@puppethead asks:

I saw a couple of cyclists riding on a traffic-heavy road with no shoulder, correctly riding with the flow of traffic. But there was a separated bike path on the opposite side of the road that seemed much safer.

Q7. Is it better to bike against the traffic flow on a safer path especially if it's separated, or stick to being part of traffic?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

And our last question this week: your week in a photo.

Q8. What did you see this week? Reply with a photo if you'd like. Cycling related or not is fine. Tell us about it!

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@MartyCormack asks:

Two days this week while riding road bicycle rides, I was harassed by multiple Red-winged Blackbirds that swooped down nearly crashing/landing on my helmet. They're territorial and especially protective of their nests.

Q6. Have you ever been annoyed by, harassed, chased or attacked by critters while cycling?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@realSiegfried asks:

Q3. Do you know about this tradition we have here in Germany (is it common elsewhere, too?) where we leave a white-painted bicycle at the spot where a cyclist was killed by a car-driver?

Do you do something similar where you live?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@bobjonkman asks:

Q4. Do you know what a "Collision Checklist" is? More specifically, what's on it?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@pete asks:

Q3a. Is it ever acceptable to ride a rental bike in the nude?

theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2

And a follow-up from @FourT4:

Q3b. Have you ever attended a naked bike ride? Would you?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@markn asks:

Q5. Does anybody else have a cycling mascot or lucky charm they take on rides?

My usual companion is a small green dinosaur named Godfrey. He gets a wash once a year, generally I aim for better hygiene standards myself.

Photo of Godfrey: mastodonapp.uk/@markn/11677326…

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@cptbutton@dice.camp @bikenite@fedigroups.social A4: Yes, such backpacks exist. Mine—Deuter Bike I 14—is one of them. It has a mesh back for ventilation, in addition to bike-specific features such as a helmet hook and helmet cover. This model has been discontinued, but Deuter still carries a variety of backpacks designed for cycling.

#BikeNite #BikeTooter #MastoBikes

@bikenite@fedigroups.social A8: My daughter wants to cycle to kindergarten every day, and she wants me to bike along (instead of following her by foot). I love it.

#BikeNite #MastoBikes

@pete@masto.hypertelia.com @bikenite@fedigroups.social A1: Posting from Seattle, WA. I've travelled to a lot of countries but only cycled in three—Japan, Canada and the US.

#BikeNite #MastoBikes #SEABikes

@semitones asks:

Q2. Has anyone experienced low back pain with biking, or is familiar with it? I've tried switching to a bike where I sit upright in the saddle and it helps with acute pain but I still hurt the next day. This is for bike commuting.

How can one avoid lower back pain?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

And our last question this week, your week in a photo:

Q8. What did you see this week? Reply with a photo if you'd like. Cycling related or not is fine. Tell us about it!

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@cptbutton asks

I wear a generic backpack while riding, which means in warm weather my back is soaking wet at the end because there is no air circulation under the backpack.

I have a vague idea that there are backpacks with some kind of mesh standoff that lets air through and avoids this problem.

Q4. Do such backpacks actually exist? If so, what are they called? Any recommendations in the US market?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

And our last question this week:

Q8. What did you see this week? Reply with a photo if you'd like. Cycling related or not is fine. Tell us about it!

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@trouble asks about bike parking racks:

Q4. Can you show show me 2 pictures? One of the best and one of the worst bike racks you've ever encountered.

Despite seeing lots of these, there's always something new!

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@wesley asks:

Q7. Anybody have strong opinions on the merits of getting a purpose-built e-bike vs. a conversion?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@i_cannot_today had an interesting thought, via @PamelaSchure about repair vs new purchase when there's not much money to spend:

Q6. Could it be worth it to not bother with bike maintenance and just buy new super-cheap bikes when an old one breaks? Without hurting oneself? (and I assume aside from environmental considerations)?

(original context here: beige.party/@i_cannot_today/11…)

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@ravenbait asks:

Q3. Are there any jobs you would always (or normally) take to your friendly LBS, even if you consider yourself reasonably competent at most maintenance tasks?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@bobjonkman asks:

Something has gone wrong with my U-lock. I can't get the key into the lock, and was lucky it hadn't locked properly so I could get it off (and lucky my bike wasn't stolen).

Q2. What do BikeNiters recommend for securing their cycles?

("All bikes weigh 20 kilograms. A 15 kilo bike needs a 5 kilo lock, a 5 kilo bike needs a 15 kilo lock. A 20 kilo bike doesn't need a lock.")

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

And our last question this week:

Q8. It's the last #BikeNite of May. What did you see this week? Reply with a photo if you'd like. Cycling related or not is fine. Tell us about it!

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@LovesTha asks:

I recently rebuilt a wheel with all new spokes (and nipples) and I had a successful 12k ride with some child towing involved last weekend. Today 10k into a ride the tyre had started rubbing. Checking the wheel, 3~4 spokes on the brake side (rear wheel) were completely loose. So much thread showing on one I was surprised the nipple was still attached.

