New bike and respectful drivers

Orion

Bought a proper bike today (to replace that POS Apollo I got in January to get me started). Trek 7.5FX. Lovely ride - very very happy with it. Cycled home from Stagg in Lucan to Maynooth this evening and even the lashing rain didn't take from an enjoyable cycle. I know I was warned here about the Apollo but I'm now appreciating how much difference a decent bike can make. I really enjoyed the cycle home as opposed to going out on the Apollo occasionally cos I have to.

I travelled the backroads from Westmanstown behind Confey behind Carton and down the Dunboyne Road to Maynooth. The last few Km were in darkness (I left Stagg later than I'd planned). I had front and rear lights but no high-vis vest. Just short sleeves and a bag that has some visibility strips on it.

And as for drivers. I was amazed by them. I was given plenty of room by every single one that passed me. Even oncoming traffic turned off their full beams when they spotted me.

I know drivers get a bad rap from cyclists generally so I feel that I should pass on a good news story too. Kudos to every driver who passed me on the road tonight and thank you.

Capt'n Midnight

High Vis jackets are only of use when they are visible.

Dropping down on the handlebars or having a backpack under them can mean that there is no vertical surface at the back,

then again cyclists are rarely hit from behind by cars, collisions are usually at intersections


pedal reflectors / leg bands which indicate pedalling motion are supposed to be the clearest indication to motorists that there is a push bike ahead

DualFrontDiscs

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

.....then again cyclists are rarely hit from behind by cars, collisions are usually at intersections

For ultimate side-on visibility: http://www.monkeylectric.com/m132s_gallery.htm

DFD*

*DreamingForDentists.

ednwireland

Macros42 wrote: »

I had front and rear lights

might have had something to with it

i know since i put 3 rear lights and the dealextreme light on the front i get more space (althought it was never really a problem)

GlennaMaddy

They get a bad rap becuase a lot of us paint them with the same brush (as they do to us). I cycle home from work to Skerries sometimes in the dark, and I find that drivers are more courteous on the back unlit roads. It's on the busier roads where you're more likely to come across an ignorant driver.

Nietzschean

You generally do get better behaved drivers on unlit country roads...except in my experience around the dublin side of wicklow...largely though i put this down to most unlit roads being rural and people slow down so they don't look bad in case they know you.

cdaly_

Speaking of visibility, I recently met one of the lads from Dublin Wheelers on the commute. He had a pair of knog frogs (one red, one white) on his drops bar ends like aircraft navigation lights. Very handy...