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The main problem with cycling is that some cyclists are safer in the road while others are safer off of the road. I happen to live in an area with wide (car wi

The main problem with cycling is that some cyclists are safer in the road while others are safer off of the road. I happen to live in an area with wide (car width+ shoulders) so most of the time I'm there. However, there are a handful of left turns I make that result in me being in the vehicle left-turn lane at the signal lights. When the green arrow shows I'm lights-out sprinting through the intersection so I'm not holding up vehicle traffic. Cyclists can actually accelerate much faster than vehicles over the first couple of seconds and it's only 5 seconds or less through an intersection. Having said that, my sprint power from a dead stop is from 6 - 15 watts / kg, depending on my motivation level. If someone is coming away from a dead stop at a lower power-to-weight ratio they should probably not be in the road since they will unnecessarily hold up traffic.

SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
> 6 - 15 watts / kg How do you measure this on a bicycle? I know you can do that on a stationary rower (I was exceedingly happy when I could hold > 1 hp for 30 seconds) - do you measure on gym stationary bikes?
- tomjakubowski 8y ago
  You can install a device on an ordinary bicycle to measure the power input to the pedals. https://www.cyclingweekly.com/group-tests/power-meters-everything-you-need-to-know-35563 https://www.cyclingweekly.com/group-tests/power-meters-every...
  - SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
    Very cool! Thanks.
saltcured 8y ago
Also, it's not just the athletic power, but the bike design and the technique of the rider. I ride a hard-tail mountain bike I converted for commuting with some more appropriate city tires. I am no triathlete, but I know enough to shift into the right starting gear before I stop and to sit with one pedal up in a position that allows a good power stroke to get rolling again. I am often first across a large intersection when the light changes, although a few drag-racing cars may catch up (against the general trend in which drivers seem more distracted and slower to respond to light changes these days). I see younger, healthier riders who wobble all over the intersection like a little kid learning to ride. They have their bikes in the wrong gear or have a bike with fixed gearing. They fumble around trying to get both feet on the pedals before they even have enough forward movement to balance. And, some ride bikes that seem to be configured in the worst possible way for balance and efficiency, with bad geometry, seats and handlebars in the wrong place, or absurdly heavy materials...
KozmoNau7 8y ago
>"there are a handful of left turns I make that result in me being in the vehicle left-turn lane at the signal lights" This is caused by traffic laws seeing everything in the road as being similar to a car, which is counter-productive, forcing slower traffic such as bikes to cross lanes for left turns. It is much more sensible and safer for cyclists to do hook turns, instead of using the vehicle left turn lanes.

SketchySeaBeast 8y ago

> 6 - 15 watts / kg How do you measure this on a bicycle? I know you can do that on a stationary rower (I was exceedingly happy when I could hold > 1 hp for 30 seconds) - do you measure on gym stationary bikes?

tomjakubowski 8y ago
You can install a device on an ordinary bicycle to measure the power input to the pedals. https://www.cyclingweekly.com/group-tests/power-meters-everything-you-need-to-know-35563 https://www.cyclingweekly.com/group-tests/power-meters-every...
- SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
  Very cool! Thanks.

saltcured 8y ago

Also, it's not just the athletic power, but the bike design and the technique of the rider. I ride a hard-tail mountain bike I converted for commuting with some more appropriate city tires. I am no triathlete, but I know enough to shift into the right starting gear before I stop and to sit with one pedal up in a position that allows a good power stroke to get rolling again. I am often first across a large intersection when the light changes, although a few drag-racing cars may catch up (against the general trend in which drivers seem more distracted and slower to respond to light changes these days). I see younger, healthier riders who wobble all over the intersection like a little kid learning to ride. They have their bikes in the wrong gear or have a bike with fixed gearing. They fumble around trying to get both feet on the pedals before they even have enough forward movement to balance. And, some ride bikes that seem to be configured in the worst possible way for balance and efficiency, with bad geometry, seats and handlebars in the wrong place, or absurdly heavy materials...

KozmoNau7 8y ago

>"there are a handful of left turns I make that result in me being in the vehicle left-turn lane at the signal lights" This is caused by traffic laws seeing everything in the road as being similar to a car, which is counter-productive, forcing slower traffic such as bikes to cross lanes for left turns. It is much more sensible and safer for cyclists to do hook turns, instead of using the vehicle left turn lanes.