Cycling Thread

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Weitz

How do you guys have issues with people wearing headphones? You can't go around people with headphones for some reason?

I have problems with dummies wearing headphones getting upset when I ride past them when I've hit my bell multiple times. If you can't hear me because you've got Katy Perry cranked up, that's on you, not me.

[KTrain]

I don't have issues with headphones either as long as the person is aware that it's on them if they're startled when I pass. If they're walking dogs too I'd hope they have them on a short leash if they're not paying attention to people coming behind them. I'm not going to ride in the grass because they're being inconsiderate.

I prefer not to wear headphones. Even on long rides. I like know when people and cars are coming up behind me.

[Bigtime]

In my experience cyclists wearing headphones seems to be very rare (bluetooth speakers becoming more common on bikes), walkers and joggers are almost all the time. Keep right and shoulder check before going somewhere else, why is that so hard?

[CliffFletcher]

If I struck a careless jogger wearing headphones, I doubt it would be much of a consolation - as she's nursing a sprained wrist and I'm picking gravel out of my knee - that it was all her fault.

It's pretty dumb to wear headphones on shared pathways these days. But since people persist anyway, it's on cyclists to ring our bells and try to prevent collisions.

[Fuzz]

I don't think its dumb, you just have to remain aware and be predictable. Dumb is the people wearing headphones cycling, which, sadly I see more often than I should.

Last week in the cycle track some dumb woman was holding her phone in one hand on speaker having a conversation. She was completely unstable and almost biffed it a few times. A few minutes later I saw another guy doing the same thing on the pathway! WTF is wrong with people? Can these conversations not wait? I'll never understand cell phone culture.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

One thing that I wonder about are these pet owners who use those long leashes while walking their dog on the pathway. I sometimes wonder if they could see the danger to their dog if the dog were to cut in front of a cyclist at the last second.

To me the longer the leash, the bigger the danger.

Had a new danger yesterday. I was almost home and went around the pond by my place. Fair number of people out and about so I was being cautious. There was a lady and her 3-4 year old, and the kid was flying a kite with the white string across the pathway. Mother was buried in her phone. I see the string last second and jam on both brakes to skid to a stop. Mother proceeds to yell at her kids asking "what are you doing?"

Yeah, like a kid that young understands the danger of what they were doing. And this was with a huge green space a few metres away.

[KTrain]

A few weeks back I had someone fly fishing under the train tracks by Ogden Road. They cast their line back over the path as I was riding towards them. Completely oblivious. That would have hurt if I hadn't slowed down.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I don't think its dumb, you just have to remain aware and be predictable. Dumb is the people wearing headphones cycling, which, sadly I see more often than I should.

Last week in the cycle track some dumb woman was holding her phone in one hand on speaker having a conversation. She was completely unstable and almost biffed it a few times. A few minutes later I saw another guy doing the same thing on the pathway! WTF is wrong with people? Can these conversations not wait? I'll never understand cell phone culture.

Maybe Calgary's finest should also look at distracted driving tickets next time they do one of those speed etc. crackdowns. Or even just ticket cyclists the same way they go after vehicle drivers (maybe they already do?).

http://www.calgary.ca/cps/Pages/Traf...le-safety.aspx

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

In my experience cyclists wearing headphones seems to be very rare (bluetooth speakers becoming more common on bikes), walkers and joggers are almost all the time. Keep right and shoulder check before going somewhere else, why is that so hard?

I ride with headphones, but I'm listening to a podcast so I can hear everything.

[Fuzz]

Looks like the north wind is blowing strong today...

[KTrain]

That tailwind heading South was great. I averaged 34.7 km/h on my 21km route for my fastest time ever. A couple top 10s on Strava. I hopped on to 52 Street for the final portion and managed to get up to 56 on a relatively flat road and my only KOM.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Looks like the north wind is blowing strong today...

That's because I'm going to the STH diner and will be driving home.

[worth]

god dammit...first time i don't ride in like 2 months because I have meetings downtown and all you guys heading south are breaking record...fuuuuuuuuuuu

[Fuzz]

The downhill I usually hit 50 on I only made 32. She was stiff!

[squiggs96]

I was on a stationary bike at physio today. It's been 10 months since I last rode, and two weeks since my surgery. I did a solid 5 minutes on the lowest level, averaging 60 rpms. I'm basically ready for the Tour now. I didn't strava it, so I'm not sure it actually happened.

[Mass_nerder]

I'm a terrible commuter. I'm skipping the bike today, as it's too cold any rainy. I just can't bring myself to do it.

[Bigtime]

That tailwind yesterday afternoon was hella nice. This morning isn't bad at all, just threw a light pair of pants over the shorts, a little bit of spitting rain here and there. The city all nice and fresh smelling. Was a good ride in.

[Fuzz]

It wasn't too bad, mostly misting.

[worth]

I tweaked my knee at baseball on Monday. Didn't notice it until I woke up yesterday. Didn't have a chance to cycle yesterday and I won't have a chance to cycle today either so maybe that is a good thing I can give it a bit of rest. Would like to cycle on Thursday and then I leave for Lake Louise on Friday where i'll be cycling to Jasper over the next three days, so I really hope it gets better, fingers crossed.

[Northendzone]

disappointed in myself with respect to yesterday's tailwind as Strava told me I only had 2 PR's......should have had more than that.

I passed on riding, as when I got up, it sounded like it was raining very steadily.

I am somewhat happy it is raining, as I fertilized my lawn over the weekend