New biking record...for me

[stevej37]

My road course, on most days, is a rectangular 16 mile paved road that can be enlarged by two mile additions. This morning, I left at 7:30 to do a 20 mile section because the weather was perfect.

I was into the last two miles before I was passed from behind by the first car!
Granted it was Sunday...but biking with no cars is the best. (I did pass two Amish buggies on their way to church. The second buggy was going 16 mph...took some room to pass that one)

[rwest]

Originally Posted by stevej37

My road course, on most days, is a rectangular 16 mile paved road that can be enlarged by two mile additions. This morning, I left at 7:30 to do a 20 mile section because the weather was perfect.

I was into the last two miles before I was passed from behind by the first car!
Granted it was Sunday...but biking with no cars is the best. (I did pass two Amish buggies on their way to church. The second buggy was going 16 mph...took some room to pass that one)

Congratulations, no cars are the best! I’m fortunate to have a great trail system a mile from my house which I can get to on low traffic roads.

Trail is very heavily used in “prime times”, so getting out early is key, otherwise you have to slow down sometimes when there are walkers/slow riders in front and oncoming users in the other lane.

[stevej37]

^^^
The closest trail (rails to trails) for me is almost 20 miles away....so I have to load the bike on my Swagman and drive it.

The trails are good...except for the dog owners with their 12 foot leashes.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by stevej37

My road course, on most days, is a rectangular 16 mile paved road that can be enlarged by two mile additions. This morning, I left at 7:30 to do a 20 mile section because the weather was perfect.

I was into the last two miles before I was passed from behind by the first car!
Granted it was Sunday...but biking with no cars is the best. (I did pass two Amish buggies on their way to church. The second buggy was going 16 mph...took some room to pass that one)

"Nicely Done" Sir... Every now and again the perfect ride happens. "We live in the moments"

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

"Nicely Done" Sir... Every now and again the perfect ride happens. "We live in the moments"

I should have also mentioned that I saw at least a dozen deer on the trip. Two or three each time in the road or just off the shoulder. They are not sure what a biker is and wait until the last moment to bolt. Amazing how far they can jump when they decide to run.

[stevej37]

^^^ favorite part of my day...the morning bike ride.

[David]

I have a 21 mile loop I do when I’m visiting mom in east Texas. I usually only get passed by 10-20 cars and most of those are when I’m on a highway shoulder getting from from one county road to another. Dogs are another story! Yesterday… no dogs. Today, same route… 4 real chases. High point was a Great Dane. It was like racing a horse! Low point was a pit bull. He wasn’t overly aggressive and it was kind of a game of keep away but when he couldn’t get either of my ankles, he bit my rear tire. For a minute I thought he punctured it.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Sounds perfect!
I travel many miles to find 'nothing'.

( I was going to upload a bunch of cool tranquil pics of empty roads but the file sizes were too large.) Oh well....

[stevej37]

^^^ David
Have had that stuff happen to me multiple times while biking.

Dog owners who don't control their pets are the worst. They shouldn't be allowed to own a dog.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ David
Have had that stuff happen to me multiple times while biking.

Dog owners who don't control their pets are the worst. They shouldn't be allowed to own a dog.

I must be lucky as I can’t remember the last time a dog chased me down. Had to be when I was younger. I do remember a hilarious chase; I was riding up a steep hill when two dogs started up the sidewalk after me, then came into the street- I was freaking as I was going so slow, but alas, dogs “obey” gravity too and it turned into a slow motion spectacle; I got away!

[flatbutt]

Much envy here. I check my mirror every few seconds.

[David]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ David
Have had that stuff happen to me multiple times while biking.

Dog owners who don't control their pets are the worst. They shouldn't be allowed to own a dog.

I go into the ride expecting it so I don't get too pissed. I treat it as interval training

There are actually some Strava challenges around the area named by the type of dog that will chase you!

One of the worst was a black lab that keep bringing me stick to play fetch with. Finally I threw it far enough that I could get away before he brought it back.

[stevej37]

A couple years back, I bought a Garmin Varia....best money I've ever spent on the bike.
Along with a visual display showing how many cars are coming up from behind, it shows how close they are by changing colors as they approach. It also has an audible tone in case you don't happen to notice the display.

I still use my mirror to watch if the car is moving over at all.

The radar has a quarter mile range and the led light is a half mile...and it changes to a flashing light and flashes faster as the car gets closer.

[rwest]

Back when I used to commute to work, I had a cat chase me down about 3 or 4 mornings in a row. It came out from behind a house and ran after me. I figured it was attracted to the blinking red light on the rear of my bike.