Q7. What did I do wrong when building the wheel?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

And a nicely sort of related question from @TicklishHoneyBee:

I'm curious about peoples' cockpit setups: specifically bags, bottles, and tech.

Q4. Do you have bottle or snack bags on your handlebars or stem? A phone holder? Bike computer? What do you have, where did you get it, and what would you like to have or change? (Pictures welcome)

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@gcvsa asks:

Q3. What is your favorite style of handlebar, and why? Why do most handlebars sweep backward, when that direction is counter to the natural position of the human wrist, when your arms are held in front of you? Have you ever tried handlebars mounted so that they sweep forward?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@jfparis @bikenite

#BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes

A7

Never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down.

Once you're home plain water and real food is a better combo than store bought electrolytes . If you're still on the road then still lots of fluids but some form of supplement. Even on road I tend to have sweets, bananas and a sachet of miso soup which between them have most of what I need and are much more palatable / digestible (for me)

@jfparis and @f09fa681 ask:

Elevated heartbeat, elevated temperature, muscle soreness..

Q7. How do you recover afterward if you've overextended yourself physically while riding?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@meganL asks:

As I struggle to find a mail order cycle supply that will ship to Albania, it occurs to me it would be useful to have people's recommendations for cycle supply places that carry a variety of cycles & accessories and have good customer support, suggestions for each continent we've got #BikeNite community on.

Q4. Which mail-order supply shops do you recommend?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@viq asks:

Q6. How do you deal with hydration while #biking when the air quality is bad?

Simple answer is "wear a mask", but then instead of sipping from bottle as you ride, you need to stop, take everything off (possibly including helmet), then gear back up before continuing. "Don't bother with a mask" is also an option that exists, but, well. Anyone has any advice?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

Q2. Have you had any interesting experiences with bugs or insects while riding?

(Inspired by a discussion with @Brownian_motion and @MartyCormack many BikeNites ago)

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@bobjonkman @bikenite #bikenite
#mastobikes

A3
I have a lightweight windbreaker from Craft Sports that I like. Polyester, with pockets.

I recommend looking at the website The Last Hunt, the discount store for athletic outerwear in Quebec. Search for what is in your size and you may end up with something high quality.

thelasthunt.com/c/men-softshel…

@rand @bikenite A6) I do not use a camera to record my rides. I often thought about it; but then the personal experience of a good friend ( @mhoye ) being hit by a car, capturing the event in high fidelity, and submitting the evidence to the local police *and repeatedly getting national press coverage* resulted in him being given the runaround for years with no results.

I bought motorcycle armor.

mastodon.social/@gnomon/113014…

#BikeNiteA #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #Mastobikes #bikeTO

@rand asks:

I’ve been thinking of getting cameras to collect evidence in case of a crash (like with a motor vehicle). But the cameras I’ve seen seem to all have drawbacks. (Battery life, low resolution, too many extras, pricey).

I’d like to find a 4k camera, long battery life (or a swappable battery). Does not need a screen, wifi, etc.

Q6. Do you use a camera for documenting rides? What would you recommend?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

Q7. Have you ever made a questionable or ill-advised cycling purchase that actually turned out well? If so, what was it?

Or if not, what were some bad purchases?

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@elliek asks:

Both @StevenKennard and I wonder who people have for bike video makers (vlogs) that they like to watch? We watch some for dreaming of trips we'd like to take on our bikes, others for kit reviews or tips.
For example, @shifter is on here with great content and there may be others. YouTube has ones we watch as well.

Q5. What are your favourite bike vlogs?

Look forward to seeing them!

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@bobjonkman asks:

I have a birthday coming up in the next year, and I'd like to buy myself a cycling windbreaker or rain jacket. I'd like it to have reflective stripes and a tail flap. But some online cycling retailers are asking hundreds of dollars.

Q3. Can BikeNiters recommend any lower-cost cycling jackets? Selfies of you wearing one are encouraged!

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

And our last question this week:

Q8. What did you see this week? Share a photo if you'd like. Cycling related or not is fine. Tell us about it!

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@yantor3d wonders why e-bike charging isn't simpler:

Q6. Is there an engineering reason an e-bike couldn't have a built-in rectifier so you could charge it straight from a wall socket, instead of hauling around your charging brick?

Let's assume the bike has a male plug so it can plug in using a standard male-to-female extension cord.

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@semitones asks:

Q4. Does this tire exist?
1. Puncture resistant
2. All terrain capable
3. Smooth-rolling

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@DurableAce asks:

Q5. If you want someone to be able to track your location in real-time on a ride, what do you use and why?

I'm ideally looking for something that runs on a smart phone but open to other suggestions. Bonus points if it is privacy respecting. I won't use anything from Meta or Google.

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite