Rural Commuting

[MrMook]

So they printed my letter in the Rag about rural commuting, and now I'm here to ask the professionals:

How do you handle rural commutes?

I've done it before on my own, but it's sketchy for sure, and I have to call my girl when I get to work so she won't worry all day about me getting to work safely. My old commute in upstate NY allowed me to use rail trails for 8 out of the 10 miles to work, but I'm not so lucky up here in VT.

I love riding, so I really don't question the possibility of commuting by bike, and I'm probably more tolerant of the risks involved than most people are. But I'm trying to get others in my community to ride to work, and it's really hard to convince them that it's safe to ride on the back roads here in VT and NH.

Any advice?

[markie]

I have a rural commute in IL. I guees I am lucky because the one busy road I ride on has a shoulder that is 8 feet wide. The other roads I ride on are really quiet, I expect to only see a car once a week on them. Then going back into town I have one section of 4-lane road.

I do add an extra 2-miles to my route to avoid busy narrow roads, plus it is a better workout.

[S. cerevisiae]

Rural commuter here. Sixty-two km total on NE Ohio roads. I'm gonna push the climatological limits this year and see how late in the season I can pull this off.

My trip is really quite cool insofar as the first half is on a country two-lane where I might see like a dozen drivers in 12 km. After that therre is an Amish buggy lane that allows for not having to dodge motor vehicles...just meadow muffins. On rainy days it makes for a sort of brown horse-crap consume`:( :( :(

On a dise note: Shod horses are very destructive to asphalt roads. The lane was re-paved just last month and it's already getting rutted from hooves, and the steel wheels of buggies and hay wagons.

[robcycle]

BE the disco ball.

Don't be afraid to take your lane.

Know when to yeild your lane.

-Rob.

[LoneBiker]

Several years ago I rode 13miles each way on Indiana country highways to work, at 3pm, and then home getting out of work around 12-2am. You only ocassionally had a problem driver at night, usually the biggest whine was drivers leaving their brights on. During the day the traffic was predominately in the other lane, leaving town after work.

[OTBSkinloss]

I dunno. A first post without a spam link?!?! Not sure how to feel about this.

I ride mostly paved bike path for 9ish miles, parallel to a back road. I have noticed that a lot of folks seem to think it's better to ride the road, than the bike path. More power I guess. the drivers here are pretty good. At least 75% of the population at least owns a bike and rides some.
I'm with Rob, Be the disco ball. Remember the scene from Men in black, when Will Smith just finds out about the aliens, and the couple rides by on the tandem, lit up like a xmas tree. Do that. Oh, and paint your middle fingers bright orange. Make sure the other guy can see them. :D

[longhaultruker2]

my commute (was on occasion,now it IS the occasion!!!) is 2 lane rural all the way,w/ me leavin right at dawn.most drivers are contractors i del concrete to,and they know me (and don't want their concrete screwed up or rears kicked-not that i'm a big fat meany anymore,but they don't know that;)),and give me a wide berth when they pass.there are a few,tho,buzz rite by my shoulder w/ their mirrors.
i just smile and wave to everyone,but take a mental pic of license plates,just in case (i'm on a 1st name freindship basis w/ our sherriff:D).i make sure to hug the white line,keep as fast and steady pace as i can spin,wear a cannondale jacket w/ lotsa reflection,and throw on several lil blinkies.being seen goes a long way.i also gots fedex headin this way w/ more candle power:) from nashbar:) (my wife really doesn't like that website...you think she beleives me that it costs 100 bux to log on there?:rolleyes:)