sending to motorists who did not write about cycling on an ongoing basis. She agreed. But the guy on the bike is NOT the point of this post.

Stock Shot of Cyclist Riding in a Manner to Create Doubt in the Motoring Mind About How/Whether to Pass

After agreeing, she related a little story that reminded me there is hope for the future and that I'd never heard before. Linda mentioned that she'd ridden along with my wife and my youngest daughter. My wife was driving. They came upon a cyclist. My wife made a straddle pass of the cyclist. My youngest spoke up and said "you should have made a full lane change to pass that cyclist." My wife, chastened, agreed that would have been better. MY FAVORITE DAUGHTER!

It tells me those driving sessions where we hunted for cyclists she could practice passing were not wasted. Later, I mentioned this to her older sister who noted that she either made a full lane change or simply followed until it was safe to make that full lane change. Of course, SHE might have simply been "sucking up," knowing that we're now in the Christmas season, though I really don't think so. However, she didn't get an unsolicited testimonial. There's nothing like a neutral "Attagirl" to get points with "the Dad."

Daughter, During a "How to Pass Cyclists" Driver Training Lesson, Described HERE

The glow remains even now. It's good to know that sometimes our kids pay attention. Just sayin' that sometimes, it's good to hear these kids are sometimes smarter than they appear. Or maybe, I'm just being a proud papa. Either way, at least for today, YOU GO GIRL!

The Favored One, Modeling Raingear for This Blog

More Fall Color Candidates

It has been no real secret that I've been on the lookout for some fall color. Starting way back last December, I shot some trees after the last Rantwick Deadline, shown here. While one tree was pretty good, it isn't clear it would be eligible this year and it will definitely peak too late for this year's deadline. Then, in September, I shot some of the local Texas color, posting it here. People sneered. THEN, I looked for color in the great, soon-to-be frozen wilds of Quebec, posting them here. No lone trees. The colorful Canadian trees stood together in great herds.

After missing out in Texas and in Quebec, I sought fall color elsewhere. In Saint Louis, I wrote of a small, but colorful (brown IS a color!) example here. Then, I went on to Salt Lake City, where I found a colorful tree that seems to have been blessed by the hand of God, or at least a decorator at the Mormon Tabernacle. THAT example was shown here. What I did NOT show, at least not then, were some of the lesser examples, such as the poor little Saint Louis tree below, and one in SLC, that I refer to as "the Match Tree."

Returning back to Texas, I adopted the strategy Rantwick used with "the King." He cleverly watched a single tree and waited for it to reach its peak. Alas, my selected candidate never really got very spectacular. The "before" and "at" peak colors are both shown below.

And so, I think, I should consider sticking with the tree whose color never fades, the tree sung to by voices that might have come down from Heaven. A unique tree for Rantwick's contest. The ONLY tree residing indoors, and endorsed in the program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

This Saint Louis Tree was Past its Color Peak

Utah, Home of the "Colorful Match Tree"

Colleyville Candidate Tree, Colorful, but Getting More So

Colleyville Tree, Two Weeks Later, Leaves Starting to Drop Fast

Even the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Sings of THIS Colorful Little Tree!
Under Divine Favor (Favour for our Canadian Friends), Its Color (Colour) is Everlasting, Eh?

Thanks

Feeling a little churlish this morning, I went out for some coffee. Since it was pretty nice out, I rode the road bike. The major coffee chain based in Seattle, despite some recent fairly substantial improvements since their founder retook the reins of the company, hasn't figured out that most customers do NOT know what the difference is between a "syrup" and a "sauce," particularly when there's nothing to so note anywhere on the menu board. Not feeling too thankful afterwards. Perhaps it isn't time to buy coffee company stock yet...

It DID all turn around when I stopped at a four-way stop and a young motorist, off to my right, talking on her cell phone, stopping at the same time as myself, saw me wave her on, and so she went, waving a wave of thanks. Sometimes, little things simply make you thankful that most people understand how traffic ought to operate, and simply do so. A lot of people on bikes complain about thoughtless or inattentive motorists. Heck, I've made such compaints myself on some occasions. Well, I think a lot of people on bikes don't count how MOST motorists simply behave decently. And that is why traffic works as well as it does. Speed with safety!

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!

Close Calls Concern

In a lot of blogs concerning bicycles, I hear about "scary" stuff such as close calls and aggressive motorists. Sometimes these stories are sincere and sometimes they are just that - stories. However, close calls relate to a real safety concern. Namely, the "safety pyramid." Close calls that are invented as a means to scare people are a different kind of problem, and that'll be the subject of a future post.

