V20's are scary fast...or so I've been told

McWheels

McWheels

Off the long run
So long as the party carrying out the pass can complete it safely, which you can and did, the rest is meerly made-up manners. Cars don't honk when they pass you, no point cyclists should either. And the more common cyclists become, the less this thing happens. In London no one talks to each other anyway, you just sort of work out the rough rules are pass on the right, give them enough space to avoid a pothole, and filter traffic like a boss.
 
super slim

super slim

Zen MBB Master
When riding the ACA USA Pacific Coast ride, I ended up rider with another rider whose average speed was the same as mine, but he was faster climbing, and I was much faster descending and faster on the flats. On long hills, greater than 10 Km, Jim would wait at the top for me, then I would descend fast, and back pedal on the flat until he caught up. On short, less than three km climbs, Jim would keep going and I would pass him at 15 to 20 km/hr faster than him on the descent giving him 1.5 m clearance minimum, and normal 2.5 m, as he could not hear my Ring/Ring bell, OR me yelling out "Passing on the left", as load as I could, until I was just passing him.

Anything less than 1.5 m, and Jim was surprised when I passed him.

It was good to be able to ask question of a Passee to find out what was the most effective warning method, and lots of side distance, OR slowly right down to his speed, warning him, then accelerating past him, were the only effective methods for me on a tour with 13 riders.

On large tours with more than 2,000 riders, I would only pass if I could safely pass on the other side of the road, as many riders within a pelaton would suddenly pull out, to pass, without checking behind them.

I think a prerecorded "Passing on the left" horn of variable volume would be the ultimate!!!
 
DavidCH

DavidCH

In thought; expanding the paradigm of traversity
A flashing blue neon would probably be just as good. Whenever I see a flashing blue neon I always hit the brakes even if I am not speeding:oops:

(Not sure if it would be legal)
 
super slim

super slim

Zen MBB Master
Dave the cyclist in front has to have a mirror and ACTUALLY use it to check if clear to move out from a Pelaton!!!
My experience is that they don't!
You also need a VERY bright daylight headlight like a 1300 lumens Designshine, NOT a 320 lumens Dinotte 400 L!
 
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Doug Kline

Doug Kline

Guru
O
Mathew Fy said:
That's why I think I'll be moving my Dealpeak Ultra Loud 5 Modes Cycling Horns Bike Bicycle Handlebar Ring Bell Cycle Horn over from another bike.
Click to expand...
I've always worried that bells and horns sound like you're saying "get out of my way", and might actually startle more people. How have riders reacted to that horn?

On the other hand, I wouldn't mind having a Road Runner "beep, beep" to play after I've passed ;)
 
Doug Kline

Doug Kline

Guru
DavidCH said:
A flashing blue neon would probably be just as good. Whenever I see a flashing blue neon I always hit the brakes even if I am not speeding
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Hmmm. Since this particular ride was sponsored by the North Carolina Dept of Tourism, they had six State Troupers on motorcycles on route also. Everyone (that looked behind) was use to seeing them slowly come up so I wouldn't have gotten any respect from other riders seeing a blue light...and I'm sure the troupers would have given me a talking.

Kidding aside, it was very nice to have a police escort on some of the busy road sections we were on.

When doing a 24 hour ride on my upright, I use Noxgear Tracer360 which is quite visible at night. One of its modes is a flashing red, white, blue cycle. You can see it from a good distance and drivers don't know what to make of that and slow right down.
 
McWheels

McWheels

Off the long run
I've never wanted a 'beep beep' thing, but apparently because #itsnotarace I really, really do want a rear-facing counter. And once I'm 10 yards clear and opening, to have the number illuminate in bright red for their benefit and increment by 1 before fading away.

I may start a new thread, people can score their bikes in analogue to the ladder.
 
jond

jond

Zen MBB Master
Air zound klaxon louder than a car horn and only to be used defensively. Tee hee

Get out of the way dopey.

When your polite bell is ignored or scoffed at give em the old $&@BAAARRRRP

Wickedly satisfying for dolts a talkin on your favourite bike path.
 
trapdoor2

trapdoor2

Zen MBB Master
On my 'cruising' bikes, I use one of those 'incredibell' bells. Works most of the time...one simply cannot get thru to someone wearing ear-buds or having a lively conversation in their >2 group of walkers (who are almost always going to be fully blocking the path). I was gobsmacked last weekend when I rounded a curve into a large group of pre-teen skateboarders. The lead kid jumped off and loudly told the group to 'Get off the trail! A bike is coming thru!' I loudly thanked them all as I went by (lot of 'cool bike' comments...kids!). Bro' Don fielded an Airzound for a couple of years. Frankly, it was too loud and generally caused walkers to scatter unpredictably. Local sales figures for laundry detergent were up, I'm sure.

On the V20, I try to stay off the trails and stick to the roads. I warn folks conditionally (using the golden rule). I know that if my relative passing speed is high, any shouted words won't be understood. I give as much room as possible and zip past. If my relative speed is low, I give out a loud "on yer left!" look for a reaction and pass appropriately (wave thru: pass close. no reaction: pass as far away as I can or don't pass at all). I've got mirrors on all my bikes (two on the V20) and am a diligent mirror-watcher...yet I still get caught out by passing bikes. A sudden "on yer left" from out of nowhere remains a serious adrenalin spike. It is just too easy to be enjoying the ride/countryside and cruzing along in your little 'happy place' bubble.
 
AlexisBV

AlexisBV

Active Member
My experience with the Air Zound is mixed. It works great when new, and actually saved me once from a collision with a pedestrian crossing the street, wearing earphones and looking THE WRONG WAY. Laundry detergent was likely required. It's also a great unexpected comeback when drivers aggressively honk at you for taking up space on their precious asphalt.

That being said, their durability is low. Maybe it's the canadian cold, but after a year or two they just stop working (I had two, but not at the same time :) ). One of them sometimes works if I fiddle a bit with the back part that houses the membrane that generates the sound, but it's not reliable. Often it just ends up doing a quiet pfffffffff sound.

I like that it's rechargeable with a schrader pump. I don't like that my schrader pump is screw-on, and the horn's valve actually spins with it while I'm screwing on the pump hose, so I can't easily get a good connection.

By the way, the volume is somewhat adjustable with a valve on the horn itself. But I would just leave it at max. It's LOUD :emoji_headphones:. Don't test indoors.
 
jond

jond

Zen MBB Master
AlexisBV said:
My experience with the Air Zound is mixed. It works great when new, and actually saved me once from a collision with a pedestrian crossing the street, wearing earphones and looking THE WRONG WAY. Laundry detergent was likely required. It's also a great unexpected comeback when drivers aggressively honk at you for taking up space on their precious asphalt.

That being said, their durability is low. Maybe it's the canadian cold, but after a year or two they just stop working (I had two, but not at the same time :) ). One of them sometimes works if I fiddle a bit with the back part that houses the membrane that generates the sound, but it's not reliable. Often it just ends up doing a quiet pfffffffff sound.

I like that it's rechargeable with a schrader pump. I don't like that my schrader pump is screw-on, and the horn's valve actually spins with it while I'm screwing on the pump hose, so I can't easily get a good connection.

By the way, the volume is somewhat adjustable with a valve on the horn itself. But I would just leave it at max. It's LOUD :emoji_headphones:. Don't test indoors.
Click to expand...


I have mine on a touring trike and it is five years old now and still working well so perhaps it is Canada cool that is an issue. You need a new pump by sound of it.
 
B

bonobo

New Member
I have had three AirZounds, I like them a lot but have found that the hose to the air tank cracks over time making them useless. On MUPs I ring a bell or say on your left. On the road the AirZound is your friend.
 
Roger Underhill

Roger Underhill

Member
Zzzorse said:
Great photo, by the way!
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Yeah. Noticeably the best Vendetta position in my book. I might buy one now. Most I see have the headrest so low they seem to need to look down their noses which wouldn't suit me. Is that an after market head rest I see? It looks a little different. The lady was passing a slower rider - totally ok. You passed her - totally fine. What worries me is that she caught you at all. Did you take a toilet break? ;)
 
Doug Kline

Doug Kline

Guru
Roger, sorry, I missed your post. I have a large Thor G-sport saddle on my V20 with an Adem 2 hard shell headrest. I find the position to my liking with a good view of the road. It does give up some area benefits, but I find it much more rideable than laying so far back.

She caught me because I wasn't trying to totally lose my friends. While I let loose on the decent, I was not pushing the climb. I could see Keith working his way back up to me in my mirror.
 
Rod Butler

Rod Butler

Well-Known Member
AirZone tweeking?
I like the car sound-alike horn.
Could a CO2 cartridge serve as an 'air' reservoir?
Is some sort of remote switch at all possible?
 
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