Warning: minimal advocacy content follows
I recently had my first opportunity to “ghost ride.” A drawn-out meeting in downtown Oakland and BART restrictions at 12th St Station conspired to cause me to leave Blk Fug in an e-Locker and return to the office on BART, then ride a bus home sans trusty stead.
A few days later I was out testing the latest Project Bike (AKA future EBBC prize) during errands with Pat and I decided to try ghost riding the three miles back home. Sure, I may have been able to return home with both bikes loaded on a bus rack. I also had the option to drag a trailer downtown for retrieval duty. Yet, the challenge to emulate my Argentine compatriot (See: photo from San Carlos) and add a useful skill to my repertoire led to greater adventure.
We made it home unscathed. In part thanks to a kind passerby who volunteered to hold Blk Fug while I tried to mount Project Bike one-handed. An embarrassing crash would otherwise have tarnished my bicycling dignity! As a survivor, I can share a few additional observations, but I encourage others to comment on favorite ghost-riding techniques.
- In choosing which bike to ghost ride, low bars and a comfortable long stem to grasp seem preferable. Holding the end of the handlebar, as pictured, is not as stable.
- Wear gloves to reduce fatigue.
- Shift to a gear you will use throughout the ride. Assuming your right hand is holding the ghost, you will not be able to shift your rear derailleur.
- Select a fairly level route. Descending requires braking with your left hand (front brake) and right arm strength to hold back the ghost. Even the 3-percent grade on Harrison St next to Snow Park felt perilous as my speed approached 15mph!
- Stopping at signals is fun …you can balance on four wheels all day long!
- Rough pavement on Lakeshore Ave was treacherous. Tangled handlebars while taking-the-lane could lead to tragic consequences!
- A downshift to the small chain ring allowed me to only travel a short distance on Grosvenor St, up the 9% “powerhouse hill,” before having to dismount and walk. I learned I cannot ghost ride out-of-the-saddle!
- Finally, my dismounting maneuver was as awkward as mounting. What’s worse is that the ghost is on your right, thereby removing most curbs as a convenient step. This time I was rescued by Pat who took hold of the ghost.