Road Cyclists - Rant!

[scz4]

Before I go on I am a keen cyclist, but this is something which has always worried me, but this morning it almost caused a head on accident which wouldn't of been pretty.

I was on my way mountain biking (in the car), coming round a serious of bends to find another car on the other side in front of me, I had to slam the brakes on to avoid a collision, he had been overtaking a group of 6 cyclists, in three rows of course!

I appreciate it was bad driving, partly anyway, but he was probably stuck behind them for the last 3 or 4 minutes doing 15mph, I am not surprised it caused frustration and he attempted a reckless overtake. I was stuck behind a group of 20 cyclists last year for 5 minutes, a long time at 15-20mph, I just couldn't safely pass (and that's in an M3) as it was a twisty road, if they'd been single file I could of passed no problem.

Why do road cyclists think an A-Class road is the place for a Sunday morning social catch up? Why are you riding side by side? I know that's what the Highway code says, but let’s be honest the Highway code is well out of date. Try using your common sense. If you've worried about your visibility were a florescent jacket. You're putting yourself and others lives at risk!

I know Mountain Biking is classed as an "extreme" motorsport, but I think road cyclists are putting themselves in a much more vulnerable situation.

Edited by scz4 on Sunday 22 March 15:49

[cheadle hulme]

A car driver commits a dangerous overtake and you blame the people being overtaken?

Sundays are generally quieter, hence the larger number of cyclists. They ride two abreast to "big" up on A roads and make their presence felt. It also halfs the length of the bunch and means any decent motorist can overtake easier.

And mountain biking isn't cycling - get on the road you jessie.

[scz4]

cheadle hulme said:

A car driver commits a dangerous overtake and you blame the people being overtaken?

Sundays are generally quieter, hence the larger number of cyclists. They ride two abreast to "big" up on A roads and make their presence felt. It also halfs the length of the bunch and means any decent motorist can overtake easier.

And mountain biking isn't cycling - get on the road you jessie.

No, the problem was the driver, of course it was. However, I can understand why he risked it and had they were riding in single file it wouldn't have been a problem.

As I said, if you're worried about yor road presence, then wear bright clothes, put a rear light on, not matching grey lycra "race" shirts. Perhaps Sunday's are quieter, but they quality of driving with older people on the road is truly shocking, came across 5 or 6 cars doing 35mph, surely their reaction times, awareness, vision etc must concern you more than the volume itself?

Ha ha, didn't want to get into a debate about road cycling vs MTB, but here you go. Road cycling is great if you don't actually have any bike skills I guess. Road cycling has to be the least technical sports out there. Just keep those legs spinning, in fact just go to spin classes, same thing! My girlfriend can even do it, at least she looks good in lycra, who's the jessie now?

Edited by scz4 on Sunday 22 March 14:56

[DocSteve]

I am a keen driver and cyclist (both road and MTB).

It is very rare for a group of cyclists to significantly inconvenience me when I'm driving but very common for drivers to behave incompetently towards me when cycling.

Riding in a bunch does help to exert some position on the road - motorists should not be overtaking single-file cyclists if there is barely enough room to pass. A whole car width is advisable when overtaking cyclists as they are much more vulnerable to cross-winds, having to avoid defects in the road surface and the effect of vehicles passing too closely. Also, as stated above, a bunch of club cyclists will be much shorter than if riding in single file.

The person pulling off this overtake has no excuse or justification for it and posting here to rant about the cyclists is frankly ridiculous.

[randlemarcus]

I thought the Highway Code said two abreast, not three?

Just asking...

[scz4]

DocSteve said:

A whole car width is advisable when overtaking cyclists as they are much more vulnerable to cross-winds, having to avoid defects in the road surface and the effect of vehicles passing too closely.

I appreciate the person in the wrong was the driver! But, what I am asking\argueing is it's safer in my opinion for cyclists to ride in single form, not taking up the entire road and very low speeds, putting themselves and others at risk.

