That's a pretty great vid--inside the city here,it's actually relatively good for India, I think. Road conditions vary greatly, though, so you have to be really aware of surface problems and debris, even on routes you ride regularly. Morning rides to work aren't very densely packed on the road, but you still have a bit of a kinetic intelligence test to work out in portions.
Evenings can look like the jam you see in the vid at 3:20, but that's just taught me to ride offroad and to make smart moves to slip through where you can. A LOT of two-wheel traffic on the road...I'd guess at least half of the traffic is two or three wheels...so you get to see examples both smart and stupid of how to try it. I'm comfortable now, doubly so with a riding partner. Another guy at work just got a bike so we can head home, keep each other safe in traffic by occupying space defensively, and disassemble like a Japanese cartoon robot to pick our way through the snarls.
We haven't done much highway riding...mostly backroads in the local countryside, which suits me fine. Having made a 15-hour car trip last week including night riding, the highways were just death waiting to happen on so many levels after dark, from other drivers to pedestrians and cattle to the road itself. I've just come from central Africa, and I've been a downhill mountain biker for years, so I'm not squeamish in general, but man, it's sure not my idea of recreation to ride on those roads at night.
We do have to ride down the highway a bit to get to the "death zone" skull and crossbones sign for a snapshot, though.
PS No idea when/where in the States I'll be back to at the moment. Looks like 3 years in India, then who knows? Africa might be calling me back, but maybe South America has something to offer, too.
Topic: Hi (Read 3383 times)