Bike Noob

Because I'm Always Learning Something New

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partners

Avoiding the Right Hook

04.28.2011 by Ray Niekamp // 2 Comments

Guest poster Jeff Hemmel encounters the most dangerous situation for cyclists.

So there I was, cruising along in one of the widest, most well-designated bike lanes in the county, when the car that had been alongside me for the last 30 seconds or so suddenly eased ever so slightly ahead…then abruptly turned right into a parking lot. No brake light, no turn signal, just a quick right-hander directly across my path.

Like most bikers, I’ve got my share of traffic stories, but this was my first close-call with the dreaded “right hook.” Named because it pretty much describes the overhead view of the action taken by a motorist turning to the right across the path of a bike in a parallel lane, the right hook has been described as one of the most dangerous threats to a cyclist. It often happens at intersections, but also virtually anywhere there’s a parking lot or driveway. All it takes is a distracted driver, and you’ve got all the makings of a serious accident.

Safety experts say to avoid the right hook by keeping traffic behind you. At a busy intersection with lots of potential right-turning cars, that means riding farther to the left of the lane, encouraging, almost forcing the motorist behind to wait to turn. Likewise, don’t pass a line of slow-moving cars on the right if you can avoid it; if you do, use extreme caution. As I discovered firsthand, you can’t count on a brake light or turn signal as a visual. If you’re moving the speed of traffic, take the lane, rather than stay far to the right, which might encourage cars to try to squeeze by. If you’re approaching an intersection, merge left into the lane of traffic in order to pass a car turning right on its left-hand side.

While my situation had obvious similarities, it didn’t perfectly fit any of the above scenarios. I had actually noticed the car for a while, as it alternately eased ahead of me, then dropped back throughout a 25mph zone, while I maintained a steady 20 mph in the bike lane. Because of the back and forth (and the passenger looking out the window directly at me), I reasoned the driver was well aware of my presence. Still, I was being cautious. I live in a beach community, and this was a well-trafficked road during peak tourist season. I guessed he was probably looking for an address or business, hence the on-and-off the gas behavior. As the end result proved, however, I wasn’t cautious enough. Intent on a good training ride, I maintained my speed and trusted I’d see that blinker or brake light before any right turn.

Obviously, those visual clues never came, and that driver I thought couldn’t have possibly forgotten about me turned directly across my path.

Fortunately for me the driver was just slightly ahead of me. As he turned, and I locked up the brakes, I skidded but stayed upright. It could have been a lot worse. Just a few feet ahead and I would have hit the car at speed. As it was, I still worried I’d lose control and go down between his front and rear wheels. Instead, I ended up literally skidding up against his back door.

And, as much as I hate to admit it, filled with rage. Normally a pretty easy-going guy, I countered his apology with a verbal assault that probably had parents for miles around reaching for the earmuffs.

Lessons learned? Always be aware of the traffic that may be turning right whenever you’re riding, even if you’re within the safe-feeling confines of a generous, marked bike lane. Watch for a car’s brake lights and turn signals, but don’t count on them. Always look ahead for intersections, turns, and driveways that could pose a threat. If a car gets slightly ahead of you, slow down and be prepared to take action, even if it means ruining that nice average speed you’ve been targeting for the last 10 miles.

And should a close call happen, watch your temper. Though that seemed impossible in the heat of the moment, the valid points I was making about using turn signals and watching for bikes in the bike lane were probably lost on the driver as I added so many expletives to the mix.

But then again, maybe not…

Like this:

Like Loading…

Categories // guest post, Safety Tags // guest post, Hemmel, Safety

“Your Legs Are Awfully Smooth…”

04.26.2011 by Ray Niekamp // 6 Comments

Our guest poster Don Blount fields a sharp question.

As I was getting ready for a ride the other day my wife asked me: “Do you shave your legs?”

I was caught off guard. I replied: “No. Of course not.”

She looked closer at my legs. “Your legs are awfully smooth,” she said.

“Well, eyebrows aside I’m just not a hairy person,” I said. “After 10 years of marriage you ought to know this.”

She let it go and moved on.

Now maybe I bent the truth just a bit. A more accurate answer would have been I had not shaved my legs in awhile.

Now I am familiar with all of the reasons cyclists shave their legs: better aerodynamics, easier to heal road rash, appearance, easier massage, tradition.
I don’t consider myself a fast rider, I don’t get regular massages and the road rash I have had has not been on my legs.

So why is it exactly that I shave my legs? I think just mostly because I ride and that’s what some riders do.

It isn’t something that I publicize, even to my wife.

So with the weather getting warmer and the thought of putting the leg warmers away for the season, I shaved my legs after my ride that same day.

And being overcome with a little guilt for not being totally truthful, I mentioned to my wife the next morning when I returned from the gym, coincidentally there are men who work out there who shave more than their legs.

“I thought you did something to them, your legs looked just too clean,” she said. “I know that some cyclists and swimmers do that. I just didn’t know if you did.”

I didn’t tell her that I started shaving them last year and she did not notice.

“By the way,” she said. “If you get tired of shaving with a razor, there
are some depilatories in the bathroom that you can use…On your legs. It’s what I use.”

I just stared at her.

“I don’t use depilatories,” I said. “I am a cyclist. We use razors.”

Like this:

Like Loading…

Categories // guest post, Odds 'n ends Tags // Blount, guest post, shaving

The Most Important Thing: Aaron West

04.21.2011 by Ray Niekamp // 5 Comments

Aaron West

The latest contribution to our series of guest posts, What’s the Most Important Thing You’ve Learned About Cycling?, comes from South Carolina biker Aaron West. He’s only been on two wheels for nine months, but he’s blown past my accomplishments with a single-minded determination to achieve a lofty goal. Here’s his story:

A year ago I was a broken man. Literally. I had been active for about two years, had lost a good bit of weight, and then suffered a running injury that shut me down completely. It was crushing. I remember going to the gym, trying to do anything to get my heart rate up, only to leave in pain and frustration 15 minutes later. After a couple weeks of this, I decided to dip into my savings and buy a bike. That opened up a whole new world to me.

Getting on the bike was a major learning experience and it took me awhile to get the hang of it. I rode by myself for awhile at a safe location with little traffic. I was still injured, but the bike rarely caused unnecessary pain. In fact, it seemed to help me rehabilitate. As I became more comfortable with the bike, I started to feel better and gradually increased my mileage.

I’ll never forget the first time I decided to try a “long ride,” which back then was 25 miles. That was my milestone, farther than I had ever ridden before. I mapped out the course, and pushed myself for 20 miles at around 13 mph before having to take a break. I was wiped out, dripping sweat, my butt hurt and an isolated park bench looked like paradise. After 30 minutes of rest, I got back on the bike and gutted out the remaining five miles, making sure to only stay on flat or downhill roads. What is amazing is that this ride was just nine months ago.

Over the fall I did more and more rides. The highlight was the Tour de Leaves in Tryon, NC. I went with the easiest of the organized rides, which did not go over any mountains but compared to the flats where I live, was a challenging, hilly course. This was my first “group ride” and taught me a lot of lessons. I remember drafting off a nice lady unintentionally and she got a little mad at me. Of course I didn’t have the fitness level then to “pull” anyone, including myself. Even though this ride was also a struggle, I pushed and made it, feeling exuberant for completing such a daunting challenge.

Fast forward a few months later — I was still a beginning rider, but had learned a few things from riding with a cycling club through my office. By that point my longest ride was 55 miles and my average speed was around 14-15 mph on the flats. At this time I was feeling a little more confident in my abilities.

One of the seasoned riders sent out a challenge for members of the club to participate in the Assault on Mount Mitchell ride for 2011. Not knowing what I was getting into, I threw my name in the hat. I later discovered that Mount Mitchell is the highest mountain in the Eastern United States. This is a 103-mile ride with over 11,000 feet of climbing. I remember my shock after watching a few YouTube videos and seeing how people in impeccable shape struggled and failed this challenge. What in the world did I get myself into?

Not wanting to back down and especially not wanting to hurt myself, I started training. I did a lot of reading, watched what I ate, and made sure to ride as much as I could over the winter (which wasn’t much). I also upgraded my bike and now have something that is better at climbing.

Ray asked us to share what we have learned from cycling. For me, it’s this: ANYONE CAN DO IT! I only needed the proper training and motivation. My incentive came to me by accident (and ignorance), but it didn’t have to. Cycling is a great sport because progress can be made by simply continuing to ride. The more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it.

Like this:

Like Loading…

Categories // guest post Tags // guest post

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • …
  • 31
  • Next Page »

Get Email Updates

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 257 other subscribers

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Bike fit
  • Bikes
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • clubs
  • Cold weather
  • Community
  • Commuting
  • Components
  • crash
  • cycling
  • Equipment
  • Favorite rides
  • fitness
  • food
  • guest post
  • Heat
  • Injury
  • logs
  • Maintenance
  • Mental
  • Nutrition
  • Odds 'n ends
  • People
  • Poll
  • Racing
  • Records & stats
  • Review
  • Rides
  • running
  • Safety
  • soreness
  • Specialized
  • Technique
  • Technology
  • Tips
  • tires
  • training
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partners

Recent Posts

  • Getting Back on the Bike: Road Cycling Tips for Older Cyclists
  • Are BCAAs and EAAs Good for Cycling?
  • How to Fix Numb Toes When Cycling
  • How to Find and Vet a Bike Club
  • Celebrate Pearl Izumi with Big Savings in the Memorial Day Sale

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Bike fit
  • Bikes
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • clubs
  • Cold weather
  • Community
  • Commuting
  • Components
  • crash
  • cycling
  • Equipment
  • Favorite rides
  • fitness
  • food
  • guest post
  • Heat
  • Injury
  • logs
  • Maintenance
  • Mental
  • Nutrition
  • Odds 'n ends
  • People
  • Poll
  • Racing
  • Records & stats
  • Review
  • Rides
  • running
  • Safety
  • soreness
  • Specialized
  • Technique
  • Technology
  • Tips
  • tires
  • training
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • May 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • March 2022
  • October 2020
  • November 2018
  • May 2018
  • September 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • January 2016
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008

Copyright © 2026 · Modern Studio Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Go to mobile version
%d