Thanks for helping make my point. How do you give the guy on the outside, basically 3/4 across from the side to the centre of the road, a whole car width of clearance? You can't! Single file is no problem.

Edited by scz4 on Sunday 22 March 15:14

[Mafioso]

randlemarcus said:

I thought the Highway Code said two abreast, not three?

Just asking...

Nice maths!

[DocSteve]

scz4 said:

DocSteve said:

A whole car width is advisable when overtaking cyclists as they are much more vulnerable to cross-winds, having to avoid defects in the road surface and the effect of vehicles passing too closely.

Thanks for helping make my point. How do you give the guy on the outside, basically 3/4 across from the side to the centre of the road, a whole car width of clearance? You can't! Single file is no problem.

When I ride in a bunch on a club run we do not ride that far out into the road - in fact there will usually be a maximum of two abreast, especially on narrower country roads. There should always be enough room so that when a car crosses into the opposite carriageway to overtake there is a significant gap between the car and cyclists.

But the reason your accident nearly occurred is because a car was overtaking when he could not see the road ahead sufficiently. If the road user being overtaken in question was a tractor/far vehicle or a horse would the same rant apply?

[19890]

I'm all for cycling. Its good exercise and if you take in a few pubs (soft drinks of course) it's a good social thing as well. What makes my ps boil is when I see two or more cyclists riding next to each other and not moving to single file when they are fully aware that there is a (band M or whatever the highest is) ROAD TAX payer, with an INSURANCE GROUP 20 car trying to get past. Being held up by a load of freeloading lycra clad idiots is not good for the blood pressure. Screw what the archaic highway code says this is the 21st century.

Edited by 19890 on Sunday 22 March 15:32

[ukdavvy12]

19890 said:

...... What makes my ps boil is when I see two or more cyclists riding next to each other and not moving to single file ..........

Nice post!!

So its OK to squeeze a solitary cyclist as you bully your way past them but if they ride two abreast to protect from this you get the hump?

[DocSteve]

19890 said:

I'm all for cycling. Its good exercise and if you take in a few pubs (soft drinks of course) it's a good social thing as well. What makes my ps boil is when I see two or more cyclists riding next to each other and not moving to single file when they are fully aware that there is a (band M or whatever the highest is) ROAD TAX payer, with an INSURANCE GROUP 20 car trying to get past. Being held up by a load of freeloading lycra clad idiots is not good for the blood pressure. Screw what the archaic highway code says this is the 21st century.

Edited by 19890 on Sunday 22 March 15:32

Don't be such a muppet.

Nearly all cyclists pay road tax including myself. When I am riding to work I am doing you a favour by taking up less space in the morning commute than I would do in my 5-series.

Like I said before, it is very rare for cyclists to impair one's progress significantly in a car. Vehicle excise duty payment does not mean you should be able to bully other "lesser" road users out of the way.

[John D.]

19890 said:

there is a (band M or whatever the highest is) ROAD TAX payer, with an INSURANCE GROUP 20 car trying to get past.

What on earth has the insurance group got to do with anything?

[pSynrg]

As a daily cyclist in London (commute) and a petrolhead the rest of the time my personal observations show an alarming disparity in behaviour.

When I'm cycling I'd say on average 8 maybe 9 out of 10 motorists are fundamentally considerate towards the cyclist.

When I'm driving I'd say most of the time 9 out of 10 cyclists are fundamentally inconsiderate towards motorists.

I'm by no means a good cyclist, I exhibit many of the most irritating habits of city cycling - running red lights, overtaking/undertaking to get ahead of a queue of traffic. I always know exactly what is happening around me and I take care not to get in the way of motorists. A little bit like the old steel spike instead of an air bag & seat belts analogy...

