I think I'm done with road...
Discussion
heebeegeetee said:
For "blocking" a country lane I'll take as using a country lane. 
Indeed. If I am driving down country lanes and I encounter a group of cyclists then I don't mind in the slightest. Simply an opportunity for both parties to show care and consideration for the other and end with friendly waves all round.
I have been cycling round central and suburban London for the past 20+ years, and to my mind cycling is now safer than it was here, mainly because there are so many more drivers who are also cyclists.
Also, if you cycle considerately, you are treated with more consideration in return. Don't run red lights and ped crossings etc, and if you do, don't be surprised if you get a punishment pass in return. Of course drivers shouldn't do that, but human nature will out.
Yes there are still plenty of knob drivers, but the majority are much better at giving space when passing etc. Apart from in Croydon, obvs, a feral neighbourhood where the cyclists all seem to have invisible targets painted on their backs;)
Also, if you cycle considerately, you are treated with more consideration in return. Don't run red lights and ped crossings etc, and if you do, don't be surprised if you get a punishment pass in return. Of course drivers shouldn't do that, but human nature will out.
Yes there are still plenty of knob drivers, but the majority are much better at giving space when passing etc. Apart from in Croydon, obvs, a feral neighbourhood where the cyclists all seem to have invisible targets painted on their backs;)
heebeegeetee said:
For "blocking" a country lane I'll take as using a country lane.
Why would a dozen riders need to stop other road users legally and safely driving past though by covering the entire lane? There's no wonder some drivers react badly, it's arrogant and dangerous to yourselves. At some point it will end badly as this thread often proves really. President Merkin said:
Is this because you were hoping the men were sexy & not fat?
You got held up for a bit by people entitled to be on a road being on a road. Why not chill on it a little.
No need to chill, it's over and done with, I'm not an angry driver. Was a funny comment initially about the middle age spread road racers who are arrogant enough to deliberately block a country lane for miles and cause a number of cars to be angry and frustrated. They'll moan when someone reacts badly to their antics.You got held up for a bit by people entitled to be on a road being on a road. Why not chill on it a little.
200Plus Club said:
heebeegeetee said:
For "blocking" a country lane I'll take as using a country lane.
Why would a dozen riders need to stop other road users legally and safely driving past though by covering the entire lane? There's no wonder some drivers react badly, it's arrogant and dangerous to yourselves. At some point it will end badly as this thread often proves really. If the road is wide enough for a car to pass, a decent group will call "car back", and the group will switch to single file, letting the car past.
If there isn't sufficient room even when singled out, the group will carry on until it is safe to go into singles. By staying two abreast, they are managing the car behind, because too many drivers try and pass when there is no room. This is especially dangerous on country roads when the road edges are often potholed or muddy or covered in a fancy array of detritus, forcing the riders out into the road.
So generally, a group will stay doubles until there is room to safely pass. There will be exceptions who have not switched on and don't single when there is room to pass, as there are always exceptions, but IMHO, it's a pretty general approach to switch according to traffic.
I don't understand the "block" thing. Did they stand in the middle of the road and prevent traffic from moving?
I think their size is utterly irrelevant. If they're doing exercise at least they are aware they might need to get fitter, unlike most the UK population.
Maybe some drivers are angry and impatient because they don't like to see others trying to get fitter as it reminds them they're lazy fat b
ds?
I think their size is utterly irrelevant. If they're doing exercise at least they are aware they might need to get fitter, unlike most the UK population.
Maybe some drivers are angry and impatient because they don't like to see others trying to get fitter as it reminds them they're lazy fat b
ds?200Plus Club said:
heebeegeetee said:
For "blocking" a country lane I'll take as using a country lane.
Why would a dozen riders need to stop other road users legally and safely driving past though by covering the entire lane? There's no wonder some drivers react badly, it's arrogant and dangerous to yourselves. At some point it will end badly as this thread often proves really. The *only* reason drivers react badly ime is because they are getting it wrong too. Problem is of course is that there are 10s of millions of drivers out there who don't know their arse from their elbow.
The truth is, you were delayed by what, 30 seconds or a minute? A drivers we all block roads off with the crushing and grinding congestion we create, leading us all to be delayed by many hours every year, but many/most drivers forget all about that and lose their sh*t if they think they've been delayed for half a minute or so.
200Plus Club said:
middle age spread road racers who are arrogant enough to deliberately block a country lane for miles and cause a number of cars to be angry and frustrated. .
For the record, I ride only mountain bikes & have no dog in the fight. However the snip above just makes you come across as a red faced bore. I'm sure you aren't & it must be me getting it worng but if you wander into the cycling forum & lob st around, then chances are you'll get it back with interest. And cars are incapable of being angry or frustrated, only the fool behind the wheel can make that choice.Castrol for a knave said:
It's usually a question of fact and degree.
If the road is wide enough for a car to pass, a decent group will call "car back", and the group will switch to single file, letting the car past.
If there isn't sufficient room even when singled out, the group will carry on until it is safe to go into singles. By staying two abreast, they are managing the car behind, because too many drivers try and pass when there is no room. This is especially dangerous on country roads when the road edges are often potholed or muddy or covered in a fancy array of detritus, forcing the riders out into the road.
So generally, a group will stay doubles until there is room to safely pass. There will be exceptions who have not switched on and don't single when there is room to pass, as there are always exceptions, but IMHO, it's a pretty general approach to switch according to traffic.
