Each week at Road Bike Rider, we include a question of the week that goes out to our email newsletter readers.
Here are some of our recent previous questions.
Reader Interactions
Comments
Fredsays
I didn’t used to worry about cars until a car side swiped me at 50mph on an open country road. I was alone. The driver was an 87 yr old woman who claimed she didn’t see me. It was 9:30am, on 5/31 so there was no sun in the eyes issue. I woke up 35 feet into a corn field to see the emt’s carrying a stretcher. I was all banged up but no serious injuries. Helmet destroyed, handlebars bent, wheels destroyed, carbon fork, seat and seat struts broken. The alloy frame looked ok but had to be retired. The bike had been repainted, with many new parts over winter.
My bike is 700c wheel recumbent. It has a handlebar mounted B&M mirror which gives an excellent view. I usually ride 3ft left of the fog line. Never saw the car that hit me. I think the recumbent position with full carbon fiber seat and neck rest saved me from more serious injury.
I use a “Take-A-Look” mirror on my glasses. I always know what’s behind me. I can see behind me without moving my head. I feel naked without the mirror – like not wearing a seat belt. I even use the mirror when trail hiking. My wife uses the same brand of mirror on her helmet.
Macksays
I, too, ride with a Take-A-Look mirror and believe it has kept me from getting into “trouble” many times. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to know what is going on behind them.
Great to see that you’re OK. I recently got a Garmin Varia Radar and it now tops my list of the best purchase I’ve ever made right along side winter cycling shoes. I ride about 7,000 miles per year mostly on open country roads. The radar gives me a warning of an upcoming vehicle with plenty of time to make sure I’m hugging the side of the road and to check my rear view mirror to make sure the driver is moving over. The best safety feature a road cyclist could purchase bar none!
I have a Garmin rear view radar unit, also, and it works really well. My riding buddies are fascinated by it and often keep an eye on it while riding behind me. It’s a great safety feature and makes me feel more comfortable on the road. It picks up approaching vehicles 140 meters back, so there is usually time to look and react once it warns of an approaching vehicle. The price is very reasonable for the additional safety it offers.
Michaelsays
I never ride without my Varia. At 76 turning my head or trying to see in a tiny mirror is problematic. When a blip appears I get over to the right as far as I can safely and coast until they pass. The radar image also shows up on my Wahoo computer, which turns red when a vehicle approaches. I might miss a small image on a mirror, but I don’t miss seeing flashing lights on two sites on the handlebar.
Mark Thomassays
Kevin, Bill & Mike, I’m with you guys. My brother convinced me to go to a Varia in 2020 and I have been using one ever since. When the battery runs out on long rides, I feel naked without. I was hit by a car driving 17 Y/O male college student on 09/03/2014 while I was commuting to work at the VA. Wish I had had a Varia then.
I am 2 weeks out from getting hit from behind by an inexperienced driver. bike is totaled. I was admitted to the ICU with brain bleed and fractured shoulder. I did nothing wrong, kid may have been texting. I am lucky to be alive. I will need to replace my bike but for now, have to heal. I will be nervous getting back out there. Pretty pissed that this happed too.
I had 5 flats in one day. Turns out that one of the spokes had protruded too far past the rim tape. I had to get a ride home.
Judi A Schwandtsays
I was hit by an ‘inexperienced 17 year old driver’ in March. Bike was ruined, helmet cracked and I was kept in ICU for brain bleed and fractured shoulder. I am still going to PT but slowly improving. Back on a new(gravel) bike and slowly getting my fitness back. I never saw the girl coming, only woke up in the ambulance. I am still riding on the road, but more dirt and gravel now. I have always been cautious and use lights, mirror and bright clothing.
So sorry to hear that! That woman maybe should not be driving anymore. I was hit by a highschooler ‘distracted’ pulling out from the school parking lot. woke up in the ambulance, taken to ICU with a fractured shoulder and brain bleed. That was March, still some issues.
I wear a glasses mounted rear mirror that is wonderful. I can see them coming especially while descending mountain roads where wind noise makes it impossible to hear cars. Would feel naked without it.
When changing lanes or u-turns however don’t rely solely on the mirror. Always take a look over my shoulder too. Cars can come up from behind really fast. Use all your senses.
Great mirror. Using for 20+ years. Bike Peddler is the manufacturer.
Macksays
“Take-A-Look” mirror. You’ll love it! Mounts on your glasses. See everything that’s behind you up to almost 180 degrees by swiveling your head. (As in the old adage: “Keep your head on a swivel.”) Really. :))
The “Take a Look” mirror is great, but I’ve switched to the Specchio mirror, and though it’s smaller, once positioned correctly it’s just as effective. And much more subtle looking (if that’s an issue for some people).
I have several bikes and all are equipped withe the below rear-view mirror. It is the best I have tried but as Bob says, utilize all your senses and never rely solely on a mirror.
Edge riders get sideswiped, right hooked, doored, not seen by motorists pulling out of driveways, and left crossed. Bicycle drivers use lane control as a tool to avoid these hazards. Any graduate of Cycling Savvy would click “Something else” on this survey. The something else would be “I was surprised at how much others’ behavior improved after I changed mine.” Learn more at cyclingsavvy.org.
I do not hug the side of the road. Too easy for drivers to think they squeeze by me. Assume your position. I do this too on Roundabouts. Not fool proof of course. Make yourself visible!
ONCE YOU GET HIT BY A CAR, AS I HAVE BEEN, YOU’LL ALWAYS BE A LITTLE WORRIED, I THINK. I EVEN DRIVE MY CAR DIFFERENTLY SINCE MY BICYCLE ACCIDENT A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
Ive been hit twice-they didnt see me despite my bright clothing and flashing lights. I was pretty anxious and angry at first after getting hit. I keep my head on a swivel and assume they dont see me.
Fortunately, I have never been struck by a car after over 50 years of adult biking. I have had the usual close calls including drivers accelerating to turn right just in front of me, parked car doors opening suddenly, general heavy traffic that ignores the existence of bicycles. As I have gotten older, I like to think that I ride more defensively stopping at most stop signs, not running red lights, trying to maintain situational awareness at al times and sticking to bike trails when possible. But with increased use of digital phones by drivers and inattentive driving are a constant worry. This worry extends into my own driving and biking habits. I try not to be in a hurry, try to focus on what I am doing, yield right-of-way when possible, and practice general courtesy when on the road. I do not expect that this behavior will protect me absolutely, but maybe I won’t cause and accident and everybody will get home safely on that day.
In addition to helmet and handlebar mirrors, I use a Fly6 (https://cycliq.com/) on my road rides. Keeps a good visual record of anything that may happen. Told my wife that if I ever am seriously injured in a crash, take the unit to the police and our (ruthless) attorney.
The fly 6 is a great idea but poorly executed. I owned both the fly 6 and fly 12. Both stopped working within the year, and atrocious customer service.
Over the years I have developed some favorite rides. One of the criteria to make it to top-ten favorite rides is low car traffic.
I also do some rides that start and finish on bike path so warm uop and tired end-of-ride/.sunset time is away from cars.
With a stable of 8 bikes between my wife and I, it came down to keeping them all on the garage floor or having space to work on them. Our tandem and cruisers are still on the floor. The others hang by their front wheels on a line of hooks in the ceiling. By alternating handlebars to the left or right, the hooks can be in the successive joists and hang with only twelve inches between frames. Each bike hangs at an angle so the handlebars and pedals stay clear of their neighbors on either side. It’s a little tricky, but not too difficult, to get the middle bikes up or down without contacting the bikes on either side. This way five bikes have a footprint of about 5′ by 6′, are easily accessible, and open up the shop area.
I ride about 5,000 miles per year. I’ve been hospitalized three times from altercations with cars. Two were of the “and run” persuasion. Keep the head on a swivel. Use the mirror. Turn the head and look left before moving (merging) more to the left. Take the lane when appropriate. Yield when needed. Do just about anything to avoid being hit. I’ve use up three of my lives. Unlike cats, humans don’t know how many lives they are granted. One thing I’m NOT going to do is stop riding my bicycle. I try to be friendly toward everyone with whom I interact. I cannot predict who will be the one to give me a final hug as I breath my last and the car keeps on going.
For your question about game-changing saddles: the InfinitySeat has been a game-changer for me. Absolutely no discomfort now. Rode an Ironman on this saddle in tri shorts and had a happy bottom the whole way
I really like the new look, and especially cycling vs aging.
I commented before about the black-dark cycling clothing. Have you considered trying to get some support from other riders-readers to put pressure on the clothing manfactureres to change the current colors to more visible colors?
I suspect that they choose these colors based on what sells best, so they don’t have any interest in visible colors if the average cyclist still likes to buy black. I definitely vote with my dollars by never buying black jerseys or jackets!
I agree. It is unreasonable to expect sales people to respond to a plea for unsellable merchandise. I like having biking jerseys. If the government starts making demands there will be fewer available. Nobody starts a business to lose money. Why should they? To satisfy someone who can’t look around?
And there are tons of multi-colored jersey everywhere online.
I have traveled “lite” and stayed in motels. I used a small backpack with one change of casual clothes. I used SPD sandals as my only shoes. I washed my only set of cycling clothes each evening. I would start them out by treading on them while I showered and then finish washing them in a wastebasket with laundry soap. I would then roll them up tightly in towels to wring all of the water out of them then use clothes pins to hang them on the curtains above the air conditioner vent. They would be dry by morning.
I don’t mind music during a crit (although I was at one where the heavy metal played was little but profanity, and this was to be a family event!).
Out on the road – one reason I ride is to get away from music and generally the sounds of “civilization”. Few things ruin the experience of riding through a beautiful wooded area than a speaker blaring something!
It would help a lot if you used larger print on the question AND the possible answers. mY EYES AREN”T WHAT THEY WERE 70 YEARS AGO, BUT EVEN WITH READING GLASSES AND A MAGNIFIER, i COULDN’T READ the answer choises, and I recently passed mky driver’s eye test!!!
Thanks for your feedback! We were using the default settings. I just checked, and we are able to change the font size so I will make them bigger from now on.
Fine for you, but after my complete quad rupture, another crash and I’m back in the whole leg brace for another 6 months. I’m riding fast enough, thank you.
Riding a recumbent I have ground down my derailleur and handlebars in an encounter with a car. My fault for not slowing enough at a turn. Been run off the road once. Had an 18-wheelers cross into the shoulder to get close to me. Plenty of drinks thrown at me…Seven things stand out: 1 – Ride with a group if possible, 2 – ride during low traffic times in a bike lane if available, 3 – always ride with lights front and back (bright enough to be seen 1 mile away in daylight but not so bright as to blind driver from blooming), 4 – use a rear view mirror, 5 – always take a quick glance over shoulder before entering lane, 6 – do not assume any driver actually sees you despite what they may signal, and most important: 7 – never give a driver an opportunity to hit you. (that may mean waving on a driver who is treating you like a pedestrian and has stopped traffic to let you pass, this can lead to other traffic accidents and is very dangerous to other drivers).
