Last night I was riding a two lane road with a bike lane. A cyclist blew by me as I was stopped at a light. It's a long straight road and I decided I'd try to catch him, not to pass or suck his wheel, but to see if I could keep pace. I got up to speed about a hundred yards behind him, but I just couldn't match him. He started inching away. But he was doing something odd. He was riding on the slightly raised white plastic line that divides the bike lane from the auto traffic lane- right on it. That seemed incredibly dangerous because they get super slick if there's any condensation, and it was getting dark, and though he had a good headlight he only had a miserable little flashy at the back. Does anyone know why he'd be doing that?

The only two things I could think of were that he didn't have confidence in his headlight and thought he could see any road obstructions better on the line (which would seem more than offset by the risk of getting closer to passing trucks, as well as the possibility of slipping), or that he thought the smooth plastic surface would give him less rolling resistance. I pulled onto it for a few seconds when it was clear, and it was smoother than the road, but it didn't seem like any great advantage.

Last night I was riding a two lane road with a bike lane. A cyclist blew by me as I was stopped at a light. It's a long straight road and I decided I'd try to catch him, not to pass or suck his wheel, but to see if I could keep pace. I got up to speed about a hundred yards behind him, but I just couldn't match him. He started inching away. But he was doing something odd. He was riding on the slightly raised white plastic line that divides the bike lane from the auto traffic lane- right on it. That seemed incredibly dangerous because they get super slick if there's any condensation, and it was getting dark, and though he had a good headlight he only had a miserable little flashy at the back. Does anyone know why he'd be doing that?

The only two things I could think of were that he didn't have confidence in his headlight and thought he could see any road obstructions better on the line (which would seem more than offset by the risk of getting closer to passing trucks, as well as the possibility of slipping), or that he thought the smooth plastic surface would give him less rolling resistance. I pulled onto it for a few seconds when it was clear, and it was smoother than the road, but it didn't seem like any great advantage.

Maybe he was practicing trying to hold a very tight line while riding.
Or maybe he's a reformed cokehead.

Why does there need to be an ulterior motive? I ride on the line all the time. Just because.

around here anyway. I would probably stay away from it when turning, but on long relatively streight roads sometimes I'll ride on it if there are no cars around.

Around these parts we've had our fair number of ride crashes when people ride that line. They paint it with a reflective paint that makes it VERY slick even when dry. So when new riders show up for our weekend rides we always warn them to NOT ride the line.

Add to that the fact that the line is raised several millimeters from the road surface and it creates a lot of problems if you're not careful.

Why was he doing that?Perhaps he hasn't crashed yet while riding it. Believe me, once he does, he'll stay away from it.

... maybe he/she was having a Zen moment...

In my personal experience, riding the line ups the odds at going down even in dry conditions. As already mentioned, they appear to be relatively slick and are a different dimension than the surrounding tarmac... a couple of things that skinny tired wheelz don't seem to like.

I guess I'm just too big a whimp to go against Murphy!

First off, whats a bike lane? Second, around here if you ride the white line that puts you about 3 inches from the ditch. Not much room for error when someone decides to buzz you.

Last night I was riding a two lane road with a bike lane. A cyclist blew by me as I was stopped at a light. It's a long straight road and I decided I'd try to catch him, not to pass or suck his wheel, but to see if I could keep pace. I got up to speed about a hundred yards behind him, but I just couldn't match him. He started inching away. But he was doing something odd. He was riding on the slightly raised white plastic line that divides the bike lane from the auto traffic lane- right on it. That seemed incredibly dangerous because they get super slick if there's any condensation, and it was getting dark, and though he had a good headlight he only had a miserable little flashy at the back. Does anyone know why he'd be doing that?

The only two things I could think of were that he didn't have confidence in his headlight and thought he could see any road obstructions better on the line (which would seem more than offset by the risk of getting closer to passing trucks, as well as the possibility of slipping), or that he thought the smooth plastic surface would give him less rolling resistance. I pulled onto it for a few seconds when it was clear, and it was smoother than the road, but it didn't seem like any great advantage.

He was just a stronger rider than you. I have that happen all the time out here in Boulder. If I freaked out everytime I was passed by a stronger rider I'd have probably given up the sport by now.

I ride the line sometimes. It's good times and shortens the distance by keeping you going straight.

I like riding on the painted line - its good practice for riding a nice, tight line. It forces you to relax your body and let the bike do its thing.

I only do stuff like this while riding solo - not in a group ride. Yes, I know painted surfaces can be slick when it is wet. So don't do it when its wet.

We've got some road surfaces down here in TX that will suck 2-3 mph off your speed. As soon as you change surfaces, your speed will pop up.

This summer I rode with an old-school former NY state time-trial champion. He claims riding the white line gives you a bump of a few tenths of a mph. He does it all the time. Then again, he also told me stories about his pack racing days when he'd get guys on his wheel, then swerve around potholes at the last moment and listen for the "bang."

I like riding on the painted line - its good practice for riding a nice, tight line. It forces you to relax your body and let the bike do its thing.

I only do stuff like this while riding solo - not in a group ride. Yes, I know painted surfaces can be slick when it is wet. So don't do it when its wet.

Same here. Not particularly dangerous when dry and going in a straight line, about the same as riding rollers. You can nearly ride with your eyes closed. Easier to see pavement problems in the twilight.

It's to practice holding a straight line. I don't have that many painted white lines on my ride route. It's not the white line that is to worry about so much, it's the chance of picking something up on your tire (like gas or oil), it can make that white line slippery. The Discovery Channel Team in the TDF team time trial a couple of years ago went down in the rain because of the white lines. The Euro lines are painted differently because of the type of paint they use. I don't think there is much worry here. Limit lines can be plastic laminate. Tires are factor also.

l do it for several reasons
-faster than riding on a dead road
- practice riding straight line

I just ride either on or just off to the side of the white line. Use to practice holding a straight line. My wife is usually a few inches off my back wheel and I need to keep a line unless I want her to crash. That would be bad.

What carbon 13 said!

Yeah me too, what carbon 13 said!

Peace :cool:

He was just a stronger rider than you.

Yup, either he was a little stronger and pushing it, or a lot stronger and taking it easy :D But I was curious about the white line thing- never seen it before.

First off, whats a bike lane? Second, around here if you ride the white line that puts you about 3 inches from the ditch. Not much room for error when someone decides to buzz you.

If that's a serious question, a bike lane is a lane of traffic reserved exclusively for bicycles. They're usually, though not always, on the far right of the road, about 4 feet wide, and separated from other traffic lanes by a solid white line. They have the words 'bike lane' painted in them every few hundred feet. If they are present, bicycles must use them and cars and trucks must not (with a few exceptions).

I ride the white line quite often. If the road isn't busy with traffic I will more often than not ride the line. It's smoother than the road for the most part and it's good practice for riding straight.

Now that I know it can freak somebody out, I'll probably do it more...

If that's a serious question, a bike lane is a lane of traffic reserved exclusively for bicycles. They're usually, though not always, on the far right of the road, about 4 feet wide, and separated from other traffic lanes by a solid white line. They have the words 'bike lane' painted in them every few hundred feet. If they are present, bicycles must use them and cars and trucks must not (with a few exceptions).
It was a joke. I was alluding to the fact that where I live bike lanes do not exist. Far enough off of the beaten path and we are lucky to even have asphalt.

Oh no! the white line! It's going to make me crash!!!!
give me a break.

yes, wet and turning it's an enhanced risk.

If you're going straight and not mashing yoru pedals so hard your bike is moving like you're climbing out of the saddle it's not an issue.

also, in the winter, car tires tend to clean it off nicely because it's slick so less flats.

really, if your're scared of crashing while riding a straight line on the paint you need to work on your handleing.

I like to ride the white like and pretend it's a skinny rail 6' off the ground. Run off into the gray and it's good-bye collerbone!

Oh no! the white line! It's going to make me crash!!!!
give me a break.

yes, wet and turning it's an enhanced risk.

If you're going straight and not mashing yoru pedals so hard your bike is moving like you're climbing out of the saddle it's not an issue.

.

You should try riding the ones around here. I bet you you won't last more than 2 kms without slipping. They coat them here with some reflective paint and also what I believe is the plastic that somebody else mentioned here (I've seen road crews here using something similar to a torch when applying it). It has as much traction as riding on acrylic boards.

And don't even get me started on those metal boards road crews install over road construction and large potholes ...arrrghh, nice and strong for cars to go over but NASTY for riding a bike over them.

I ride just off to the left of the line. Try to maintain a consistent gap to the line as opposed to riding right on it. This is to give me more room from hazards at the roadside etc. If riding the line, and then you encounter something and need to move out a little into the lane, you may be moving closer to an upcoming car that doesn't expect you to move out. And we all know that some drivers leave little to no room for error when approaching.

We've got some road surfaces down here in TX that will suck 2-3 mph off your speed. As soon as you change surfaces, your speed will pop up.

I never knew that a surface could kill 2-3mph just by its paving type. In the Chicago area, at most, 1mph...

...then I rode in TX where some roads are literally like riding through honey. It was the weirdest thing, and uncomfortable, too.

You should try riding the ones around here. I bet you you won't last more than 2 kms without slipping. They coat them here with some reflective paint and also what I believe is the plastic that somebody else mentioned here (I've seen road crews here using something similar to a torch when applying it). It has as much traction as riding on acrylic boards.

And don't even get me started on those metal boards road crews install over road construction and large potholes ...arrrghh, nice and strong for cars to go over but NASTY for riding a bike over them.



YEA! I HATE those metal "boards". It's probably the only road obstruction that really scares me. When it's dry they aren't so bad but when it rains...


If you can't avoid going over it, you better make sure you have your front wheel 100% straight and don't do any kind of leaning, otherwise you WILL go down.