Slo Joe "Cogitations"   
 Ride Stats
Distance: 36.70 miles Time: 03:04:00 Avg Speed: 11.97 mph
Max Speed: 23.20 mph Weight: 172 Effort: 3 - Moderate 11-13 mph
Route:   Altitude Gain: 0 ft Terrain: Road: Flat
Bike: Bike Friday Tandem Road Club: 'BentRider Recumbent Club
Weather Conditions: Another beautiful day in Miami.
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 Bike TO STAY ALIVE (Part II)
Stay Away From the Light!!!! Nope not the light for out of body experiences, although riding into this light could cause that.

Stay out of riding into a low rising/setting sun. When you're in a car and you're driving into one of those low sunrises or sunsets, got the visor down, your hand shielding your eyes, and still it's dang hard to see, that's the light I mean.

In Florida, I've read of at least 3 maybe 4 deaths of cyclists commuting to work and you know what the driver is going to say: "I just didn't see the cyclist. The sun glare was so strong."

What to do? I'd be on the sidewalk cycling wherever I have to go at a pace that allows me to react to driveways, turning cars, etc.

The light could lead to permanant darkness. That's not good.



Avoid the RIGHT HOOK

The RIGHT HOOK happens when a vehicle on the left suddenly makes a right hand turn into a cyclist or pedestrian.

Always and I mean ALWAYS take extra caution with a vehicle on the left when approaching an intersection. Personally, I slow down enough to let the car go by.

A line of cars? As I approach the intersection I'm watching the car on my immediate left If the car is going straight, I maintain pace with that car in a way using it as a shield.

There is no one way to avoid the RIGHT HOOK. As always stay VIGILANT.

Change 'Em With Kindness -- Avoid Road Rage
Sometimes you get the motorist buzz, or blaring horn, or "Get Off The Road" shout or look and you want to respond in kind.

Simply: Don't

You never now what ijit is driving the big steel box and is in a mood to cause someone hurt for no reason.

Be kind to the steel box and avoid what could be ugly consequences and it doesn't hurt to be friendly first

  • I signal cars with a "Queen Wave" when they give me a wide berth as a thank you.
  • Smile and wave even if it hurts to do so.
  • A nod of the head and a smile does wonders.
  • "Thumbs up" to a car at a stop sign when I've got the right of way.
  • If an irate motorist stops and gets out of the car, use reverse psychology: Apologize in a low soft voice. Hey, I'm only 5'6" to 5'7" on my best days and I never played linebacker for the Chicago Bears, so yah I want to avoid a confrontation.
  • ALWAYS speak in a low soft voice. Driver hollers. You holler. He hollers louder. Yah, you're gonna holler louder. I've found it difficult for someone to keep hollering at me if I answer or talk in a low, soft voice. I know sometimes it feels good to "give it right back" but I do this to live to ride another day.
  • Never the middle finger raise. And I thought I'd never say never.


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