17th Cyclist Killed In Tampa Bay/Manatee

[johnsondasw]

Out of curiosity just how many of you guys use a mirror? My opinion this is the most important bit of kit to keep us safe.

No one has answered this question yet and it was asked a month ago.  Even the moderator tried to squelch it...

I wrote "Lots of talk about mirrors in other threads. Try a search from the main forum page to check it out." I am sorry you interpret that as squelching Tony's question. It was intended to point out many answers already written.

Fred

Thanks Fred.  My bad. I misinterpreted your statement as implying the post was not important or relevant.  My apologies.

Doug

[Westinghouse]

 Tourista829. OK. Thanks. I had no idea I had just hit post 700. Right now we have four female teachers here who are leaving, and with this being a small, specialized program, another guy and I are having to mix all class levels into one to take other teachers' students. However, if out and out war breaks loose, we will be forced to evacuat. There are snipers and terrorists. People are being murdered en mass. It's for real. I ought to be walking around here with a rearview mirror.

[Tourista829]

You and your associates, will be in our thoughts and prayers. Might want to curtail your riding until things calm down. They postpond a big autorace due to the unrest. People deserve to be free. Be safe, my friend

[Westinghouse]

You and your associates, will be in our thoughts and prayers. Might want to curtail your riding until things calm down. They postpond a big autorace due to the unrest. People deserve to be free. Be safe, my friend

I know I'm being cautious. The other teacher's wife just packed and left. The students just told me they consider it too dangerous to come here to study. People are quite on edge. There are no real guarantees in life.

[Tourista829]

One can never be too cautious. The problem is, that most times it is a difficult situation to read. However, this is not one of them, with snipers on the roof, mercenaries, and foreign troops......I always want to have an exit plan. Not always easy to get out when you have to. If our State Dept. says it is time to go, I would heed there advise. I hope you don't wait until you have to take a bicycle and try to make it to the border or to a port.

[Westinghouse]

One can never be too cautious. The problem is, that most times it is a difficult situation to read. However, this is not one of them, with snipers on the roof, mercenaries, and foreign troops......I always want to have an exit plan. Not always easy to get out when you have to. If our State Dept. says it is time to go, I would heed there advise. I hope you don't wait until you have to take a bicycle and try to make it to the border or to a port.

I'm not cycling here. Bike shops vary quite a lot, but most seem to be department store type bikes, but no dept. store, just small, hole-in-the-wall type stores. BBC sent a note asking for my phone # for an interview. I haven't sent it. The crisis is escalating.

[Tourista829]

I guess, I should be thankful to be cycling in Tampa. There are far worse places to be. Although, our "lets get to work," governor Rick Scott, (who was resoundingly booed at a Yankee game in Tampa) and our state legislature are about to allow all Floridians to "strap on" a gun, kind of like the old west. Should be great for our tourism industry. It would give new meaning to the movie "High Noon." 

[pptouring]

Come on Bob keep it to cycling!

[mucknort]

The fact is, I have never used a rearview mirror on a bicycle. I am for it 100%, but I haven't used one. I tried using one of those small mirrors that clips on to a cap or helmet, but it bothered me that is was blocking my side vision, and I couldn't stand that.

One wouldn't drive a car/truck without a mirror and it makes no sense to ride a bike without one. To be able to ride defensively you can't just see what is in front of you. The little clip on mirrors don't work for me either, but a high quality glass mirror doesn't vibrate or distort your view:

[Tourista829]

Mucknort, I have that mirror on my commuter bike and it works very well. It can be adjusted in many ways. Ron, apologies, you live near Tampa, you know what I deal with, but I feel hopeful today. Spring is here, we have a new mayor, and I am going to try to get a walking or bike path down County Line road. (I be happy with a side walk) There is a rumor that they maybe widening it. With my new schedule at work, and the time change, I will be able to commute a couple of days a week. Ron do you have any interesting rides planned this year? I may ride to Ft. Myers and spend a couple of days in Key West.

[Westinghouse]

Looks like all our students have cancelled for fear of commuting into this area. I can't say as I blame them. The program has ended. I am flying back to Florida. Looks like my plans for a winter ST ride was not to be. However, I have the option of returning here after all the hell settles down.

[pptouring]

No need to apologize Bob it's all good. I come here to escape all the crazy drama (Politics mostly) happening around the world, kind of like my "Happy Spot", so when you start going off on Politics, it makes this not a "Happy Spot."   

Yes we are heading to Europe again. Visiting family/friends in Germany, but the real vacation will be when we get off the train in Sofia, Bulgaria. Riding from there to Bucharest, Romania and then we'll be working our way through Transylvania and finishing up in BudaPest, Hungary. From Pest we'll train back to Germany for a few more days then fly home.

[Tourista829]

Ron, I certainly understand. I will keep it What an interesting and ambitious trip to the old communist block. I hear Bulgaria is nice, alot of Germans like to take their holiday there. You know, there are vampires in Transylvania. Your pictures should be spectacular. We wish you a fun and safe trip.

I saw, in a post, you are riding a Brooks B17, how do you like it? My Brooks Professional is still holding up. I have been riding it for almost 15 years. You got to hand it to Brooks. We spoke with Alex Dowd from Villin Cycles, a while back, who use to ride a Brooks Saddle and replaced it with a Sella Royal Gel Saddle. Virtually no break in and he has ridden it over 100 miles a day. He told Dottye and I that it is more comfortable, this while we were in Gainesville, having lunch at Satchel's.

[Westinghouse]

The program closed. Snipers shot and  killed 45-52 antigovernment demonstrators. Thay had them by the thousands along a roadway, and hemmed them in by setting a large fire across the road to prevent escape by running down the road. Snipers opened fire with lethal shots mostly to the head, neck, and torso. I could hear it but could not see it. I saw one child shot through the heart. Students would not commute into the area. The program closed. On October 6, 2010 I was at the British embassy the morning militants attempted assassinating the British vice ambassador with a rocket propelled grenade. Oh well. Libya has the oil so I suppose that is the only flash point you will be getting news about through the establishment media.

[Westinghouse]

I am back in SE coastal Florida. I am cycling quite a bit. Nobody I know has been mowed down here lately on his / her bike. I guess that's one good sign.