[19890]

No I'd never advocate squeezing a lone cyclist,(or cyclists in single file),or being a bully. I give them plenty of room when I pass as long as they are alone or in single file. They might find themselves with less room when they are side by side and deliberatley not moving over. Why should I risk going right on to the wrong side of the road and potentialy having a messy accident just because some selfish dipsticks want to prove some sort of point. The Indians have got it right. Might is right over there

[cheadle hulme]

19890 said:

I'm all for cycling. Its good exercise and if you take in a few pubs (soft drinks of course) it's a good social thing as well. What makes my ps boil is when I see two or more cyclists riding next to each other and not moving to single file when they are fully aware that there is a (band M or whatever the highest is) ROAD TAX payer, with an INSURANCE GROUP 20 car trying to get past. Being held up by a load of freeloading lycra clad idiots is not good for the blood pressure. Screw what the archaic highway code says this is the 21st century.

Edited by 19890 on Sunday 22 March 15:32

I'm sure you're trolling, but its worth making the point that roads are paid for out of general taxation. Club cycling is an expensive hobby and the demographic usually pay more than average tax.

I pay 3 lots of vehicle excise duty on my cars as well as 40% tax so I'll freeload where I like thanks.

[DocSteve]

John D. said:

19890 said:

there is a (band M or whatever the highest is) ROAD TAX payer, with an INSURANCE GROUP 20 car trying to get past.

What on earth has the insurance group got to do with anything?

Probably the reason why his car is insurance group 20 is that people like him drive them.....

[19890]

John D. said:

19890 said:

there is a (band M or whatever the highest is) ROAD TAX payer, with an INSURANCE GROUP 20 car trying to get past.

What on earth has the insurance group got to do with anything?

I was just using it as another point about how much I have to shell out to be legal when (Some but by no means all) of the bike brigade don't have to but still think it's a good idea to wind those that do pay up.

[DocSteve]

19890 said:

No I'd never advocate squeezing a lone cyclist,(or cyclists in single file),or being a bully. I give them plenty of room when I pass as long as they are alone or in single file. They might find themselves with less room when they are side by side and deliberatley not moving over. Why should I risk going right on to the wrong side of the road and potentialy having a messy accident just because some selfish dipsticks want to prove some sort of point. The Indians have got it right. Might is right over there

I'm sure you are just trolling now.

Although some drivers do have the opinion that they shouldn't cross to the other side of the road to pass a cyclist/cyclists.

In fact the opposite is true - if you can't safely cross the line then you shouldn't overtake, whatever the vehicle you're trying to pass.

[scz4]

19890 said:

What makes my ps boil is when I see two or more cyclists riding next to each other and not moving to single file when they are fully aware that there is a........

I agree on the odd occasion when we're joining up off-road routes with a little stretch on the road, the guy at the back is always looking over his shoulder, shouts "car" if something is approaching and we pull back into single file. At this point the car approaching has already seen us as a group. Road cyclists should try this, simple common sense you know.

By the way, I am very curtious to road cyclists, always leave plenty of room, don't try dodgy overtakes etc.

G

[Dracoro]

19890 said:

John D. said:

19890 said:

there is a (band M or whatever the highest is) ROAD TAX payer, with an INSURANCE GROUP 20 car trying to get past.

What on earth has the insurance group got to do with anything?

I was just using it as another point about how much I have to shell out to be legal when (Some but by no means all) of the bike brigade don't have to but still think it's a good idea to wind those that do pay up.

I bet there's just as many uninsured car drivers out there as there are cyclist who don't also have a car. In fact, other than children, I've never known or met a cyclist who doesn't also have a car. The whole "but they don't pay road tax" arguement is pathetic as it it ignorant. As I said on another thread, there's a certain contingent on here who are anti-anthing-that-isn't-a-car keyboard warriors.

For sure there are bad cyclists (as there are bad pedestrians, car drivers, motorcylist, lorry drivers and so on) but given the small comparitive numbers, it really isn't something worth getting annoyed that much about. My only real bugbear with certain cyclists are those that dangerously fly through red lights in central london (thankfully don't work there anymore though), idiots them lot!