The dangers of riding your bike too slow

[Deleted member 4366]

Collisions can happen in any direction. If you do a bit of research, you'll find that there's a very significant number of cyclists hit from behind. It's logical that the faster your travel on a bicycle, the less the impact. This could explain why there's hardly any evidence, if any, of dongled or other high-speed electric bikes being involved in such accidents.

Here's a recent example of what can happen at a speed below 30 mph:

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/cyclist-left-dead-broken-back-7381787#3EdTe24rUxgqUF7F.97

 

[trex]

I suspect that for every accident caused by low speed, the guy who rode behind you was going too fast and not in control of his bike.

 

[D8ve]

Starting a new troll feeding station?

 

[Kenny]

Collisions can happen in any direction. If you do a bit of research, you'll find that there's a very significant number of cyclists hit from behind. It's logical that the faster your travel on a bicycle, the less the impact. This could explain why there's hardly any evidence, if any, of dongled or other high-speed electric bikes being involved in such accidents.

Here's a recent example of what can happen at a speed below 30 mph:

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/cyclist-left-dead-broken-back-7381787#3EdTe24rUxgqUF7F.97

I've always felt safer on my electric bike on the road.

There's a stretch of road about 8 miles long from Tarbet on loch Lomond. It's narrow, shaded and full of blind bends.
I hate cycling it on an unpowered bike as the slower speed means cars bear down on you really fast and have less time to react.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

There's a stretch of road about 8 miles long from Tarbet on loch Lomond. It's narrow, shaded and full of blind bends.
.

I know that road well. I'very seen many single-sided caravans parked up along there.

That road and the one the other side along Loch Long from Arachar are my two favourite motorbiking roads if you travel early before the cars are on the road. I can imagine pretty hairy on a bicycle.

 

[Kenny]

Hi Dave, yes some great motorcycling roads around there and up to Glencoe (I have two motorbikes though prefer my electric bikes these days).

Loch Lomond side has a lovely cycle path from Glasgow which I've enjoyed many times.

Unfortunately the cycle path ends at Tarbet and if I continue past there I try to go at a good pace to get that dangerous stretch over with.

 

[derf]

Starting a new troll feeding station?

My thoughts too, strictly fwiw I used to think ebikes safer for higher speed too (not least because AtoB,which I respected when it was still published, said so on statistical grounds,given that travelling faster means spending less time on say a dodgy shoulder less road. Then I stopped using my ebike six months or so ago and switched to an unpowered brompton and sometimes mezzo i picked up on eBay for the 11 mile daily commute (asa comp!ete aside, I've lost over a stone and feel at least ten years younger, I heartily recommend it). BUT the point is that I discovered I feel safer ona non ebike - blasting along at 20 mph ona fifth world potholed English road and dodging those as well as traffic was nowhere near as safe as doing the same at a more predictable 12 to 15 mph as I do now

 

[flecc]

BUT the point is that I discovered I feel safer on a non ebike - blasting along at 20 mph ona fifth world potholed English road and dodging those as well as traffic was nowhere near as safe as doing the same at a more predictable 12 to 15 mph as I do now

Although sticking with e-bikes, I fully agree on speeds, despite living in a London borough. I'm far happier at well below 20 mph, no matter how heavy the traffic. Given drivers frequent bursts to 40 mph and beyond at every slight opportunity, I'm never going to match or better them anyway.

They miss me, and that's what really matters.
.