All my road bikes (several) are equipped with the pedal that goes round corners at a more acute angle than any other pedal: Speedplay. There are other considerations, but that one cannot be beat.
Your pedal question missed “SPD one sided pedals with mountain cleats”. These are a wonderful, walkable, efficient pedal system which also means you can move between road & mountain without having two different pairs of shoes.
On today’s tip for extending g the life of the chain with DuPont…noted cleaned and lubed after every ride is the key to longevity, doesn’t matter what you lube used when doing it everyday.. what most are looking for is what can I use less often that gets me long life because I’m lazy, lol.
non-loose/baggy clothing is my aerothing and pays off over a long ride.
Getting aero bike or aero bike accessories to theoretically save 40 seconds over 40 miles ==and only if you fully assume-the-position for that time– is not really necessary for most people, even the sporty types.
If I could argue for something really useful: double zips on cycling vests. Manufacturers are now frequently deleting this feature (looking at you Louis Garneau) and making the double zip harder and harder to find so they can cut 50 cents off the manufacturing cost of the vest.
My Garmin Edge 800 turn/off bottom is broken, I would appreciate knowing what my fellow riding community are using, Garmin, Wahoo, phone apps (Strava), etc. to record their activity before I select a device to record or use my android phone. Your suggestions are appreciated.
This publication, Road Bike Rider, contains and presents information that has always been useful to me as a rider, THANKS!
I have used the Wahoo for years. It keeps all the stats I care about and shares with Ride with GPS and Strava.
But its the only one I’ve used, so I can’t compare it to the others.
My dooring accident was a bit unusual in that I was already passing the car door when it opened (grandma was in the back seat fussing with grandchild in the baby seat, then started to exit the car) and knocked my back wheel out from under me. Never saw it coming. Whacked the back of my helmeted head on the pavement and was concussed; no other injury and modest front wheel truing needed . Another fraction of a second later and I would have been clear of the door.
I think rear view mirrors on your helmet or handlebars are dangerous! I’ve had them before and you have to not only take your eyes off the road ahead of you, but you have to focus really hard to get an accurate view of traffic behind you. Do that in a group and you crash. Besides, you’d have to be constantly watching your rear view mirrors every time a car came by to even come close to knowing if they were going to hit you or not. I won’t do a group ride with someone with a mirror.
You’ve got the wrong mirror. I’m a hearing impaired cyclist. I’ve been using bike mirrors all my cycling life. For 16 years before retirement, I bike commuted through a small city. I used 2 mirrors due to the traffic and lane changes. Mirrors work and keep me safe.
I have been using the Garmin Vario RTL 510 that has a light and shows the approaching cars, but also listen to approaching traffic. In windy situation or going downhill you cannot hear the approaching traffic so the radar helps a lot. I always use a flashing rear light, and a flashing white front light. I’ve found that the front light makes
me much more visible to drivers pulling into the road in front of me or on coming drivers making left turns.
I also use a Garmin Varia 510 and won’t ride without it. It’s one of the best safety purchases you can make. I also use a strong front and rear light. I get comments from other cyclists that they could see my rear light (Dinotte Quad Red) more than a half mile away on sunny days and my front light (See Sense Icon2) a quarter mile away. They key is high lumens. I also use a rear view mirror (Italian Road Bike Mirror IRBM). With these I feel much safer on the road.
I’ve been hit 4 times in the last 3 years. I’ve been riding on these roads for thirty years but it’s more congested, drivers seem to be more aggressive, and they won’t put down their phones.
BTW, if you’re using a Garmin Varia radar unit, it can be paired with multiple cycling head units. When I ride with a group, multiple in the group pair their Garmin Edge computers to my Varia radar and we all get the alerts. It works really well and has a descent range so even if we have 10 people in the group, we all get the alerts.
This is an incomplete – and naive – question, as the majority of serious riders ride a trainer (or rollers) indoors when it’s too cold and/or wet outside.
How about: “How cold is too cold for you to ride outside?”
I have a good friend who likes to say, “I’m not riding if it is colder than inside my refrigerator.” 🙂
richardsays
This would likely not qualify for an Eroica event, but my commuter is based on a 1972 Raleigh Professional. (Unfortunately, there was a period where I had no access to proper storage. I had it stripped and powder coated, but the residual rust will eventually kill the frame.) The main upgrade was to Campagnolo Athena 9-speed “Racing Triple”. The only “trick” required was spreading the rear triangle.
The frame accepts fenders and a rear rack. Despite the added weight (now around 32 lb), the frame remembers it is a Raleigh Professional and sprints away from stops and corners beautifully. I will truly miss this bike once it rusts through!
I think that Garmin Varia is a expensive joke! it’s just a technological toy that Americans like to play with but it offers no benefits whatsoever.
What you scream? That Garmin thing is not telling you if a person is going to hit you or simply pass by on your left, and even if it could so what? You can see the same thing happening with a simple cheap mirror.
The other thing that bothers me about the Garmin is the actual tail light, this is a laughing stock of all the tail lights I know of on the market! how many tail lights are there that put out only 16 lumens? Right, only the bottom of the line tail lights put out that sort of lumens, and 16 lumens isn’t even remotely visible in broad daylight, and hardly even noticeable at night.
You need at least 200 lumens to be seen during the day, and about that same amount to be readily seen at night; at night you could get away with 100 lumen tail light, but when your riding on the street with a sea of tail lights you need something that will make you stand out like a beacon, you need at least 200 lumens to get to that point, not some dim 16 lumen light.
