recumbent comments
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 15:52:24 +0000
Some comments posted on line in response to http://mccraw.co.uk/recumbent-attribution-error/, about the visibility of recumbent bikes:Posted May 14, 2014 at 07:53
MJ Ray:
The sort of idiots who pass close to upright bikes are so stupid that they think recumbent bikes are for disabled people and they don't want to end up on the news for killing a paralympic athlete in training. Well, that thought keeps me amused anyway:
Posted May 14, 2014 at 08:50
Dave:
MJ, I once overheard a conversation between a group of school kids when I was stopped at a crossing light. One started to laugh at the bike and was set upon by another because "he's disabled". There was an amusing thoughtful silence as they contemplated how that could be, since my arms and legs were evidently working better than most....
Posted May 14, 2014 at 20:30
Graham Jones:
My recumbent experiences mirror those described. I ride uprights fairly infrequently now, not because they are more fun, faster, more comfortable, but because traffic is almost universally more cautious and courteous. It just makes riding a much more pleasant experience. White van drivers cross the white line to pass. Traffic waits to pass when it's safe, not trying to squeeze past on a bend despite me being in the primary position. I've even had people stop to wave me out of side roads. Trikes seem to bring out the best in people. There is definitely a correlation between ride height and passing distance: for me, the BikeE gets the least room, the Trice QNT the most. Kind of makes nonsense of the idea that the lower you are the more 'invisible' you will be.
In seven years I can only count two close passes. Every time I'm on an upright, it's more like one close pass every two minutes....
[This entry was originally posted as https://syntonic-comma.dreamwidth.org/704327.html on Dreamwidth (where there are
comments).]
Some comments posted on line in response to http://mccraw.co.uk/recumbent-attribution-error/, about the visibility of recumbent bikes:Posted May 14, 2014 at 07:53
MJ Ray:
The sort of idiots who pass close to upright bikes are so stupid that they think recumbent bikes are for disabled people and they don't want to end up on the news for killing a paralympic athlete in training. Well, that thought keeps me amused anyway:
Posted May 14, 2014 at 08:50
Dave:
MJ, I once overheard a conversation between a group of school kids when I was stopped at a crossing light. One started to laugh at the bike and was set upon by another because "he's disabled". There was an amusing thoughtful silence as they contemplated how that could be, since my arms and legs were evidently working better than most....
Posted May 14, 2014 at 20:30
Graham Jones:
My recumbent experiences mirror those described. I ride uprights fairly infrequently now, not because they are more fun, faster, more comfortable, but because traffic is almost universally more cautious and courteous. It just makes riding a much more pleasant experience. White van drivers cross the white line to pass. Traffic waits to pass when it's safe, not trying to squeeze past on a bend despite me being in the primary position. I've even had people stop to wave me out of side roads. Trikes seem to bring out the best in people. There is definitely a correlation between ride height and passing distance: for me, the BikeE gets the least room, the Trice QNT the most. Kind of makes nonsense of the idea that the lower you are the more 'invisible' you will be.
In seven years I can only count two close passes. Every time I'm on an upright, it's more like one close pass every two minutes....
[This entry was originally posted as https://syntonic-comma.dreamwidth.org/704327.html on Dreamwidth (where there are
comments).]