Anyone here a cyclist?

[backmarkerducati]

Even my fat ass triggers them. Sprinting on a casual ride into the high 30s or over 40 is not a problem (not staying there long), they encourage me to do so, 50++ is not out of the question when the stars align.

I was also wondering if I could trigger a photo radar cam, sprinting with a "message" on my backside. Over and over as a training circuit....

 

[GreyGhost]

Anyone can easily hit 20km/h, even my 7yo son on his 20"-wheeled bike.

An untrained person on a road bike can easily hit and maintain 25-30.

The issue with bells is that they're typically not loud enough, and most pedestrians don't initially pay attention to them, either because the cyclist is too far away when they start ringing it, or the pedestrians are engrossed in conversation.

I just yell "on your left" which tends to startle people and make them freeze, which I guess is good.

I don't have a good solution for pedestrians to coexist with bikes in the city. Everyone just needs not to make sudden moves. If you're walking along a multi-use path, just keep walking and do a shoulder check before getting off it and getting back on. You're basically a bike-less cyclist.

Basically the same as skiing. It's your job to avoid people in front of you but it's their job to move predictably to give you a chance.

I have quite a loud bell on one bike but it is very angry sounding (it basically gets the same reaction as me yelling gtf out of the way moron). I thought about adding a kaching kaching bell as a friendlier alternative but I don't ride much on busy trails anymore so I'm not going to bother. With the current bell, you can hear it from a long way away and I start ringing about 50' out but people are dumb and don't react until about 20' (One second out). At that point they turn to look for the bell, get big eyes and jump in a random direction (and I think never in the same direction). Then you are left cutting through the pack of morons (and normally their dogs running around on the trail on long leads).

 

[Matt Rain]

That's the main issue - many people think you want them to move, when most of the time, you're just warning them that you're about to pass them and you simply don't want them to act unpredictably.

There should be a convention like at the track, where you yell "stick!" to warn someone you're about to pass them. ("On your left" seems to confuse a significant portion of the population. Oh ****, which side is left again?)

 

[FullMotoJacket]

There are people that have genuine issues with right and left.

 

[cycling]

There are people that have genuine issues with right and left.

You are "Right". I think.

 

[Matt Rain]

There are people that have genuine issues with right and left.

I know. Makes no sense to me, but I think it's because I have a horrible sense of direction so using myself as a frame of reference is my default mode. Left is my dominant hand side. The end.

 

[GreyGhost]

Hmm, what are the legal implications of an acoustic disruptor on the front of a bike? Something that makes people directly in the beam uncomfortable so they step to the side? Ideally outside of the audible spectrum and incredibly focused.

 

[cycling]

https://imgur.com/a/F7v03jj

I went to the Milton velodrome today to do their Try the Track session. Had a total blast Going back next weekend to start the track certification process, which consists of four 90-min sessions spread over two weekends.

I have no idea where I'm going with this. I don't really care for racing. I just like circling the track as fast as possible for no reason. It scratches the same itch that motorcycling does - operating machinery while going fast.

As you can see above, we built a world-class velodrome literally in the middle of ****ing nowhere. Good job us.

I have been riding since the year dot.
Raced with the Polytechnic CC Regent Street. London.
I never got involved with the comments here. Reason... Too advanced technically for me. My early days i glued my tires with shellac .Built my own wheels. Raced track around England and competition in Germany.
Fixed wheel at 72 and road at 81. My best flying quarter time was 29.2.
So long ago I wore "Pantaloons" Then they where 3/4 trousers. Raced with "Toe clips "No fancy spandex. Really much like work out shorts. In those days we used "Horse Liniment" for our muscle warm ups. Complete with coach who loved to shout at me. Water, no fancy power drinks.
Of course, times have changed.
Except, the glory of the speed and camaraderie.

Matt, I get the excitement of trying track. Stay with it. For me it was very personal exciting.
Unfortunately I gave up track and and went towards motorcycles. Was a lazy sport. Get on the motorcycle and kick start. Easy. No pain.

 

[Baggsy]

Hmm, what are the legal implications of an acoustic disruptor on the front of a bike? Something that makes people directly in the beam uncomfortable so they step to the side? Ideally outside of the audible spectrum and incredibly focused.

Probably about the same as carrying one to warn psycholists that they need to ride around you slowly and carefully, although my first thought was of carrying a children's baseball bat for the same effect.

Edit: If you ding your bell and slow down, I have no problem making room for you on the sidewalk if I have to.

 

[GreyGhost]

Probably about the same as carrying one to warn psycholists that they need to ride around you slowly and carefully, although my first thought was of carrying a children's baseball bat for the same effect.

If a municipality wanted to make a functional multi-use path, they should mark off walking lanes on the shoulders (or if you prefer up the center so you don't have bikes closing quickly with little separation). If a bike is in the walking part, they deserve a ticket. If a walker is in the bike part, they deserve a ticket. Too many entitled aholes walking, too many entitled aholes on bikes to expect cooperation.

 

[Matt Rain]

I have been riding since the year dot.
Raced with the Polytechnic CC Regent Street. London.
I never got involved with the comments here. Reason... Too advanced technically for me. My early days i glued my tires with shellac .Built my own wheels. Raced track around England and competition in Germany.
Fixed wheel at 72 and road at 81. My best flying quarter time was 29.2.
So long ago I wore "Pantaloons" Then they where 3/4 trousers. Raced with "Toe clips "No fancy spandex. Really much like work out shorts. In those days we used "Horse Liniment" for our muscle warm ups. Complete with coach who loved to shout at me. Water, no fancy power drinks.
Of course, times have changed.
Except, the glory of the speed and camaraderie.

Matt, I get the excitement of trying track. Stay with it. For me it was very personal exciting.
Unfortunately I gave up track and and went towards motorcycles. Was a lazy sport. Get on the motorcycle and kick start. Easy. No pain.

Nice! I may be wrong but I think tubulars and glue are still widely used at the international level. My rental bike came with cheap Michelin clinchers. Ima need to get or build my own bike before long - I have the genetic makeup of a sprinter and the rental bikes are geared for endurance (48/16) instead of sprints. I've been closely studying YouTube videos of Kelsey Mitchell and the two Dutch guys who fought for gold in Tokyo, and given their speed and cadence, they're obviously pushing huge gears.

Fun stuff!

 

[cycling]

Nice! I may be wrong but I think tubulars and glue are still widely used at the international level. My rental bike came with cheap Michelin clinchers. Ima need to get or build my own bike before long - I have the genetic makeup of a sprinter and the rental bikes are geared for endurance (48/16) instead of sprints. I've been closely studying YouTube videos of Kelsey Mitchell and the two Dutch guys who fought for gold in Tokyo, and given their speed and cadence, they're obviously pushing huge gears.

Fun stuff!

I look at the carbon bikes now. $10000 and up now. Easily.
We where regulated to gear size on all track bikes

I raced with a Phillips track bike and a Macleans road bike.
Probably, no longer in existence.
Ah, the memories

 

[Matt Rain]

Hehe, this is all very new to me, still navigating my way through all this gear and fitness stuff. I spent most of my 42 years on this planet in a completely sedentary and doughy state. I was over 240lbs back in March, now 190. I lost most of the weight prior to getting on a bike though - I'm eating a lot more now that I pedal for an hour to 90 mins a day, 5/6 days a week. Body fat is going down but the scale number is staying the same.

I like the rental bike they give us, it's an aluminum frame but it feels tight and fast. $1500 brand new:

Electron | Argon 18

Argon 18 is a Canadian manufacturer of superior quality road, gravel, triathlon and track bikes. Visit our website and find the right bike for you.

www.argon18.com

I just want something decent I can experiment with (tires and gears mostly.) I ain't making the national team anytime soon.

 

[backmarkerducati]

If a municipality wanted to make a functional multi-use path, they should mark off walking lanes on the shoulders (or if you prefer up the center so you don't have bikes closing quickly with little separation). If a bike is in the walking part, they deserve a ticket. If a walker is in the bike part, they deserve a ticket. Too many entitled aholes walking, too many entitled aholes on bikes to expect cooperation.

Take a ride down Queens Quay to see how it can all go terribly wrong, even when all marked up. Although a bit of a special situation.

Personally, the TO recreational trails have bad spots usually near large parks. Other areas are not as bad. I pick my speed based on the portion of the trail. I also avoid other multi-use trails that are disasters. I ride the Humber plenty, Lakeshore west and east, the three TO rail trails as well.... the key IMO is stick to areas where there tends to be more people riding, the non-riders pay more attention in these areas.

 

[Dirty Frank]

How big are ya? I trigger all of them (5'11" 190lbs) on the way to my son's school.

There's also one just past Wiarton (Colpoy's Bay) in a downhill stretch on the way to the family cottage. My record so far is 73, confirmed by Strava.

Lycra must make me radar absorbent or something 'cause i have to line up with those trailers like a gun sight if i want it to display a number annoying as hell when I'm out trying to be a rebel on my pushbike.

 

[Baggsy]

If a municipality wanted to make a functional multi-use path, they should mark off walking lanes on the shoulders (or if you prefer up the center so you don't have bikes closing quickly with little separation). If a bike is in the walking part, they deserve a ticket. If a walker is in the bike part, they deserve a ticket. Too many entitled aholes walking, too many entitled aholes on bikes to expect cooperation.

The problem around here is that many of the sidewalks are asphalt rather than cement, so cyclists feel they're bike paths.
There are no lines.
Perhaps they're right and pedestrians are supposed to walk along the shoulder of the road, facing traffic, single file.
I'll try and get a shot of the sign at a pedestrian bridge.
Edit: Here it is.

Here's another part of the path where you might suddenly come across a bike at speed.

This one is across from a building where some old people live, so they're on the path regularly.

 

[FullMotoJacket]

If a municipality wanted to make a functional multi-use path, they should mark off walking lanes on the shoulders (or if you prefer up the center so you don't have bikes closing quickly with little separation). If a bike is in the walking part, they deserve a ticket. If a walker is in the bike part, they deserve a ticket. Too many entitled aholes walking, too many entitled aholes on bikes to expect cooperation.

They tried that on the boardwalk in Burlington. A marked cycling lane on the outside of the path. Pedestrians gave zero ffs about it. You can see a remnant of it (partly blocked by pedestrians in the cycling lane) in the pic.

They gave up and put a weirdly marked single line down the middle like a road to try and herd the wandering idiots - that still don't pay any attention to even that attempt.

 

[Baggsy]

What I found irritating about Toronto Waterfront bike paths was the number of scooters, skateboarders, joggers, rollerbladers, and people doing ski training flailing long pointed sticks at you. Had a friend who said f-that, and just rode along Queen Street every rush hour.

 

[SteveM.]

The biggest problem i find when using the shared paths is that the majority of the walkers are wearing earbuds or some sort of listening device are not able to hear a bell or a verbal warning.
We have a great pathway down here along the Welland Canal that is in the 40km range. I try to use the road beside it to avoid the confrontations.

 

[Hardwrkr13]

The biggest problem i find when using the shared paths is that the majority of the walkers are wearing earbuds or some sort of listening device are not able to hear a bell or a verbal warning.
We have a great pathway down here along the Welland Canal that is in the 40km range. I try to use the road beside it to avoid the confrontations.

I used to find it more a problem of people walking dogs on a leash. They're on the trail, see you coming, then person goes to one side of the trail and the dog goes to the other, leaving a leash there in the middle and the dog owner starts panicking and a crash ensues. That's why I stopped rollerblading on shared paths. Couldn't imagine cycling on them.