Have you used a Varia or ridden with someone using one?
I own one, and the rear light is extremely bright. It causes other riders to complain about it when it flashes, although not when it is a solid color. I had to turn off the flashing mode and use solid on my early morning rides to prevent it from blinking too brightly in the dark.
The lumens are listed at 20 solid and 60 flashing. Compare to the incredibly bright Serfas Thunderbolt at 35 lumens. I believe that lumens for a rear light don’t compare well to lumens for a headlight, and so it just sounds too small.
The radar picks up cars long before I would hear them, and I generally take a glance back and have lots of time to yell out “car back” to other riders before we would have ever been aware of the car previously.
Using it daily, I consider myself far safer with it than without it and feel that it was money well spent. I paid full retail for mine, and don’t regret it.
As an old man with neck turning stiffness and somewhat weaker vision for a tiny little distracting mirror, I find that the Varia is a lifesaver. It also connects to my Wahoo bike computer.
I use it every time I ride. It tells you when another biker is coming up behind you as well. All in normal visual range.
Garmin’s Varia RTL510 has been replaced by the RTL515. Same $200 price tag, same hardware. But the RTL515 uses Bluetooth to connect with compatible cell phone based cycling apps like Cadence (getcadence.app) and Ride with GPS (ridewithgps.com). Both apps are tried and proven, with the most wanted features like route planning; both sync their data with Strava. Both support iOS and Android cell phones.
When connected by Bluetooth to the Garmin RTL515, you’ll see on your app’s screen moving icons that indicate vehicles or bikes moving up on you from behind. There’s also an audio alert and vibration that you can turn off. As a car gets nearer to you, the Varia’s light begins to flash. The RTL515 also has “Peleton” mode, where its rear light is less intense,
If like many riders you are making the switch from dedicated bike computer to cell phone app, you now have the option of incorporating this life-saving device into your cycling app’s screen. Despite its sophistication, the Garmin RTL515 is easy to configure and install, and exceedingly reliable. Check out owner reviews on Amazon or Youtube.
The newer version, the Varia RTL515, has a “Peleton” operating mode that reduces the brightness of the light when riding with a group.
Kevinsays
I find my Garmin Varia radar extremely valuable. When I get the notification on my computer of an approaching car, it alerts me to check my mirror and make sure the car is moving over. If they aren’t moving over because they’re a jerk or distracted, then I have time to react and move off the road before I’m hit. Additionally, since I started using a rear tail light, I’ve noticed more cars moving over and moving over farther. If you’re not going to use the Varia radar, I recommend a rear light.
i do not like the ones that mount on glasses, or the ones that can move.
if they can move around (which sounds like a good thing) – they are never in the right place and you have to adjust them constantly.
i used wire from inside a big piano string, VERY springy and holds shape very well. hard to bend right though.
Another “Take-A-Look” mirror devotee. I know if someone’s not moving over to give me my (minimum) 3 feet of space LONG before they reach me. Riding without one now feels dangerous.
Distracted driving is rife these days. I missed being killed by someone turning right on a red. I was in the crossing “safe” area. I actually ran to his wheel (SUV). He honked and went on. A schoolbus driver stopped and asked if I was okay. I was in a bit of shock.
Update: while recovering from the accident my knees didn’t recover as well as the rest of my body.. I saw two ortho surgeons. Both agreed I needed 2 knee replacements. Had both done 3 months apart. Rehab went well. I started back riding in the spring with the local club. I was one of the stronger riders before but found myself bringing up the end of the line. Had a series of flats that made me nervous being out by myself. I have a folding bike that I take with our RV trips. I just putter around the campgrounds checking all the other RVs.
s
I will be 70 in March. whaat? yep. Ive been riding for 40 years and still do 40-60 mi rides mostly in the hills and mountains of Colorado. I am also active with hiking , xc skiing and kayaking. I love the information you post!
It was about answering the questions on the survey, where the option to answer “other” didn’t work.
Anyway, still a very happy user of the RearViz mirror. It is easy to convert to riding on the right side of the road, vs the left side. So used to it, I sometimes look to it when walking!
Main thing is to use some sort of mirror!
Ethan
Bibs: waistbands are terrible. (phrasing it like you did for the “shorts” option)
Maybe not for the short rides, or for thin people, but for long rides or nonthin crowd, bibs are all-day comfort.
I enjoy your question of the week. The results require careful examination. The result descriptions should either be shown in the same order as the questions were posed or show more of the question text.
Example: Which is tube or tubeless?
I always use tu…
I always ride tub…
I had to redisplay the questions to determine the results.
I didn’t used to worry about cars until a car side swiped me at 50mph on an open country road. I was alone. The driver was an 87 yr old woman who claimed she didn’t see me. It was 9:30am, on 5/31 so there was no sun in the eyes issue. I woke up 35 feet into a corn field to see the emt’s carrying a stretcher. I was all banged up but no serious injuries. Helmet destroyed, handlebars bent, wheels destroyed, carbon fork, seat and seat struts broken. The alloy frame looked ok but had to be retired. The bike had been repainted, with many new parts over winter.
My bike is 700c wheel recumbent. It has a handlebar mounted B&M mirror which gives an excellent view. I usually ride 3ft left of the fog line. Never saw the car that hit me. I think the recumbent position with full carbon fiber seat and neck rest saved me from more serious injury.
I use a “Take-A-Look” mirror on my glasses. I always know what’s behind me. I can see behind me without moving my head. I feel naked without the mirror – like not wearing a seat belt. I even use the mirror when trail hiking. My wife uses the same brand of mirror on her helmet.
