Ride Safety

[Evan Andreou]

Guys n Gals

 

As much as I'd like to start an early fundraising campaign for Sign-Up, I believe what happened to Matilda yesterday brings another aspect of safety to mind.

Cyclists and particularly lady cyclists are particularly vulnerable on the road (and off it)

Do your utmost to avoid riding alone, stick to well used, well lit routes, be aware of your surroundings.

It is a well known fact that cyclists always carry a few bucks and a cell phone and shoes generally not made for foot pursuit, making us a fairly easy target in certain people's minds.

 

Just because you are a guy doesn't make you immune; I look more like a WWF wrestler in lycra than a cyclist, didn't stop 3 brain donors from trying to relieve me of my belongings about 18 months ago, they reckoned without a lifelong relationship with martial arts so my story had a happy ending for me and a less happy one for them.

 

Ladies in particular, don't ride alone please. 

Carry mace and don't be afraid to use it; better to apologise than eat through a tube.

wolverine2009-01-08 04:33:40

[Tumbleweed]

sad that we have to live like this, but true. nice post, wolfie!

[pastapouch]

Ya, think of it, even when riding to your group ride, rather go by car. Even a short distance can have consequences!

[Moab]

Okay... so here is a girlie question.... what do I do when I need to train and none of my cycling friends are training on that day or at that time? IDT? Did that 3 days of the week and a 3hour ride on the IDT will not only put my dog to sleep but me aswell. Or do I not go out?

Sorry... coming across a little harsh but its a good question in my opinion.

[Willehond]

Okay... so here is a girlie question.... what do I do when I need to train and none of my cycling friends are training on that day or at that time? IDT? Did that 3 days of the week and a 3hour ride on the IDT will not only put my dog to sleep but me aswell. Or do I not go out?

Sorry... coming across a little harsh but its a good question in my opinion.

Go to the MTN Bike Zoo where you can play with the other dirty animals without getting killed by the predators outside the fence.

Seriously though, it's very sad when you can't go out on the road safely.

[Evan Andreou]

Okay... so here is a girlie question.... what do I do when I need to train and none of my cycling friends are training on that day or at that time? IDT? Did that 3 days of the week and a 3hour ride on the IDT will not only put my dog to sleep but me aswell. Or do I not go out?

Sorry... coming across a little harsh but its a good question in my opinion.

 

It is a good question and while you can't always avoid riding alone perhaps organising a set time with your friends may help, expand your number of cycling mates, put a posting on the hub stating when and where you want to ride, maybe some hubbers can hook up with you.

 

If all else fails, remember the mace/ pepper spray

[Tumbleweed]

Okay... so here is a girlie question.... what do I do when I need to train and none of my cycling friends are training on that day or at that time? IDT? Did that 3 days of the week and a 3hour ride on the IDT will not only put my dog to sleep but me aswell. Or do I not go out?

Sorry... coming across a little harsh but its a good question in my opinion.

 

nancy's had the same issue, and she got told off here for riding the spruit alone. ok, i'm a dude, and i nearly always ride alone, but i stick to places and routes that i know are safe. at least let someone know where you're going and when you should be back and check in with them when you do. 

[Evan Andreou]

 

 

but i stick to places and routes that i know are safe. at least let someone know where you're going and when you should be back and check in with them when you do. 

 

This is a good suggestion HR

[Spinnekop]

Good post.....thanks Wolfie...

 

Sad to be living in these times.......

 

[Nix M2]

I ride alone quite often, not because I have to, but because I like the time to focus. I am always cautious of where I ride, and what time i ride. I will always choose routes which are well used by cyclists so am never really alone. I don't take chances and will not ride in areas where I feel unsafe.

 

This being said, I am fortunate that I live where I do, and don't have to pass through nasty places. I would say rather be safe than sorry and join a club or make friends with the cyclists you see along your regular training routes. Not only is it safety in numbers, but it makes the training that much easier

 

It is unfortunate  that we do have to take precautions and always have to be on the look out for some evil person who is about to attack us. but as a woman in this country, I go about my daily life in that mode anyway.

 

 

[Moab]

Okay... so here is a girlie question.... what do I do when I need to train and none of my cycling friends are training on that day or at that time? IDT? Did that 3 days of the week and a 3hour ride on the IDT will not only put my dog to sleep but me aswell. Or do I not go out?