The Safety Pyramid. How Many Stop Signs Can You Run Before a Close Call?
How Many Close Calls Before You Get Hit? And So On...

The "safety pyramid" relates to an industrial observation that bad events (in this case, cycling crashes and collisions) are related to the numbers of less serious close calls. The traditional relationship is as shown in the picture below.
In the case of cycling, "at risk behaviors" would consist of things like riding on sidewalks, riding without lights, running stop signs and other behaviors that any reader of this blog would know. The theory behind the safety pyramid suggests that you can cut down the number of near misses and worse simply by cutting down risky behaviors. Exactly the same principle works if you're driving a car.
Does this work? Well, perhaps it does and perhaps it doesn't. Certainly you cannot reduce your risk in traffic to zero by any reasonable action. A motorist can (and they DO) come crashing into your house and kill you as you sleep in your bed. However, I personally think that reducing "at risk" behaviors does reduce near misses. The last time I had a near miss with a motorist was in 1973. I did have a couple of close passes a couple of years ago, but they were on a really substandard road, noted here.
In reality, this is what one would expect with a normal distribution of motorist responses to a cyclist action. Six Sigma in the real world!
IF YOU seem to be having an unusual number of close calls or other safety-related encounters, perhaps it is time to reconsider. Motorists are TRAINED not to run into things and, mostly, they do not do so, or the carnage on the highways would be even greater than it is nowadays.
Speaking of which, at least ONE Law Enforcement Agency, the Ohio State Patrol, thinks the same way as I do...

Ohio Highway Patrol View on the Safety Pyramid

It Depends

Some of us have been blessed with a surplus of education in our lives. MOST of us that are so blessed, have learned the principle that True/False questions that include "Always" or "Never" are USUALLY "False."

And so it is with cycling. Many are fond of  quoting John Forester as saying "cyclists fare best when they..." and endorse the principle of "always VC." Others take the opposite track and whine for ever more elaborate facilities. Well, as with a lot of things, either can be true sometimes, but not always. Forester, for example, notes that cyclists are welcome to cycle through parks whilst even militant motorists would not endorse the destruction that motoring through same would entail. In his book, he recalls situations in which cyclists are at a distinct disadvantage relative to motorists. In short, the man says, "it depends."

Actually, it depends on ACE. And ACE will be a future post. ACE stands for "Ability, Conditions, Equipment." Strangely, I was never taught about ACE in bicycle school or even in bicycle instructor training.

I've had an occasional correspondence with someone that has formed the impression of "VC GOOD," "Non VC Not so Good." THIS post's purpose is to dispell that notion. Because, regardless of what we might wish, the real answer is "It Depends." While I did not set out to do so, on my ride home from work today, I operated mostly in a totally vehicular fashion, according to vehicular rules. However, I also operated according to pedestrian rules, and even when operating to vehicular rules, I did so differently in different situations.

You might wonder why. Well, it's pretty simple. Circumstances vary. Those of you that also motor understand this very well. Put simply, when driving a Toyota Prius, you don't drive the same way on a quiet street as you do when merging onto a freeway filled with 18 wheelers. And you don't merge the same way onto a freeway filled with Alfa Romeo or Jaguar race cars. I operated to pedestrian rules today simply because it allowed me to get where I wanted to go quicker than waiting in with a bunch of motorists and it didn't cause conflicts to do so. Sometimes that happens. Get over it if you want to be militant - or I'll post a series of photos that'll cause you to say, "well duh!" Heck, I've even been known to ride on sidewalks myself - like that time my chain broke and I had four miles to get home. Sidewalks and "scooters" go together sometimes.

Various circumstances follow - all are from past posts on this blog:

I'll Look at the Detectors and Ride Where I Think is Best
It Depends!

Long Sight Lines and Fast Speeds - I Ride to Be Best Seen
I Don't Ride Here in the Fog - Because It Depends on Me AND My Motorists

Sometimes It Depends on Things Getting Complicated

Sometimes We Get the Luxury of a Boulevard. It All Depends

Sometimes We Have to Make Maneuvers our Motoring Partners Won't Understand

Sometimes, Riding Shoulders is Simply RIGHT - No Conflicts Here
Forester's Book Shows Photos of Cyclists on Shoulders. In Texas, I Routinely See Pickup Trucks on Shoulders

Sometimes, Unlike our Motoring Relatives, We Simply GET OFF THE ROAD!

