Hanoi - Ready to Ride (October 11)

Test Ride

Today, we tested out our bikes. We also wanted to see how we were feeling and see if we were ready to ride. So, we headed out on a dusty diesel exhausting ride around the city. Synopsis: We are ready to ride. My bike is working well. Even though I thought it might be roughly handled when it was put on the plane and when I transfered planes in Soeul, it seems to be just fine. The gear shifting is a little out of whack, but nothing that a few twists of a barrel adjuster won't fix. Terry is ready to go and his rig is working fine.

Our route took us west of the Old Quarter to duong Buoi ("Buoi Way"). We then travelled north to ho Tay ("Tay Lake"). From there we headed southeast back toward ho Tran Bach ("Tran Bach Lake"). After passing the lake, we stopped at the vegetarian restaurant - Whole Earth. Here we argued politics, economics, environmentalism, and other worldly issues. I was way out of my league.

I'm riding a pretty green bike (the same bike I rode in the United States). Terry's bike is grey. Because of the color and the fact that my bike is not dirty, my bike got a lot of attention as it was parked outside of the restaurant. I was almost embarrased by the amount of attention it was receiving. Almost.

Ferris Wheel at the Old Amusement Park

During out ride, I actually rode with my rear view mirror, but it is not absolutely necessary and it is somewhat distracting. My focus should always be forward. I need to see ahead of me, to see if I have to stop quickly. I don't have to pay too much attention to the traffic behind me because that traffic is looking out for me and are trying not to run into me. Traffic behind me honks their horn to indicate that they are there and to ask me to get out of the way. But traffic always waits before I move out of the way.

Pagoda Near Truc Bach Lake.

These are the rules in the crowded, slow moving traffic in the city. In the country, the speeds will be faster, and we will have to be more cautious.

At intersections, there is so much activity with all the cross traffic. It is a battle of wits and size. Everybody surges towards the cernter of the intersection and the largest vehicle wins. Everyone else just dodges or weaves around traffic as they continue on through the intersection.

Walking across a busy street is another matter. Traffic does not yield to a pedestrian by coming to a standstill. Instead, traffic just drives around a pedestrian as he or she crosses the road. One just has to steadily walk out into the traffic while keeping eye contact with the on-coming traffic. This would be complicated if the traffic were coming from both directions which the traffic does. But typically, one can cross half way across the intersection while watching traffic from one direction and then when the middle of the intersection is reached, one looks the other direction. However, there are always a few people who ride on the wrong side of the street.