I, too, ride with a Take-A-Look mirror and believe it has kept me from getting into “trouble” many times. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to know what is going on behind them.
Glad to know that youu’re ok though you can get another bike but, never another you
Great to see that you’re OK. I recently got a Garmin Varia Radar and it now tops my list of the best purchase I’ve ever made right along side winter cycling shoes. I ride about 7,000 miles per year mostly on open country roads. The radar gives me a warning of an upcoming vehicle with plenty of time to make sure I’m hugging the side of the road and to check my rear view mirror to make sure the driver is moving over. The best safety feature a road cyclist could purchase bar none!
I have a Garmin rear view radar unit, also, and it works really well. My riding buddies are fascinated by it and often keep an eye on it while riding behind me. It’s a great safety feature and makes me feel more comfortable on the road. It picks up approaching vehicles 140 meters back, so there is usually time to look and react once it warns of an approaching vehicle. The price is very reasonable for the additional safety it offers.
I never ride without my Varia. At 76 turning my head or trying to see in a tiny mirror is problematic. When a blip appears I get over to the right as far as I can safely and coast until they pass. The radar image also shows up on my Wahoo computer, which turns red when a vehicle approaches. I might miss a small image on a mirror, but I don’t miss seeing flashing lights on two sites on the handlebar.
Kevin, Bill & Mike, I’m with you guys. My brother convinced me to go to a Varia in 2020 and I have been using one ever since. When the battery runs out on long rides, I feel naked without. I was hit by a car driving 17 Y/O male college student on 09/03/2014 while I was commuting to work at the VA. Wish I had had a Varia then.
Maybe this lady should not be driving anymore.
I am 2 weeks out from getting hit from behind by an inexperienced driver. bike is totaled. I was admitted to the ICU with brain bleed and fractured shoulder. I did nothing wrong, kid may have been texting. I am lucky to be alive. I will need to replace my bike but for now, have to heal. I will be nervous getting back out there. Pretty pissed that this happed too.
idea for new survey: Record number of flats in one day?
I had 5 flats in one day. Turns out that one of the spokes had protruded too far past the rim tape. I had to get a ride home.
I was hit by an ‘inexperienced 17 year old driver’ in March. Bike was ruined, helmet cracked and I was kept in ICU for brain bleed and fractured shoulder. I am still going to PT but slowly improving. Back on a new(gravel) bike and slowly getting my fitness back. I never saw the girl coming, only woke up in the ambulance. I am still riding on the road, but more dirt and gravel now. I have always been cautious and use lights, mirror and bright clothing.
So sorry to hear that! That woman maybe should not be driving anymore. I was hit by a highschooler ‘distracted’ pulling out from the school parking lot. woke up in the ambulance, taken to ICU with a fractured shoulder and brain bleed. That was March, still some issues.
I wear a glasses mounted rear mirror that is wonderful. I can see them coming especially while descending mountain roads where wind noise makes it impossible to hear cars. Would feel naked without it.
When changing lanes or u-turns however don’t rely solely on the mirror. Always take a look over my shoulder too. Cars can come up from behind really fast. Use all your senses.
Which make and where is it possible to find this rear view mirror please.
Bike Peddler: Take A Look Cycling Eyeglass Mirror
Great mirror. Using for 20+ years. Bike Peddler is the manufacturer.
“Take-A-Look” mirror. You’ll love it! Mounts on your glasses. See everything that’s behind you up to almost 180 degrees by swiveling your head. (As in the old adage: “Keep your head on a swivel.”) Really. :))
👍I keep spares on every bike
The “Take a Look” mirror is great, but I’ve switched to the Specchio mirror, and though it’s smaller, once positioned correctly it’s just as effective. And much more subtle looking (if that’s an issue for some people).
I voted, something else. Because while riding i don’t really think about it but as i do other things through out the day, i do think about it.
I have several bikes and all are equipped withe the below rear-view mirror. It is the best I have tried but as Bob says, utilize all your senses and never rely solely on a mirror.
https://www.italianroadbikemirror.com/
Edge riders get sideswiped, right hooked, doored, not seen by motorists pulling out of driveways, and left crossed. Bicycle drivers use lane control as a tool to avoid these hazards. Any graduate of Cycling Savvy would click “Something else” on this survey. The something else would be “I was surprised at how much others’ behavior improved after I changed mine.” Learn more at cyclingsavvy.org.
I do not hug the side of the road. Too easy for drivers to think they squeeze by me. Assume your position. I do this too on Roundabouts. Not fool proof of course. Make yourself visible!
Great answer! Exactly correct.
Exactly!
The problem I am noticing more and more is cell phone drivers, and drivers smoking marijuana. It is getting scary out there.
Every time I see a car without somebody talking, texting, or dialing it’s an event!
ONCE YOU GET HIT BY A CAR, AS I HAVE BEEN, YOU’LL ALWAYS BE A LITTLE WORRIED, I THINK. I EVEN DRIVE MY CAR DIFFERENTLY SINCE MY BICYCLE ACCIDENT A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
Ive been hit twice-they didnt see me despite my bright clothing and flashing lights. I was pretty anxious and angry at first after getting hit. I keep my head on a swivel and assume they dont see me.
