On 12/13/2010 1:24 AM, DirtRoadie wrote:
On Dec 12, 10:38 pm, Jay wrote:
On Dec 12, 4:22 pm, wrote:

On Dec 12, 1:22 pm, wrote:

You get a lot of 'depends' on this question because it does depend.

Frank Krygowski would never let details like details get in the way of
his obsession with taking control. He's that kind of a guy.

I'm constantly on narrow roads where this happens -- like here, which
is convenient to my house:http://www.flickr.com/photos/old_sarge/100926333/
(minus the closure from a mud slide a few years ago -- which we rode
around). Anyway, all you do is hold your line along the right side of
the road, and trucks go around. I would never in a million years pull
OUT if a truck were approaching, unless I were on a bridge or in some
place where a squeeze was inevitable. It also begs the question of
how long you stay out in front of the truck. That section of the
Clackamas River Road is miles long without a turn off -- how long
should I sit in the lane? Ten minutes. Twenty minutes at 12mph
promenade pace? It would be exhausting having some truck sitting
behind me for that long. -- Jay Beattie.

(Love the closure!)

In the realm of "it depends" another scenario that I am familiar with
may be, at best, a remote possibility for someone who lives where "The
typical motorist around here probably doesn't pass even one cyclist
per day" as one "Frank Krygowski" describes.

It is the situation involving (1) "Cyclist A," (2) an 8.5 foot truck
traveling the same direction and (3) "Cyclist B" traveling the
OPPOSITE direction.
If Cyclists A and B are both riding competently, legally, and safely
to their right (USA) there may be room for the truck to pass
competently, legally and safely between them, especially if the speeds
involved are not high. (not to say that cyclist B will like it) But
if cyclist A (let's assume his initials are "FK") decides that he is
going to "control his lane," he may (1) force the truck farther into
Cyclist B's lane or (2) be impeding the following "traffic."

No question, "it depends."

But to me the correct answer is almost always that it depends.