A moment on the ride home that was just So right.

If there is one thing Americans need it is the health benefits that biking can provide. Check out the average ass size difference in counties in Georgia compared to bay area counties in California.

Ha! Anybody got a link? No pics = didn't happen... 

Car v. professional cyclist - see what happend to Hoogie at TdF.  Could happen on Hwy1 just as easy.

Check out the average ass size difference in counties in Georgia compared to bay area counties in California.

I don't speak German, but I recognize what krakendesmache means!


Bushy

If there is one thing Americans need it is the health benefits that biking can provide. Check out the average ass size difference in counties in Georgia compared to bay area counties in California.

Ha! Anybody got a link? No pics = didn't happen... 

Will these do for pics?

If there is one thing Americans need it is the health benefits that biking can provide. Check out the average ass size difference in counties in Georgia compared to bay area counties in California.

Ha! Anybody got a link? No pics = didn't happen... 

http://www.livescience.com/38070-how-counties-rank-in-obesity-and-physical-fitness-rates-infographic.html

there ya go...its obesity, but you can probably translate that to ass size (more obese = larger ass size)

Bottom line- if you want fit, slim women go to Teton county-- Jackson Wy!  (my former home so i can attest to the sheer hotness that walks around that place)

what most non-cyclists seem to forget is that nearly all cyclists are also drivers. We see from both perspectives.
I've been "stuck" behind cyclists plenty of times ( I live in the heart of cycling country in Marin).  I've never been "stuck" for more than a minute or two...though it seems like much longer. I know what it feels like to have a car following, or a car blast their horn, or hit you with a soda can...

I commute to work by bike a couple of times a week, and drive the rest of the days (well almost, very rarely will i take a run to work). Most cars are fine, but inevitably on each commute there is some knucklehead that endangers me trying to shave a few seconds off his commute.  When i drive (especially to our SF office) to work, i inevitably see some knucklehead cyclist endangering themselves by doing something stupid.

what most non-cyclists seem to forget is that nearly all cyclists are also drivers. We see from both perspectives.
I've been "stuck" behind cyclists plenty of times ( I live in the heart of cycling country in Marin).  I've never been "stuck" for more than a minute or two...though it seems like much longer. I know what it feels like to have a car following, or a car blast their horn, or hit you with a soda can...

I commute to work by bike a couple of times a week, and drive the rest of the days (well almost, very rarely will i take a run to work). Most cars are fine, but inevitably on each commute there is some knucklehead that endangers me trying to shave a few seconds off his commute.  When i drive (especially to our SF office) to work, i inevitably see some knucklehead cyclist endangering themselves by doing something stupid.

It's very rare that I see a motorist run a stop sign/light.  It's very rare that I see a cyclist NOT run a stop sign/light.   

-Allen

No shit.

Though if you don't include "california Stops" by cars as stops- its easily a wash.  Its rare i see a car make an actual stop at a stop sign (wheels complete stop, weight falls back).

Somewhere i have seen a study of roll through stops by cars and by bikes-- with time spent in a "stop zone" calculated for both.  Bikes spent more time in the "stop zone"... it was an argument for roll-through being legal for bikes. Crazy shit.

Most of the enforcement in my neighborhood by the various LEOs is for riders running the stop signs.

FWIW-- I do stop.

It's very rare that I see a motorist run a stop sign/light.  It's very rare that I see a cyclist NOT run a stop sign/light.   
-Allen

Define running a stop sign. Cars roll through stop signs ALL THE TIME. Just watch the wheels. If they don't stop moving, that's a roll.
Also, when a bike slows from 15mph to 5mph at a stop sign, it looks like he's just rolling through. When a car slows from 30mph to 5mph, it appears to be more a stop, even though they go through at roughly the same speed. I think this happens a lot.

If there are other cars at an intersection, and it's not my right of way, I always stop, or go slow enough to allow the other car(s) to go first. There are times, however, when stopping or signaling only confuses other drivers. The logistics, dangers, and difficulties of riding a bike are only fully understood by other cyclists.

It's very rare that I see a motorist run a stop light when going straight if there is no cross traffic.  It's very rare that I see a cyclist NOT run a stop light when going straight if there is no cross traffic.

How about that?

-Allen

This whole discussion has got me thinking about bike commuting again. Did it for 3 years once but i did get hit twice during those 3. Luckily never hit badly.Bruised & pissed off but that is the risk.

i stop every chance I get in order to impress motorists with my track stand

There are times, however, when stopping or signaling only confuses other drivers. The logistics, dangers, and difficulties of riding a bike are only fully understood by other cyclists.

Wow.  Really?  It's easy.  If the light is red ... STOP.  If the light is green ... GO.  What's so confusing about that?

I really don't mean to get down on cyclists here.  Shit like this doesn't bother me.  But these are my observations and denial doesn't change them.

-Allen

It's very rare that I see a motorist run a stop light when going straight if there is no cross traffic.  It's very rare that I see a cyclist NOT run a stop light when going straight if there is no cross traffic.

How about that?

-Allen

Yes, cyclists run lights more than cars (I never do and don't condone it), but usually only after stopping first to see that it's safe to do so. I wouldn't say I see cyclists run stop lights very often at all, though. Stop signs more so.

In the end, a reckless driver is a threat mostly to others. A reckless cyclist is a threat mostly to him/herself.

There are times, however, when stopping or signaling only confuses other drivers. The logistics, dangers, and difficulties of riding a bike are only fully understood by other cyclists.

Wow.  Really?  It's easy.  If the light is red ... STOP.  If the light is green ... GO.  What's so confusing about that?

I really don't mean to get down on cyclists here.  Shit like this doesn't bother me.  But these are my observations and denial doesn't change them.

-Allen

I'm not talking about lights. Yes, I agree. Red = stop, green = go.

But at stop signs it's a different story.

1. If I'm approaching a 4-way stop and planning to turn left, and an approaching car is there first and going straight, if I signal left, half the time he'll jolt to a stop, assuming that I plan to cut in front of him. Therefore, in that situation, I usually don't signal at all in order to not confuse/freak out the driver. I simply wait for him to go through and then make my left turn.

2. If I'm approaching a 4-way stop and a car is approaching from either side, but I'm there first, and if I come to a complete stop, then the majority of the time, he'll roll through and take my right of way as I slowly pick up speed and enter the intersection. Therefore, in this situation, I slow most of the way down and then roll through (rather than make a complete stop) in order to get my right-of-way.

Again, there are lots of subtle nuances that non-cyclists don't see, hear, feel, or understand when they're in their cars. Bikes are not cars and shouldn't be expected to behave exactly like cars in every situation. 

It's very rare that I see a motorist run a stop light when going straight if there is no cross traffic.  It's very rare that I see a cyclist NOT run a stop light when going straight if there is no cross traffic.

How about that?

-Allen

Yes, cyclists run lights more than cars (I never do and don't condone it), but usually only after stopping first to see that it's safe to do so. I wouldn't say I see cyclists run stop lights very often at all, though. Stop signs more so.

In the end, a reckless driver is a threat mostly to others. A reckless cyclist is a threat mostly to him/herself.

I don't agree. Reckless cyclists have almost caused me to get into an accident in a moment of panic trying to avoid them doing something. I have seen people almost getting into accidents with oncoming traffic due to a reckless cyclist and being forced to make a split second decision where they don't have time to assess the situation for the safest course of action / least catastrophic outcome.