I have seen that done, unfortunately not on this occasion. Common sense needed on both sides ! If the road is wide enough for a car to pass, a decent group will call "car back", and the group will switch to single file, letting the car past.
If there isn't sufficient room even when singled out, the group will carry on until it is safe to go into singles. By staying two abreast, they are managing the car behind, because too many drivers try and pass when there is no room. This is especially dangerous on country roads when the road edges are often potholed or muddy or covered in a fancy array of detritus, forcing the riders out into the road.
So generally, a group will stay doubles until there is room to safely pass. There will be exceptions who have not switched on and don't single when there is room to pass, as there are always exceptions, but IMHO, it's a pretty general approach to switch according to traffic.
President Merkin said:
For the record, I ride only mountain bikes & have no dog in the fight. However the snip above just makes you come across as a red faced bore. I'm sure you aren't & it must be me getting it worng but if you wander into the cycling forum & lob st around, then chances are you'll get it back with interest. And cars are incapable of being angry or frustrated, only the fool behind the wheel can make that choice.
It's an interesting thread reading the arrogance on both sides by the look of it lol!t around, then chances are you'll get it back with interest. And cars are incapable of being angry or frustrated, only the fool behind the wheel can make that choice.Random_Person said:
Yesterday rode directly through central, as I do regularly, zipping in and out of traffic, and not hanging about to Regents, where I do 3 or 4 fast laps, then return. Whitehall /Leicester Sq / Regents St / Parliament Sq. This was at midday. I was the only cyclist in full gear, £3k aero road bike, tight lycra, the works.
I saw an abundance of other cyclists - but they were all deliveroo, or tourists. These weren't cyclists, they were people on bikes meandering about going to stuff.
Guess who were the ones weaving all over the place and going through lights, and who was the one making progress but doing so without causing inconvenience. Its not an issue if you know how to ride. Even in regents park, only a handful of other proper cyclists present.
I'm not sure who is a "proper cyclist". Everyone on a bike is a cyclist, just different than you.I saw an abundance of other cyclists - but they were all deliveroo, or tourists. These weren't cyclists, they were people on bikes meandering about going to stuff.
Guess who were the ones weaving all over the place and going through lights, and who was the one making progress but doing so without causing inconvenience. Its not an issue if you know how to ride. Even in regents park, only a handful of other proper cyclists present.
I don't agree with how some people chose to cycle and I have genuinely shouted at other cyclists when they were behaving like idiots. Tourists are fine, just having a leisure cycle, I don't find them to be the worst of the cyclists myself. Deliveroo can be dangerous, mainly because of the speed, behaviour and constant looking on the map in their phones instead of ahead of them.
Donbot said:
272BHP said:
Donbot said:
Road bikes make perfect sense because of the narrow handlebars and the light weight helps with all the stopping and starting. Have you ever ridden a road bike?
Not as stable or manoeuvrable, aggressive riding position, lack of visibility, thinner tyres, delicate frames and usually sporting clip-in pedals.They make no sense in the city.
200Plus Club said:
and cause a number of cars to be angry and frustrated. They'll moan when someone reacts badly to their antics.
You have no way of knowing how the other drivers were feeling, they may have been experienced drivers who can see when and where a safe overtake is possible. You may have been the only driver not dealing with a slight delay well. Also, those comments which are in effect veiled threats won't be appreciated by all here, this a forum for people who probably consider themselves experience drivers, we're not all like the incapable great unwashed out there. Donbot said:
272BHP said:
Donbot said:
Road bikes make perfect sense because of the narrow handlebars and the light weight helps with all the stopping and starting. Have you ever ridden a road bike?
Not as stable or manoeuvrable, aggressive riding position, lack of visibility, thinner tyres, delicate frames and usually sporting clip-in pedals.They make no sense in the city.
I used to commute 18 miles each way into Edinburgh on a road bike. The ability to keep up with city traffic feels way safer than being constantly overtaken or having vehicles stuck on your back wheel on a heavy hybrid, MTB or basket on the front thing. Clip-in pedals are fine when you're used to them. Maybe I should have locked up a brompton and a tweed suit at a suitable point ride before entering the city centre?
What about people driving around in massive executive cars and oversized SUVs that are possibly the least suitable personal vehicle to use in a city?
Siao said:
Well, apart from joking, I don't think it is an unreasonable comment. You just have to see the potholes around here recently, it's like the council has given up. I wouldn't (and haven't) take my road bike out with it's 23mm tyres and carbon frame. I'd knock some fillings out for sure... Even my gravel feels bad at times, it feels like I have to go full MTB soon!
But my commuter bike is a road bike. 35/38 tyres.I guess you could call it a gravel bike, although my requirements for it were that it be pretty bombproof, but optimised for tarmac.
200Plus Club said:
I had to drive past about a dozen of them doing a mini Tour de France and blocking a country lane last week when they decided to let us through. Most of em very fat, not so sexy tho.
I guess it depends on how chubby you like 'em...blocking a road sounds a bit mean, hopefully you weren't delayed too long Donbot said:
272BHP said:
Donbot said:
Road bikes make perfect sense because of the narrow handlebars and the light weight helps with all the stopping and starting. Have you ever ridden a road bike?
Not as stable or manoeuvrable, aggressive riding position, lack of visibility, thinner tyres, delicate frames and usually sporting clip-in pedals.They make no sense in the city.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff