My office has just moved 5km from my usual spot. Beginner questions.

Smyth

Hi.

Been living Dublin for a few years now. Before that in the country. I used to bike all the time with my friends in the forests/around the country so I'm not used to traffic...at all.

I've known that the office was changing so I've walked the route a few times to try and find the safest way to get there.

Having never really paid attention to the cyclists in the city I'm more than a little apprehensive.

Those cycling lanes look no wider than my shoulders. Added to that, the buses and cars seem to zip by practically clipping the side of the cyclist.

I was in Amsterdam a few weeks ago and the boundaries between the cyclist and the motorist are clearly defined. I'd be very nervous sharing space with a 10 tonne tank travelling 20km/hr.

What's the deal? What sort of things should I bear in mind?

Also most importantly what sort of bike should I get, gear etc.

You guys not absolutely sh*t yourselves cycling to work?

Raam

Smyth wrote: »

You guys not absolutely sh*t yourselves cycling to work?

Bring a change of underpants, you'll be fine.

Wishbone Ash

Smyth wrote: »

You guys not absolutely sh*t yourselves cycling to work?

I enjoy cycling in heavy traffic. It's child's play compared to rural roads which are spoiled by bloody dogs. (I'm terrified of dogs).

07Lapierre

Nope! I'm invincible! ( i wear a helmet).

thebouldwhacker

I never thought of it like that.... oh carp what was I thinking!!! I'm never cycling again!

Hmmm how much are 10 tonne tanks?

Seriously though, take your time and build up to it. Know the rules of the road and remember if in doubt 'might is right'.... enjoy the adventure!

TheBlaaMan

You need some confidence building, so firstly, get familiar with controlling your bike in less threatening circumstance. When you are happy that you can accelerate/stop/weave/ride really slowly while staying upright when as as the circumstances require and still stay in/on the pedals, etc you will feel less intimidated. They are just other road users after all.........not aliens.

Cookie_Monster

Just avoid all the terrible and frequently dangerous cycle lanes and use the road, you'll be grand.

don't wear a helmet, high vis or any other nonsense like that, drivers will give you less space if you do, it's been proven time and time again.

Smyth

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

don't wear a helmet, high vis or any other nonsense like that, drivers will give you less space if you do, it's been proven time and time again.

lol wat

seamus

Smyth wrote: »

lol wat

Helmets and high vis do not provide any proven protection against either being struck by a vehicle or surviving an accident.

Whether you wear them is up to you, neither are "crucial" pieces of kits. If a helmet and high-vis costs €50, that money is better spent on lights. Get the helmet later if you think it's necessary.

BostonB

You have to try different routes to find which one works the best. Best might not be the shortest. It might be the one with the least traffic and easier junctions. I take about a 10 min longer route to work because its a nicer cycle. Personally I find traffic gives me more space the better visible I am.

Its gets easier with experience.

BostonB

seamus wrote: »

Helmets and high vis do not provide any proven protection against either being struck by a vehicle or surviving an accident.

Whether you wear them is up to you, neither are "crucial" pieces of kits. If a helmet and high-vis costs €50, that money is better spent on lights. Get the helmet later if you think it's necessary.

Smyth theres a lot of debate about the helmets and hi viz, a lot of it very misleading from both sides of the debate. It very much a personal choice. If you start getting in the nitty gritty of helmets and hi viz, you're thread will turn in to an debate about that and not about the practicalities of starting off commuting on the bike.

BostonB

Also I find cycling at peak traffic easier. Theres more cyclists, so you're in a pack. Traffic moves slower as its stuck in queues.

Take is slow, your not in a hurry on the bike. No need to rush. If theres a junction you don't. Simply dismount and cross as a pedestrian. One you get a bit of confidence you find staying on the road, much easier.

Smyth

Suppose the visibility aspect of it makes sense. Prevention first and all that.

It's funny. Now that I'm looking out for it I'm seeing things I've never seen before.

There was a guy on the way into work with a plastic stick stuck onto the side of the bike. It went out about 0.5m or so and had a circular end on it with a reflector. Seemed like it would deter motorists from coming too close.

As for the bike itself, where's best to start. Make, models etc I really need to get one sorted before the end of the month. Even if there's any Dubliners here with a second hand bike?

fenris

Helmets and it isn't even Friday!

Proper lights that actually make you visible to traffic are a must, most of the little flashers are useless and get lost in the background clutter of lights/signs/shopfronts etc.

Also watch out for you lights getting obscured by you bag / jacket and no longer being visible, LED lights are very directional when it comes to brightness and visibility, just set them up right and check to make sure that they are still visible periodically.

Warm, windproof and waterproof gear, if you are cold and wet it is much harder to concentrate on what is going on around you when you are on the bike and it also make it harder motivate yourself to get onto the bike despite the best intentions, the bus goes from smelly and slow to the warm and cozy option. Good gloves are a must.

A good lock because you need it!

BostonB

Can you use the Bike to Work scheme at work. Get the bike much cheaper that way.

Doctor Bob

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Just avoid all the terrible and frequently dangerous cycle lanes and use the road, you'll be grand.

don't wear a helmet, high vis or any other nonsense like that, drivers will give you less space if you do, it's been proven time and time again.

I'm not sure this is the best advice for a novice.

Smyth- many people on here have a reflex aversion to anything that goes by the name of cycle infrastructure (lanes, tracks, etc.) In some cases, they have a very valid point- many of the facilities don't really facilitate cyclists. Having said that, many of them do, or are at least better than nothing, especially for someone who hasn't yet earned their advanced cycling stripes, or who just doesn't feel like mixing it up with traffic.

Rather than advising you to just man up and throw yourself in at the deep end ("Sure you'll be grand!!"), which doesn't strike me as especially helpful or relevant to your query, I'd suggest that you look at the route options from home to work, find the most lightly trafficked one and start there, regardless of whether it's the most direct or not. It might help to drive or walk the route first, in order to familiarise yourself with the junctions, the presence of cycle lanes, the quality of those lanes, etc. And a test ride of the route(s) on a quiet Sunday morning may also be a good idea.

We don't have anything to compare to Amsterdam anywhere, and nor do we have the traffic management you see in that city which keeps traffic speeds low on all non-main roads, but in general cycling in Dublin city centre is no less dangerous than walking. It's on the busier roads in the suburbs (which often have reasonable lanes/tracks, but pretty awful junctions) and the main arterial routes into town where you might need a bit more practice/experience. This comes easily, and quite quickly, and with it comes more confidence, but I'd caution against over-confidence. Knowing your abilities and their limits is important (and something that more advanced cyclists often mis-judge).

Practice looking over your shoulder regularly to keep an eye on following traffic, practice hand signals, don't hug the kerb (it gives you no evasion space if you see potholes, and invites motorists to pass you too close- staying a metre from the kerb is usually fine), obey traffic signals (I wish this didn't need to be said, and apologies if it seems patronising), use lights in the dark. And remember, while you're as entitled to be on the road as any car (moreso, in fact, but that's for another day), discretion is the better part of valour.

I'll leave suggestions for bike type to others- it depends to an extent on whether you'll be commuting only, using it at weekends for spins, etc. My daily steed is a Dutch bike which is perfect for my needs, as my commute is pretty flat and c.6km, and I carry work materials, locks, waterproofs, etc. in my front crate. If you're commuting only, a good hybrid may be your best bet. Spend as much as you can- not only will this make every journey more enjoyable (or, on some days, just less difficult), but it may also act as a motivator on days when you're feeling less inclined- I'd find it much easier to leave a €200 bike in the hall than a €1000 bike.

petethedrummer

1. Assume every other road user is out to get you.
2. Don't go up the inside of anything big.

You'll be grand after a while. Commuting to work is the best part of my day.

07Lapierre

petethedrummer wrote: »

1. Assume every other road user is out to get you.
2. Don't go up the inside of anything big.

You'll be grand after a while. Commuting to work is the best part of my day.

I prefer the commute HOME in the evenings myself!

petethedrummer

07Lapierre wrote: »

I prefer the commute HOME in the evenings myself!

Mine is usually against the wind.

BostonB

petethedrummer wrote: »

Mine is usually against the wind.

Mine too.

Surprising often its in both directions.

Columbia

Just don't make unexpected moves (speed changes, changes of direction), respect the rules of the road (and yes this extends to stopping at red lights). Also remember danger comes from all sides! Don't be so preoccupied with what's passing to your right that you ignore the pedestrian stepping into the road in front of you.

BostonB wrote: »

Mine too.

Surprising often its in both directions.

Mine was uphill in both directions.

coolbeans

1 - If you're only cycling 5km you don't need any specialist clothing at all.

2 - Get a helmet if you like but remember that they're not mandatory and having one will not prevent a collision. I also find that they can obscure your field of vision in certain riding positions and that for me is a major drawback.

3 - Decent lights (mandatory by law). Good ones are useful even during daylight hours and absolutely invaluable at all other times and especially so in the rain when so many drivers forget or can't be bothered to demist their windows. Hi vis looks **** but lots of people like it. I personally find it redundant when you have quality lights.

4 - Know the rules of the road and know your rights. Don't apologise for cycling and don't ride in the gutter. Do you drive? If so you should basically behave as you would in a car except with a little more embodied awareness. When safe keep to the left but out of the door swing radius of stationary cars.

5 - Most motorists are grand but you will encounter the occasional cock or fanny. To minimise this be predictable and when I say predictable I re-refer you to point four where generally obeying the RotR is a good idea.

6 - At junctions and lights it is crucial that you assert yourself. Filter and stop at the front of the queue and do not keep to the left once you get there. Remember it's illegal and dangerous for others to overtake you at junctions so don't give some fool the chance to prove themselves. Obviously, once underway and cruising pull left to allow faster traffic by.

7 - Learn to use your gears. It amazes me how so many people use about three of their maybe 21 available gears. Take off in an easy gear to aid acceleration and then change to a harder once momentum is up to increase speed.

BostonB

I sometimes run my lights in heavy traffic. Turn them off in the park etc. But just to note, hi viz is primarily to be seen during the day. Its the reflective strips that are seen at night. Though obviously a white shirt is better than a black one at night. But my point really is, if you are buying gear look for the strips/stripes. Good on shoes, cuffs, jerseys, jackets. I've seen some people put reflective strip on helmets, frame, bags etc.

LCRC_BAX

petethedrummer wrote: »

2. Don't go up the inside of anything big.

This applies to all aspects of life...