RBR Newsletter No. 418 11/12/09 Go to this issue's Comments Back to newsletter archive Subscribe for free delivery by e-mail This Week's Content Weekly Dispatch:  Cold Road Tips from a Pro Coach Fred:  Should Stops Count in Ride Time? Classifieds:  1 new Jim's Tech Talk:  Lowdown on Low Gearing No Problem:  Cornering on Wet Roads Scott's Spin:  Paved with Good Intentions Try This on Your Next Ride:  Don't Make Drivers Pass You Twice RBR eBookstore:  Top eBooks for the Off-Season ______________________________________  RoadBikeRider.com Newsletter Issue No. 418 - 11/12/09:  Low-Gear Lowdown ISSN 1536-4143 Produced almost every Thursday by RBR Publishing Company. E-mailed without cost or obligation to more than 62,900 roadies around the world.   ______________________________________   T-Shirt SALE -  BUY 1 SAVE 12% - Buy 2 SAVE 25% Share the Road - Work Sucks - Dirt is Good - Cycles Wonder - Will Bike for Beer - Girls Want Fun. www.BicycleGifts.com ______________________________________   1. ROAD NOTES   Ed's Note:  Late last century I enjoyed 13 years at Bicycling magazine. My editorial staff included some of the best writers/riders in cycling journalism. Three now lend a hand to RBR as weekly contributors -- Fred Matheny, Jim Langley and Scott Martin, along with product reviewer Fred Zahradnik.   Besides writing the magazine, some of us produced cycling books for Bicycling and parent company Rodale. I had a hand in a dozen or so, including one called "Bicycling Magazine's Complete Book of Road Cycling Skills." You can still find it at Amazon and other online retailers. It brings together the advice of 15 experts who shared their timeless tips for roadies.   One of the contributors was former pro Davis Phinney. He's still America's winningest road racer with 328 career victories, including 2 stages of the Tour de France. Interestingly, throughout his long career he lived in Boulder, Colorado -- a cycling hotspot that nevertheless has long, cold winters.   How did Davis manage to survive his miles during the frigid off-season? One of his chapters in the book is called "Conquer the Cold." Here's a digest of those 12 tips, just in time for tumbling temps throughout the northern hemisphere.   Phinney's Tips for Winter Riding Ride with a friend or group.  Sharing conversation as well as a draft helps the miles go by. But group rides must be cohesive. Don't let them degenerate into hammerfests. You shouldn't do any hard, fast riding when the temperature is below 50F degrees (10C). Instead, use winter to accumulate base miles.   Don't overdress.  If you're not chilly in the first few minutes, you have probably worn too much and will overheat.   Start with hot drinks in freezing temperatures and use insulated bottles or covers to increase the time before liquids turn to slush.   Be wary of shaded corners, which may hide ice.   Wear light, bright colors to help motorists see you on dim days.   Install rear reflectors or carry reflective ankle bands for times when dusk catches you a few minutes from home.   Carry two tubes.  Patching a tube with freezing fingers isn't easy, should a second flat occur.   Don't stop for long, if at all. Resumption of the windchill will make you cold, and you may be unable to shake the shivers for the rest of the ride.   Ride short on frigid days.  As a rule, you can be fairly comfortable for 90 minutes in subfreezing temperatures. But things may deteriorate quickly after that, particularly if you have raised a sweat.   Take time to recover after riding.  Winter takes more out of you. Because of the elements and your lower fitness level, a 50-mile (90-km) winter ride feels like 80 miles (128 km).   Be extra careful when you've been sick.  Don't try to make up a week of lost training by riding before you're completely well. There is plenty of time to get back on track when spring arrives.   Even if you live where winters are mild, you still need to go easy. Use winter for recovery. Don't get caught in the flying-in-January, dead-by-June trap. That's useful advice from a true gentleman of cycling and one that all of us at RBR are pulling for. Ten years ago at age 40 Davis was stricken with Parkinson's disease, rare in such a young and healthy man. It changed his life for sure, but he hasn't let it stop him from riding, coaching and, along with wife Connie Carpenter, raising their son Taylor Phinney, one of the brightest young stars in bike racing.   Davis also devotes much of his time to the Davis Phinney Foundation, begun in 2004 to improve the quality of life for Parkinson's victims. About 3 years ago he underwent an innovative form of brain surgery that successfully reduced the tremors caused by the disease.   On the Foundation's website at http://tinyurl.com/yff3z6q you'll find info about organizing a pledge ride. Please think about it as you and your club make event plans for 2010.   When you're on the cold road in the months ahead, Davis's tips will help. It's great that he's able to be out there too, riding through another winter.   Ed Pavelka Editor, Publisher, Phinney Phan   Comment ______________________________________   Is He Speaking Your Language?   "You didn't take up bike riding because you like to sit still, working hard, not going anywhere, breathing stagnant indoor air under fluorescent lights and being bored out of your mind."   That's from Coach David Ertl, author of the new eBook, Indoor Training for Cyclists.   "I will be the first to tell you that indoor training is not the same as training outdoors," Coach Ertl continues. "If you can ride outside, that is almost always preferable. But if you can't, the indoor training option is the next best thing and is infinitely better than the other option of not training at all."   Indoor Training for Cyclist helps you make the most of that second-best option. It's a blueprint for setting up an effective indoor program for the days and nights when the best choice is to climb on the vomitron.   Chapter 1 covers the justifications and benefits of training indoors.   Chapter 2 details the various types of indoor training and equipment.                                                                                                              Chapter 3 discusses techniques for getting the most from indoor training sessions.   Chapter 4 is the killer -- 50 diverse, time-efficient workouts for advancing all-round cycling fitness and strength. Each has minute-by-minute instructions to keep your brain working and the clock hands moving.   Some cyclists actually like riding indoors. For many it's a necessary evil. Either way, when you're doing it, make the most of it.   Indoor Training for Cyclists is a printable, 90-page eBook with 22 photos and 56 charts and tables. Please click here to read an excerpt, see the table of contents and view a sample workout page. Free instant delivery by download, of course. ______________________________________ What's up with Greg LeMond and his lawsuit against Trek and vendetta against Lance Armstrong? That's the meat of a detailed feature article in the New York Daily News at http://tinyurl.com/yg9fyjn. Millions have been spent on court costs, and the rift between America's 2 Tour de France winners couldn't be deeper.   It's billed as "The Truth About Heart Rate and Exercise." The article does provide useful answers to 6 true-or-false statements that shed light on the topic. Curiously, though, it puts forth a formula for estimating maximum heart rate while admitting that, like 220 minus age, it can be wrong by 10-20 beats per minute. Oh well, the article will be useful if you want to know more about heart rate training, and you'll see links to related info. http://tinyurl.com/ygzc55r   Pro racing was rocked this week by a Belgian newspaper's report that Alberto Contador has been offered a 4-year contract worth up to 8 million euros ($12 million) per season. The deal, said to be from Team Astana, would be by far the richest ever in bike racing -- if it were true. It's not, according to Contador's brother and agent, Fran. He calls the report "totally false," adding that salaries being discussed are "not even half that amount." So his 26-year-old brother, the world's No. 1-ranked road racer, remains on the market. Other teams interested include America's Garmin-Slipstream.   Former world and Olympic road champion Paolo Bettini is scheduled to appear at the 2nd annual Gran Fondo Colnago San Diego on March 7. The Italian will preside over various pre-event activities. The rides are 31 miles (50 km), 62 miles (100 km) and 100 miles (161 km). The last will feature a timed 6-mile (9.7-km) climb with prizes for the fastest riders to the top. Registration is $99, which includes a jersey. The event benefits the American Melanoma Foundation and is expected to attract 3,000 cyclists. A gran fondo (Italian for "big ride") is a hybrid recreational ride/race popular in Europe -- much like what many North American century rides are like up front, but with officially timed sections usually included.   Another big California gran fondo, this one up north at Monterey, is set for April 17 as part of the 20th Sea Otter Classic. Sponsored by Specialized, there will be rides of 28, 45 and 100 miles (45, 72.5, 161 km). No word yet on timed portions. The April 15-18 Sea Otter is billed as the world's largest consumer bike expo. http://www.seaotterclassic.com ______________________________________   Overheard:  "He was my knight on a shining bicycle." -- Franny Armstrong, who was saved from a beating by a group of girls when London Mayor Boris Johnson, out for his evening ride, came upon the confrontation. ______________________________________ USA Cycling says Lance Armstrong's return to competition can be thanked for its growth to a record 66,600 licensed bike racers this year. The figure represents a 5% increase over 2008. "There is no way to say exactly why we have had such an increase, but common sense lets us figure that one of those factors is certainly Lance Armstrong," says Andrea Smith, USA Cycling's director of communications. About 45,000 members race in road, cyclocross or track events, with the remainder including mountain bikers, coaches and officials. USA Cycling is the governing body of bike racing in America.   The FredCast Cycling Podcast has received the People's Choice Award at the Utah Social Media Awards. The show's host and creator is David Bernstein of Salt Lake City. He explains the FredCast name this way: "Freds are men and women like me. We aren't always going to be the first to finish a race or get to the top of a hill, but we're always going to look good doing it!" He says the show, available at http://www.thefredcast.com, consistently ranks in the top 100 of sports podcasts worldwide.   Now on the RBR website:  We review a simple, inexpensive product that does exactly what it promises -- beats baggies by a bunch for carrying electronics or other small stuff in a jersey pocket. Click here to read about the JerseyBin. o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o   2. COACH FRED   Should Stops Count in Ride Time?   Q:  In newsletter No. 416, Ed Pavelka mentioned his times for 2 Florida century rides. Later in the comments for that issue, a reader wondered if they were on-bike times or included stops along the way. Ed said they were the former -- his riding times. As an aspiring randonneur, I've always counted ride time from start to finish and included time off the bike. Now I'm wondering, what's the correct way? -- Luis G.   Coach Fred Matheny Replies:  Good question! For training diary purposes, Ed and I choose to count only the time the wheels are actually turning.   Most cyclecomputers do it automatically, shutting off when wheels cease rolling at traffic lights and rest stops. I like it this way because I only want to credit myself with actual pedaling time.   Whenever I ride without a cyclecomputer -- my mountain bike doesn't have one -- I check the time at the beginning and end of the ride, then subtract an estimate of how long I stopped to look at the scenery or have a snack.   Not all riders do it this way. Cycling coach and author Arnie Baker, for example, tells his riders to log total elapsed time for each ride as long as they didn't dally at any stops. He reasons that in the workplace you get a midmorning and afternoon break as well as lunch, so hard-working riders should get the same perks.   On organized rides, I long ago gave up trying to ride a fast total time. When I was at Bicycling magazine and wore a jersey saying so, I would get waylaid at every rest stop by readers who wanted to chat.   It still happens. Because of notes in the RBR newsletter or event fliers that announce I'll be at a ride, folks like to introduce themselves and chat. I enjoy it, but it means dwelling at stops longer than I normally would. So I only count actual riding time to get a more accurate measure of effort.   Luis, as a randonneur riding brevets you really don't have a choice. The clock is always running, and you must reach each checkpoint before the hour it closes or be DQ'd.   Comment   o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o   RBR's QUESTION of the Week   Do you count stops in your ride time?   We give you 4 ways to answer on our poll page, where you can also find an archive of previous questions and votes. Please click, vote and come back to finish reading.   o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o   Climb to Your Potential   As a cycling writer, racer and coach, Fred Matheny has ridden with and learned from many excellent climbers. He's studied their training, their position on the bike, their equipment, their shifting techniques, their tactics, how they eat and drink in hilly terrain . . . all the factors that elevate their talent on hills.   All these insights are loaded into Coach Fred's latest eBook, Climbing for Roadies, making it the most comprehensive guide to overcoming gravity you can own. And because what goes up must come down, he devotes a comprehensive chapter to fast-but-safe descending.   Please click here to see the detailed table of contents, read 4 informative excerpts and order today for instant download. Then with Coach Fred's expert "how to" guidance you'll be on the road to climbing at your maximum potential.    o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o   3. CLASSIFIEDS Also see the Classified Ads page on the RBR website and please support these advertisers that help make this newsletter free for you. ______________________________________ NEW Buy Now for the Holidays at http://www.BikeGifts.net Use code RBR1119 for 10% off thru 11/19 on bicycle jewelry, ornaments & many unique cycling gifts. Free Shipping over $60!______________________________________ WEAR WOOL - Durable, odor resistant, warm. From head to toe, we'll keep you comfortable. Enter promo code RBR for Free U.S. Shipping. Made in the USA. http://www.joneswares.com ______________________________________ CompuTrainer -- World's Leading Electronic Bike Trainer for more than 20 years. Guaranteed to increase your road speed 2 mph (3.2 kph) by next spring as it builds power and aerobic strength. Call 206-524-6625 for 0% financing. Buy online at http://www.computrainer.com ______________________________________ Boure Bicycle Clothing - Our Tradition Begins with Quality! See our New Arrivals for Extra Warmth & Solar Protection. Elite Thermo tights Now on Sale at http://www.boure.com ______________________________________ Cycle Italy from the Apennines to the Adriatic! 