Car-spotting thread

Damn, I’m heading to VT Saturday to pick up a Hobie Cat so not only will I not be able to make the Donut Cruise, but I’ll be driving 55 all day. ?
 
sundaydoug said:
Truth. Each time I ride I'm half expecting one of those nitwits to come screaming around a blind corner and take me out. Even at 6am. Had some close calls...
Click to expand...
I'm curious because I never really understood this, if you know this is a dangerous road why do you ride it? Is it a matter of not having a lot of other options? It just being really nice and risking it? I personally do not ride on the road at all because my wife won't allow me to because of dangers and I honestly don't really want to risk it anyway and much prefer trail.

Please don't take this as me trying to blame cyclists for the dangers either, I am just curious partly because I have wanted to commute to work, but don't trust the road I would need to take for very similar reasons.
 
BPaze said:
I'm curious because I never really understood this, if you know this is a dangerous road why do you ride it? Is it a matter of not having a lot of other options? It just being really nice and risking it? I personally do not ride on the road at all because my wife won't allow me to because of dangers and I honestly don't really want to risk it anyway and much prefer trail.

Please don't take this as me trying to blame cyclists for the dangers either, I am just curious partly because I have wanted to commute to work, but don't trust the road I would need to take for very similar reasons.
Click to expand...

I don't have a whole lot of options, at least in immediate proximity to my house. Clinton Rd. isn't really all that dangerous, speed limit is 35mph. It's a super desolate 9-mile-long road that goes through state and privately-owned park. The overwhelming majority of drivers are totally fine, but there's always some clown that thinks it's a race track because of how desolate the road is. I guess you could say that about any road though.

I'm totally with you, I don't feel safe on roads, which is why I mostly ride in the woods. But road rides are a different kind of fun and I'm getting more into that.

Sometimes I see guys riding road bikes on roads I'd never even consider riding. Simply too dangerous. Just asking to get hit by someone either not paying attention or driving like a goon.

Clinton Rd. isn't one of those roads, but it's sometimes unnerving nonetheless...
 
BPaze said:
I'm curious because I never really understood this, if you know this is a dangerous road why do you ride it? Is it a matter of not having a lot of other options? It just being really nice and risking it? I personally do not ride on the road at all because my wife won't allow me to because of dangers and I honestly don't really want to risk it anyway and much prefer trail.

Please don't take this as me trying to blame cyclists for the dangers either, I am just curious partly because I have wanted to commute to work, but don't trust the road I would need to take for very similar reasons.
Click to expand...

I commuted to work for almost 25 years, last year I dropped down to 1 or 2 days a week. The roads have gotten really bad. People just don't care anymore. And I have Bike Paths and big shoulders through a relatively low traffic area and it's still deadly. 1/2 a dozen folks have been killed or paralyzed in the past 2 years within a stone's throw of the shop. And it's always a combination of fault. This morning coming up Skytop I almost hit a Cyclist that was in the middle of the road even though there's a 5 foot wide shoulder available. Everyone needs to pay attention. Ride in the shoulder. Drive in the lane. No shoulder? Ride fast.
 
sundaydoug said:
I don't have a whole lot of options, at least in immediate proximity to my house. Clinton Rd. isn't really all that dangerous, speed limit is 35mph. It's a super desolate 9-mile-long road that goes through state and privately-owned park. The overwhelming majority of drivers are totally fine, but there's always some clown that thinks it's a race track because of how desolate the road is. I guess you could say that about any road though.

I'm totally with you, I don't feel safe on roads, which is why I mostly ride in the woods. But road rides are a different kind of fun and I'm getting more into that.

Sometimes I see guys riding road bikes on roads I'd never even consider riding. Simply too dangerous. Just asking to get hit by someone either not paying attention or driving like a goon.

Clinton Rd. isn't one of those roads, but it's sometimes unnerving nonetheless...
Click to expand...
jimvreeland said:
I commuted to work for almost 25 years, last year I dropped down to 1 or 2 days a week. The roads have gotten really bad. People just don't care anymore. And I have Bike Paths and big shoulders through a relatively low traffic area and it's still deadly. 1/2 a dozen folks have been killed or paralyzed in the past 2 years within a stone's throw of the shop. And it's always a combination of fault. This morning coming up Skytop I almost hit a Cyclist that was in the middle of the road even though there's a 5 foot wide shoulder available. Everyone needs to pay attention. Ride in the shoulder. Drive in the lane. No shoulder? Ride fast.
Click to expand...
Thanks guys, the road I take to work would be awesome to ride if there was a shoulder, but it is a somewhat twisty road with no room to go around a cyclist with a car coming. people travel 40-50 on it and I have personally almost hit cyclists just because you can't see them or a car coming the other way when you are coming around a turn even if you were to slow down. It wouldn't really be anyone's fault although technically the drivers it is just a dangerous road to have that combination on.
 
BPaze said:
I'm curious because I never really understood this, if you know this is a dangerous road why do you ride it? Is it a matter of not having a lot of other options? It just being really nice and risking it? I personally do not ride on the road at all because my wife won't allow me to because of dangers and I honestly don't really want to risk it anyway and much prefer trail.

Please don't take this as me trying to blame cyclists for the dangers either, I am just curious partly because I have wanted to commute to work, but don't trust the road I would need to take for very similar reasons.
Click to expand...

Clinton road has a lot of blind corners, like any other country road. Its also desolate, like most other country roads, and there's always some level of hoonery that happens. The blind corners on Clinton can take drivers/riders out if you're not familiar with the road, as evidenced by chunks missing from trees at the apexes of said corners. Having said all that, I'd say the traffic is pretty low on Clinton, and said corners keep most peoples speeds in check. Even if you're an experience driver/rider, Clinton road is not where you push the envelope because there is 0.0 run-out or margin for error. Your "mistake" will end up as a notch on a tree. In my experience, every time I've come close to being taken out on my road bike (too many times now), its almost 100% been some dope running a light, blowing a stop sign, or backing out of their driveway without stopping.
 
Captain Brainstorm said:
Clinton road has a lot of blind corners, like any other country road. Its also desolate, like most other country roads, and there's always some level of hoonery that happens. The blind corners on Clinton can take drivers/riders out if you're not familiar with the road, as evidenced by chunks missing from trees at the apexes of said corners. Having said all that, I'd say the traffic is pretty low on Clinton, and said corners keep most peoples speeds in check. Even if you're an experience driver/rider, Clinton road is not where you push the envelope because there is 0.0 run-out or margin for error. Your "mistake" will end up as a notch on a tree. In my experience, every time I've come close to being taken out on my road bike (too many times now), its almost 100% been some dope running a light, blowing a stop sign, or backing out of their driveway without stopping.
Click to expand...
I def know Clinton rd, I mean I grew up when Weird NJ started and have been up there a bunch. It is actually a beautiful ride, but I have also in my youth done some dumb driving up there.
 
young'uns at home man. Daddy needs to play early. Also, maybe @rick81721 won't have an excuse anymore. Tell wifey to sleep in.

shit, well i was going to suggest 7am... so between 7 and 8... 7:30 was the compromise

roads will be quiet early too! It's not like you are biking. Takes way less effort to drive 😀

we can just rally at @GSTim crib? haha I am volunteering him
 
Alright, let's do 0830 at King's Plaza on Route 22. Northwest portion of the lot closest to Route 22 and 523 intersection.

I'll have everyone back by 1100 at the latest. If you have an FRS radio, please bring it and tune to lucky channel 13. And a full tank of fuel or 220V or whatever...
 
Carson said:
Alright, let's do 0830 at King's Plaza on Route 22. Northwest portion of the lot closest to Route 22 and 523 intersection.

I'll have everyone back by 1100 at the latest. If you have an FRS radio, please bring it and tune to lucky channel 13. And a full tank of fuel or 220V need not apply/show or whatever...
Click to expand...


ftfy,
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom