How to Not Get Hit by a Car While Riding a Recumbent Trike (or recumbent bike, or road bike, or...)
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- Опубліковано 6 сер 2021
- Just a few tips on how to avoid a collision with those inattentive drivers who are looking to "take you out".
Music: FynestLyk - Noir Et Blanc Vie - Навчання та стиль
When I was a teenager, I started riding motorcycles. My father gave advice that has saved me many times, "Ride like everyone's trying to kill you." The habits you form from that also make you a better driver.
Your father was a wise man, Mike! Very good advice!
Isn’t it true? Lol
7:00 it’s not your fault it’s the driver
Had the same speech with my Dad. As he put it you may have the right of way, but the car is 2 tons of steel that protects the driver from harm. The only protection you have is your bike shorts- If You Wanna Stay Alive, The Vehicle Always Has The Right Of Way. It’s worked for me so far.
@@jamesmchugo9422 Yeah, there is such a thing as being dead right. :-)
I have the Varia 510. It was a retirement present from my crew at work. I love it.
I don't run a cycling computer (yet) so I have the separate head unit.
I would not ride without it now.
I have had people stop me and tell me how visible I am and ask what kind of light it is.
My only compliant is once you get some speed up and get some wind noise, you can't always hear the audible beep. But like you, I also spend lots of time with an eye on my mirrors.
I also have a clear flashing light on the front.
I have a flag, just the stock Catrike flag but I have some high viz tassels attached.
One thing I have happen on a regular basis is a driver thinks that I am handicapped because I'm on a trike so they want to stop and let me cross a street in front of them, and then the cars behind try to pass the front guy, so I always wave at the front car and get them to proceed, had one close call that way so never again. And you are so right about the not trusting eye contact.
And I wear bright clothing. Always something very bright on my arms so that when I signal they can see it.
Great stuff. Enjoying your channel.
Thanks very much for the great report on the Varia, Wornout! I'm going to have to check one out. The one time I was hit by a car, the driver turned right in front of me after we made eye contact. I saw her still looking at me as she hit the gas and tried to "cut" in front of me (she didn't make it). :)
Thanks for watching!
I've had a Varia RTL510 for a few years and love it so much I bought a Varia RVR315. I have no trouble hearing the audible beep and seeing the lights on the head unit.
I don't completely trust mirrors to eliminate all blind spots so instead of constantly looking behind me I can now look as the vehicles get close to be sure they are in their lane and not endangering me. Bike RADAR gives peace of mind, or at least the closest thing there is, while biking on the road with vehicle zombies.
I also use enough extremely bright blinky lights to be mistaken for a cop car with the rollers on. ;-) LOL On my recumbent I add to that at least two flags.
I also apply Reflective tape like 3M and Solas to the frame or fenders. I've found some black reflective tape that blends in to my black bike during the day and crazy bright reflective at night.
Yep eye contact, don't trust anyone. If a driver is texting on their cell phone none of it will do any good and its up to you to see them coming. Ride like they are trying to kill you and you'll do alright. :-)
@@SmokinPaul Update.
Since I wrote my comment I have purchased a Garmin Edge Explore.
I find the audible tone to be louder, at least I seem to hear it better.
I have noticed that the Edge display is not as accurate as the 510's dedicated head unit, the car will be past me and the display will still have the dot moving up the display. But since I know that there is a vehicle behind me, which is the whole point of having a radar unit, it really is a bit of a moot point.
I had several reasons for buying the Edge, only one of them was to have it connected to the 510. The fact that I am able to hear the tone better cancels out the slight delay.
I am still learning how to use the Edge. I bought the Explore becuase it was no where near as technical as many of the others, I'm not in training LOL, but it is still taking me a bit to figure it out. But overall I am very happy with the combination.
One last note, it might just be me, but I can't find a way to make the Edge power the light down when I power the edge down. The head unit that came with the 510 turned the light on and off when it powered up and down. I though that the Edge would do the same but I can't seem to make it work.
Also since my comment I have had one driver blow through a 4 way stop in front of me. I heard him coming so I waited. Sure enough, he was 1/2 way through before he saw me, I saw the look on his face as he floored it to get away. I have learned that this is a bad intersection so I really watch out. This guy makes 3 close calls in the same spot.
Be safe my friends.
@@wornoutwrench8128 I bought the Varia RVR315 radar because its supposed to integrate with third-party apps such as Ride with GPS to overlay your maps with rearview radar alerts. I haven't used it yet so can't say one way or the other how well that works.
I've had those rubber o-ring type bands come loose in the past so I bought some Garmin Seat Post and saddle Quarter Turn mounts to make sure the radar doesn't fall off. Plus I can mount one on all my bikes to make switching from one to the other easy.
Riding motorcycles all my life also taught me about being invisible even while the cage driver is looking right at you. They see you but in their mind only cars register. Its like a mental block.
I also bought a blinky light with a wireless camera to try out. It records and displays on your phone. Just hope its never needed to determine how I got run over. :-(
@@SmokinPaul I used to ride a Honda 450 in my Navy days. You are 100% correct about being invisible.
This advice applies to bikes, trikes and motorcycles! Anything smaller than an SUV is subject to be unseen by many drivers! I've been hit on my bike and motorcycle by cars. Now that I'm older I'm going to try "triking" for my riding. Very good information! Thanks for the video.
Thanks much, R. Michael! I guarantee you'll love triking! :)
I have been commuting & cycling for pleasure on a bike for 50 years, retiring this week. I’ve never been injured by a collision with a car. I’ve been hospitalised twice by collisions with the road & fixed infrastructure. My family have imposed a speed limit on me ending my attempts to get a speeding ticket to put on the wall. Roads have some safety advantages over shared paths including better sight lines and surfaces, no dog walkers, and no wandering walkers with headphones. Another great video
That's very true, Warwick. Certain trails can be real hazards for bikers, especially at busy times of day. Loose dogs and dogs on "stretchy" leashes are particularly dangerous. Yep, sometimes you don't need a car to go down! Sometimes a squirrel or crack in the road will do just fine. :(
I almost flipped myself when a squirrel darted out and I only grabbed my one brake. Oh my, now I know better. lol My new fear is escaped dogs chasing after me. I am not a dog knowledgeable person. Being so close to the ground what does one do in this case? Thanks for any input. This Trike community has been so helpful. Love the videos so much.
В детстве катался на велосипеде, подростком на мокике, в юношестве катался на мотоцикле. А теперь построил трайк и получаю огромный заряд положительных эмоций от каждой поездки.
Hard to beat the fun of a trike! Thanks very much for watching and keep on riding!
As one who trikes main roads all the time, thanks for this! Excellent information!! I shall re-evaluate my routes and rides from here on. The one thing in the video that really got to me was that some drivers are so tuned in to their inattentiveness that they wouldn’t notice an elephant in the road. So true! (From a fellow ICE VTX enthusiast:)
Thanks for watching and glad it was helpful! It still amazes me how many folks don't notice an unusual three wheeled contraption rolling right at them. :) Have fun with that VTX!
Great advice on all counts. My riding buddy in south Florida has the Varia and it is a wonderful accessory and I am getting one for my trike. I stick right on his trike while we ride together there. it is incredibly useful. Bright colored clothing and hats are a must as well as numerous bright flags. Always stop at the intersections regardless of what you think and always walk the trike through parking lots as they are so dangerous.as far as flags go…Im done paying big money for flags… I simply use the super brightly colored discarded kites I buy my grandkids and trim them and fasten to the poles. Very visible and already paid for.
Thanks for the insight on the Varia, Mark. It sounds like a worthwhile purchase. Thanks also for the tip on the kites! I've lost a few flags on rides and it can get expensive replacing them!
I am an active senior and ride a StreetStrider -standup elliptical and for the past 11 yrs i have not come close to getting hit except for last week -I was coming 4m the UCD arboretum trail back n2 town and started crossing the road as i had a green light, luckily im a slow starter bc a pick up truck came blasting thru his red light. He was texting...
Davis CA is a very bike friendly town, but as of late maybe due 2 the added stress of coVid people are not paying attention...B careful and don't assume u can b seen ...
Glad you're OK! I've noticed the driving seems to be a lot worse since Covid. Davis is getting so built up, with people double parking on the streets and lots more traffic. I remember riding there in the 80's and it was biker heaven!
A helmet mirror is also very handy. I use the "take a look" mirror.
I also wear a type 3 construction worker vest, the one's with sleeves. Has good visibility.
The mirrors of my trike saved my life during a cycling holiday in Germany. I was forced to ride on a fast country road (80 km/h, 50 mph) WITHOUT separated cycle path. The German drivers were very courteous and gave me plenty of space while overtaking. One german did just that, but a car came from the opposing direction, so he had to go to the right side again. Where I was cycling, so I saw that happening and he steered of the road, in to the shoulder. That save my life. That was the only incident I had during my tour in Germany.
Holy cow! Glad you saw that coming, Mardiff! Yeah, I have the feeling that if it comes down to a driver hitting another car head-on or veering into a bike lane and taking out a cyclist, they're going to take out the cyclist. :(
@@bikestrikesrazors Even worse, there was no bike lane. I was riding in the car lane. But I also cycled in London, UK, with hardly any cycling infrastructure and busy motor traffic. Nevertheless I loved it, seeing so many beautiful buildings. Which I would have missed if I had taken the tube (subway).
It should be MirrorS not Mirror.
I am a 74 year old triker, I live on a major highway and I cycle frequently. The off side mirror is important to cover the full arc of space behind one. Yes I prefer trails and side roads but that is not always possible or convenient. I fly flags and I also use a flashing rear light and if I am riding a dusk or later a flashing white light up front with an additional head light. I always follow the legal rules of the road and typically refuse offered right- of-way but I let others know when I take the legal right-of-way. I have never had an accident (except running into the rear of a car when I was 11 years old) though I nearly got hit when a new (N on the rear) driver passed another drive on the right while I was cycling down the shoulder.
I bailed once off a road into a ditch while cycle in New Zealand when a car braked really hard behind me. I like cycle lanes with physical barriers as they are the safest when sharing the road surface with cars .
Thanks very much for sharing your insight and experience with us, Hermann! These days, I try and stay on trails or very lightly used roads when possible.
I’ve put on thousands of miles over the years and seen all sorts of drivers, including the jerks that don’t have any problem with forcing a cyclist off the road. When it comes to motor vehicle drivers the only assumption I make is they don’t see me and I try to have an escape plan when vehicle approach me. That plan may include dive for the ditch. Something I had to do once because the driver was deliberately trying to run over me. That particular incident ended with an arrest of the driver. A State Trooper saw me picking up the pieces in the ditch. He asked if I was OK and if I needed help. I told him I was just run off the road gave him good description of the vehicle and a partial license plate number. Found out they were see looking for driver and they later busted him adding attempted vehicular manslaughter to his charges. Anyway, everything you said in the video, draw attention to yourself, bright colors, lights, flags, mirrors, an air horn, whatever it takes be noticed. Always assume the driver doesn’t see you all good things. And one more thing, use your hearing. Vehicles, always make sounds, have road noise, be aware of revving engine sounds, the sound of tires on payment or dropping on to the gravel shoulder, it was that sound that alerted me to the jerk trying to run me over, squealing tires also tell you something isn’t right. Stay safe everyone.
All great advice and I’m glad they caught the jerk that ran you off the road!
Thank you. Great. I like the point about not getting too focussed on doom.
Thanks for watching, AH!
Good observations and suggestions. Trickers, take care!
Thanks, you too and thanks for watching!
You can put LED light with the flags too.😊
Visibility increases also when you wear a Yayoi Kusama-inspired red polka dot cycling jersey.
Yes, but it is hard to pull off the polka dot look. :)
Depending on high viz is what led me to realize that motorists treat me like a road hazard.
I bought a Garmin Varia RTL515 radar unit last summer, and now I wouldn't ride without it. It gives me about 150 yards of "vision" behind me, enoughtime for a glance in the mirror to check the approach and respond appropriately. I think it's much like having a cycling partner watching the rear and sounding "car back" when needed. I'm feeling better about riding alone! I've paired mine with a Garmin Edge 130+ but it can also be paired with a Garmin smartphone app. So far, I consider it reliable and money well spent.
Thank very much for the information and insights, Phyllis!
Thanks for another great video. i suspect most trikers have experienced the situations you describe, but it never hurts to make a video for newbies, and a good reminder for the rest of us. Now for my two cents here. I've found drivers on the newly paved rural road I ride on probably think I'm in a strange looking wheelchair. They give me huuuuge space, and if two are approaching in opposite directions, both stop, which drives me nuts, so I pull into the grass and wave them through. At least they're looking out for me, and not their phones......so far. Always have to check the mirror, every ten seconds. Oh, by the way, as Mark said, I loved Weird Al, too. Nice work!
Thanks, G! Wow, I like the drivers in your area. Good to have them so freaked out, but I know what you mean about stuff like that driving you nuts. Sometimes I'll get a driver behind me that's so afraid they'll hit me they'll refuse to pass no matter how often I wave them on. Have to do like you said and pull off the road just to get them to go by.
@@bikestrikesrazors I've never met drivers who are THAT courteous. I suspect around here they'd lose their patience in more heavily traveled areas, and I'd eventually be flattened into the asphalt by one of their ubiquitous dually diesel pickup trucks!
@@gmaneis We have those pickup trucks around here also. At least they haven't "blown smoke" on me yet.
@@bikestrikesrazors No smoke on me, either, but they're loud. As my wife has always said about male drivers of loud vehicles: "They're trying to make up for their inadequacy in another area!"
@@andypandy7769 I've seen quite a few videos of riding in your country. Seems similar to what we have here in Indiana, USA. Drivers of cars and pedaled vehicles have to be careful of each other. Stay safe out there.🙂
As always excellent video. I trike around my neighborhood and adjoining ones and I do most of what you say. I do two other things especially since I do about the same course everyday and that is to wave at people and always motion for them to take the right of way. Sort of like you with going around the backside of "Weird Al Yankvic's van". I just motion really exaggerated so there is no question.
Sounds like a great idea, David. Now that you said that, I'm thinking that I often do the same thing. I guess it's the "great minds think alike" thing. :)
Very good video. Effectively we are potential road kill when we ride a trike on the roadway. People should stop being silly about the drag caused by a flag, think more about the drag being in the hospital. The last statement is right on, think of yourself as invisible…and I would add…and think of anyone in a car being out to hit you.
Words to live by, Robert! And thanks for watching!
Amen!
Great advice about car parks , shopping malls .Thats one of the first things i thought about , how low[ you are ] how high ,how blind a car driver is when parked .Also most car drivers insist! on reversing out of a parking space .WARNING! they will squash you when they do this as you pass by invisible .
Absolutely, Kollo! I've seen drivers back out of spaces at frighteningly fast speeds. Not worth taking the chance- I just stand up and walk the trike. :)
I have the Garmin Vario and just used it for a 120 mile ride on the Erie Canal Trail (including the portions that are still on the road). The thing is a wizard at detecting closing motion from the rear from bikes or cars, and never confuses cars going the other way, or fellow cyclists and pedestrians being passed. It alarms on my Garmin Edge 530 and will alarm multiple times with a graphic along the right edge of the screen for as many vehicles as it detects behind you closing with you. It certainly doesn't take the place of monitoring ones mirrors, but the added alert can focus a rider (this rider anyway) to a sudden potential threat. Like others have mentioned, I won't ride without it now.
The battery life is about 6 hours. I just plug it in to a 20,000 milliamp battery pack through a wiring harness that keeps the Vario, my cycle computer and phone fully charged all the time. A little extra weight, but my trike's speed limitation isn't the heavy battery pack. It's definitely the engine.
Thanks for the feedback, Lance! I'm hearing so much good stuff about the Varia, I think I'm gonna have to get one soon! :)
The short battery life is an issue. I wish that they could be externally powered and better mounted and tethered.
Whazzat, it can be externally powered.
@@xsubsquid Will give it a try, but it was my understanding that the circuitry needed wasn't there . the plug can also serve as the much needed tether. I'm getting about 4 hrs before it gets a low bat warning. not sure if it is traffic dependent
I've actually got into an argument with a highschool "friend" and she flat out said bikes (or trikes) don't belong on the road. Talk about attitude!
I've heard that before. Interesting attitude.
Was she on her phone when she said it?
I love my Varia radar, wont leave on a ride without it, it alerts me before my ears and mirror on a regular basis
Thanks for the information!
I am about to start. Good video
Thanks for watching, Ariel! Have fun with your new trike!
Good points here. But remember that a lot of us do not only use our bikes/trikes for leisure outings but for daily commutes in busy areas. Defensive riding is the way to survive.
Very true!
Agree,if this video represents how you ride then please ride on the path.
I'm lucky to live in a pretty small town, and bikes are allowed to ride on the sidewalk...as far as I know. I don't know of any good bike paths here, but I do know of a number of alleys with very little traffic. When I get my trike next year, I may have to ride in traffic sometimes, but not that much. I will keep to either the alleys or sidewalks the vast majority of the time.
Hi Susan and thanks for watching! Small towns are ideal for riding! Heavily trafficked roads are no fun on a trike. :) Have fun!
@@bikestrikesrazors Thanks...I plan to have lots of fun. I can barely wait.
Picking my time of the day to commute to work is not a option for me. I just have to hope that the driver's pay attention when there driving 50% of my ride to work is on a straight single lain highway for about 10 to 12 km. I have looked on Google maps for my area but it's all single lain highway for this Triker lol.. love the video you have a nice trike stay safe on your rides.
You stay safe out there too, Rob! And make yourself as visible as possible on that highway!
Heading out next weekend to ride the American Rail Trail. I already started my ride by riding Hunter AAF near Savanna, GA. Then drove to Ft Benning, next to Columbus, GA. Testing out my Brand new Catrike Dumont, 5 riding days, covering just over 90 miles. If you are able to get on a Post, riding on them is a treat. All posted speed limits are slow and for the most part all the drivers are considerate. Then most have dedicated bike paths.
Wow, sounds like quite an adventure, CatMan! If you ever get over near Monterey, CA, they've turned a large portion of the Fort Ord military base into a state park, with an area of roadways next to the Pacific Ocean given over entirely to bicycles. Beautiful riding out there. Happy trails and thanks for watching!
How was your Rail Trail ride? I'm doing it in Spring 2023. I'll start at the Cowboy Trail in NE and ride all the way to DC. As you know, this involves some road riding to connect the trails. I bought an ICE Adventure recently. I have put over 700 miles on it in 4.5 weeks, so far. It is such fun to ride. Winter weather has moved in, so I may not get much more riding done this year.
See and be seen. I use a VERY bright Harbor Freight headlamp on my helmets along with a red blinking light opposite. The height and the blinking light get attention. The headlight can strobe so as you look left and right at an intersection it smacks drivers right in the face.
Yellow, orange or lime outer garments are best.
I road bike so I am pretty tall in the saddle to begin with and with all the flashing lights, I am very visible-especially at dusk.
Low slung trikes are REALLY vulnerable-more likely to STAY in the road rather than bump up and down ramps or lumpy sidewalks. Also less maneuverable around
pedestrians meandering along near parks and attractions. ZERO situational awareness as the walk right in the center of the path or sidewalk.
BIG DANGER-“right on red” intersections.
You-huddled next to the crosswalk button, wayyyy over at the right next to the road.
Them-completely focused on NOT GETTING T-BONED from the LEFT.
Way too many incidents to ignore. As noted-just assume they are out to kill you.
I use a lot of seemingly sketchy tactics in city traffic that I can’t recommend to others.
Watch some bike messenger videos and just remember that bike messengers are CRAZY.
Thanks for the great advice, Guy!
My human and flywheel powered trike is almost 6 feet tall, and I sit up high in the car seat. Being the trike weighs almost 2,000 pounds, cars definitely give me the clearance while on the road! My trike with it's old time rag top drives like a big old dump truck, but I love every bit of it! 🤗🤗🤗
Sounds like a cool trike! At 2000 pounds, you can push the cars around! :)
@@bikestrikesrazors YES! 🤣🤣 The new trike we're working on will have heat, A/C, a truck transmission and pull a 10,000 pound trailer. We focus on building heavy hauling Cargo Cycles up to 30,000 pounds. We have several mini rig cycles and trailers. 🍷🍷😎
Amazing!@@skytoll1
@@skytoll1Do you have a website?
I use the Garmin Varia RTL 515 it is great with my Garmin Edge 1030 plus. It lets me know when vehicles are coming up so I can take in the scenery on long bike tours or ride worth every penny I paid for it and the best investment. I highly recommend it
Thanks much, Lord Bennett! It's starting to sound more and more like I'm going to have to pick one of those up! :)
Great video and tips. This looks an awful lot like the area I'm from, which has some great trails.
Hey, Ren! This was shot around Rescue/Cameron Park, California. Thanks for watching!
@@bikestrikesrazors I was right! We are neighbors. I thought I saw parts of the American river Trail. Maybe we will cross paths sometime.
@@renpope1210 I'm sure we will, Ren! I ride the ART all the time (especially when the weather is nice). :)
Superb 🙏
Thanks for watching!
I know I said two things but just thought of this one. I read somewhere if you put the American Flag on top and your state flag below it you get noticed. I can't give you metrics but my feeling is that this observation is correct, especially if you travel in neighborhoods where homes have flags waving. People are probably saying, look there's weirdo grandpa on his trike. No one wants to run over grandpa at least in my neighborhood,... yet.
LOL! And they're even less likely to want to run over grandpa if he's patriotic. :)
Staying off the streets in fear of being hit ensures one thing: car drivers will get used to not having to share the road as much.
That's true, Ross. I know cyclists that also refuse to even ride in the bike lane on the street because legally, they can own a few feet in the road. Everyone had to decide what they're comfortable with.
I e been commuting to work on my road bike everyday for 20 years now… and it’s only gotten worse.
Be safe out there
Indeed, it has!
I use a flag and multiple lights and a Varia even on trails. Most trails near me have roads parallel to them so knowing cars are behind me when I’m approaching intersections is nice. The Varia does work well.
Thanks for watching and for the input on the Varia, James! I'm really going to have to check one of those out.
One suggestion is to use your EARS. You can usually hear a vehicle approaching from way back just from their tyres noise. This is why I think it a bad idea to wear head phones, listening to music etc. Its just as good as constantly using mirrors.
Good point, Rick!
Some of us are DOF's, so we don't hear so well. 🤣🤣🤣
Great video, and today’s world have to be crazy tonight right on anything but a bike trail. Stay off the road and save your life
Lot's of folks feel that way these days!
I use a Varia 515 on my ICE Sprint and would not ride without one. We also have Sena R1 Evo helmets which allows us to communicate with each other as well as other riders that have these helmets. My wife takes the lead on our rides and I can communicate to her when a vehicle is coming up on us.
That sounds like a fantastic set-up, Jim! I really have to check out one of those Varia units!
Great video, thank you. I am from Greece, looking to buy my first trike, trying to choose between motorised or non-motorised. What would you suggest my friend?
Thanks for watching and greetings from California! It's hard to tell if you should get a motorized trike without knowing more about what you plan on doing with the trike and your physical abilities. If you're a strong rider, there isn't really any need for a motor. If you'd like to go faster and farther than you think you can go under your own power, then a motor would help you do that. Hope that helps!
Boy, you live in a beautiful area!
Thanks, KW! Most of this was shot in the Northern California area around El Dorado Hills & Cameron Park.
Can confirm, the deadliest and scariest place for a triker is the parking lot. The danger and the assumptions and the blind spots make for dangerous times. I Ride through parking lots and every time I do my balls get bigger by that much.
Ha! Oh yeah, parking lots are scary places for trikes. :)
To use a Varia is to love it. Huge addition to mirrors. They see things your mirrors can't. That said , I don't see you as a careful cyclist. You run stop signs at speed , neglect crossings, and advocate excessive speed. Try your style on a high CG non race trike and a lesser skilled rider would be in trouble. Trikes are slow big targets that cannot get out of the way. They are dependent on drivers seeing them as road hazards. Like a homeless person's shopping cart. Lucky people think they are smart, Smart people know they are lucky. I taught MSF. You ride like a road racer.
Hey, Whazzat! Yeah, lots of my poor riding habits were developed over thirty years of being just what you describe- a road racer. I guess you can put a roadie on a trike, but then you just wind up with roadie on a trike. :) I am trying to get better though!
@@bikestrikesrazors Great channel, and you do raise the issues well. Stay safe.
Great vids😊 I just ordered the Fat Tad fat tire recumbent bike, 🤔 this will be my first one👍🏽
Those are cool trikes and great for off road also!
@@bikestrikesrazors I don’t think I will do much off-road and I just like the look of the bigger tires I just ordered it I did tell them to swap out those knobby tires for a more smooth tire
@@JerseyStyle7 That'll work!
@@bikestrikesrazors I ordered the sunlite superdan tires, also with a liner, I was very surprised that the liners were $50 a wheel 😬😂
@@JerseyStyle7 Wow! If you get a flat using those, I hope they give you your money back! :)
Don't forget your Airzound horn. It's loud enough to wake the dead.
Hi Bob! Another good idea!
no red flags no daytime lights
I just discovered that we (people in my state) are allowed to use amber strobe flashing lights on bicycles. I'm going all in.
What does it say to realize that motorists treat you like a road hazard?
In motos visibility is good . But realize drunks and sleepers fixate on lights. Net gain, but....
@@whazzat8015 - I wouldn't keep the lights on all the time.
But there are certain times of day where you know people are collectively not paying attention to what they're doing.
@@AnthonyEllis_Au Yep. When I became aware that the things I was using for notice , reflected on how I was seen, not as a partner sharing the commons , but something more akin to a pothole or shopping cart, it explained how drivers were reacting to the presence of anything but a car on the road. Sigh
@@whazzat8015 - I don't mind exposing myself so drivers can get used to cyclists. Places like Amsterdam, London, Japan, and Belgium show us what happens when cars and bikes can coexist.
Some people have to go out there and be the pioneers.
Anything that makes you more visible is a positive, Anthony. Drivers in the U.S. have a very long way to go before they treat cyclists/trikers as equals sharing the road (and it may never happen). I have noticed a huge improvement here in California over the past thirty years, with the popularity of Lance Armstrong causing a sort of mainstream acceptance of cycling as a legitimate leisure activity.
I have a couple questions about recumbent bikes. I had a double hernia 10 yrs ago, most people that had this will tell it's not quite the same again. When riding a recumbent do you notice it puts extra pressure on your lower abs or pulling on your lower abdominal muscles ? Lastly is it possible to buy a recumbent with gears for less than one thousand dollars ? There is a three wheel recumbent for 500 dollars but it's one speed and looks cheap.
HI Doug! Sorry to hear about your hernia. I'm trying to think, but I don't think there's any extra pressure on the abs on a trike. Most of the extra work on a trike comes down to your legs and knee area compared to a road bike. If your seat is not very reclined, it can be hard to even get your buttocks or lower back muscles involved. My brother had a "Tour Easy" that really seemed to limit all muscle activity to certain parts of your leg. I think it would be hard to find a quality trike used for under 1K. Not impossible, but you'd have to get lucky on Craigslist or Facebook. Once you're in the $1,200.00 range, you can find a lot of nice used trikes.
I have 3 blinky lights in back very bright , one 1200 lumin blinky in front .
2 underneath that are steady blur for under glow look and during the winter , I have some monkey lights for the front wheels , in winter it gets dark at 3:30 in my area so after work rides are in the dark .
No one’s gonna miss you, Jason! Looks like I need some more lights!
Monkey lights are great. I only wish they would make the programmable ones available. They still have their shop in Berkeley, doing waterproofing.
Does anyone know about a video where a cross-country trike Rider explains the best ways to deal with traffic. Like finding bike Lanes, crossing Bridges, where to camp, things like that?
Hey, Mike! I follow a woman on Strava who's on a cross-country trike trip right now. Don't think she's making any videos, but perhaps you could contact her in the Strava comments section and talk her into doing something like that. Here's her Strava page:
www.strava.com/athletes/48400826
I'm building my own, it will have a bright strobe light on on long pole.
Sounds like a great idea, Harley! Thanks for watching!
Who’d of thought you could encounter “Weird Al” Yankvic out there on the streets. Seriously though, all of your suggestions will improve your chances of survival. I use them daily. I sort of hate having a bunch of flags flapping all over and creating drag. Mine follows the contour of the hard shell saddle for minimal drag yet still sits some six feet in the air. Also hi viz yellow
Hey Mark! Yep, I'm not a huge fan of billowing flags because of the drag and I usually adjust what I'm using depending on the ride. When I'm on a trail, I don't usually use a flag and I have the small ICE flag I usually use on the street. My large flags are for when I know I'm going to be in hairy areas. "Weird Al" says "Hi"! :)
@@bikestrikesrazors ATGATT ? Better than me. I don't know when people don't see me.
@@whazzat8015 means All The Gear...All The Time. A motorcycle safety phrase. If we only use safety equipment when we think we need it, we're more likely to not have it when we actually needed it. I have the benefit of riding with a pedal assist, so for me, the wind drag of my flag is never so much that I'll leave it at home. Tuning your flag to be optimum for various conditions is a fun pastime too.
@@bikestrikesrazors I wrap up my flags on the trails and unfurl them on the road as needed. I'm contemplating a horizontal tube to store my flags when not in use so that not even the pole it sticking out.
The main issue is not enough and not bright enough lights. This is the #1 choice, in my opinion to avoid from getting hit, plus I would never ride a trike on the road. Too low!
I used to be more brazen about riding trikes on the road until I was spooked by a recent experience when a woman in a large SUV almost ran right over me. She wasn’t remotely looking where she was going, turned right into my lane and just missed turning me into applesauce. I’m now trying to avoid similar situations and yes, more lights is always a great idea!
Riding to the right is a bad idea. Drivers are most attentive to what is directly in front of their steering wheels. When they glance up briefly, that's where they look.
That's opening up a big can of worms, Dan! :) Yep, I know folks who swear by "taking the lane" and call folks that ride in the bike lanes "gutter bunnies". For me I think it really depends on the road and the speed of the auto traffic. Thanks for watching!
Yes, @@bikestrikesrazors. Higher speed roads require a lot more focus on the rear view mirrors. As long as there is room to pass, I ride left and pull to the right as traffic approaches. Lateral movement also attracts the attention of motorists.
Great advice. Unfortunately there is only so much you can do. There are just too many idiot drivers. For goodness sake, people hit trains and fire trucks so a bike isn’t any safer.
True, the best you can do is to try and be careful and visible.
Stay visible!
I too have given up road riding. I find it to be scary and stressful these days. So pavement trail and gravel are my choices.
I'm spending most of my time on trails these days also, Debbie. Thankfully, I have a great trail system nearby. Just looking at what drivers are doing when I'm out driving in a car makes me shudder. :)
@@bikestrikesrazors very frightening motorist!!! Stay safe
Can you share some nice bike trails in SoCal???
Hi Nestor, Check out the "Trike Squardron" channel on UA-cam. They're in SoCal. Lots of great videos of the riding down in that area. They even have a weekly ride that you can join!
If your red sleeved shirt is to make your hand signals more visible, remember that around 8% of men are colour blind; I am and yellow is the only bright colour to me. Red doesn’t stand out at all. Fluoro yellow tops are essential for me…and I’m not even the one who needs to see me!
Thanks for that information, Peter! Good to know!
How many trike riders actually get hit? I have not seen any statistics about this.
Hi Nick,
Good question. I wonder if anyone keeps those statistics.
Oh yeah 😎. Pull a BRIGHT 🌞 YELLOW bike trailer! 😎 😉 💛
Especially a Double Wide for 2 children.
There you go! :) Thanks for watching, Eric!
Bike lane?
Your video starts out showing a trike with no taillights and no safety flags. My first thought was "this guy is going to talk about safety while riding?"
Hi Steve! Yes, I was riding on a bike trail at the start of the video. I don't usually use a light or flag on a MUP, though it certainly couldn't hurt. When I hit the streets I usually use both a flag and a light. Thanks for watching!
On a tadpole I would have a flag and a mirror .
Super 🇵🇱🇺🇸
Thanks very much for watching, Jozef!
If you opt for a low rider you need flags, strobes, strong contrast colors. Basically you maximise the "look at me" aspect of your vehicle. That's a huge negative for me, so I sold my low racer bike. I want to enjoy riding and I just couldn't on a machine with that much reduced visibility and situational awareness. I need my head to be at least 5ft off the ground, so its cruiser recumbents and high racers for me from now on. No need for stupid flags and I can keep the strobes to a minimum.
Mind you I would never drive on public roads in the US with anything other than a modern large sedan or SUV, too many distracted, doped up and insane people on the roads there, all driving massive cars and trucks.
Thanks very much for the comment, Volvo. Things do seem to be getting worse out on the road with distracted drivers. I'm lucky to have a bike trail nearby that helps me avoid most of these issues. I do put a blinkie on my road bike when riding out on the road.
sadly, many places force you to ride on the road, by law, and have no pathways at all. I hope things change. :/ ...imo everyone needs to watch "Stroads" by Not Just Bikes.
I've seen "Stroads". I'm pretty lucky to have paths and areas that are friendly to trikes. I know many areas don't. :(
Did you just go through a stop sign in the first few seconds?
Hi Bob,
Good catch! You're the second person to comment on that and even though I've been rolling down that hill for years, I've never seen the stop sign there. I had to go back to the video to see what you both were talking about. That area is a parking lot right before the trail. Don't know how I've never noticed the sign there!
Stop signs are very ineffective. SS are an easy solution for municipalities, instead of finding better solutions. In most cases slowing down to have a good look left and right is sufficient. Did you that Paris, French capital, had only 1 stopsign in the whole city of 5 milion? In my country the Netherlands we have yield signs and triangles on the road. In some cases even an elevated side walk to cross, so it is very clear that the one who crosses the side walk, have to yield. Not Just Bikes have made a video about stop signs:ua-cam.com/video/42oQN7fy_eM/v-deo.html&ab_channel=NotJustBikes
invisible, it is how some drivers look at bikes trikes even motorcycles. retired now, but 40 years driving big trucks, dome even painted bright colors, but strange a 48 or 53 foot billboard going down the road is unseen by theses ( lets just call them lemmings).
I think they’re all too busy texting to look at what’s in front of them, Larry. Thanks for watching!
Ware can I get a trike
Usually, they're sold at recumbent shops.
Get an airhorn for a bicycle which is as loud as a car's. Use it if a vehicle hasn't spotted you.
I know some folks that have air horns on their trikes.
@@bikestrikesrazors I have only had one occasion where a car did not see me on the trike which was because I did not have a flag at the time. They generally spot me earlier than they would when on my bicycle. Cars also are very careful around trikes which I consider safer than bicycles on the road.
I do not fit a horn on my trike or ever use one when in my car or motorbike. The reason being that as an advanced driver , I consider that getting into a position where you need to use a horn and rely on another driver hearing it is bad.
I might get an ICE VTX but concerned about harhsness of the ride.
I almost got squished a few weeks ago and could've used an airhorn. Joe and I pulled up to a 4-way intersection in a residential neighborhood. There was a car to our right waiting at the stop sign. We arrived after her, so we were waving her on (her windows were tinted) but she didn't move. Not knowing what was going on, and not being able to make eye contact with the driver, we were just waiting there to see what she would do. Eventually, she started moving and made a left turn right in front of us, BUT instead of staying in her lane, she cut the corner sharp and turned right into our lane. She was headed right at me, and I started yelling at her. For some reason she stopped and then apologized for not seeing us. It was apparent that the whole time she was driving she wasn't even looking at the road and was on her phone. Before turning left, how do you miss two trikes right in front of you?Needed that air horn!@@DemiGod..
I am not sure if this has already been asked, but where did you get those American flags?
Hi,
We got those many moons ago by a company that's no longer in business. I believe it was called, "Jerry's Flags".
@@bikestrikesrazors I like them. Too bad they are out of business!
⚔️💪😎👍🏴(stroke)
Highway use?
I wouldn't go near a highway unless I was on an overpass, Ty! :) Thanks for watching!
Gravel = Dogs where I live in eastern South Dakota. And their owners just watch while they attack. Good idea for another video? 👍🏻
That is a great idea for a video, Vizslas! But who's gonna volunteer to play the guy that gets attacked by the dog? :)
Yes, long distance touring bikers (holiday bikers) also have this problem with dogs. Biting in your calfs. Some bikers use an ultrasound device to scare dogs.
Cycling in the UK is getting too dangerous there's so many morons over here driving cars and the Police don't care.Denmark and the Netherlands though have great cycling paths so if you live in either of those countries you can keep on cycling.
Sorry to hear that, Carl. With the advent of cell phones, the driving here in the U.S. has gotten pretty crazy with everyone looking at their phone while driving. There are some nice car free trails in this area, so I'm pretty lucky. They don't have any bike trails in the U.K.?
Radar to tell if someone is behind you , what ? Get a good miror , I use a motorcycle miror ,
I know folks that use the Garmin Varia radar type system, but haven't had a chance to try it yet. I'm curious as to how much it might help. Thanks for watching, Jacob!
@@bikestrikesrazors Why not use a mirror to see behind you ? I dont understand how a radar could be better ? I wont ride without one its too dangerous !
@@jacobclark89 I wouldn't ditch my mirror either. :)
In all the videos about recumbent bikes, I see little to nothing about riding with large, tall, brightly colored, highly visible flags, and lights, front & rear. 😩😫
Hi John and thanks for watching! I do have videos covering lights and flags on trikes, but when I'm riding on a trail, I don't usually use them.
You broke the law at 0:40 by not stopping at a stop sign in a video about not getting hit by cars. Are you even kidding me right now?
Good eye, Lawrence! I realize it's no excuse, but the stop sign in question is basically on the bike trail, with nothing but a seldom used service road on the left and a parking lot on the right. Still, you're right- There could have been a car there and I should have stopped!
It's called Vehicular Cycling.
With the proliferation of eBikes, I would expect some discussion on this as more die.
Ebikes and trikes don't have the inertia penalty at stops that DF do. Drivers notice it,. when we don't stop.
Safety should not depend on pssing off other road users but it works. Again my They see us as a road hazard riff
In my City, and some others, it is legal for a cyclist to go through a stop sign "As Long As Its Safe". On my way home from work at 3am with no traffic there is one stop sign I ride through if there are no cars. On a recumbent trike with my head about the height of a car bumper I am much more cautious.
You want to know how not to get hit by a car go the speed limit man with a evike hub motor I think anybody should go the speed limit even if that was an eBay kit on a trike you should do the speed limit and send in feeding traffic that's how you get not hit by a vehicle I think every trike Rider should fight to send out as well as e-bikes to fight tooth and now to increase the speed of a bicycle e-bike or trike on the roads to be able to go the speed limit and still not have to have a license on the vehicle on the street worthy and legal with lights water lights on your trike a frame wrapped around your trike so no one can hit you and hurt you as well as body panels to keep vicious dogs and biting you as you ride by when you want to take a slower Pace in life on a dirt road somewhere don't be more slow pace relaxing ride without much traffic on that dirt road it would be great without teenage shirts riding their trucks think they have the ownership of the road and a bike rider has no right on the road now just like that is problem for the off-road dirt roads as well as payment roads that's why I should have torque and speed to get out of the way of a creep like that and I should be able to call 911 when they're being harassment someone in a car that's trying to put my life in danger by trying to run me off the road or run over me whatever the case may be versus to be rested and taking to jail for that crime of vehicle harassment that can possibly end into vehicle manslaughter. Cuz cars ain't no toy to play with
Did you realize the rear part of the ICE trike is bent? Every time I see your videos I think about telling it to you. The rear tire is inclined to the right, and it´s really easy to fix. Just loose the screws that hold the rear fixed to the cruciform part of the trike, and wigle the rear triangle a little bit to the left. Sorry for bothering you. Perhaps I´m a little bit exagerated with a little detail, but since I´m a ICE sprint triker too, I wanted you to know. (milarmon, at Bentrideronline.com)
Thanks much for the heads up, Gerardo! Don't know if it's actually tilted or that's just some trick of the camera lens, but I'll go take a look right now. Thanks again!
@@bikestrikesrazors You're welcome... And please, let me know if I was right. I like your videos a lot, by the way. Keep rolling!
@@GerardoWuhl Hi Gerardo! You were correct! Thanks for pointing that out to me! Very much appreciated!
@@bikestrikesrazors Glad to help. It's my photographer's eyesight. I have a 6th sense for the horizon, and most of the time I can identify when things are tilted.
You can bet that I will enjoy a LOT your next video with the wheel fixed... 😊
@@GerardoWuhl LOL! I'm guessing the trike will roll a little better with that wheel straight!
Thanks again!
You can start by not running stop signs! 😡
Just stay off the road ! Bike trail only !
That certainly helps, Cheri!
Leave at least one ear open to hear vehicles. Cars are pretty loud when you’re not in one yourself.
I agree completely, Robert! I never will understand riders that go out wearing earbuds or other headphones. While it’s nice to listen to music while you ride, by blocking your ability to hear what’s happening around you, you’re preventing yourself from hearing the warning signs of any number of potentially dangerous situations. Thanks for watching!
Varia adds range. If you are waiting to hear them you are far behind the curve.
I use Bluetooth bone conduction headphones that leaves your ears open so you can hear your surroundings. However when on busy roads I turn them off for maximum hearing.
also be aware of electric cars because they are even more difficult because they are noiseless. Also use two mirrors not just one because you have a blind spot when going back to your right after passing someone and you do not want to cut someone off or clip a parked car when moving back over to your right. Have a great day.
@@paulahavens2764 great points! Thank you!
Where is the flag??? We need all the help we can get to attract the attention of drivers. And…. Your rear light is hidden at times by the larger rear wheel.. I ride a trike because of health issues so I can’t get out and walk my trike through car parks. Trikes were originally made for guys like me, but I guess you already knew that.
Flags are always a good idea! On this particular ride, I descend very fast on a few hills and my flag won't stay in the holder (even with extra Velcro straps) so that's why I wasn't riding with it on that part of the video. Thanks for watching!
@@bikestrikesrazors - My custom, slip-on flag wandered off the tight fitting fiberglass whip at 45 mph. I went back and punched a grommet into it, and now it's got a thin nylon rope and snap hardware securing it or the pole from liberating itself at speed.
@@karlaldinger3017 Great idea!
its pretty shitty that cyclists are so often the innocent victims of the car driving hobby when cars shouldnt even exist any more. but hey, millions of car drivers also die, which is a bit of a consolation.
It's always the wrong ones , though. More victims that casualties.
There is hope on the horizon Andy, with autonomous cars. Once (if) they can get the kinks worked out, we'll never have to worry about being hit again. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! :)
@@bikestrikesrazors Wasn't it a lady with a bike that that Uber autonomous hit in AZ in 3/18? I wonder how the AI relates to trikes.
@@whazzat8015 I'm guessing they haven't loaded trikes into the AI yet. The last big accident I remember, a semi was crossing the street parallel from a self driving car and it didn't register with the AI. The car thought it was a billboard and rammed into it. Why it wouldn't stop for a billboard in the middle of the road, I can't guess :(
@@bikestrikesrazors I know Tesla AI isn't perfect, nothing is. However Tesla's AI is currently about 3 times safer than a human and it never loses attention. My Tesla model Y has FSD and its amazing. There are currently other brands beside Tesla that have accident avoidance and eventually all new cars will. They say in the near future accidents will be rare. :-)
But we will still need to watch for the old cars without it. :-(
and don't be a drama-queen, your not special cause your riding a bike, your just a car person on a bike at that time, and ride on the side walk in areas that are mostly empty...why tempt fate for no reason, its easier to apologize about being on the sidewalk than to die. I ride in black, no lights no flags, never had a problem with a car...seems to me its the spastic cyclist's causing the problem.