Whoa! Low Branch!

[K'Tesh]

Even with a helmet mounted light, I've been hit by low branches on my winter night rides.

In the dark, and wet of winter night riding, naked branches are a real hazard for riding in areas I'm not familiar with (I've dealt with the ones I am familiar with).

I carry in my pack a pair of bypass pruners, and I *ALWAYS* carry my Swiss Army Knife (Ranger model). Rather than leaving low branches for someone else to discover at speed, I cut them off (it's faster than going thru channels (sometimes by months/years)). But, if I feel that I can't get away with it, then I will call the local Code Services.

Heres some Prime examples of my handywork, you may be familiar with:
The trees on the end of the Eastbank Esplanade by the opera...
The junipers on the East end of the Ross Island Bridge (called in)...
ALL of Hall Blvd in Beaverton South of Farmington, to Tigard City Hall...
The blackberries on SW Cascade and Hall Blvd and the train tracks in Beaverton (called in (only took 5 years))...
The chestnuts on Barbur Blvd (heading towards Portland, past Bertha)...
The trees overhanging the Bike lane at Barbur Transit Center...
The blackberrys overhanging Barbur (heading towards Tigard (called in))... Etc... Etc... Etc...
Oh, yeah! AND that G** D**NED hawthorn on SW 4th and SW Grant that was completly blocking the bikelane!

If you SEE problems, DEAL with them and be part of the solution!

Be Safe out there
K'Tesh

ps, I stole my madmax, thumbs up, and Devil images from http://forums.mtbr.com