Sorry... coming across a little harsh but its a good question in my opinion.

 

nancy's had the same issue' date=' and she got told off here for riding the spruit alone. ok, i'm a dude, and i nearly always ride alone, but i stick to places and routes that i know are safe. at least let someone know where you're going and when you should be back and check in with them when you do. 

[/quote']

 

Good idea. I generally dont ride mtb alone - especially the spruit. Although I do go to Northern Farm and the Bike Park alone. Usually ride road alone - most of time. My rides often stick to certain areas but not often the same roads.

 

My riding partners usually go out in the am whilst my schedule only allows for afternoons. So cant rely on them - hence my solo attempts.

 

 

 

[Evan Andreou]

I ride alone quite often' date=' not because I have to, but because I like the time to focus. I am always cautious of where I ride, and what time i ride. I will always choose routes which are well used by cyclists so am never really alone. I don't take chances and will not ride in areas where I feel unsafe.

 

This being said, I am fortunate that I live where I do, and don't have to pass through nasty places. I would say rather be safe than sorry and join a club or make friends with the cyclists you see along your regular training routes. Not only is it safety in numbers, but it makes the training that much easier

 

It is unfortunate  that we do have to take precautions and always have to be on the look out for some evil person who is about to attack us. but as a woman in this country, I go about my daily life in that mode anyway.

 

 

[/quote']

 

Nix

Sun Tzu wrote "In war prepare for peace, in peace prepare for war"

 

I'm just asking everyone to employ common sense and vigilance to avoid mishaps if possible

[1hill@aTime]

i ride alone 9 out 10 times, and wolfie has seen me i'm pretty small, i got myself a small tazer these holidays, i'm going to mount it on my bike, if i need to i will use it, just hope it helps...

 

i can understand it must be a bit harsher with women...

[Evan Andreou]

Okay... so here is a girlie question.... what do I do when I need to train and none of my cycling friends are training on that day or at that time? IDT? Did that 3 days of the week and a 3hour ride on the IDT will not only put my dog to sleep but me aswell. Or do I not go out?

Sorry... coming across a little harsh but its a good question in my opinion.

 

nancy's had the same issue' date=' and she got told off here for riding the spruit alone. ok, i'm a dude, and i nearly always ride alone, but i stick to places and routes that i know are safe. at least let someone know where you're going and when you should be back and check in with them when you do. 

[/quote']

 

Good idea. I generally dont ride mtb alone - especially the spruit. Although I do go to Northern Farm and the Bike Park alone. Usually ride road alone - most of time. My rides often stick to certain areas but not often the same roads.

 

My riding partners usually go out in the am whilst my schedule only allows for afternoons. So cant rely on them - hence my solo attempts.

 

 

 

 

If you belong to a club put a note up looking for training partners.

 

Where do you train?

[Tumbleweed]

Okay... so here is a girlie question.... what do I do when I need to train and none of my cycling friends are training on that day or at that time? IDT? Did that 3 days of the week and a 3hour ride on the IDT will not only put my dog to sleep but me aswell. Or do I not go out?

Sorry... coming across a little harsh but its a good question in my opinion.

 

nancy's had the same issue' date=' and she got told off here for riding the spruit alone. ok, i'm a dude, and i nearly always ride alone, but i stick to places and routes that i know are safe. at least let someone know where you're going and when you should be back and check in with them when you do. 

[/quote']

 

Good idea. I generally dont ride mtb alone - especially the spruit. Although I do go to Northern Farm and the Bike Park alone. Usually ride road alone - most of time. My rides often stick to certain areas but not often the same roads.

 

My riding partners usually go out in the am whilst my schedule only allows for afternoons. So cant rely on them - hence my solo attempts.

 

i often think about that saying "a bicycle ride is a flight from sadness". but i find it sad that we feel we can't get on our bikes when we want to. i was bike-jacked many years back, and all my friends said that maybe there's a lesson to be learnt: ie, you're chosen sport's not safe. i was on the bike the very next day. we can't give in and allow the baddies to win.  holy roller2009-01-08 05:10:53

[Evan Andreou]

i ride alone 9 out 10 times' date=' and wolfie has seen me i'm pretty small, i got myself a small tazer these holidays, i'm going to mount it on my bike, if i need to i will use it, just hope it helps...

 

i can understand it must be a bit harsher with women...

[/quote']

 

Any precaution is better than none mate