Blah…Blah…Shut this guy up!

Unfortunately, when you are a cyclist, or at least like to ride your bike a lot, people always want to bring their stories of dealing with cyclists to you. You might not think this happens often, but it happens a couple times a month to me at work and a couple more times a month dealing with family and friends.

Yesterday, July 30th, was a particularly bad day. What I want to say is that if you are a triathlete or cyclist, you need to start obeying the rules of the road and stop acting like idiots when you are out there. Also, have the basic skills necessary to handle your bike while on the road.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to commute to work by bike this week due to the fact my ride home is on vacation. So, each morning at 4:50 am I wake up and drive to the YMCA in Waukegan so I can ride my bike on the Robert McClory trail. Well, yesterday at about 5:30 am on the drive in, I was turning off Russell onto Kilbourne headed south. It was still dark as sunrise was not for another 15 minutes. There was a group of six to eight triathletes riding in the dark. Two of them did have lighted belts, but the others did not have anything. So, let’s quickly review Illinois law in this area. First, if riding in the dark, you need a front headlight and a rear reflector. Not a single person followed these rules. None had front lights. None had rear reflectors, with only two having a rear light. By the way, if you are going to use a rear light, invest in one that can actually be seen if you are on a bike. Don’t use the same belt you use for running. The lights on these belts were so bad, I did not even see the lights until I was within 50 yards of the cyclists and even then I had to actually focus to see the light.

The group also seemed to not be riding single-file. This is another place to review Illinois law about riding. Riding two abreast is only permitted as long as the normal and reasonable movement of traffic is not impeded. Think about that… as long as the normal and reasonable movement of traffic is not impeded. This is Illinois people. There isn’t a single road in Lake, Cook or any collar county where you are not going to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. So, when you hear cyclists and triathletes shouting, “Hey the law says we can ride two abreast,” remember that is not what it states. You cannot ride two abreast if you are impeding traffic. Once again, these cyclists were very guilty of that because even though it was early traffic was already coming in both directions on that road.

Finally, if you do not know how to control your bike, do not ride in the dark or on the road. This one seems to be a problem for triathletes. I am not talking about cornering at speed or descending a twisty hill. After all, my bike skills are horrid. Due to frame geometry, when triathletes are not in the aero position, the bike is sketchy in response to slight movements. I do not know why this is, but I am guessing the shorter wheel base and top tube lengths. One of the women in the group, could not keep control of her bike while out of the aero position. She kept veering into traffic. If you cannot control your bike out of the aero position, get off the road or buy a road bike that is easier to control. I do not care if you are a “triathlete.” If you do not have the mastered the skills to handle your bike out of the aero position, you should not own it or you need to learn it, and not while it is dark.

Next up, is the cyclist I could not defend. Later that morning, a woman who is an avid runner and great supporter of all endurance sports, asked me about etiquette with cyclists and runners. She was running on the road, against the flow of traffic (I am not sure if that is correct, but she was doing it) and a cyclist is coming so she stepped onto the shoulder of the road which was narrow, so the cyclist could have more room. The cyclist was riding exactly on the white line. When he passed, he did not move off the white line, thus forcing the jogger into the ditch to avoid being hit. So, what impression does this leave with the public when it comes to cyclists? We are jerks, that is what. This might be a good place to review more law. A cyclist riding on the roadways at less than normal traffic speed, should ride as close as practicable and safe to the right-hand curb. Some exceptions include, passing, preparing for a left turn, avoiding fixed or moving objects, or substandard width lanes (a lane where the cyclist and vehicle cannot travel safely side-by-side). There are others, but those are the main ones. So, the point being this cyclist could have moved over and been within the law without driving a jogger into a ditch. To the cyclist riding on Gelden Road in Lindenhurst, stop being such a jerk.

Finally, on the way home, I was forced to go west on Grand Avenue in Gurnee. There was a cyclist riding in the left lane causing a huge back up in traffic. At first, I thought, well he is getting ready to make a left. First, light came and he did not make the left. Second light came and he did not make the left. I can only assume he was making a left at the third light, but I had passed by then. Now, was this cyclist within his rights? I would argue yes. After all, if he did make a left, Grand Avenue is busy along Gurnee Mills and you might have to move to the left when you get a chance and that might be before your light. He is allowed to “take the lane” to make the left. On the other hand, he might be violating the rule to staying to the right. Assuming he was turning on Hunt Club, the better choice might have been to to the old fashion left by crossing over Hunt Club and waiting for the north-south light on Hunt Club to get across Grand Avenue. The truth is that type of turn in this instance might have actually been quicker, and definitely safer, for the cyclist. Plus, he would have had the added bonus of not ticking off traffic during rush hour.

Finally, we all know that as a cyclist, the rules of the road apply to us. I am not advocating you follow all rules of the road, after all what motorist does? I do advocate though you follow the rules of the road, in regards to cyclists and as a moving vehicle, that promote your safety and help with making cyclists look as if they are trying to not purposely be in the way of vehicles. After all, I would never advocate a cyclist follow the rules of the road when it puts them at greater risk in traffic.