Cycling two abreast....agree or not?
Discussion
aeropilot said:
Bobtherallyfan said:
but the serious Lycra clad mob seem to take a delight in holding up traffic.
Drive around the narrow lanes in the Oakham, Surrey area on a Sunday morning when the Lycra Nazi's are out in force and its a nightmare, I've been stuck behind the arrogant ****s for ages while they ride 2 abreast having a chat with each other while holding everyone up......and I'm a frequent leisure cyclist myself, and even spent 15 years cycling to work back in the 80's/90's way before its was 'trendy' to do so, but these arse's give cycling a bad name.But if you can't get past something narrower and slower than a car, then I'd probably question either your fitness to hold a driving license, or whether the arrogance is yours.
Alucidnation said:
Mastodon2 said:
Exercise and fresh air is a great stress buster and they often seem to be dealing with some pent-up issues. 
Probably caused by cyclists.I think if cyclists had to pay RFL and insurance, many would think twice.
But, cycling is something, that anyone, even if they are penniless can use to get about, nobody is going to legislate it to death so a few giant man babies may have to overtake bikes less often.
How much should VED on a bike be if loads of cars are free, or £30 ? Am sure it would cost a lot more to collect than it raised.
Alucidnation said:
Mastodon2 said:
Exercise and fresh air is a great stress buster and they often seem to be dealing with some pent-up issues.
Probably caused by cyclists.I think if cyclists had to pay RFL and insurance, many would think twice.
The last time it came up, I paid it for all of the cyclists in the UK.
I'll go one further this time and pay it for all bicycles and cyclists around the world who use the UK road network on their bikes. A 3rd cheque for £0 is winging its way to the DVLA as we speak.
Also, I have fairly comprehensive cycling insurance through British Cycling, I'm not entirely sure what I'm supposed to think twice about?
ddom said:
Hoofy said:
Perhaps the trick would be to overtake them safely then drive a little bit below a speed which they would prefer to cycle at but not so slow that they could overtake, thus ruining their Strava times.
You sound like a right winner Why do so many still get triggered by cyclists. Would you do the same to a tractor, horses......
okgo said:
Hoofy said:
Perhaps the trick would be to overtake them safely then drive a little bit below a speed which they would prefer to cycle at but not so slow that they could overtake, thus ruining their Strava times.
Or don't be a pathetic t
t?The fact people go out early Sunday is to avoid d
heads in cars.heads on bicycles. 
ddom said:
Alucidnation said:
Probably caused by cyclists.
I think if cyclists had to pay RFL and insurance, many would think twice.
I do. I think if cyclists had to pay RFL and insurance, many would think twice.
Glad to see the full compliment of idiotic comments are now represented
And does your bicycle insurance cover damage to third parties?
FWIW I don't agree that cyclists should have to pay tax or insurance at the moment because ultimately we want to encourage more cyclists, people on public transport and walkers, and fewer people to drive if we're going to sort out this climate change problem.
ddom said:
Hoofy said:
I see you got triggered there.
No, laughing at you, and your inability to deal with road traffic Also, you did just call me a "right winner" being sarcastic because my comment clearly had an effect on you.
Foss62 said:
Wombat3 said:
If you are delaying other people by cycling 2 abreast then its just bloody rude not to fall into single file; and far too many of them do it round here & plainly don't give a st about being considerate to other road users.
It may be quicker to pass them than 2 in line but if there is any oncoming traffic then often you can't pass them safely at all (whereas you could if they were not side by side).
First rule of being a considerate road user (IMO): don't hold anyone else up if you don't have to.
As a driver for more than forty years I’m not sure I’ve ever come across a pair of cyclists causing the problems you describe. Many cyclists often ride side by side, as do horse riders and pedestrians (where there is no pavement), but if they are holding anything up they will drop into line and let it past. Unfortunately a few drivers seem to think that being required to slow down to let this happen is somehow problematic.t about being considerate to other road users. It may be quicker to pass them than 2 in line but if there is any oncoming traffic then often you can't pass them safely at all (whereas you could if they were not side by side).
First rule of being a considerate road user (IMO): don't hold anyone else up if you don't have to.
Your second paragraph suggests that you are trying to overtake in the face of oncoming traffic. This is a problem with your driving technique - not the activities of cyclists.
....furthermore, in 26,000km of riding, I can't remember a single example of road-rage or aggressive behaviour from (or to) a driver. I've had a few drivers make crap accidental judgements. usually having not seen me, or misjudged the speed, especially if riding with a group.
When driving, I've also encountered riders, sometimes less considerate than I am. I've sometimes been held up. Sometimes for as long as 30 seconds. But once I've got past, I've soon caught up to the car in front anyway so my actual delay has been neutralised.
Finally, from my experience, most people that whinge about cyclists are those that have never really ridden a bike on today's roads, and are often those that look physically like they really aught to.