So, What's the Cycling Rule Here?

As In a Lot of Things, It Depends!

Opinions Needed from my Loyal Reader

Actually, this involves TWO semi-related subjects. The first is the practical question of how much is a reasonable offer for a broken bicycle. The second is how to induce a "teachable moment" to people who've been hit by motorists recently, and on more than one occasion.

FIRST OPINIONS

Right (Drive Side) Crank Arm Looks OK. Left Looks Like "Toast"

The bicycle in question is a Specialized Roubaix. It's got a carbon frame that's too big for me, that was involved in a collision with an automobile (more on that later in the second subject) when the whole bike had about 100 miles on it. The crash broke the carbon frame seat tube. It also bent the left crank arm and the wheels are out of true. The condition of the carbon fork is unknown. Those with long memories, will remember that I've noted here how to verify the condition of a suspect carbon fork.

Road Rash on Rear Derailleur. Otherwise, Pretty Much What You'd Expect from a New Bike After a Week of Me Riding It

So, why would I consider paying ANYTHING for this? Well, the first item is that Buddy uses SRAM and the remnants of the bike in question use SRAM. What's more, last winter, I bought a ten speed SRAM Force set of shifters, for a future road bike upgrade and this bike has a ten speed rear cassette, along with a SRAM rear derailleur. It's also got a nearly new SRAM ten speed chain. The bottom line is that with a SRAM rear derailleur of any model, I'll have all the parts needed to convert the road bike from an 8 speed Shimano to a 10 speed SRAM system. That would leave the fleet Shimano-free with the exception of Frankenbike which is an entirely different subject. With the cassette, I'd be able to also have a full backup mud/snow set of wheels for cyclocross and snow weather. And chains are a wear item that one will certainly use as the miles pile up.
Stuff I could use almost right away include the rear derailleur, and the chain (Buddy's got nearly 4k miles on its current chain).

Stuff I MIGHT be able to use include the wheels if I can get back into true (by no means certain) - for my knobby tires when it snows around here, and the carbon seat post as an upgrade for the aluminum seat post on my road bike. Not that I'm really LOOKING for a carbon seat post or even for an extra road bike saddle. Also the tires, which look nearly new and those of us that use such up will eventually use any such items that come our way.

Stuff I think might be saleable would include the SRAM Apex shifters, front derailleur (it's a braze-on type which none of my bikes can use), handlebars, possibly the front fork, and the Apex brakes. I do not think the brakes would work on any of my older bikes due to the evolution of brake reach through the years. Still, some person would probably find late model brakes attractive, even if "low end." Of course, I'm really not thrilled with the idea of getting into the parts selling business.
Before I looked at the bike, I said I'd pay $100 sight unseen. That mostly gave value to the rear derailleur, and little for the wheels or drivetrain. Upon seeing the bike, the wheels look like they might be salvageable as a labor of love (they wobble, but there is no VISUAL damage to spokes or the rim), and the drivetrain without even love being needed. I'm not sure the rest of the crank system is even worth a serious dismantle, since the left arm hits the left chainstay. Even a visually good BB is suspect in such a situation. Or so my thoughts go.
Looking at the bike, I add some value for the shifters (almost new SRAM Apex), the handlebars, which are standard, the brake calipers, which are also new standard Roubaix items, and the seatpost, which I think I'm inclined to sell.
SO, y'all, what's the right amount to offer? This guy thinks a NEW, full Apex system is worth $500, and looking at eBay, I'm not sure I'd argue seriously about that. Still, I've already GOT better shifters and wheels, and am not really looking to get into the parts business, so I think the proper value is somewhere between $100 and $300. Over $150 and I think I start to lose a lot of interest and start simply looking for a good, used SRAM rear derailleur. HOWEVER, if I pass, one of y'all might want to sign up for all this? I haven't asked if the person in question wants to ship if you are not local to the DFW area.
SECOND OPINIONS
This bike comes available because the rider got hit in a "left cross situation." I didn't ask, but I suspect the rider was in the "zone of invisibility" at the far right edge of the lane as he was at the stop line. Simply moving left to be more visible might have converted a collision into a situation not even worthy of mention. Coincidentally, I had a pleasant "flat tire and quick release" experience this week. WHAT? You might ask. Well, it wasn't MY flat tire. A fellow bike commuter had a flat tire and I was fortunate enough to come along and help, without even getting cold and dirty. The RELEVANT aspect was that while he fixed his tire, he mentioned he's been hit TWICE by cars. I mentioned back I could help with that and was a bike league cycling instructor.

Joey Fixes His Tire. Buddy and Steve Offer Advice and a Tire Pump. A Tube was Ready if Needed

The question I put to my loyal reader is how do I turn these into "teachable moments?" Two people who ride bikes and three hits by cars is NOT something I can easily ignore, especially since my last real close call was back in the 70's. Motorists may not necessarily LIKE the way I ride, but they absolutely KNOW how to avoid an actual contact. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get Mad

Right now, I'm a little upset. Khalil at Los Alamos bikes has made a good summary post as to what is being foisted upon cyclists with, so far, apparently bipartisan support.

Better yet, go sign here.

Pay attention. Paths are one thing. Blatant discriminatory prohibitions without even any real pretense of safety or latitude for varying situations are another.

At least LAB has started to speak up. However many of the groups that make their money off of cycling infrastructure still do no more than complain they aren't getting their fair shar of yours and my money with not a peep about this provision. I suggest telling THESE groups you do not want them to be accessories to a crime in progress. Other actions? I don't know, I have to think this over. In the meantime, I'm signer 1704.

I may not agree with LAB on everything, but they spoke up early this time. I, for one, intend to watch and see who else joins in and who remains silent. I bike, and I DO vote, and I pay attention to what those that claim a mantle of advocacy do. At least I eschew that label myself.

FULL DISCLOSURE
I am a member of LAB, and am recognized by that group as LCI 3054. I do not now, nor have I ever, belonged to any other cycling or cycling advocacy organization, unless you count informal Internet groups. No statement above should be construed as representing anything other than my personal and private opinion.

Home in Time

Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Today I gambled it would not rain before I got home, so I left the rain gear at home. Going home, I even used my free coffee coupon, gained via taking the "major coffee chain based in Seattle survey."

Nary a drop touched me or Buddy. Now, we've got rain and tornado warnings.

Seen on the Internet

Sometimes, things you see on the Internet lead you to really cool items. Sometimes, they just lead you to things you thank your lucky stars do not wind up cluttering up your storage. I just got led to doing a "product some other person should review."

Case in point - WINTER TRACTION
Living in North Texas, winter traction is an occasional concern. It is occasional enough that bike stores around here don't carry much of anything to help cyclists deal with it. Studded tires are not really practical since you'd only get to use them a half dozen days at most and they'd be dry rotted LONG before they got any serious wear. Still, I keep my eyes open in the ever-present search to open the commute envelope just that last little bit to allow rides on those few days that eluded me last year. Slick ice. Conveniently, "bike commuters" just posted an article about bicycle tire chains. With a little bit of investigation, I quickly concluded they were not only awfully spendy for the product in question ($85-$95), but wouldn't fit my bike even if money were no object.

Kool Stop Makes Tire Chains in Addition to Brake Pads!

BUT, that got the Internet searching underway. Before long, I discovered that this "slipnot" item was not the first bicycle tire chain, and, in fact, Kool Stop makes or made such a product. I have no idea how much these puppies cost, and whether you need to call Kool Stop and tell them "Vito sent me," but they MIGHT work. Somehow, if I thought they were a mainstream solution, Kool Stop would at least mention their availability. Still, they are a real product, made by a real company, and "Icebike" talks about them here.

A Working Tire (or Tyre) Spray Would be Nice on Days Such as This

BUT, that led to MORE Internet searching and THAT led to a product that sounded almost too good to be true. It is called "Tyre Grip," with a close relative called "Shoe Grip." EUREKA!

Well, you know what they say about things that sound too good to be true, even if you DO read about them on the Internet. I saw one review of "Tyre Grip" on Amazon and it was positive, or at least the reviewer said it "seemed" to work. So I dug a little further, to see if anyone had tried it on a bike. Sure enough, I found a review here. Instantly, my enthusiasm began to abate. The reviewer had a theory that bikes are too light for the product to be very effective. Hmm, perhaps "Shoe Grip" might be better for bikes. After all, pedestrians are a LOT lighter than cars! So I looked a little further. There were no reviews of "Shoe Grip" on Amazon, but I did find that the American mass media still has faint sparks of investigative spunk and there was a review of "Shoe Grip" here. They even gave the manufacturer a chance to rebut their findings. Which tells you how well these reporters thought it worked.

NOW, some of you might go read these reviews. I think, however, that I don't have a strong need for something that will probably gum up my bike mechanicals and that I can find more economical wasp torches. STILL, loyal reader, if someone with whom I have had past contact (employees of "Tyre Grip" and their families are not eligible) wishes to try this stuff, I'd LOVE to hear your experiences. Perhaps one of our Canadian cousins? Just the name "Tyre" should make you feel all squishy and Commonwealthy even if you lot DO spell "tire" correctly, unlike all those "ou" words. HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO BE A REAL CYCLING PIONEER!!!!!!!!!

Sadly, down here, the search for the perfect ice solution continues. My knobby tires are ready and perhaps I'll have better footwear this winter as well...

Darkest Morning and First Freeze



Baby, It's Been DARK Outside!

It's Now Cold Enough to Find THESE Gloves!

Yesterday, it became clear that I am not really quite ready for winter. For a few weeks, I've looked forward to today, which marked the latest that dawn will occur in 2011. Now, we will "fall back" and even the very shortest days of December will dawn more than 15 minutes earlier.

Less expected was a freeze that woke me up. Instead of fully preparing, I got up, got ready, and then looked for the colder weather finishing touches. Wool socks and balaclavas (3 to choose from) were all ready and waiting. Ditto for the sweatshirt I wear underneath my cycling jacket. Gloves? Where ARE those durn cold weather cycling gloves? Well, not to belabor the story, other than to note I will search for both pairs this weekend. A simple freeze does not warrant things like mittens. Friday, two pairs of light gloves did the trick but that is an inelegant solution...

Exactly a Year Ago Today, the Trees Were More Colorful Than This Year

Have YOU Seen These Gloves? Me Neither, Though ALL the Other Items are Still Waiting

No Motorist at Fault

Harwood Road, a Bit East of the "Sidewalk Ride"

Today, I had somewhat of a close call on the way home from work. I was stopped at a stop sign, preparing to turn right onto Harwood Road in Bedford. As is my usual practice in such situations, I first scanned to the left, to see what oncoming traffic was on the arterial. I then scanned to the right, to see what might possibly be coming from the unexpected direction. Finally I scanned to the left once more and began my turn.

That is when it happened.

Down the sidewalk, from the wrong direction, a person on a bike shot off the sidewalk and directly into my path. Fortunately, my bike was a lot narrower than the typical SUV and so I was able to avoid the person without too much drama. I was, however, too startled to even yell out any inappropriate remarks in the direction of the sidewalk rider. In any event, I suspect that talking to such a person would NOT represent a "teachable moment."

Still, if you read this, and ride on sidewalks, PLEASE ride on the sidewalk where traffic is going in the same direction as you are. That at least gives people riding or driving on the road a fair shot at seeing you before a conflict situation arises.

Had I, instead have been driving an automobile and had we collided, it might well have been tagged as the motorist's fault, since I was beginning a right turn from a stop sign - "Motorist pullout." You might not care for your own life, but MY motorists deserve better. They ought not be tagged as scofflaws simply because of your ignorance. There are more than enough careless motorists to go around. Heck, even if you don't care a whit about MY motorists, show a little consideration for CYCLISTS that operate in a predictable and lawful fashion. Thanks, in advance. For those NOT reading this, well I've avoided inappropriate remarks so far and you aren't reading anyway.

PS: And PLEASE use lights in the dark, while you're at it! I'm running out of cheap lights to give to people who feel their life is worth less than the cost of one. Even riding WITH traffic down a sidewalk in the dark is a pretty questionable practice. Even a cyclist who is more careful on his commute than most will have trouble picking you up in the dark. Car-Free PVD has some good recommendations but even the ones NOT liked give me a shot at seeing you. Just sayin'.

PPS: Maybe I'll chill out a little next week when DST FINALLY ends. Right now, I'm feeling a little threatened by people on bikes...

Share the Road?

Lots of readers of this blog have seen advisory/warning signs with bikes on them, saying "Share the Road." However, "Share the Road" need not refer to bikes. For example, see the sign below from North Tarrant Parkway in North Richland Hills, Texas.

Are motorists, seeing this sign, to conclude that motorcyclists should only be treated politely when such a sign is present? Are motorcyclists supposed to use the sidewalk if such a sign is not present? I've also seen such signs on major freeways around North Texas. Are motorcycles "fair game" if such signs are not present? Well, to tell you the truth, my own theory is that some places have extra sign money they couldn't figure out how to do anything useful with. Same goes to "Share the Road" signs with bicycles on them.