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Comment by worriedcyclist | Hacker News Reader

Getting off topic but I always ask folks what are some more examples of unexpected things to look out for?

I’ve become a bit disillusioned with cycling after 2 fairly bad crashes in about 6 months.

I didn’t have a fear of metal drawbridges, having gone over a variety of them numerous times. Then I hit one that was slick from rain earlier in the day. Tires swerved like I was on ice and I did not fall gracefully. Broke my elbow, nose, and needed many many stitches.

Recently I did all the “right” things- riding in daylight, in a bike lane, in bright clothing with a helmet, and still got right hooked by a careless driver. Walked that one off but limped for a week. after.

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Borrowing the phrase from motorcycling but it rings true with bicycling as well. Ride like you are invisible and every driver is drunk and out to kill you. Assuming the worst intentions from cars on the road teaches you to slow down and be prepared to stop or swerve to avoid a collision. Wet metal and bikes don't mix, motorcyclists are taught to pull in the clutch going over train tracks and man hole covers for this very reason.

Thanks- I've always felt I rode this way, assuming the worst, but with each incident that assumption of worst intentions increases! Wt metal and bikes, such a no brainer in hindsight and wish I hadn't learned the hard way.

I could fill you a long list of dos and don'ts, what do look for and what to avoid, but cycling is inherently practical, and you have to learn it by doing it.

As you are by now aware, we're pretty much exposed to all kinds of dangers, and sometimes bad things happen. But if you aren't discouraged, and you keep on practicing, eventually you'll learn how to avoid most of the worst case scenarios where you could find yourself by your own negligence and/or lack of attention.

The important thing to retain is that you have to have the muscle memory to know how to react properly when in a tight spot. That's why reading about things isn't much of a help — you don't have time to think in order to act properly. My advice? Practice, and practice riding defensively.

I live in a very rough country for cyclists — Brazil. And in order to find my place on the road I have to be twice, thrice as careful as I would have to be somewhere else. But I've found that if you play it safe and learn to be nice and respectful of what the other perceives as its rightful place on the road, thanking everyone that shows you even the smallest act of kindness or basic respect for you, you'll be surprised how much things change on the road around you.

Be nice and don't try to be a hero. You're a glorified pedestrian and your skin is no match for steel.

Thanks for the thought out response. "Glorified pedestrian" is a good way of thinking about it. Legal rights are not the same as perceived rights.

> I didn’t have a fear of metal drawbridges, having gone over a variety of them numerous times.

Where do you live that has numerous drawbridges made of metal?

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