#11
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Adjusting helmet
On May 7, 10:13*pm, wrote:
Do you think cycling is a reasonable safe activity Yes it is extremely safe providing you stay awake and understand what you're doing. especially if I stay on paved bike paths? Most bike paths are more dangerous than riding on the street, since a "bike path" is more likely a multi-use path, often underengineered for cycling and strewn with dogs on leashes, meandering pedestrians etc. However judiciously used in the off hours (6 AM ? or on a quite weekday afternoon they can be a good place to start getting back on a bike. They allow slow speeds and help a person get used to bike handling again. Stay off them on week-ends and after work when everyone and their dog is out using them. Watch out for intersections with roads and other paths ( I once almost hit a golf cart crossing one path). I used to ride on the streets before and just couldn't tolerate having cars that close to me. I need to work off about 60 pounds of fat before I can go on a long ride anyway. Personal experience and my reading of the cycling literature suggests that you're better off riding on streets. Getting used to heavy traffic is a problem and I'd suggest cruising some quite side streets or residential streets as a start. Also check out the local bike clubs. My old bike club in Ottawa used to have rides for every level of ability and fitness. Riding with some experienced riders who only go at 15 km/hr for short rides can be a good way to get some exercise and build up road confidence. If you have a back pack or better yet a rear carrier and pannier (saddlebags) you might want to start making short trips (corner store, library, even grocery shopping trips) as part of your routine. It gets in the miles and lets you aclimatize to light traffic. Depending on where you live you might , later, want to try riding at rush hour in heavy traffic. This sounds silly but typically "rush" hour traffic is a lot slower and more predicatable (since commuters know where they are going) than at other times and it can help you to get used to cars being close while they are travelling at low speeds John Kane Kingston ON Canada |
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#12
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Adjusting helmet
On May 8, 11:08*pm, (Tom Keats) wrote:
In article , * * * * Frank Krygowski writes in part: Cycling is a reasonably safe activity on paths or on streets. Here's a rhetorical question: Is cycling a reasonably safe activity that can be made more dangerous, or is it a somewhat dangerous activity that can be made more safe? I'm a numbers guy. I look at the data, and say it's safe, by comparison with other activities that are considered safe - which is the only way to judge such a vague concept. And FWIW, the term "somewhat dangerous" is also vague. It can be applied to hundreds of very normal activities. The best answer I've been able to come with is: there's a huge difference between being able to make a bike go without falling off, and being able to safely wend one's way among throngs of people in traffic acting like last-minute Christmas shoppers on the streets & roads every day. That's certainly true. It's also true of making a car go, operating a motorcycle, or walking on two legs. That's why we don't let two-year- olds walk alone on high-traffic streets, no matter how good they are with their legs. That's why we don't let 13-year-olds drive in traffic, even if they're experts with the clutch and gearshift. IME, most people build their traffic cycling skills gradually, and normally stay on streets that more or less fit their skill level. I'll admit that most cyclists could be a whole lot better (just like most motorists); but even with the low level of cycling skill in America, cycling is still quite safe. Another data point: I've got a paper reporting results of a survey of people who said they exercised by cycling, walking, gardening, aerobics, or weightlifting. Respondents were asked if they injured themselves in the past month. Guess which activity had the fewest injuries? Yep. By that standard, bicycling was safer than all the others, even gardening! Powell, Kenneth et. al., "Injury Rates from Walking, Gardening, Weighlifting, Outdoor Bicycling, and Aerobics," Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 1998, Vol. 30, pp. 1246-9 - Frank Krygowski |
#13
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Adjusting helmet
We actually have 2 major paths in town. The one by the river has been
taken over by walkers and ankle biters. The one I will be using is much quieter. Only draw back is that I have to drive to get there. It goes all the way down to a state park. If I make a complete loop it would be about a 30 mile ride. They have plans in motions to hook up bike paths in town and extend them further. We also have mountain bike trails here that get rave reviews. Those are on the list for when I'm in shape. I really need to become acclimated to a bike again before I do anything serious. We have groups that ride the trails at the park and there might be some other clubs in town. I just seen 3 bikers in spandex hunched over on their street bikes looking like they were on a mission. I have a old trek mountain bike with rock shocks. Does having a street bike make it that much easier riding on smooth pavement? Chris |
#14
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Adjusting helmet
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#15
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Tires for Street Riding on Mountain Bike
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#16
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Adjusting helmet
Frank Krygowski wrote:
[...] Another data point: I've got a paper reporting results of a survey of people who said they exercised by cycling, walking, gardening, aerobics, or weightlifting. Respondents were asked if they injured themselves in the past month. Guess which activity had the fewest injuries? Yep. By that standard, bicycling was safer than all the others, even gardening![...] Hey Frank, Be sure to wear your gardening helmet! -- Tom Sherman - 42.435731,-83.985007 LOCAL CACTUS EATS CYCLIST - datakoll |
#17
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Adjusting helmet
On May 9, 12:39*pm, wrote:
I took my bike down to the path today and went for my first real ride. Actually it wouldn't even be a warm up for most of you guys. I rode for about 4 miles and the hills wore me out. Not bad at all for a first ride in that many years. Hills do have a tendency to wear one out but it gets better with time. The path is very nice. I seen 2 *joggers but it was mostly quiet. There are a few intersections but they have bike crossings that stop all traffic. Sounds like a fairly decent path but watch out for the crossings. Motorists are often a bit blind. I can't wait to go again. I've stopped drinking all soda and limiting the sweets. My goal is to bring my weight back down to 185 from 250 before the summer is over and have fun doing it. With a combination like that, I think you're well on your way. Even if you don't hit the magic 185 you will still be a lot healther and feel a lot better. John Kane Kingston ON Canada |
#18
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Adjusting helmet
On May 11, 1:19*pm, John Kane wrote:
On May 9, 12:39*pm, wrote: I took my bike down to the path today and went for my first real ride. Actually it wouldn't even be a warm up for most of you guys. I rode for about 4 miles and the hills wore me out. Not bad at all for a first ride in that many years. Hills do have a tendency to wear one out but it gets better with time. Hmm. Well, for me hills got better with time for a long while. But a few decades more time seem to make the hills worse! Weird, isn't it? - Frank Krygowski |
#19
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#20
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Adjusting helmet
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