3 great tours in 2010 from relaxed to challenging. From $1,200. For details e-mail gordonlitster@shaw.ca ______________________________________ CueClip - Map/Cue Sheet Holder. World's best! Club discounts. Emergency LED Lights, Saddle Leather Care Products, and the Cyclewallet. http://www.cueclip.com ______________________________________ "Strength Training for Cyclists" - The Year-Round Program by Olympic weightlifting coach (and roadie) Harvey Newton. Build bone density this winter as well as strength & power. Free U.S. shipping. Order at RoadBikeRider.com ______________________________________ Also on Classified Ads, these Roadie Ads: 1985 Tommasini Super Prestige road bike Wanted: RBR cycling authors o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o   4. JIM'S TECH TALK    Lowdown on Low Gearing   Each fall my teammates and I ride in an awesome series called the Low Key Hillclimbs. For 9 weeks we meet at the base of the appointed climb, pay our $10 entry fee, and kill ourselves trying to set a PR or at least win our age group. It's a great way to maintain fitness during the NorCal off-season.   Every Monday a flurry of e-mails goes out from teammates discussing the next ascent -- distance, average grade, pacing and so on. Inevitably, the subject of gearing also comes up.   Gear selection can make you or break you in a hillclimb or anytime. It's also a source of confusion among newer roadies. What's the right choice for the terrain and fitness level? Here's some help, especially if climbing seems to be harder than it should be.   First, the terminology: The large "crankset" sprockets at your feet are called "chainrings" or "chainwheels."   The cluster of sprockets on the rear wheel is the "cassette" or "freewheel" and each individual sprocket is a "cog."   The whole thing (crankset and cassette, along with the chain and derailleurs) is called the "drivetrain." In a nutshell, the larger the cog being used, the easier it is to pedal (lower gear). Same goes when using a smaller chainring.   Choosing a Crankset Most road bikes have standard double chainrings (39/53 teeth) or a compact double (34/50) or a triple (30/39/50). And bikes are usually equipped with a cassette that has a cog range of 12-25 or 11-26 teeth for standard chainrings and 12-27 for compact and triple chainrings.   If you're a strong climber or a lightweight roadie who escapes the laws of gravity, you'll be fine with the standard double crankset. If you're vertically challenged, you'll want a compact double or triple with their easier climbing gears.   Deciding between a compact or triple crankset can be tricky. With the latter you get the lowest gears but you also have 3 chainrings to shift among and some roadies don't like that. If you ride a mountain bike you'll be used to a triple, but if you've only ridden bikes with double chainrings you'll probably prefer the compact's simpler shifting.   Pack a Bailout Gear Whichever drivetrain you use, it's smart to research the climbs you'll be riding to ensure you have the right gearing.   I recommend a cassette that has one cog larger than you think you'll need. For example, I can make it up the Soda Spring hillclimb in a 25-tooth cog but I use a 12-27 cassette. Then I have a lower gear if I have a bad day for any reason.   Tip:  Racers typically purchase several cassettes with different cog ranges so they can easily swap to the right one before an event. This is a good idea for all roadies. Save money by buying the cheaper models in your component company's line. They'll shift fine.   Changing Cassettes If you want to lower the gearing on your bike for easier climbing, the best approach is installing a cassette with larger cogs.   The stock rear derailleurs on most road bikes with double chainrings will handle cassettes with cogs as large as 28 teeth. These are available from Shimano and SRAM. You can go larger (up to 32 or even 34 teeth) by installing a long-cage derailleur designed for mountain or touring bikes, and installing a longer chain.   Triple-chainring drivetrains can accept cassettes with cogs as large as a 34 teeth and probably won't require a derailleur change.   Changing Cranksets Cranksets are expensive, but in recent years lots of roadies have switched from standard doubles to compacts to benefit from the easier-to-pedal 34/50-tooth chainrings (some compacts are 36/50).   Compared to standard 39/53 chainrings, you'll automatically have a lower low gear by installing a compact crankset. And if you switch to a cassette with an 11-tooth smallest cog instead of 12, you'll actually have a higher high gear.   Also, with smaller chainrings and cogs you save a little weight over the standard setup. The disadvantages? Smaller chainrings wear a bit quicker and 34/50 compacts seem more prone to dropping the chain onto the frame when shifting from the big to small ring. That's not a showstopper, though, thanks to the availability of chain catchers.   Tip:  Using the RBR eArticle, "How to Make a Chain Catcher - And Never Worry About a Suicide Shift Again," you can easily prevent chain drop on almost any bike.   Comment   (Jim Langley has been a pro mechanic and cycling writer for 37 years. At RBR he's the author of Your Home Bicycle Workshop and moderator of the "Roadie Rap" technical forums on the Premium Site. Check his personal website at www.jimlangley.net, his Q&A blog and updates at Twitter. Jim's streak of consecutive cycling days has reached 5,782.)   o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o   5. NO PROBLEM!   Cornering on Wet Roads   What's the matter?  Road cycling becomes a whole new game when the pavement is wet. In extreme conditions, traction can be almost non-existent. In the Giro d'Italia a few years ago, a sudden rainstorm turned the Italian roads into a skating rink. The best bike handlers in the world were sliding across the pavement at every corner.   Here's help:  Although cornering on wet roads will never be as secure as on dry pavement, these 5 techniques can help keep you upright: Slow down, particularly when rain starts. The road will be slipperier in the early minutes of a shower than after the rain has had time to wash away the film of oil and dust. Even pro cyclists will slow almost to a stop in sharp turns when rain begins.   Reduce tire pressure.  If it's raining when you begin a ride, let some air out of your tires. If you normally run 100 psi, go down to 85 or 90 psi, depending on your weight. The theory is that a tire at lower inflation compresses more under load, increasing its contact area. Lower pressure also reduces the risk of tires chattering and losing traction on rough roads.   Watch out for slick things.  When they're wet, painted lines and markers are very slippery. Turning while on them could easily cause tires to slide out. If you can't avoid riding on paint, do it with your bike as upright as possible. Other damp dangers include manhole covers, metal plates, steel-deck bridges, railroad tracks, fallen leaves and tarry crack filler.   Be smooth.  Don't make any abrupt movements that might break traction. Initiate all turns smoothly in a wide arc instead of heeling the bike over all at once.   Try a tripod.  Although this technique is relatively recent, we're seeing pro roadies using one leg as an outrigger in slow-speed slippery corners. They emulate MTB downhillers by unclipping the foot that's on the inside of the turn, holding that leg out through the corner and "dabbing" if they start to lose traction. Practice this technique and you can also use it on gravelly or sandy turns. Comment    (Adapted from Coach Fred's Solutions to 150 Road Cycling Challenges)   o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o   6. SCOTT'S SPIN   Paved with Good Intentions   I discovered a new road the other day. Well, since it was there all along, I guess I only discovered it in the Christopher Columbus sense.   Nevertheless, I was as excited as if I'd stumbled onto an entire continent stuffed with gold and smallpox-susceptible natives.    I'd passed the turnoff to this road many times and barely noticed it. But then standard time showed up like a broke relative and I was facing 4 months of hard labor in the Land Where Time Stands Still, a.k.a. the room containing my indoor trainer.   Some online research suggested that this could be the perfect road for a dawn or lunchtime workout. It looked like an easy, 10-minute warm-up ride from the office, followed by a steady climb long enough for a 20-minute lactate-threshold interval or 2, and not much traffic.    The road even has a cool name: Lockhart Gulch. Sounds like the kind of place where you'd find desperados, sodbusters, lily-livered varmints and tough saloon girls with a heart of gold.   Still, living in Northern California (state plant: marijuana; state crime scene: meth lab), I thought it prudent to reconnoiter by car.   I turned onto Lockhart Gulch and soon started ascending through the redwoods. As the climb narrowed to a single lane and got bumpier, my smile widened. My own private bike path.   Then I rounded a switchback and saw a little red sign on a tree: "Private Road." It wasn't accompanied by its usual sidekick, "No Trespassing," so I drove on. The pavement suddenly got much better.   The road snaked through a meadow dominated by a forbidding mansion. There was a gate across the pavement and a surveillance camera. Nobody was around. Spooked, I turned back.   An indoor trainer ride sounds better.   Comment   (If you enjoy reading Scott Martin, the eBook Spin Again contains 181 of his witty, sometimes wacky, and occasionally heart-felt observations on road cycling. Click here to enjoy 3 classic Spins again and place your order for instant delivery by download.)   o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o   Premium Props   "You guys have the only fee-based internet service I support. I appreciate the passion you bring to the sport and the value of the archived information you provide. Keep on keeping on." -- David G., renewing his Premium Site membership for the 5th time.   In exchange for the $24.99 Premium Site annual fee, we open to door to 269 pages with searchable archives of expert advice from Coach Fred Matheny, Jim Langley and Uncle Al Ardizone, along with all the information and entertainment in RBR's first 374 newsletters. Members also receive 3 bonus eBooks and a money-saving 15% discount on every purchase from RBR's eBookstore. Click here to see all 10 Premium Site benefits and join today.    o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o   7. TRY THIS ON YOUR NEXT RIDE   Don't Make Drivers Pass You Twice   Here's a common situation that can easily result in annoyed motorists and dangerous driving if handled the wrong way:   A number of cars have rolled past you and now they're stopped at a red light. You have 2 choices: You can stop behind the last car, move forward when it does -- and maybe get caught by the light again, losing another couple of minutes.   You can ride up the edge of the road to the front of the line, passing all the cars that just passed you. We're as guilty as the next roadie of making the second choice, even though passing like this is unsafe if not illegal. (We're talking about roads without wide shoulders or bike lanes.)   Now at the front of the line again, you have 2 more choices when the light turns green: You can push off immediately and resume riding.   You can stand still to let the drivers move ahead or turn in front or you, then go before the green light changes. To ensure peace on Earth, the second way is recommended. Because if you don't let the traffic go, you'll be forcing each driver to pass you a second time.   Trade places with one of them. He just managed to get around you, and now you're in front of him again. He was considerate once but got nothing in return. Maybe this time he'll use the horn and squeeze past. Maybe he'll swerve and cut in to "teach you a lesson."   If you want a guaranteed hassle, leave first again at the third light.   We're not saying to ride meekly. We're saying to ride smartly in this situation by not riding at all for a few seconds.   Comment   o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o   8. RBR eBOOKSTORE   Premium Site annual members automatically receive a 15% discount on every eBook, eArticle or other products in the RBR eBookstore. ______________________________________   HOT LIST:  Off-Season Recommendations   All 47 RBR publications are helpful, but some are especially so at certain times of the year. Now, as cooler air and earlier sundowns herald the off-season for many of us, these eBooks and eArticles can help make the upcoming months fun and productive.   eBOOKS Indoor Training for Cyclists --  NEW!  Includes 50 home trainer workouts to advance all-round cycling fitness, by Coach David Ertl. Keep it Real - In Your Indoor Cycling Classes -- certified Spinning instructor Jennifer Sage makes sure indoor classes transfer to the road. Off-Season Training for Roadies -- complete winter programs for fitness riders, fast sport cyclists and racers, by Coach Fred Matheny. Your Home Bicycle Workshop -- great off-season project! Design & equip a home shop you'll love spending time in for years to come, by Jim Langley. The Ride of Your Life  -- start planning now for 2010. Cycling time management, goal setting and keys to achievement by long-distance specialist David Rowe. Pro Road Race Tactics for Amateur Cycling Teams -- how to organize, equip and train a team this winter, then excel in road races next season. Bike Fit -- use Dr. Arnie Baker's illustrated guide to optimize your position for a comfortable and efficient 2010. Bike selection, setup and riding position for road & MTB. Fred Matheny's Complete Book of Road Bike Training -- SAVE! The Coach's 4 eBooks for year-round training, all under one cover. eARTICLES (just $3.99 each) Power to the Pedals -- a 12-week, 1-hour-per-workout power-building program ideal for indoor cycling, by Coach Fred Matheny. Swift Endurance -- how to keep (or increase) your speed while riding winter's steady base miles, by Coach Fred Matheny. Cold-Weather Cycling -- to ride through winter, you need this advice on medical issues, clothing, nutrition, equipment & riding techniques. Core Training for Cyclists -- build strength, stamina, coordination & flexibility in core muscles in just 2-3 weekly workouts. Stretching for Cyclists -- a chiropractor and roadie explains why active isolated stretching (AIS) is so effective for cyclists. Grab a rope and start today. How to Make a Chain Catcher, 2nd Ed. -- easy off-season project. Positively stop your chain from falling onto the frame during front shifts. Bonus! RBR provides 5 downloads of every eBook and eArticle you purchase. To obtain a new copy for any reason, including free upgrades to new editions, simply login to your RBR account and do the download.   o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o  o^o   Thanks for reading, and for your support of RoadBikeRider.com.   Look for newsletter No. 419 on Thursday, Nov.19. Meanwhile, enjoy your rides!   Click here to access your RBR account where you can: manage your newsletter subscription manage your customer account manage your Premium Site membership To automatically delete your address from our mailing list, simply send a blank e-mail to leave@roadbikerider.com from the address where you receive this newsletter. We'll miss you but you won't hear from us again. ______________________________________   Business owners! Your Commercial Ad will be delivered to 62,900+ road cycling enthusiasts via this weekly newsletter, and it will appear on our website with your logo or product photo. Get info here.   Roadies! Sell your spare bike and gear on our website for just $5. Click here. ______________________________________   This newsletter is a product of RBR Publishing Company:      Ed Pavelka, president      Fred Matheny, VP emeritus      1617 Kramer Rd.      Kutztown, PA 19530 USA      RBRPublishing@roadbikerider.com   All material is copyright © 2001-2009 RBR Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Back to top Go to newsletter archive Subscribe for free delivery by e-mail   Comments Archived comments are "read only." Replies aren't able to be posted.   Bill 11/12/09 07:47:38 AM Scott's words   Time after time Scott has a most enviable knack for distilling the essence -- and humor -- of common biking scenarios; today, again. Way to go, dude!   cassill 11/12/09 08:25:21 AM rollers   i have a set of rollers but use a bracket on the front fork. i tried to ride a set a couple of years ago with little luck. could you do a blurb about setting up rollers, starting, stoping, getting on and off. i even tried the hallway trick and ended up caught between the wall and the bike (LOL). thanks.   Barry 11/12/09 08:33:47 AM Try this on your next ride   One problem I see with the strategy would be with cars that will be turning right. I would think a cyclist hanging out at the corner would present a confusing situation for cars approaching the intersection for a right turn.   Granny Gears 11/12/09 09:11:27 AM Really low gearing   I started riding seriously when I was fifty one. I'm female, live in Appalachian terrain, and have never been a strong rider, so my local bike shop set my road bike up with a 52/42/30 crankset, a MTB derailleur, and a 12-34 cogset. Although the bike gets some covert sneers, I've ridden it through the Alps and the Rockies a number of times, over the Stelvio, the Gavia, the Beartooth, and Dead Indian Passes, places I could never have gone with standard gearing. I've also got a couple of bikes with compact doubles, but for serious climbing and multi-day rides, I use the triple, with no apologies. For me, it's all about what works.   Jim Langley 11/12/09 03:17:48 PM Low Gearing   Sounds like you've found the perfect gearing, and that's a great thing. Thanks for sharing!   AlanM 11/12/09 09:21:51 AM Try this on your next ride   Passing cars on the right coming up to an intersection, unless you're in a bike lane, is never smart. Why aggravate drivers. Take the lane, wait your turn, win some respect, be safe. It's worth a few seconds.   kurtdriver 11/12/09 09:43:30 AM Get in Line   I believe that cyclists go up to the curb because they have been trained by a motorist culture that cyclists belong as far to the right as possible. They think that's where they're supposed to be. Going to the curb leads to going to the front, but that puts one in the path of right turners. As AlanM says, take a lane, wait your turn, and gain some respect for all cyclists.   Dean 11/12/09 10:13:50 AM Try this on your next ride   I must disagree with this. I look at it a different way. They passed me legally and now I'm passing them legally. I'm showing them I have no problem with them passing me as close as they are and they shouldn't either. I look at it as I'm showing them we are sharing the road, I don't have a problem with them passing me so they shouldn't have a problem with me passing them.   Joe 11/12/09 10:26:57 AM Safty first   I always find it is best to hesitate and see what any driver is going to do first in any situation, not just at trafic lights.   Brad 11/12/09 10:49:15 AM Logging ride duration   During the fall and winter, I pay more attention to total ride duration, than just how long the wheels were rolling. I’ve been caught out as darkness falls by not considering the shortness of the days.   Dennis 11/12/09 11:16:54 AM Try This?   So you think stopping at the corner and making motorist guess what you are going to do next is a good idea? In a situation like this I ride in the middle of the lane, assuming I can keep up with traffic, a just act like a car. I am more visible and take my rightful place on the road just like a car. I have never had anyone mad at me with this tactic as long as I am sure not to impede traffic. It works fine in city situations.   Phil 11/12/09 11:25:33 AM Higher high gear?   Jim, I didn't understand the following statement: Compared to standard 39/53 chainrings, you'll automatically have a lower low gear by installing a compact crankset. And if you switch to a cassette with an 11-tooth smallest cog instead of 12, you'll actually have a higher high gear. When you say "higher" high gear, what are you comparing it to? Are you saying a 50/11 is a higher gear than a 53/11? Or, did you mean that a 50/11 is a higher gear than a 50/12? The latter I would understand, but not the former. Thanks,.   Ed Pavelka, RBR editor/publisher 11/12/09 11:50:12 AM High gears   We're saying a 50x11 is higher than a 53x12.   Phil 11/12/09 11:29:26 AM Heart Rate Monitoring   I think the authors of the heart rate monitoring article (cited in this week's newsletter) got it wrong--the older formula (220 - Age) would understate, not overstate, your max heart rate. I draw this conclusion since the new formula yields a higher max HR for anyone over 40.   Paul from IslandBicycles 11/12/09 11:37:47 AM Lower Gearing   At my bikeshop, at least half our sales of roadbikes require changing the cogset AND the rear derailleur. As road derailleurs won't handle anything bigger than 28T, we end up installing mtn derailleurs and generally 11x32T cassettes. Anyone over 50 and living in moderately hilly terrain appreciates this retrofit. When I explain this to my sales rep he agrees it makes sense, but "claims" most purchasers "prefer" 25T cogsets, so that's what most of their bikes come equipped with. Meanwhile, I've got a 2 gallon ziplock bag containing about 25 11x25T cassettes no one wants.....   Jim Langley 11/12/09 03:16:13 PM Gearing   Thanks, Paul. That's great you make sure your riders get gearing right for the conditions. The companies would do well to listen to the shops a little more.   paolo in florissant 11/12/09 11:47:46 AM Don't Make Drivers Pass You Twice -- option three   I have used this before; especially if it appears that I will have to stop too far back and will not be able to keep up with the traffic in front of me and therefore impede the traffic behind me. I use the wideness of the intersection to move over and slowly cross the street, while allowing the cars to pass me the second time before I get across the street and have to move back into the traffic lane.   David 11/12/09 11:54:08 AM Being Passed at Stop Light   I, like many, move to the right of a lane of cars waiting for a red light, that is, if pavement conditions allow safe biking. I figure if that is where my lane is, why not use it. As I approach the begining of the stopped line of cars I evaluate who is signaling for a right turn and stop behind them. If there are no turn signals I continue to the front. At the green light I push off, click in then veer somewhat to the right to allow cars behind me to pass safely on my left while I make for my legal bike lane at the other side of the intersection. With this method it is important to be vigilant and evaluate road conditions at or near the curb where road litter accumulates and pavement conditions often change. In over 15 years of riding I have not incurred noticible ire, but have often had the chance to chat cordially for a moment with a motorist as we wait together for the light.   James W 11/12/09 11:58:55 AM Winter Riding Tips   On cold days, you want to see ice on the road. The best way to do that is wearing sunglasses with red lenses. Red enhances contrast and makes it easier to see ice. It's a small thing, but it seems to work pretty well for me.   Lew Meyer 11/12/09 12:22:35 PM Slower & Couldn't be Happier   Hanging in there pay off, especially for these 'older models' while the body repairs itself. Lew Meyer 75+   Doug 11/12/09 12:25:44 PM Error in "Lowdown on Low Gearing"   Jim said "Triple-chainring drivetrains can accept cassettes with cogs as large as a 34 teeth and probably won't require a derailleur change." I had a mechanic try to sell me a road triple rear derailleur saying the same thing. It didn't work. Shimano derailleurs come with specs that show the mazimum # of teeth of the largest cog. Shimano Road derailleurs only accept a cog as large as 27 teeth. They also have a spec for total # of teeth of largest chainring and largest cog, this can be a resitriction as well, as a short cage rear derailleur won't work with a road bike crankset. Mtb rear derailleurs specify 34.   Mike 11/12/09 12:30:02 PM Try this next ride   I believe passing stopped cars vs. waiting in line all depends on lane availability. If there's room beside the cars for a cyclist and 3 feet of space (which we want motorists to give us, so we should give it in return) then by all means, pass. In my city, there is no lane that has room for me, 3 feet, and a car (unless there's a shoulder). Therefore, I wait in line.   John Kiernan 11/12/09 01:31:43 PM Ride time   I count ride time and also elapsed time on century rides. That is about my longest ride. Probably would do the same on any longer ride JK pops   Jack in NC 11/12/09 01:41:42 PM Try this on your next ride - take your turn   Cyclists should take their turn at a stop light even if it means *gasp* you have to wait a couple extra minutes at the light. You're in traffic and you need to behave as traffic and not filter on the right to the front of the line. Btw, this is particularly frustrating and/or amusing when you're stuck through a couple cycles of the light in the rain. But, hey, its still more fun than being in a car.   Alex P. 11/12/09 01:44:25 PM On bike times - who cares!   to Luis G. - I recently rode a century with two riders who prefer to measure their on bike times over total times. I found that they were far more inclined to take breaks along the way and didn't seem to care how long the breaks were. It was the easiest century I ever rode, but not good for much, training wise. Unless you have a very disciplined training program or a good coach, for 200km and up, forget about on bike times and focus on total times. you will be a stronger double century and brevet rider for it.   ultrajohn 11/12/09 02:22:06 PM should stops count in ride time   The total time including stops counts in all UMCA rides ranging from centuries to RAAM. Actually this is logical for most other rides since one could reduce the ride time by making frequent stops to recover. I am unimpressed if someone brags about his ride time on a century when I know he took long breaks at rest stops while I grabbed a bite to eat and kept ridding.   Marty KC 11/12/09 02:33:03 PM Coach Fred: Timing Rides   The survey missed one other option: I time BOTH. total time, and total riding time. That way I can see how the 'rest' time affected the ride time. Longer rides, I expect my ride time to improve with more rest time (duh).   Rick 11/12/09 02:36:03 PM Legal or not?   @Dean - It is NOT legal to right o up along side the cars on the right. Municipalities in SoCal are beginning to ticket bicyclists who right up alongside cars at stop signs and stop lights. When cyclists do this they are 'splitting the lane' (assuming no assigned bike lane). Cars can't do it and by law cyclists must follow the same rules of the road. Take the lane, stop behind the line of cars, and yes, you may miss the light, but you won't tick anyone off and you won't get a ticket.   Patty 11/12/09 02:55:43 PM Stay legal   Not only is it not a good idea to ride up along the right hand side of cars waiting at a light or stop sign...it is illegal. When we are on the road, the rules of the road apply to us on bikes. Observe them, be prudent, dress in appropriate clothing for biking, be predictable and be kind. And that my good friends will be enough to foster respect from other bike riders, cars and ourselves. Patty   Wayne 11/12/09 02:56:00 PM Try This   Since when did sharing the road become a one-way street? Their vehicle shared the lane in passing me, why, if we insist on being considered a vehicle, do we now have to go to the end of the line? Every situation needs to be assessed for safety and we can help educate motorists with responsible riding. Should we be assertive and risk legal restrictions from a backlash or will we be too careful and end up with restricted rights that we failed to defend? We are a minority but I'm not willing to take a back seat.   Sandy 11/12/09 03:04:07 PM Cold weather riding   Years ago a now-forgotten riding partner shared his wintertime formula: Never ride more miles than the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. Since my lower limit is about 20 degrees, this works pretty well. If you are tough enough to ride subzero temps, you'll need to think of something else!   Dick Kutz 11/12/09 03:19:59 PM Phinney article   Hi Ed, From time to time I'll post an excerpt from RBR in the Eons.com bicycle group that I belong to. Besides passing along some good info, I include the RBR link in hopes of sending a few more readers your way. The link to the posting that I submitted is http://www.eons.com/groups/topic/1912991-Cold-weather-riding-tips  The online cycling group itself is at http://www.eons.com/groups/group/-bicycle  Still on my bucket list to visit that town that uses my last name.   Randy 11/12/09 04:06:11 PM Try this next ride   I will stay in line if cars are already at the stop light. When I am at the light first, then I will make hand signals and eye contact to let the cars go first before I take off. This usually helps with keeping the peace with the drivers.   MSchott 11/12/09 04:22:29 PM Travel Time The "rolling time"r on your cyclometer only stops ticking after your front wheel's magneto hasn't passed its pick up for 5 minutes, so, if you're using it as a measurement of rolling time, you're a lapoff. Bicycling Magazine is the most mamby-pamby athletic publication I've ever read. Don't EVER shock them or their readers with the truth.   Moser 11/12/09 04:57:54 PM Cain catcher Please print the article "how to make a chain catcher" again. Thank you.   Frank Mlinar 11/12/09 05:24:51 PM Don't Make Drivers Pass You Twice   I have learned to always stay in line with other cars when riding and to never pass. For one thing, they only pass once. Second I consider it much safer: the cars can see you, and don't forget you are there. Third, we are supposed to follow the rules of the road. Cars are not allowed to do it, why should I?   JT 11/12/09 06:43:17 PM Davis Phinney's Winter Riding Tips   I'd like to add one more tip that I employed starting in 1984...Move to California!   Mike :) 11/12/09 07:02:48 PM Gears! Gears! Gears!   Your comments gave all the usual combinations that work for very fit riders in the prime of life. Average riders in other decades of life have little use for most of the gears available on the bikes that usually carry Shimano stuff like it the only choice out there. Mountain gears will give most road riders what they need even if they are never going to be pros or wannabees. Gears over 100 inches are pretty useless and one gear lower than you think will never get you up the last hill of the day when you've been riding all day, maybe with a load beyond two water bottles. Do I sound bitter? I am at the way bikes are set up for most of the riders out there. Hills get a bad name from that kind of equipment. The choices on new bikes in the shops are pitiful. Let's keep working on it.Srams new 11-36, 10sp is onto something.......Mike :~)   DCollings 11/12/09 07:32:04 PM Safe Turning   I appreciate the safety hints. Please discuss safe ways to turn left at a busy intersection. One state's regs say to make a two-step approach. Go to the corner ahead, stop and wait for traffic and then follow the left-going traffic.   Bill 11/12/09 07:39:12 PM Cornering on Wet Roads   Alas, this column came just one week late. Last Friday, I slid out on the yellow stripe of a right turn switchback of a bike path and went down hard on my right side. The ball of the femur was driven into the socket making the pelvic bone crack. Two days in the hospital and off the bike until the first of the year...   Manuel 11/12/09 08:35:51 PM Amen   Roadies who refuse to respect the rules of the road and other drivers give the rest of us a bad rep and give driver's a bad attitude towards bikes   Alan Wong 11/12/09 10:04:11 PM hmm   It's interesting how hard it is accept this article.. feels like I'm a dominant driver being asked to give way to a cyclists.. Makes me wonder how little space I give cars while filtering through stationary traffic, cud it be considered the same as cars overtaking under 3 feet. In uk, filtering through stationary traffic is legal, though I do stop at d back if I deem it safer, say if I wanted to stay in the middle of the lane or the traffic lights are likely to change. Though legal I understand that might not be wise to frustrate drivers. However, to me giving way in the second situation is hard to understand. If I'm to give way I need to be on the pavement to do so legally and to be predictable, also to time the traffic light as the last car try to squeeze past on yellow seems haphazard especially if it wish to make a turn. Perhaps I do not fully understand your concept, in a low volume intersection I do. However, not in some other situations. Please advice.   George 11/12/09 10:59:31 PM Logging ride times   It seems to me that riding a century in 5 hours with no stops is not quite the same thing as 5 hours on the bike with a break every hour of 10 minutes and a stop for lunch thrown in. The former is more difficult and better training. Similarly, riding 3,000 miles in 2 months is not quite the same as finishing RAAM in 9 days. When racing, total time counts. Any time spend filling bottles, changing tubes, etc. comes off the top. If you're actually counting how much time it takes you to complete a given distance on a bicycle, then only total time makes any sense to me. If you have aspirations of participating in brevets or ultra races, there is really no other way.   Merlin 11/13/09 03:51:30 PM Logging ride times   My guess is the 5 hour century people DO NOT take a ten minute break every hour and/or stop for lunch. I sure don't. On the other hand, I always ride self supported so I have to fill up my own water bottles and take my own natural breaks :-) Sometimes the lines are long and it just adds time. Many folks use sags handing them water and food, so on crowded rides, they have a real advantage. In my mind, UMCA or RAAM type events are totally different so total time is the challenge. And as long as you compare "apples to apples", what diffence does it make?   Larry 11/13/09 12:41:01 AM Don't Make Drivers Pass You Twice   In most of the states I've riden in, the cyclist's place was on the right side of the roadway, no matter how wide the road. When i come to a red light, I ride up the right side, where I'm supposed to be and move out when the light changes. As long as a cyclist is obeying the rules of the road, I don't see a problem.   Carol 11/13/09 08:57:31 AM Say no to right hook   Yes...don't sneak up on parked cars on the right at a red light. Yes...stay in line behind them. But, no, no, no, never wait at the green and tell a car to turn right in *front* of you! The driver may think this is the normal rule of the road and right hook an unsuspecting rider. Eeks! Tell me that advice did not come from RBR?!?!?!? Oh, and when at the head of the right lane at a red light, consider taking the center left of the lane. This clearly indicates you're there and allows cars wanting to turn right on red to do so.   Lee 11/13/09 09:46:55 AM Low Gearing   In "Jim's Tech Talk", Jim Langley mentions the following: "34/50 compacts seem more prone to dropping the chain onto the frame when shifting from the big to small ring." Is this compared to a standard double, a triple, or both? A standard double isn't an option for me, I have a triple now, and I'm debating whether to get a triple or a compact double on my next bike. I'd be curious to hear the opinions of RBR staff and readers on whether a compact double or a triple is more likely to drop the chain shifting to the smallest ring. I would think a compact double would be more prone than a triple because the difference between 50 and 34 is bigger than the difference between 42 or 39 and 30.   Lee 11/17/09 01:04:59 AM Low Gearing   So neither Jim, Ed, Fred, nor anybody else out there in RBR-land has any comments on whether a triple or compact double are more likely to drop the chain onto the frame when shifting to the smallest ring? I figured I'd get a few responses.   Jerome 11/13/09 10:08:44 AM Don't Make Drivers Pass You Twice?   Highway Safety Code 1. This Code governs the use of vehicles on public highways and, in specified cases, on certain private roads and lands, and pedestrian traffic on public highways. 359. Unless otherwise directed by a sign or signal, when facing a red light, the driver of a road vehicle or any person riding a bicycle must stop his vehicle before the pedestrian crosswalk or stop-line or, if none, at the near side of the roadway he is about to cross or enter, and may proceed only when a signal shows he may do so. 487. Subject to section 492, every person on a bicycle must ride on the extreme right-hand side of the roadway in the same direction as traffic, except where that space is obstructed or when he is about to make a left turn. I go by the book: when riding, if there is sufficient room on the right side of the stopped vehicles, I ride all the way to the stop-line. BTW, when driving, I leave room on the right side to allow cyclists to ride all the way to the said stop-line.   Tom 11/13/09 10:14:56 AM Passing cars on the right   The note about passing cars waiting at a stop light implies that passing on the right may be OK with a wide paved shoulder--even if not very polite. Nope, it is still passing on the right so illegal in most states--along with being a sure way to raise the ire of even a patient motorist. (A true bike lane is a different issue because it is its own "lane".)   Mike Ondre 11/13/09 10:20:34 AM Obey trafic laws   I ride over 2500 miles each summer and every time out I witness riders blowing through stop signs without stopping or even slowing down and riders blowing through red tights if ithey think it's clear. This is why observing drivers hate cyclists. When I see this I yell, "OBEY THE LAW" and sometimes I get flipped off etc. Please add another article requesting cyclists to OBEY the LAW> Thanks Mike   John 11/13/09 12:05:37 PM Do you count stops   I'm really pleased to read this. When I quote my best century time I don't counts the stops - I've allways thought I was cheating!   John 11/13/09 12:20:39 PM Don't Make Drivers Pass You Twice   I agree in principle - it makes perfect sense. But in practice I have regretted EVERY time I've waited for any non-bike road user. Once in front they always seem to suddenly need to stop for a parked car or chat, turn left (that's right for you lot), break down, anything to force me to unclip.   Sam Q. 11/13/09 02:18:02 PM Low down on low gearing   Great article. Not mentioned in the article is a compromise drive train provided by SRAM (came with my Specialized road bike). It has a standard crankset (39/53) but comes with a 11/28 cassette. I think it's a good compromise since it allows for good climbing without sacrificing speed on the flats.   Merlin 11/13/09 03:42:56 PM Ride time & stop time   Why not both? I only include ride time in my log, along with mileage as that gives my information on how hard the ride was. On the other hand, I always figure the "stop" time in my head. As the unofficial ride leader for many long Saturday rides, I try to encourage people to take care of business when we stop, as 45-50 minutes off the bike during a 75-80 mile ride is WAY too long. And this way, we can focus on why we are late for lunch!   Mike in Redmond 11/13/09 04:43:35 PM Light Your Ride - reflective tape   It's a little spendy but SOLAS spec. reflective tape from a boating supply store is very reflective, durable and completely waterproof. The adhesive is the most tenacious I've ever seen. Once it is applied it's not coming off. I use this for both kayaking and my bikes (helmets, fenders, rims).   Tony 11/13/09 06:03:05 PM Try this on your next ride   As much as this makes some sense, traffic is traffic if you catch up to the same group of cars its just car-ma! (Sorry) Sitting behind 20 cars ... if can pass safely, I will. I bet you ask any driver if they prefer to keep a watch out for me in their mirror or see me clear the lights and out of sight, I'm sure they'll choose to not have to look out for you. Just be mindfull in traffic, stay clear of the bullish drivers (and riders) once your on the clear road its all forgotten about anyway!   Larry 11/13/09 08:41:59 PM Try this on your next ride   I agree with both of the safer approaches. The comment about putting yourself in the car is very appropriate. We as road cyclists are looking for respect and safe roads from motorists. While cars and drivers have an obligation so do cyclists and the more we can do to be partners on the road riding in concert and within the rules of the road even if it costs us a minute or two will give us much in the long run.   Darius 11/13/09 09:25:59 PM passing twice.   Follow the rules of the road. Stop behind the last car and go like you were a car. In the second option you say to pass them on the right and then sit there and let them go by. This seems very unsafe to me. It promotes cyclists not following the rules of the road and drivers may things that other cyclists will do the same in the future. Maybe the next cyclist won't and will get hit as someone make that turn. Rules of the road. Act like a car. Always.   Steve in Daton, OH 11/13/09 09:50:19 PM Right on ..   Your thoughts on either stopping behind the cars that have passed you as you come up to a red light - or passing them on the right but then letting them all leave the light before you do are right on the mark!   Cheryl L 11/14/09 02:02:08 PM Try this on your next ride   Stopping behind the car in front of you is the safest option. If a cyclists passes on the right, he runs the risk of being cutoff by a vehicle's right turn. Vehicles have blind spots! Stopping behind the car also means taking the lane and thereby making the statement, "Cyclists belong on the road." This is a situation where the safest option is also the strongest statement for cycling.   Harv S. 11/14/09 03:23:01 PM Let the passed get past   Most of the time I don't have the problem described, having taken the tack that avoidance bests confrontation: I just don't ride when there's a lot of traffic. On a couple of occasions I have had three or four cars that passed me get stopped at the light. I pass them, and another six or eight stack up behind them while we wait. I owe the first three or four but not the rest, so I push off, but slowly enough to allow them to get around me as though I was stopped, and then I resume my normal cadence and let the "new" cars in line pass me for the first (and almost always only) time. That's what works for me, but of course everyone's situation is different.   JashaC 11/14/09 05:54:24 PM Don't make them pass you twice   Right on!   Nan W 11/14/09 08:48:33 PM Passing twice   I'm a "girl" and hubby doesn't like me to ride solo so I'm usually with at least one other cyclist. We make an effort to obey the same laws as car drivers so we DO stop behind the last car in the drive lane. If we are at the front of the line up, we are poised & ready to clear the intersection & swing to the right shoulder ASAP. I have a car, too, so I can imagine what they are thinking & feeling (groaning) as they see us there at the light.   John Kearney 11/15/09 06:58:09 PM Roadie comments   I have just returned home to Melbourne Australia after three weeks holiday in the US. We have friends in Dallas Texas and spent most of our time in that area, I managed to have a few rides while I was in Texas, mostly around the suburbs and one country ride. I must report on how courteous your drivers are, coming from Australia where we drive on the left hand side of the road, I was a little apprehensive going out for my first ride on a new bike, in the rain at about 7.30am during the school traffic peek hour. My experience was that of drivers that gave me 3 feet and more when overtaking and showed patience when passing was not safe. I only wish I could have bottled it and brought it back downunder, there are many drivers down here that could do with a dose of this medicine. I was also struck by the great condition of the roads and the complete lack of broken glass on the roads, again something a little foreign to us Ausies.   vorsprung 11/17/09 11:39:11 AM going past cars at the lights   In the UK any stopped vehicle is an obstruction and can be passed on the left or right perfectly legitimately I'd move to the front of the queue of traffic and move off ahead of it In the UK there are often "ASL" Advanced Stop Lines of a couple of metres specifically for bikes to use the space nearest the stop lights Most cycling road safety people say you should take this position and get in the centre of the lane to prevent vehicles from cutting you up as you all move off.   Back to top of Comments Back to top of newsletter Newsletter archive Subscribe for free delivery by e-mail