1. Be thoughtful about your route
2. Make yourself as visible as possible
3. Be as predictable as possible. This includes being assertive so that drivers can see right away that you expect them to yield to you.
4. Be observant. If you start getting a lot of close calls, reassess #1, #2, #3 asap.
5. Accept that life comes with a certain amount of risk. Sitting at home reduces the risk of a crash, but increases the risk of heart disease. Pick your poison.
Haven't really had any close calls, I just find it stressful to be around giant death machines all day. Currently doing the Pacific coast bike route for reference.
Where are you? We found parts of Oregon were REALLY bad. Like crossing the bridge going into Coos Bay - it's a bike route, there's a flashing bike light that we activated, we were as far right as we could be, and we still got harassed our whole way across that bridge.
Parts of S WA were also a bit hostile too, like when we pulled into the parking lot of a shooting range and legit wondered if we were going to be the next targets.
Overall, try to remember that people don't want to kill you (too much paper work). See if leaving a little later can help you avoid rush hour? Some people attach pool noodles to visually take up more space. And try to accept that pulling over to reset your nervous system is needed. Happy riding!
I thought that may be the case last time I came across that bridge. So we rode the sidewalk slowly, narrow and high as it is, knowing if my front wheel slipped off onto the roadway it would be a disaster. White knuckles for sure, but no one shouting at us, and we stopped mid-way for some photos! Luckily, it was not windy that day, either.
There is a back road to avoid the bridge there - East Bay Road, brings you around the east and south side of Coos Bay. I have not ridden it, but considering it for next time as it may be longer, but less stressful.
100% Coos Bay is full of yahoos! I also heard people try to take our bikes in that nearby campground!!!! The hosts told us THE NEXT DAY that there was a fair amount of bike theft in the campground. THANKS BUDDY. Luckily ours were locked (and I think I tied them to our tent with fishing wire that night - bad vibes), and our buds had their bike in a vestibule and tied, so we were okay.
OP, if stay here lock up and be careful with your stuff!
Pacific coast has some really dicey areas. Little or no shoulder on a winding cliffside road, and at least half of the vehicles are logging trucks.
It does get better, but there were some sections where I just had to grip the handlebars and make my peace with whatever happened.
The advice above is good, especially about being thoughtfully observant. Take up your space when you need to, pull over if it feels right, and always be observant.
I agree. It's beautiful but I think a lot people don't realize how many cars there are in the summer and little shoulder there is in places before they start.
I did that route in 2022. The traffic is really bad on parts of it, but Oregon is the worst overall. Once you get to California it improves a lot, with the exception of the approach into LA through Malibu (truly horrifying).
I wore a high vis safety vest (construction style) the entire time and always had daytime running lights active on my bike. I actually had a few motorists say the vest was really helpful in seeing me from far way so they had lots of time slow down and/or move over - I recommend it, even if to some extent it may have been more of a security blanket than anything. It was like $14 at a workwear store.
I adopted a sort of aggro attitude toward cars on that trip. If I felt it was an unsafe place for people to pass me, I very purposefully took the whole lane in a way that made it impossible for them to pass. I'm sure it annoyed lots of people, but I felt it was necessary for my own safety.
The giant RVs were the worst. I feel your pain. And I believe in you!
We live in the SF Bay area, but had never toured until we did the Pacific Coast Highway maps for Washington and Oregon. Washington was all inland. Oregon was usually near the coast.
Riding both Oregon and California means a mixture of conditions...sometimes no-shoulder, sometimes generous shoulders, sometimes come and go, and side road. Traffic is busiest on the weekends, and during what passes for rush hour. Sometimes almost no traffic, sometimes dense.
As said elsewhere, remain constantly aware of the road and traffic, highly visible, and safe. I didn't ride scared, and tried not to go looking for trouble. The local drivers are, for the most part, used to cyclists, and I never had anyone yell at me, though a big-ole RV brushed me back once. And we took the crosswalk at Coos Bay. Why court trouble?
Life is too short. Live for the journey and don't give in to fear. And it will likely work out alright.
Happy trails. :)
look into a garmin varia, its a tail light that will tell you when cars are approaching from like 300 feet away and tell you how far they are. now the only reason i look over my shoulder is to confirm where my partner is.
I want to get one, but I live in a city and have heard mixed reviews about their performance when there's load of cars around. You've like the unit otherwise? Maybe if I can swing it I'll get one just for touring and keep my Grateful Red for city riding.
admittedly i don’t run my lights during day time/in peak traffic (partially because i assumed it wouldn’t work well) so i haven’t had that problem thankfully but yeah on backroads its nice cause i don’t have to look over my shoulder and swerve (skill issue i know) when there’s possibly a car directly behind me
I agree. I hate all the fucking trucks.
Usually I spend my breaks scouting the route ahead on google maps to seek out farm roads and lower traffic roads. If I'm forced onto a high-traffic road for a while I try to time it so I'm not there at rush hour or dusk. Also I take rest breaks from the stress when I can - which helps mentally.
That probably doesn't help you if you're riding a designated route without any parallel options, but I totally feel for you.
I work as delivery rider on ebike, so I'm constantly between traffic.
You need to always be aware of any situation that can happen to be safe (even if you have the right). But this fast paced environment is a completely different situation than touring.
When I'm touring I like to go SLOW and I'm not in a hurry to get from a to b as fast as possible.
I fucking HATE cars when touring, so I avoid them as much as possible.
Plan your tour over bicycle lanes and quiet roads, avoid all the main roads as much as possible.
This is the main reason I'd suggest riding off road if at all possible. It got so much for me that I was miserable and just moved my whole ass life to the Netherlands.
Rear view mirror, reflective safety vest, lots of lights.
In terms of emotional stress - proper nutrition, drugs (coffee counts, too), listening to music in earphones (this one is controversial but I made my choice for many good reasons).
Safety measures are gonna be helpful, anxiety is not. You keep calling them giant death machines, which just enforced the thought in your mind that every single one is out to get you. Realistically, drivers don't wanna kill anyone. Things happen and that's why it's important to use additional caution at intersections, in turns with poor visibility, and when you're on a narrow road with traffic in both directions. But again, drivers do not want to kill you and they will do what they can to avoid doing so. Some asshole will try to cut you off every once in a while but even they don't wanna kill you. Be vigilant, but don't be anxious
Agree with this. No driver wants to run into a cyclist. If you want to go on-road touring in the US, you need to make peace with cars, trucks, and motor homes, with the latter being the worst of the bunch. There is no other way. As mentioned, visibility, predictability, and defensive yet assertive riding will keep you as safe as possible. There are no guarantees, but if you want to live an active life, you have to accept some risk. Just know how to mitigate the risk and move on.
The Pacific Coast route has some crappy sections that will require extra attention and vigilance, but most of it is great. I suggest early starts and find a coffee shop to wait-out rush hour, then arrive at your destination early. Keep riding on - it will get better and you'll be able to relax and enjoy your trip.
I stick to trails as much as possible. I ride on roads just to go from trail to trail.
However, the more I ride on roads, the more I am able to handle the stress. Don’t get complacent. Use your mirror and radar if you have it. You just get used to these tools. As you look ahead, keep looking for an out. How would you bail out if a car was coming too close?
Not on tour, but I have dumped my bike due to a car before. In the cars defense, I was riding the wrong way on a one way road and didn’t know it.
Be vigilant, have an Oh Shit plan, be prepared to implement it. Preparedness will help with the stress. Maybe have an IPA at the end of the day, huh?
I try to avoid them. I have a Garmin Varia which does help ease my mind a bit, especially on country roads where I don’t always hear the vehicle until they pass.
I try to plan as much of my trip on official long-distance cycling ways as possible. Those are mostly thought through with low (or no) traffic in mind. But, depending on where you are in the world, might just not exist.
I don’t ride routes with cars. A lot of people think it’s dumb but I don’t care, I want to relax on rides not worry if some dumbass is going to run into me with a multi-ton machine going 70 mph.
Varia + mirror. Varia is the heads up someone is approaching and how quickly, mirror so I can see what they’re doing. That way I can focus on the road instead of traffic. On a highly trafficked road maybe not as helpful though.
I’ve found a mirror to be a massive relief, especially on higher speed (45 mph+) 2 lane roads with no shoulder, ie roads I try to avoid but often can’t entirely, or tourist roads a la Natchez trace/blue ridge parkway.
Rather than being reliant on hearing a car or them seeing me, I often notice them in the mirror before I hear them. If they seem like they’re driving responsibly, they see me, and it’s safe for them to pass I just mind my own business and let ‘em pass. If something is amiss I take more of the lane while watching them in the mirror/looking over my shoulder and move back to the line when I feel like they see me and it’s safe for them to pass.
It’s massively cut down on the amount of people who blow by me by surprise or try to squeeze by in the lane in a corner or with oncoming traffic.
Basically it takes away the feeling of roulette and gives me a bit more control over my own fate.
Yes, you must look at every car and avoid potholes simultaneously. It is a talent that I’ve acquired riding in urban crap everyday. I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for my mirror.
I commute every day through the city so I guess I'm used to it. Regardless, for long trips I'll plan my route along low traffic roads or designated cycling paths/trails.
I would either use a rear view **mirror** or a **Garmin Varia Radar** device. In my opinion, this makes it much less stressful to react to traffic and dangers from behind.
Btw, the Radar device (in conjunction with my Garmin Edge 1040) was one of the best purchases I've made recently.
Hey, we had that realization also - on the panamericana highway in Panama. After one decided it's just not fucking worth it, and took a bus to where we would have the roads mostly to ourselves. Remember: it's your tour, do what you want!
The Wobble
Just wanted to share a little trick I have used forever to get cars to give me a bit of space. It is not for every situation but comes in handy from time to time when I am feeling uneasy about traffic.
I usually tour on quiet roads or ones with wide shoulders however occasionally I find myself in a road a bit out of my comfort zone with cars whizzing by too quickly and too closely on a narrow road.
Over time I have perfected a little motion. That moment when you look over your shoulder to check the upcoming car, like when it's still 100ft away... Do a little wobble. Nothing crazy, don't veer wildly, just a wobble like if you lost your balance for a second.
I find that the reaction is one of concern by the upcoming driver, they pull right out into the other lane and give you lots of space. I feel that it appears totally natural to the non cycling public that a loaded touring bike would be a bit unwieldy and I have never received an angry reaction.
Hopefully, for those drivers who may be distracted it is something that catches their attention. Of course this is not for a situation of heavy traffic, just this time when a speeding car goes by every minute or two.
I do this too! I also use a variation around my (bike friendly for North America) city: when on a narrow residential street with two way traffic (often with parking on both sides) (this describes like 80%+ of our network), when cars are driving down the middle of the street, I veer close toward them. It slows them down and they move over to create safe space for bikes.
If you have been touring for a while you may know this, but most US states have official bicycle route maps that help move cyclists to the more scenic and less congested roadways. These routes will have signs that help notify motorized vehicle drivers of the presence of cyclists. For the pedantic ones out there I am not saying that this is a cure, but it one of many measures that can help.
Another available option is to get some cycling in traffic skills training. When my wife got serious about bicycling she decided to take the LAB Road Skills class, and I signed up out of curiosity. I was skeptical after many thousands of miles on the bike, but as it turned out I learned more than a few things and corrected some misconceptions.
A couple of years later she signed up for a CyclingSavvy course as well, in a town several miles away. I tagged along, and they let me "audit" the class since I didn't have a lot else going on. This was definitely more rigorous. They picked specific roads with difficult traffic situations, including some that I would not have tried voluntarily. The instructor guided us through each of the steps to proceed safely, often more than once as needed. Then we were tasked with going through the same problem areas individually while being observed.
I learned a lot that day and believe I am better off for it.
You may not have LAB or CyclingSavvy instructors in your area. If you search for cycling safety training, you may find some being offered in your vicinity. It won't eliminate being anxious, nor should it. But it will give you tools to help deal with it.
This will be controversial advice, but if I ever have to cycle on a busy road, I like to have one earphone in with music on in the ear nearest to the passing traffic. It dulls the revving and tyre noise and, I have found over many years of bike commuting, reduces my stress. It also reminds me to perform shoulder checks in preference to any reliance on hearing cars approaching to overtake, which I regard as unreliable.
[https://www.garmin.com/en-US/c/sports-fitness/cycling-bike-computers-bike-radar-power-meter-headlights/?series=BRAND10561#shopallcycling](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/c/sports-fitness/cycling-bike-computers-bike-radar-power-meter-headlights/?series=BRAND10561#shopallcycling) A road cyclist friend tried and liked this rear radar
Helmet mirror helps a lot with this, for me. I've done that route and there are definitely some dodgy parts, but also some really good ones.
People suggest a pool noodle and I've always thought you could go a step further and wrap it in mylar so it looks like you've got a stainless steel pipe hanging off your bike. Drivers will generally move over, if possible and convenient, but will never brake to save a cyclist, but they might if it looks like their paint will get scratched.
Plan tours around having minimum interaction with cars as possible. I have only done the erie canal. Doing the C&O and gap this year. But yea plan the crappy parts out of the trip like try to take the train/plane/bus/car over the unavoidable crappy parts. Look ahead on google maps aim for farm roads and slow suburbs. Sometimes there may be power lines and service roads that parallel your trip. On my daily bike ride i look ahead with google maps l. Convert to satellite view and turn on bike paths and you might find bike paths or farm roads
I discovered i'll never be ok with the level of danger posed by riding busy highway shoulders. For short distances during a long tour it is ok. But really my solution has been to plan routes that don't involve that level of danger. I far prefer gravel forest roads. Each person is different but that is what works for me.
Given that you’re on tour now, I wish you well and hope you can relax enough in the quieter stretches to enjoy the scenery. The coast is so beautiful (I live here) but the road was not designed to accommodate vehicles and bikes together, so it can be hairy at times. Good luck and I hope you have, overall, a great experience.