Fortunately, I have never been struck by a car after over 50 years of adult biking. I have had the usual close calls including drivers accelerating to turn right just in front of me, parked car doors opening suddenly, general heavy traffic that ignores the existence of bicycles. As I have gotten older, I like to think that I ride more defensively stopping at most stop signs, not running red lights, trying to maintain situational awareness at al times and sticking to bike trails when possible. But with increased use of digital phones by drivers and inattentive driving are a constant worry. This worry extends into my own driving and biking habits. I try not to be in a hurry, try to focus on what I am doing, yield right-of-way when possible, and practice general courtesy when on the road. I do not expect that this behavior will protect me absolutely, but maybe I won’t cause and accident and everybody will get home safely on that day.
In addition to helmet and handlebar mirrors, I use a Fly6 (https://cycliq.com/) on my road rides. Keeps a good visual record of anything that may happen. Told my wife that if I ever am seriously injured in a crash, take the unit to the police and our (ruthless) attorney.
The fly 6 is a great idea but poorly executed. I owned both the fly 6 and fly 12. Both stopped working within the year, and atrocious customer service.
Over the years I have developed some favorite rides. One of the criteria to make it to top-ten favorite rides is low car traffic.
I also do some rides that start and finish on bike path so warm uop and tired end-of-ride/.sunset time is away from cars.
With a stable of 8 bikes between my wife and I, it came down to keeping them all on the garage floor or having space to work on them. Our tandem and cruisers are still on the floor. The others hang by their front wheels on a line of hooks in the ceiling. By alternating handlebars to the left or right, the hooks can be in the successive joists and hang with only twelve inches between frames. Each bike hangs at an angle so the handlebars and pedals stay clear of their neighbors on either side. It’s a little tricky, but not too difficult, to get the middle bikes up or down without contacting the bikes on either side. This way five bikes have a footprint of about 5′ by 6′, are easily accessible, and open up the shop area.
I ride about 5,000 miles per year. I’ve been hospitalized three times from altercations with cars. Two were of the “and run” persuasion. Keep the head on a swivel. Use the mirror. Turn the head and look left before moving (merging) more to the left. Take the lane when appropriate. Yield when needed. Do just about anything to avoid being hit. I’ve use up three of my lives. Unlike cats, humans don’t know how many lives they are granted. One thing I’m NOT going to do is stop riding my bicycle. I try to be friendly toward everyone with whom I interact. I cannot predict who will be the one to give me a final hug as I breath my last and the car keeps on going.
See results for this search: Bike Peddler Take A Look cyclist’s mirror
For your question about game-changing saddles: the InfinitySeat has been a game-changer for me. Absolutely no discomfort now. Rode an Ironman on this saddle in tri shorts and had a happy bottom the whole way
I really like the new look, and especially cycling vs aging.
I commented before about the black-dark cycling clothing. Have you considered trying to get some support from other riders-readers to put pressure on the clothing manfactureres to change the current colors to more visible colors?
Thanks,
Ron
I suspect that they choose these colors based on what sells best, so they don’t have any interest in visible colors if the average cyclist still likes to buy black. I definitely vote with my dollars by never buying black jerseys or jackets!
I agree. It is unreasonable to expect sales people to respond to a plea for unsellable merchandise. I like having biking jerseys. If the government starts making demands there will be fewer available. Nobody starts a business to lose money. Why should they? To satisfy someone who can’t look around?
And there are tons of multi-colored jersey everywhere online.
I have traveled “lite” and stayed in motels. I used a small backpack with one change of casual clothes. I used SPD sandals as my only shoes. I washed my only set of cycling clothes each evening. I would start them out by treading on them while I showered and then finish washing them in a wastebasket with laundry soap. I would then roll them up tightly in towels to wring all of the water out of them then use clothes pins to hang them on the curtains above the air conditioner vent. They would be dry by morning.
I use latex tubes because of their size it’s easier to Cary spares.
I don’t mind music during a crit (although I was at one where the heavy metal played was little but profanity, and this was to be a family event!).
Out on the road – one reason I ride is to get away from music and generally the sounds of “civilization”. Few things ruin the experience of riding through a beautiful wooded area than a speaker blaring something!
It would help a lot if you used larger print on the question AND the possible answers. mY EYES AREN”T WHAT THEY WERE 70 YEARS AGO, BUT EVEN WITH READING GLASSES AND A MAGNIFIER, i COULDN’T READ the answer choises, and I recently passed mky driver’s eye test!!!
Thanks for your feedback! We were using the default settings. I just checked, and we are able to change the font size so I will make them bigger from now on.
Isn’t it true that if you’re not crashing, you’re not riding fast enough?
Fine for you, but after my complete quad rupture, another crash and I’m back in the whole leg brace for another 6 months. I’m riding fast enough, thank you.
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Riding a recumbent I have ground down my derailleur and handlebars in an encounter with a car. My fault for not slowing enough at a turn. Been run off the road once. Had an 18-wheelers cross into the shoulder to get close to me. Plenty of drinks thrown at me…Seven things stand out: 1 – Ride with a group if possible, 2 – ride during low traffic times in a bike lane if available, 3 – always ride with lights front and back (bright enough to be seen 1 mile away in daylight but not so bright as to blind driver from blooming), 4 – use a rear view mirror, 5 – always take a quick glance over shoulder before entering lane, 6 – do not assume any driver actually sees you despite what they may signal, and most important: 7 – never give a driver an opportunity to hit you. (that may mean waving on a driver who is treating you like a pedestrian and has stopped traffic to let you pass, this can lead to other traffic accidents and is very dangerous to other drivers).
For me the most important feature is weight – if it exceeds ~270 gram, my neck starts to hart like hell.
All my road bikes (several) are equipped with the pedal that goes round corners at a more acute angle than any other pedal: Speedplay. There are other considerations, but that one cannot be beat.
