Road Conditions

I know the fingerprint of the streets that I frequently ride. I know where most of the potholes are and how to avoid them.  

It hasn't always been that way. When I started commuting, I was startled by many of the bumps in the road.  Now I anticipate the problems.  I can avoid a the bumps and dips, and I can slow down or cushion the force for obstacles that I can’t be completely avoided.

In most areas, the shoulder is a total mess.  There’s debris near the edge; rocks and gravel, glass and litter.  Also, the worst potholes occur on the side of the road.  It is a dangerous place to be on a bike.  Swerving around this flotsam can send you into traffic.  It is just better to travel in traffic, and act like a car.

The potholes and debris are an unintended consequence of the design of roads.  Most roads have a high center crown that runs the length of the road.  This is to make the water drain quickly from the road for the safety of the traffic.  Once the water is to the side of the road, there is often a storm drain to transport the water away from the area.

The slope and moving water have several effects:

1. Debris on the road tends to move toward the sides.
2. Water that doesn’t quickly drain away stays on the side of the road.
3. Water that pools in one location will cause the road to deteriorate and cracks and potholes to form.
4. The storm drains are, themselves, hazards to cyclists.

If the shoulder is very wide, traffic is moving fast, and there aren’t cars parked in it, it can make a lot of sense to ride in the shoulder.

Otherwise it is best to ride in traffic; generally in the right lane, and toward the center.  Ride in a straight line, and be as predictable as possible.

Let's fire this thing up and see if it still works

I've decided that I will be more serious about cycling.

Although cycling has played a huge part in my life, I've kinda down-played its importance.  I've never felt like a REAL cyclist.  I'm not particularly fast.  I don't really care for the Tour de France.  I've never ridden in a race.  Organized rides are fine, but I'd much rather be out on my own.  I don't own a lot of spandex, and I definitely don't look good in it when I do wear it.

But I've got some serious street cred for cycling:

• I've been biking since I was five or six.
• I've used a bike as my main method of getting to and from work ever since I had a paper route at 12 years old.
• Cycling was a key aspect of courting my wife.  We wouldn't have gotten together if it wasn't for our bike rides.
• A significant portion of our vacations have been biking tours.
• I biked from New York to Utah on my honeymoon.

Now that I've realized my True Identity, how will I use my powers for good?