Tackling roundabouts

[okgo]

Pachydermus said:

the E&C roundabouts have been removed.

Old St hasn't

[Pachydermus]

okgo said:

Old St hasn't

I was just pointing out E&C as it may mean AC43 can update his route to stop avoiding it.

[AC43]

okgo said:

AC43 said:

28 years in London and I simply refuse to cycle round them. Or Old St roundabout. It's like Rollerball.

What do you do instead?

There are so many cyclists now that its actually pretty safe.

To be fair I've never had a reason to cycle round E&C but as far as Hyde Park and Old St are concerned I just use a route that avoids them. The last time I found myself approaching Old St (by mistake) I just got off and walked round it. The chances of getting swiped by someone doing an aggressive/unobservant lane change are just too high to me. I know that as a driver I struggle to register everything, esp in the dark/rain. It was very gloomy and really pissing down when I found myself approaching it and I just figure that as a cyclist the odds are too stacked against me.

In answer to your question I generally try to work out routes that avoid roundabouts, busy multi-lane junctions and right turns in fast-moving traffic. These are where I feel most vulnerable. In London, anyway, it's not too hard. I can get from my place in NW London through Willesden, Queen's Park, St John's Wood, Regents Park, Fizrovia, Bloomsbury, Holburn, Smithfields Mkt, Barbican, etc on my way Bishopsgate without many of those things and plenty of back roads, one way streets, traffic calming, cycle lanes, etc. The one roundabout I do go round is the one between Lords and Regents park and, although it's small, I often have heartstoppers when, for example, people mis judge my speed and pull out on me just as I crank it over, fully committed.

I could of course just take the fastest/most direct route(s) and save 10 mins but that would mean, for example, tacking the rush hour on Euston Road. No fun and just too dangerous as far as I'm concerned. I'd rather take the back roads, avoid a lot of the hassle and treat all the frequent stops as an excuse to get up out of the saddle and burn off some energy.

Edited by AC43 on Wednesday 27th July 06:38

[battered]

Daston said:

Thanks guys, this has really helped I have a series of roundabouts on the way home and last night went without issue.

Still a little weary of people who are giving way but creep especially if I am doing a standing start, I have found eye contact and a polite nod when passing them helps

Good. Glad it's working.

People who creep are a bloody menace. I treat them as if they are trying to kill me. Wheel watching is a very useful skill. When the wheels move, watch it.

Eye contact is vital. You get the odd dozy bd who looks you in the eye and then turns the wheel anyway, but they are thankfully rare.