The city I grew up in had no roundabouts back then. Today it does have some, some were even made and removed again since. People there hate roundabouts.
The city I live nearby now has so many roundabouts that I can drive for over an hour without seeing a traffic light. It always had those, people are used to using them.
Guess what works better and barely has any traffic issues at all.
As a bicyclist I hate them, at least the smaller ones. Because they slow me down, can't take them with 40 to 50 kph, need to slow down to 30. But that was the intent, yes?
However, crossings with traffic lights I can take at any speed I'm able to, when they are green for me, and I don't need to turn. Or if I can oversee them from afar, and they are empty, and I can give a shit about 'lights'.
I've got hydraulic disk brakes on several of my bikes. Though I avoid using them for such full-stops, because the places I'm bicycling in I usually know the traffic patterns, and how the lights change.
Also I'm not riding 'blindly', though if I can oversee that from afar, and it's empty, I'm pretending color-blindness.
I'm doing this since about 1980 at speeds up to 70kph for maybe up to two minutes on flat grounds
(exception 73.5 uphill here <a href="https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=50.719937&mlon=7.111630#map=19/50.719936/7.111630" rel="nofollow">https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=50.719937&mlon=7.111630#... in the middle of two lanes between gridlocked cars, unforgettable ooomph),
55 to 60 for about an hour, and 45 to 50 effortless, with no sweat, almost any time. Of course I feel strong head-winds, and they do slow me down.
And never ever caused an accident, just touched the rubberlip of a Citroen 2CVs rear bumper with my front wheel once at about 65.
In a roundabout ofc, because the fuckers slowed down for turning out without even blinking. Bicycle was trash, but I've been unhurt, except for very numb and tingling at the same time, hands, soles of my feet, and initial breathlessness. Which all went away after a few minutes, no bruises, no torn clothes.
After having made a salto over the handlebar, managed to separate from my bicycle in the air, pushing it aside, and landing flat on my back after 15 to 20 meters, or so.
Holding my head upright, intentionally. No tingling or numbness there.
Long live the CWU-36P Nomex Flight Jacket from about 1981. Still have that one, but with a new zipper, and new cuffs. I'm considering that thing my 'supercape' :-) And real Levis 501 as they were made in 1988!
Got myself a 'pre-owned' Bianchi with Campagnolo group the next day, for 1500 Deutsche Mark and cackled madly with joy :-)
80 to 90 downhill(on paved roads, not through the wilderness!), if weather allows, and I'm in top form. 90kph is not a good, or easy thing on any bicycle. But... speed is what I need!
Where am I even doing 90? Several places on CO82, on my way back from Independence Pass to Aspen. If weather (mostly wind, can't have strong gusts!) and traffic permits.
herbst · · focus · HN ↗
The city I live nearby now has so many roundabouts that I can drive for over an hour without seeing a traffic light. It always had those, people are used to using them.
Guess what works better and barely has any traffic issues at all.
LargoLasskhyfv · · focus · HN ↗
However, crossings with traffic lights I can take at any speed I'm able to, when they are green for me, and I don't need to turn. Or if I can oversee them from afar, and they are empty, and I can give a shit about 'lights'.
oneeyedpigeon · · focus · HN ↗
Well, provided you can still stop in time should the lights begin to change.
LargoLasskhyfv · · focus · HN ↗
Also I'm not riding 'blindly', though if I can oversee that from afar, and it's empty, I'm pretending color-blindness.
I'm doing this since about 1980 at speeds up to 70kph for maybe up to two minutes on flat grounds
(exception 73.5 uphill here <a href="https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=50.719937&mlon=7.111630#map=19/50.719936/7.111630" rel="nofollow">https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=50.719937&mlon=7.111630#... in the middle of two lanes between gridlocked cars, unforgettable ooomph),
55 to 60 for about an hour, and 45 to 50 effortless, with no sweat, almost any time. Of course I feel strong head-winds, and they do slow me down.
And never ever caused an accident, just touched the rubberlip of a Citroen 2CVs rear bumper with my front wheel once at about 65.
In a roundabout ofc, because the fuckers slowed down for turning out without even blinking. Bicycle was trash, but I've been unhurt, except for very numb and tingling at the same time, hands, soles of my feet, and initial breathlessness. Which all went away after a few minutes, no bruises, no torn clothes.
After having made a salto over the handlebar, managed to separate from my bicycle in the air, pushing it aside, and landing flat on my back after 15 to 20 meters, or so.
Holding my head upright, intentionally. No tingling or numbness there.
<a href="https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/51.070329/6.999691" rel="nofollow">https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/51.070329/6.999691
Long live the CWU-36P Nomex Flight Jacket from about 1981. Still have that one, but with a new zipper, and new cuffs. I'm considering that thing my 'supercape' :-) And real Levis 501 as they were made in 1988!
Got myself a 'pre-owned' Bianchi with Campagnolo group the next day, for 1500 Deutsche Mark and cackled madly with joy :-)
80 to 90 downhill(on paved roads, not through the wilderness!), if weather allows, and I'm in top form. 90kph is not a good, or easy thing on any bicycle. But... speed is what I need!
Where am I even doing 90? Several places on CO82, on my way back from Independence Pass to Aspen. If weather (mostly wind, can't have strong gusts!) and traffic permits.
<a href="https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=39.1197&mlon=-106.5797#map=11/39.1197/-106.5797" rel="nofollow">https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=39.1197&mlon=-106.5797#m...
What else? I don't wear a helmet. And no doping. Never even tried that. For what?