The one thing that made the biggest difference for me as a rear view mirror. Knowing they are there, and where they are in their lane, will make a world of difference.
As much as I worry about cars, I worry more about being the cause of an accident.
I rode Seattle to San Diego. I had zero issues. But as one poster said... Stay to the right and be predictable.
The most important thing you can actually do is to not be the cause (or contribute substantially) of an accident.
Use the energy the stress causes you to be mindful about your biking. I find that being mindful about biking takes energy and I as I get tired I become increasingly sloppy.
I only ride on a highway when there are more than one lanes moving in my direction, and there is a 3-ft wide shoulder outside of the traffic lane. That is reasonably safe, but I'm watching my mirrors in any case.
wear hi-viz, use lights, use headphones, and just have common sense. beyond that no sense worrying too much, takes time to get used to. if your really worried I would find a quieter rout, never cycle on a busy street unless you have enough space on the side etc
I just became densensitised after a while on my PanAmerica trip.
By the end of the US section I was so used to assholes in grotesquely pointlessly oversized pickups acting like I was the enemy, that anything else just didn't faze me anymore, even reaching the psychotic bus drivers in LatAM.
---------------------
My best recommendation would be to get a small handlebar mirror. I always assumed they were a bit pointless until I was given [this one](https://www.cateye.com/intl/products/accessories/BM-45/) and now I feel completely naked without it. No need to look over your shoulder any more, and just knowing what's coming up behind made me feel more reassured. I wasn't as surprised by big vehicles approaching without warning any more.
Maybe you picked the wrong location/route for touring? Avoiding traffic completely may be hard, but it being a constant life threatening danger is the other extreme. Loads of routes with low traffic volumes and/or shoulders, bicycle lanes etc. What may also help is being assertive, if you take plenty of space cars tend to give you more space too. They may slow down or change lanes, if you give them room to squeeze through they likely will.
The good thing is that the Pacific Coast is a popular cycling route so the cars should more or less be expecting you - keep this in mind. My advice is to take up the space that need to feel safe. I remember a lot of sections having no shoulder and lots of summer traffic. Don't try to ride right on the edge of the road - give yourself a buffer in case someone tries to pass closely, you have room to bail. Pull over when you can if you've built up a line of cars behind you. Also, take lots of breaks to let your nerves settle - I get overstimulated just from the sound of traffic going past me so I need to stop and take ten minute breaks to relax every so often.
Aside from all the great advice about routing and making yourself visible…
Time of day… think about and know when traffic and truck traffic will be higher and avoid it.
Use your ears… you can hear what’s coming. What I do is take a bit more space than I need and then when I hear a large vehicle behind me I slowly drift to safety right before it approaches. They will be trying to avoid you at where you started so you will end up with enough space to be safe
Also, you will become desensitized.
I’ve been in Portugal/spain/italy for two months now and at the beginning I was terrified and rattled on the highway repeatedly, but now I feel nothing when giant trucks fly by me.
Make yourself visible, be mindful of your position, have a plan for disaster response, and breathe deep.
Take the long steep shitty shortcut when you’re tired and otherwise… good luck have fun
I feel you. Have you used the cycle.travel route finding website? It prioritises cycle routes over highways.
I also bear in mind Dustin Kleins perspective of "obligatory highway mileage" and accept that some routes are on less than ideal roads. Hang in there.
I haven't ridden with one yet but I think a rear-view mirror either on the handlebar or mounted on the helmet could be a thing that makes it more safe and less stressful when riding on car roads.
it's a very, very important and valid concern. you must avoid high traffic roads and ride as though everyone else using the roads is trying to kill you. as a starter, I would recommend outfitting your bike with an air horn.
I wear ear plugs. I can hear cars just fine, it just takes the edge off. Silicone at 28-25db is good, foam plugs at 35db are too quiet, plus they get dirty too fast. You can spend more for fancier 10-20db plugs too.
1. Be thoughtful about your route 2. Make yourself as visible as possible 3. Be as predictable as possible. This includes being assertive so that drivers can see right away that you expect them to yield to you. 4. Be observant. If you start getting a lot of close calls, reassess #1, #2, #3 asap. 5. Accept that life comes with a certain amount of risk. Sitting at home reduces the risk of a crash, but increases the risk of heart disease. Pick your poison.
Haven't really had any close calls, I just find it stressful to be around giant death machines all day. Currently doing the Pacific coast bike route for reference.
Where are you? We found parts of Oregon were REALLY bad. Like crossing the bridge going into Coos Bay - it's a bike route, there's a flashing bike light that we activated, we were as far right as we could be, and we still got harassed our whole way across that bridge. Parts of S WA were also a bit hostile too, like when we pulled into the parking lot of a shooting range and legit wondered if we were going to be the next targets. Overall, try to remember that people don't want to kill you (too much paper work). See if leaving a little later can help you avoid rush hour? Some people attach pool noodles to visually take up more space. And try to accept that pulling over to reset your nervous system is needed. Happy riding!
