There's a park in Poole, Dorset like this. It has cyclists intent on using its paths to improve their TT fitness as well as pedestrians who are incapable of walking more than a few metres in a straight line.
You can't mix cyclists travelling at 15-25kph with pedestrians (including small kids) moving at 3-5kph and not expect problems.
TBH the problem's not cyclists, pedestrians, drivers, it's people.
Sounds like Queens Quay. It was an enjoyable ride when the roads were wide enough to share with cyclists. After the city's 'upgrade' to dedicated bike lanes crossed every 50 yards by commercial driveways, pedestrian crosswalks or stop lights it became a bit of a misery. I tend to avoid it year round now.
The east side valley parks like Edward's Gardens and Taylor Creek likewise have a week or two spring and fall jammed with locals out catching nature's colours. With adjusted expectations it's rarely a problem though.
After retirement I ride week day early afternoons or during the hottest part of the day to take advantage of the low traffic. Much less stress.
According to the trail rules (in most places) cyclists are supposed to yield right of way to slower moving “vehicles” - including horses. Which means you’re NOT really supposed to train on the trails.
15-25 k, sht… more like 50. But those apps they use for virtual competition on the trainers don’t really work well for TT style training - so the tri geeks still try to hog the trails.
15-25 k, sht… more like 50. But those apps they use for virtual competition on the trainers don’t really work well for TT style training - so the tri geeks still try to hog the trails.
Running is around 10 kph. 15 and 20 kph are the posted cycling speed limits on Toronto city paths. IMO letting young children free roam on a busy designated bike path is more relevant to child services than traffic enforcement. Fortunately it's rare around here but personally I always ding bell and slow with young children anywhere nearby because they're unpredictable chaos. Off leash dogs (a $400 fine + damages caused) is a novel-length entirely different issue.
In some areas the pedestrian designated walk is a wooden boardwalk that's apparently jarring for baby carriages. New mothers use the bike path. I've never seen a conflict arise with cyclists. It appears to be a rare spontaneous instance of mutual accommodation.
I always think of Pavlov when I hear furious bell dinging. It's a constant thing in Frankfurt. Once I made the link I supressed the urge to salivate and the jump reflex and always took time to look behind me and then manoeuvre slowly...
I don't have a bell. I talk to people, slow down, and say "excuse me can I pass". They almost always apologise for not noticing me and let me pass, I wish them a good day, they me... But, you know, rural Dorset...
When I was a kid I was 'taken out' by a loose German Shepherd (I was riding on the road) that leapt up at me, the own ******* himself laughing at me on the ground wrapped around the bike frame with the dog barking at me. Dogs like to chase, I always go slow, try to give them room and make sure they see me, smile at the owner too.
I have seen young ladies sporting Apple ear buds get clocked in the bike lane in NYC,
The worst thing about NYC bike lanes are the battery powered bikes going in the wrong direction.
Two years ago a woman walking in NYC Central Park was killed by an aggressive biker.
The other "worst thing" -- pedestrian dog walkers extending the leash across the street.
Extensible dog leads should be banned. I hate the wretched things. The dogs don't think (obviously) and can be out in front of your wheel in an instant. The owners have no clue what the dog's doing.
Definitely on the list. About 25 years ago on an early morning I was cycling across the Toronto water front on a literally empty trail. The only person visible anywhere was a dog walker checking out flowers 30' off path to the right. My attention was momentarily drawn left by a car that looked prepared to turn in front of me. Suddenly the dog, a golden lab, was across the path feet away. Even on full brakes I hit hard enough to go over both the front wheel and the dog, somersaulting while clipped in and coming to a stop on my back holding the bike above. Incredibly no injury or damage but the dog must have taken at least a broken rib.
The owner had released the retractile leash to let puppers wander unattended.
Dont get me started on dogs. They cause far more problems on the open road than vehicles/drivers do. Suffice it to say that after any particular dog has caused a wreck or taken a bite out of me they have a little consultation with Dr Feelgood the next time I see them.
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I rarely find that necessary. Normally one or two finger damped 'dinks' work fine. Or coasting a few feet since my wheels have an unfamiliar 'loud angry bees' rear cog. Bell and cog provide a suite of noises and intensities adequate for the vast majority of riding scenarios. Responses can vary from an appreciative wave to unhinged rage. By habit I extend brief waves to all but the latter for their consideration. Intense dinging is reserved the completely oblivious or headphone wearers.
Rural might be the big difference. Asking individual permission to use a bike path is impractical in Toronto due to the very high volume of traffic. It can amount to hundreds of times a ride. It also normalizes the expectation that cyclists use routes created for them by allowance of others or their dogs, which isn't helpful,
Ti frames are normally “indestructible” with respect to collisions with dogs. But the problem is not having enough skin left to get home without leaving a trail of blood on the pavement.
I broke three other Ti frames. I bought the Vortex frame some 15 years ago. It was a breathtaking increase in speed from that Ultimate, but the alloy was too effing brittle. Vibrations from the road caused repeated failure where the head tube welded to the top tube. After the 3rd one I gave up and went to carbon. Went back to the old frame after I quit racing. It’s still going strong.
I think I will stick to my steel Soma frame. Ti might be lighter but I am not sure I can handle the brittle part. I have managed to keep my skin for the most part.
Steel is real, done about 40,000 miles on my current frame, bought out of the Argos catalogue of all places. It's a single speed, as is my TT bike (an old Peugeot racing bike with kids drop bars) and my posh bling bike (Pinarello) - my winter/snow bike is a step-through mountain bike with gears, however.
As far as I know, titanium doesn't fatigue well, that's why titanium con rods are used for short races, but springs are made from steel.
I sweat like a fire hose. Always did. Steel and aluminum would corrode out from under me, TI wouldn’t. That was the original motivation. The 6/4 Ti is more brittle than the 3/2.5. Stiffer, but that’s the price paid.
Yeah, I always used a short lead. You're always in touch and once you know your dog you can tell what it's doing or going to do from the tension or lack of it.
