For the last two nights, it's been really foggy out here in San Diego, which is pretty rare. Down on the coast there is sometimes a marine layer that drops very low, but Wednesday and Thursday nights it extended well inland. All the way to our home nearly 10 miles from the coast. Epic "horror movie/scary video game fog" as one of our kids said.
I was riding both days, not unusual because I normally commute on the bikes. What was interesting was I realized the visibility was out to the edge of my headlight. I was on a route I ride way too often-one of the only roads from the freeway to our "town" (we're incorporated so not part of San Diego!). So I was rolling along at my normal speed despite the low-viz conditions. I started mentally picturing the next building, cross street and light, even though they couldn't be seen. Sure enough, as I got closer they would come into view through the fog! Even approaching stop lights I couldn't see was actually safer at speed, as I "saw" them even before the light came into view. Since traffic was light but a few cars were ahead of me, I could tell when they tapped their brakes.
I felt and was likely safer going my normal speed and NOT slowing down. Any MSF coaches or safety experts reading this, please comment. Was that the correct assessment, as I sure felt so!
Hope you have some good rides this weekend, in clear dry weather!
1 comment:
Interesting post-yes if we maintain awareness while riding instead of "zoning out" I also find I hit points more from memory than looking at the distance traveled on familiar routes.
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