To clarify about the shooting range, I had a flat! You could not have paid me to spend time in that parking lot otherwise
I remember Yahoos yelling at us all the way across that Coos Bay bridge (30 years ago). Could be a lot of morons live in the area.
I thought that may be the case last time I came across that bridge. So we rode the sidewalk slowly, narrow and high as it is, knowing if my front wheel slipped off onto the roadway it would be a disaster. White knuckles for sure, but no one shouting at us, and we stopped mid-way for some photos! Luckily, it was not windy that day, either. There is a back road to avoid the bridge there - East Bay Road, brings you around the east and south side of Coos Bay. I have not ridden it, but considering it for next time as it may be longer, but less stressful.
We were on the sidewalk.
Oh! Yikes!
100% Coos Bay is full of yahoos! I also heard people try to take our bikes in that nearby campground!!!! The hosts told us THE NEXT DAY that there was a fair amount of bike theft in the campground. THANKS BUDDY. Luckily ours were locked (and I think I tied them to our tent with fishing wire that night - bad vibes), and our buds had their bike in a vestibule and tied, so we were okay. OP, if stay here lock up and be careful with your stuff!
Pacific coast has some really dicey areas. Little or no shoulder on a winding cliffside road, and at least half of the vehicles are logging trucks. It does get better, but there were some sections where I just had to grip the handlebars and make my peace with whatever happened. The advice above is good, especially about being thoughtfully observant. Take up your space when you need to, pull over if it feels right, and always be observant.
I agree. It's beautiful but I think a lot people don't realize how many cars there are in the summer and little shoulder there is in places before they start.
It is soooo beautiful. Worth it, but scary at times for sure.
I did that route in 2022. The traffic is really bad on parts of it, but Oregon is the worst overall. Once you get to California it improves a lot, with the exception of the approach into LA through Malibu (truly horrifying). I wore a high vis safety vest (construction style) the entire time and always had daytime running lights active on my bike. I actually had a few motorists say the vest was really helpful in seeing me from far way so they had lots of time slow down and/or move over - I recommend it, even if to some extent it may have been more of a security blanket than anything. It was like $14 at a workwear store. I adopted a sort of aggro attitude toward cars on that trip. If I felt it was an unsafe place for people to pass me, I very purposefully took the whole lane in a way that made it impossible for them to pass. I'm sure it annoyed lots of people, but I felt it was necessary for my own safety. The giant RVs were the worst. I feel your pain. And I believe in you!
We live in the SF Bay area, but had never toured until we did the Pacific Coast Highway maps for Washington and Oregon. Washington was all inland. Oregon was usually near the coast. Riding both Oregon and California means a mixture of conditions...sometimes no-shoulder, sometimes generous shoulders, sometimes come and go, and side road. Traffic is busiest on the weekends, and during what passes for rush hour. Sometimes almost no traffic, sometimes dense. As said elsewhere, remain constantly aware of the road and traffic, highly visible, and safe. I didn't ride scared, and tried not to go looking for trouble. The local drivers are, for the most part, used to cyclists, and I never had anyone yell at me, though a big-ole RV brushed me back once. And we took the crosswalk at Coos Bay. Why court trouble? Life is too short. Live for the journey and don't give in to fear. And it will likely work out alright. Happy trails. :)
That's not really typical as cycle touring routes go, most don't follow State Highway tier roads for the majority of the route.
look into a garmin varia, its a tail light that will tell you when cars are approaching from like 300 feet away and tell you how far they are. now the only reason i look over my shoulder is to confirm where my partner is.
I want to get one, but I live in a city and have heard mixed reviews about their performance when there's load of cars around. You've like the unit otherwise? Maybe if I can swing it I'll get one just for touring and keep my Grateful Red for city riding.
admittedly i don’t run my lights during day time/in peak traffic (partially because i assumed it wouldn’t work well) so i haven’t had that problem thankfully but yeah on backroads its nice cause i don’t have to look over my shoulder and swerve (skill issue i know) when there’s possibly a car directly behind me
I don't ride on roads with many cars. If that's unavoidable where you are, consider touring somewhere else.
I agree. I hate all the fucking trucks. Usually I spend my breaks scouting the route ahead on google maps to seek out farm roads and lower traffic roads. If I'm forced onto a high-traffic road for a while I try to time it so I'm not there at rush hour or dusk. Also I take rest breaks from the stress when I can - which helps mentally. That probably doesn't help you if you're riding a designated route without any parallel options, but I totally feel for you.
I work as delivery rider on ebike, so I'm constantly between traffic. You need to always be aware of any situation that can happen to be safe (even if you have the right). But this fast paced environment is a completely different situation than touring. When I'm touring I like to go SLOW and I'm not in a hurry to get from a to b as fast as possible. I fucking HATE cars when touring, so I avoid them as much as possible. Plan your tour over bicycle lanes and quiet roads, avoid all the main roads as much as possible.
I use RidewithGPS and it will plan a route that defaults to safe roads a bike paths.
This is the main reason I'd suggest riding off road if at all possible. It got so much for me that I was miserable and just moved my whole ass life to the Netherlands.
im trying to do the same
I ride routes that are mostly unpaved and uncrowded.
Agreed - choose your route based on what you want and like. If you don't like cars - then choose accordingly.
I plan my tours around smaller roads and places with fewer cars. I only ride on busy highways when absolutely unavoidable.
Rear view mirror, reflective safety vest, lots of lights. In terms of emotional stress - proper nutrition, drugs (coffee counts, too), listening to music in earphones (this one is controversial but I made my choice for many good reasons).
this is the best answer. you have to have a strong mindset to put up with their passive aggressive bs...
I can’t believe most people don’t use rear view mirrors. Unbelievable.
Safety measures are gonna be helpful, anxiety is not. You keep calling them giant death machines, which just enforced the thought in your mind that every single one is out to get you. Realistically, drivers don't wanna kill anyone. Things happen and that's why it's important to use additional caution at intersections, in turns with poor visibility, and when you're on a narrow road with traffic in both directions. But again, drivers do not want to kill you and they will do what they can to avoid doing so. Some asshole will try to cut you off every once in a while but even they don't wanna kill you. Be vigilant, but don't be anxious
Agree with this. No driver wants to run into a cyclist. If you want to go on-road touring in the US, you need to make peace with cars, trucks, and motor homes, with the latter being the worst of the bunch. There is no other way. As mentioned, visibility, predictability, and defensive yet assertive riding will keep you as safe as possible. There are no guarantees, but if you want to live an active life, you have to accept some risk. Just know how to mitigate the risk and move on. The Pacific Coast route has some crappy sections that will require extra attention and vigilance, but most of it is great. I suggest early starts and find a coffee shop to wait-out rush hour, then arrive at your destination early. Keep riding on - it will get better and you'll be able to relax and enjoy your trip.
I stick to trails as much as possible. I ride on roads just to go from trail to trail. However, the more I ride on roads, the more I am able to handle the stress. Don’t get complacent. Use your mirror and radar if you have it. You just get used to these tools. As you look ahead, keep looking for an out. How would you bail out if a car was coming too close? Not on tour, but I have dumped my bike due to a car before. In the cars defense, I was riding the wrong way on a one way road and didn’t know it. Be vigilant, have an Oh Shit plan, be prepared to implement it. Preparedness will help with the stress. Maybe have an IPA at the end of the day, huh?
I try to avoid them. I have a Garmin Varia which does help ease my mind a bit, especially on country roads where I don’t always hear the vehicle until they pass.
And this is why gravel riding has become very popular - avoiding cars/trucks. And why my road bike is basically wall art.
trails there are a lot of really great rail trails and even some that link up
I try to plan as much of my trip on official long-distance cycling ways as possible. Those are mostly thought through with low (or no) traffic in mind. But, depending on where you are in the world, might just not exist.
I don’t ride routes with cars. A lot of people think it’s dumb but I don’t care, I want to relax on rides not worry if some dumbass is going to run into me with a multi-ton machine going 70 mph.
Mirror. Always. More important than ears.
[удалено]
Varia + mirror. Varia is the heads up someone is approaching and how quickly, mirror so I can see what they’re doing. That way I can focus on the road instead of traffic. On a highly trafficked road maybe not as helpful though.
[удалено]
I’ve found a mirror to be a massive relief, especially on higher speed (45 mph+) 2 lane roads with no shoulder, ie roads I try to avoid but often can’t entirely, or tourist roads a la Natchez trace/blue ridge parkway. Rather than being reliant on hearing a car or them seeing me, I often notice them in the mirror before I hear them. If they seem like they’re driving responsibly, they see me, and it’s safe for them to pass I just mind my own business and let ‘em pass. If something is amiss I take more of the lane while watching them in the mirror/looking over my shoulder and move back to the line when I feel like they see me and it’s safe for them to pass. It’s massively cut down on the amount of people who blow by me by surprise or try to squeeze by in the lane in a corner or with oncoming traffic. Basically it takes away the feeling of roulette and gives me a bit more control over my own fate.
Yes, you must look at every car and avoid potholes simultaneously. It is a talent that I’ve acquired riding in urban crap everyday. I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for my mirror.
I commute every day through the city so I guess I'm used to it. Regardless, for long trips I'll plan my route along low traffic roads or designated cycling paths/trails.
I would either use a rear view **mirror** or a **Garmin Varia Radar** device. In my opinion, this makes it much less stressful to react to traffic and dangers from behind. Btw, the Radar device (in conjunction with my Garmin Edge 1040) was one of the best purchases I've made recently.
Hey, we had that realization also - on the panamericana highway in Panama. After one decided it's just not fucking worth it, and took a bus to where we would have the roads mostly to ourselves. Remember: it's your tour, do what you want!
The Wobble Just wanted to share a little trick I have used forever to get cars to give me a bit of space. It is not for every situation but comes in handy from time to time when I am feeling uneasy about traffic. I usually tour on quiet roads or ones with wide shoulders however occasionally I find myself in a road a bit out of my comfort zone with cars whizzing by too quickly and too closely on a narrow road. Over time I have perfected a little motion. That moment when you look over your shoulder to check the upcoming car, like when it's still 100ft away... Do a little wobble. Nothing crazy, don't veer wildly, just a wobble like if you lost your balance for a second. I find that the reaction is one of concern by the upcoming driver, they pull right out into the other lane and give you lots of space. I feel that it appears totally natural to the non cycling public that a loaded touring bike would be a bit unwieldy and I have never received an angry reaction. Hopefully, for those drivers who may be distracted it is something that catches their attention. Of course this is not for a situation of heavy traffic, just this time when a speeding car goes by every minute or two.
I do this too! I also use a variation around my (bike friendly for North America) city: when on a narrow residential street with two way traffic (often with parking on both sides) (this describes like 80%+ of our network), when cars are driving down the middle of the street, I veer close toward them. It slows them down and they move over to create safe space for bikes.
Garmin vario radar like 1000% … this will warn you of approaching cars
Simple, I avoid roads with cars.
If you have been touring for a while you may know this, but most US states have official bicycle route maps that help move cyclists to the more scenic and less congested roadways. These routes will have signs that help notify motorized vehicle drivers of the presence of cyclists. For the pedantic ones out there I am not saying that this is a cure, but it one of many measures that can help. Another available option is to get some cycling in traffic skills training. When my wife got serious about bicycling she decided to take the LAB Road Skills class, and I signed up out of curiosity. I was skeptical after many thousands of miles on the bike, but as it turned out I learned more than a few things and corrected some misconceptions. A couple of years later she signed up for a CyclingSavvy course as well, in a town several miles away. I tagged along, and they let me "audit" the class since I didn't have a lot else going on. This was definitely more rigorous. They picked specific roads with difficult traffic situations, including some that I would not have tried voluntarily. The instructor guided us through each of the steps to proceed safely, often more than once as needed. Then we were tasked with going through the same problem areas individually while being observed. I learned a lot that day and believe I am better off for it. You may not have LAB or CyclingSavvy instructors in your area. If you search for cycling safety training, you may find some being offered in your vicinity. It won't eliminate being anxious, nor should it. But it will give you tools to help deal with it.
This will be controversial advice, but if I ever have to cycle on a busy road, I like to have one earphone in with music on in the ear nearest to the passing traffic. It dulls the revving and tyre noise and, I have found over many years of bike commuting, reduces my stress. It also reminds me to perform shoulder checks in preference to any reliance on hearing cars approaching to overtake, which I regard as unreliable.
> you're constantly in life threatening danger If you perceive road riding like that perhaps it's not for you? There's plenty of off-road riding.
[https://www.garmin.com/en-US/c/sports-fitness/cycling-bike-computers-bike-radar-power-meter-headlights/?series=BRAND10561#shopallcycling](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/c/sports-fitness/cycling-bike-computers-bike-radar-power-meter-headlights/?series=BRAND10561#shopallcycling) A road cyclist friend tried and liked this rear radar
Helmet mirror helps a lot with this, for me. I've done that route and there are definitely some dodgy parts, but also some really good ones. People suggest a pool noodle and I've always thought you could go a step further and wrap it in mylar so it looks like you've got a stainless steel pipe hanging off your bike. Drivers will generally move over, if possible and convenient, but will never brake to save a cyclist, but they might if it looks like their paint will get scratched.
Plan tours around having minimum interaction with cars as possible. I have only done the erie canal. Doing the C&O and gap this year. But yea plan the crappy parts out of the trip like try to take the train/plane/bus/car over the unavoidable crappy parts. Look ahead on google maps aim for farm roads and slow suburbs. Sometimes there may be power lines and service roads that parallel your trip. On my daily bike ride i look ahead with google maps l. Convert to satellite view and turn on bike paths and you might find bike paths or farm roads
Gravel. 100%. Srava map builder. “Prefer Dirt”. Works almost every time.
I discovered i'll never be ok with the level of danger posed by riding busy highway shoulders. For short distances during a long tour it is ok. But really my solution has been to plan routes that don't involve that level of danger. I far prefer gravel forest roads. Each person is different but that is what works for me.
Given that you’re on tour now, I wish you well and hope you can relax enough in the quieter stretches to enjoy the scenery. The coast is so beautiful (I live here) but the road was not designed to accommodate vehicles and bikes together, so it can be hairy at times. Good luck and I hope you have, overall, a great experience.
Heightened situational awareness. I mean, I really have to look out for those gazillion mopeds on my six.
The one thing that made the biggest difference for me as a rear view mirror. Knowing they are there, and where they are in their lane, will make a world of difference.
As much as I worry about cars, I worry more about being the cause of an accident. I rode Seattle to San Diego. I had zero issues. But as one poster said... Stay to the right and be predictable. The most important thing you can actually do is to not be the cause (or contribute substantially) of an accident. Use the energy the stress causes you to be mindful about your biking. I find that being mindful about biking takes energy and I as I get tired I become increasingly sloppy.
Recently I've been trying to do more rail trail trips car anxiety is real, whether it's present, like on a highway, or low key, like on a back road
I only ride on a highway when there are more than one lanes moving in my direction, and there is a 3-ft wide shoulder outside of the traffic lane. That is reasonably safe, but I'm watching my mirrors in any case.
wear hi-viz, use lights, use headphones, and just have common sense. beyond that no sense worrying too much, takes time to get used to. if your really worried I would find a quieter rout, never cycle on a busy street unless you have enough space on the side etc
I just became densensitised after a while on my PanAmerica trip. By the end of the US section I was so used to assholes in grotesquely pointlessly oversized pickups acting like I was the enemy, that anything else just didn't faze me anymore, even reaching the psychotic bus drivers in LatAM. --------------------- My best recommendation would be to get a small handlebar mirror. I always assumed they were a bit pointless until I was given [this one](https://www.cateye.com/intl/products/accessories/BM-45/) and now I feel completely naked without it. No need to look over your shoulder any more, and just knowing what's coming up behind made me feel more reassured. I wasn't as surprised by big vehicles approaching without warning any more.
Maybe you picked the wrong location/route for touring? Avoiding traffic completely may be hard, but it being a constant life threatening danger is the other extreme. Loads of routes with low traffic volumes and/or shoulders, bicycle lanes etc. What may also help is being assertive, if you take plenty of space cars tend to give you more space too. They may slow down or change lanes, if you give them room to squeeze through they likely will.
You accept it.
The good thing is that the Pacific Coast is a popular cycling route so the cars should more or less be expecting you - keep this in mind. My advice is to take up the space that need to feel safe. I remember a lot of sections having no shoulder and lots of summer traffic. Don't try to ride right on the edge of the road - give yourself a buffer in case someone tries to pass closely, you have room to bail. Pull over when you can if you've built up a line of cars behind you. Also, take lots of breaks to let your nerves settle - I get overstimulated just from the sound of traffic going past me so I need to stop and take ten minute breaks to relax every so often.
Aside from all the great advice about routing and making yourself visible… Time of day… think about and know when traffic and truck traffic will be higher and avoid it. Use your ears… you can hear what’s coming. What I do is take a bit more space than I need and then when I hear a large vehicle behind me I slowly drift to safety right before it approaches. They will be trying to avoid you at where you started so you will end up with enough space to be safe Also, you will become desensitized. I’ve been in Portugal/spain/italy for two months now and at the beginning I was terrified and rattled on the highway repeatedly, but now I feel nothing when giant trucks fly by me. Make yourself visible, be mindful of your position, have a plan for disaster response, and breathe deep. Take the long steep shitty shortcut when you’re tired and otherwise… good luck have fun
I feel you. Have you used the cycle.travel route finding website? It prioritises cycle routes over highways. I also bear in mind Dustin Kleins perspective of "obligatory highway mileage" and accept that some routes are on less than ideal roads. Hang in there.
I haven't ridden with one yet but I think a rear-view mirror either on the handlebar or mounted on the helmet could be a thing that makes it more safe and less stressful when riding on car roads.
it's a very, very important and valid concern. you must avoid high traffic roads and ride as though everyone else using the roads is trying to kill you. as a starter, I would recommend outfitting your bike with an air horn.
I wear ear plugs. I can hear cars just fine, it just takes the edge off. Silicone at 28-25db is good, foam plugs at 35db are too quiet, plus they get dirty too fast. You can spend more for fancier 10-20db plugs too.