Your pedal question missed “SPD one sided pedals with mountain cleats”. These are a wonderful, walkable, efficient pedal system which also means you can move between road & mountain without having two different pairs of shoes.
On today’s tip for extending g the life of the chain with DuPont…noted cleaned and lubed after every ride is the key to longevity, doesn’t matter what you lube used when doing it everyday.. what most are looking for is what can I use less often that gets me long life because I’m lazy, lol.
non-loose/baggy clothing is my aerothing and pays off over a long ride.
Getting aero bike or aero bike accessories to theoretically save 40 seconds over 40 miles ==and only if you fully assume-the-position for that time– is not really necessary for most people, even the sporty types.
If I could argue for something really useful: double zips on cycling vests. Manufacturers are now frequently deleting this feature (looking at you Louis Garneau) and making the double zip harder and harder to find so they can cut 50 cents off the manufacturing cost of the vest.
My Garmin Edge 800 turn/off bottom is broken, I would appreciate knowing what my fellow riding community are using, Garmin, Wahoo, phone apps (Strava), etc. to record their activity before I select a device to record or use my android phone. Your suggestions are appreciated.
This publication, Road Bike Rider, contains and presents information that has always been useful to me as a rider, THANKS!
I have used the Wahoo for years. It keeps all the stats I care about and shares with Ride with GPS and Strava.
But its the only one I’ve used, so I can’t compare it to the others.
My dooring accident was a bit unusual in that I was already passing the car door when it opened (grandma was in the back seat fussing with grandchild in the baby seat, then started to exit the car) and knocked my back wheel out from under me. Never saw it coming. Whacked the back of my helmeted head on the pavement and was concussed; no other injury and modest front wheel truing needed . Another fraction of a second later and I would have been clear of the door.
I think rear view mirrors on your helmet or handlebars are dangerous! I’ve had them before and you have to not only take your eyes off the road ahead of you, but you have to focus really hard to get an accurate view of traffic behind you. Do that in a group and you crash. Besides, you’d have to be constantly watching your rear view mirrors every time a car came by to even come close to knowing if they were going to hit you or not. I won’t do a group ride with someone with a mirror.
Just got the radar. Wonderful! Shows me approaching cars from 150’, approx speed and how many.
You’ve got the wrong mirror. I’m a hearing impaired cyclist. I’ve been using bike mirrors all my cycling life. For 16 years before retirement, I bike commuted through a small city. I used 2 mirrors due to the traffic and lane changes. Mirrors work and keep me safe.
Fred, you are so right.!
If I was a cat I would be dead.
I have been using the Garmin Vario RTL 510 that has a light and shows the approaching cars, but also listen to approaching traffic. In windy situation or going downhill you cannot hear the approaching traffic so the radar helps a lot. I always use a flashing rear light, and a flashing white front light. I’ve found that the front light makes
me much more visible to drivers pulling into the road in front of me or on coming drivers making left turns.
I also use a Garmin Varia 510 and won’t ride without it. It’s one of the best safety purchases you can make. I also use a strong front and rear light. I get comments from other cyclists that they could see my rear light (Dinotte Quad Red) more than a half mile away on sunny days and my front light (See Sense Icon2) a quarter mile away. They key is high lumens. I also use a rear view mirror (Italian Road Bike Mirror IRBM). With these I feel much safer on the road.
I’ve been hit 4 times in the last 3 years. I’ve been riding on these roads for thirty years but it’s more congested, drivers seem to be more aggressive, and they won’t put down their phones.
BTW, if you’re using a Garmin Varia radar unit, it can be paired with multiple cycling head units. When I ride with a group, multiple in the group pair their Garmin Edge computers to my Varia radar and we all get the alerts. It works really well and has a descent range so even if we have 10 people in the group, we all get the alerts.
That’s an amazing idea and so cool! Thank you for mentioning that. I’m working on a Varia review right now.
“How cold is too cold to ride for you?”
This is an incomplete – and naive – question, as the majority of serious riders ride a trainer (or rollers) indoors when it’s too cold and/or wet outside.
How about: “How cold is too cold for you to ride outside?”
I used to ride when it as very cold, but as I’ve aged (I’m 77) I like the cold less. I won’t ride if it’s under 25F, -4C.
I have a good friend who likes to say, “I’m not riding if it is colder than inside my refrigerator.” 🙂
This would likely not qualify for an Eroica event, but my commuter is based on a 1972 Raleigh Professional. (Unfortunately, there was a period where I had no access to proper storage. I had it stripped and powder coated, but the residual rust will eventually kill the frame.) The main upgrade was to Campagnolo Athena 9-speed “Racing Triple”. The only “trick” required was spreading the rear triangle.
The frame accepts fenders and a rear rack. Despite the added weight (now around 32 lb), the frame remembers it is a Raleigh Professional and sprints away from stops and corners beautifully. I will truly miss this bike once it rusts through!
I think that Garmin Varia is a expensive joke! it’s just a technological toy that Americans like to play with but it offers no benefits whatsoever.
What you scream? That Garmin thing is not telling you if a person is going to hit you or simply pass by on your left, and even if it could so what? You can see the same thing happening with a simple cheap mirror.
The other thing that bothers me about the Garmin is the actual tail light, this is a laughing stock of all the tail lights I know of on the market! how many tail lights are there that put out only 16 lumens? Right, only the bottom of the line tail lights put out that sort of lumens, and 16 lumens isn’t even remotely visible in broad daylight, and hardly even noticeable at night.
You need at least 200 lumens to be seen during the day, and about that same amount to be readily seen at night; at night you could get away with 100 lumen tail light, but when your riding on the street with a sea of tail lights you need something that will make you stand out like a beacon, you need at least 200 lumens to get to that point, not some dim 16 lumen light.
Have you used a Varia or ridden with someone using one?
I own one, and the rear light is extremely bright. It causes other riders to complain about it when it flashes, although not when it is a solid color. I had to turn off the flashing mode and use solid on my early morning rides to prevent it from blinking too brightly in the dark.
The lumens are listed at 20 solid and 60 flashing. Compare to the incredibly bright Serfas Thunderbolt at 35 lumens. I believe that lumens for a rear light don’t compare well to lumens for a headlight, and so it just sounds too small.
The radar picks up cars long before I would hear them, and I generally take a glance back and have lots of time to yell out “car back” to other riders before we would have ever been aware of the car previously.
Using it daily, I consider myself far safer with it than without it and feel that it was money well spent. I paid full retail for mine, and don’t regret it.
As an old man with neck turning stiffness and somewhat weaker vision for a tiny little distracting mirror, I find that the Varia is a lifesaver. It also connects to my Wahoo bike computer.
I use it every time I ride. It tells you when another biker is coming up behind you as well. All in normal visual range.
Garmin’s Varia RTL510 has been replaced by the RTL515. Same $200 price tag, same hardware. But the RTL515 uses Bluetooth to connect with compatible cell phone based cycling apps like Cadence (getcadence.app) and Ride with GPS (ridewithgps.com). Both apps are tried and proven, with the most wanted features like route planning; both sync their data with Strava. Both support iOS and Android cell phones.
When connected by Bluetooth to the Garmin RTL515, you’ll see on your app’s screen moving icons that indicate vehicles or bikes moving up on you from behind. There’s also an audio alert and vibration that you can turn off. As a car gets nearer to you, the Varia’s light begins to flash. The RTL515 also has “Peleton” mode, where its rear light is less intense,
If like many riders you are making the switch from dedicated bike computer to cell phone app, you now have the option of incorporating this life-saving device into your cycling app’s screen. Despite its sophistication, the Garmin RTL515 is easy to configure and install, and exceedingly reliable. Check out owner reviews on Amazon or Youtube.
The newer version, the Varia RTL515, has a “Peleton” operating mode that reduces the brightness of the light when riding with a group.
I find my Garmin Varia radar extremely valuable. When I get the notification on my computer of an approaching car, it alerts me to check my mirror and make sure the car is moving over. If they aren’t moving over because they’re a jerk or distracted, then I have time to react and move off the road before I’m hit. Additionally, since I started using a rear tail light, I’ve noticed more cars moving over and moving over farther. If you’re not going to use the Varia radar, I recommend a rear light.
i have a helmet mounted mirror, that i made
i do not like the ones that mount on glasses, or the ones that can move.
if they can move around (which sounds like a good thing) – they are never in the right place and you have to adjust them constantly.
i used wire from inside a big piano string, VERY springy and holds shape very well. hard to bend right though.
The “Take A Look” mirror doesn’t move around. It’s totally stable…at least it is for me.
Another “Take-A-Look” mirror devotee. I know if someone’s not moving over to give me my (minimum) 3 feet of space LONG before they reach me. Riding without one now feels dangerous.
Distracted driving is rife these days. I missed being killed by someone turning right on a red. I was in the crossing “safe” area. I actually ran to his wheel (SUV). He honked and went on. A schoolbus driver stopped and asked if I was okay. I was in a bit of shock.
I’ve had some close calls with right and left hooks.
be safe out there-wish the drivers were !
helmet mirror!!
(again 🙂 )
wle
Update: while recovering from the accident my knees didn’t recover as well as the rest of my body.. I saw two ortho surgeons. Both agreed I needed 2 knee replacements. Had both done 3 months apart. Rehab went well. I started back riding in the spring with the local club. I was one of the stronger riders before but found myself bringing up the end of the line. Had a series of flats that made me nervous being out by myself. I have a folding bike that I take with our RV trips. I just putter around the campgrounds checking all the other RVs.
s
It would be interesting to see the ages of the primary road bicycles that RBR readers ride.
There may be a correlation between bike age and, say, usage of disc versus rim brakes.
I will be 70 in March. whaat? yep. Ive been riding for 40 years and still do 40-60 mi rides mostly in the hills and mountains of Colorado. I am also active with hiking , xc skiing and kayaking. I love the information you post!
Your “other” option doesn’t work. I tried on several questions.
I used a wrist mounted RearViz mirror. It’s the best in my experience.
not sure who this is directed to: “Ethan Bixby says
November 2, 2022 at 8:07 pm
Your “other” option doesn’t work. I tried on several questions.
I used a wrist mounted RearViz mirror. It’s the best in my experience.”
??
wle
It was about answering the questions on the survey, where the option to answer “other” didn’t work.
Anyway, still a very happy user of the RearViz mirror. It is easy to convert to riding on the right side of the road, vs the left side. So used to it, I sometimes look to it when walking!
Main thing is to use some sort of mirror!
Ethan
Bibs: waistbands are terrible. (phrasing it like you did for the “shorts” option)
Maybe not for the short rides, or for thin people, but for long rides or nonthin crowd, bibs are all-day comfort.
I enjoy your question of the week. The results require careful examination. The result descriptions should either be shown in the same order as the questions were posed or show more of the question text.
Example: Which is tube or tubeless?
I always use tu…
I always ride tub…
I had to redisplay the questions to determine the results.
Thanks for a great resource!