Slow said:
My house is 10 miles of single track lane to town without wide overtaking bits other than the passing places. You might not see a car the entire time down the road, other times you see one every mile or so to give you an idea of how busy it is.
Regular people always pull in to let you past, I dont mind these people even when stuck behind for a minute or so till the next passing place (even sometimes they just stop and go on the grass).
The lycra terrorists however are a nightmare even more so when 2 abreast, think they are going the speed of light at 30 mph downhill for miles on end so refuse to let people past. They wont pull over going up hill either despite some seriously slow speeds. Makes you want to own a paintball gun to nail them or a stick in the spokes.
They act like they are on the tour de france with their heads buried into the handlebars flying around corners on whatever is the quickest way round.
You almost get hit by atleast 1-2 a week in the summer with them going round blind bends in the middle of the road and they just dont react like a car would do. You can see the panic on their faces when they look up mid corner and see a car blocking the racing line. Even the school bus that drives the road daily has been hit by a few over the years and its a slow moving big white bd.
Then you get the ones that weave into the passing place expecting you to nip past but you dont and the same again at the next one, so at the next they weave in and wave you past... Ok then just get flattened by my plant trailer you stupid bd. The shock as they see a trailer coming past with the space rapidly shrinking and they have slam on and stop is most enjoyable.
As you can tell I fking hate the s on these roads. I dont care on roads with 2 lanes as you can overtake but a 15 minute drive can become 40 minutes if you get a tt in front who purposly cycles in the middle to block overtaking in the small passing places. You fairly often see them in the grass off the road with broke bikes/tyres, much more frquently than you see cars smashed up in the ditches so kind of sums up their cycling style on this road as they think it is a empty time trial track or something as it works as part of a loop they try to do.
Road got closed for a few hours in the summer this year so can only assume a few got hit at once as there was multiple ambulances in attendance and no breakdown trucks so was probably involving a tractor.
Lycra terrorists!! Are they above or below in the pecking order compared to the Lycra Mob and the Lycra Nazis? (sorry Lycra Nazi's)Regular people always pull in to let you past, I dont mind these people even when stuck behind for a minute or so till the next passing place (even sometimes they just stop and go on the grass).
The lycra terrorists however are a nightmare even more so when 2 abreast, think they are going the speed of light at 30 mph downhill for miles on end so refuse to let people past. They wont pull over going up hill either despite some seriously slow speeds. Makes you want to own a paintball gun to nail them or a stick in the spokes.
They act like they are on the tour de france with their heads buried into the handlebars flying around corners on whatever is the quickest way round.
You almost get hit by atleast 1-2 a week in the summer with them going round blind bends in the middle of the road and they just dont react like a car would do. You can see the panic on their faces when they look up mid corner and see a car blocking the racing line. Even the school bus that drives the road daily has been hit by a few over the years and its a slow moving big white b
d.Then you get the ones that weave into the passing place expecting you to nip past but you dont and the same again at the next one, so at the next they weave in and wave you past... Ok then just get flattened by my plant trailer you stupid b
d. The shock as they see a trailer coming past with the space rapidly shrinking and they have slam on and stop is most enjoyable.As you can tell I f
king hate the s on these roads. I dont care on roads with 2 lanes as you can overtake but a 15 minute drive can become 40 minutes if you get a tt in front who purposly cycles in the middle to block overtaking in the small passing places. You fairly often see them in the grass off the road with broke bikes/tyres, much more frquently than you see cars smashed up in the ditches so kind of sums up their cycling style on this road as they think it is a empty time trial track or something as it works as part of a loop they try to do.Road got closed for a few hours in the summer this year so can only assume a few got hit at once as there was multiple ambulances in attendance and no breakdown trucks so was probably involving a tractor.
As for 40 minutes..... You need a better grip on time dear
craig_m67 said:
Here in Australia, it’s perfectly legal to ride two abreast and take up the whole lane. I’ve no issue with it whatsoever.. to do so would be pointless, as it’s legal
What does the law/Highway Code say in the UK?
The same. It's perfectly legal. (except in the minds of those who believe the road is 'theirs', (and have small penises))What does the law/Highway Code say in the UK?
Hoofy said:
When you say you do, you don't specifically pay VED/RFL for your bicycle(s) do you?
And does your bicycle insurance cover damage to third parties?
He doesn't need to - see above, I've paid it for everyone's bicycle(s).And does your bicycle insurance cover damage to third parties?
Yes, my bicycle insurance covers damage to third parties.
Dog Star said:
Slightly off-topic - what is it with these road cyclists and their attire - porky middle aged blokes dressed up in skintight lycra, pot bellies on show for all to see. They look utterly ridiculous, and when they're all in the same outfit..... 
Do they actually think they're Chris Froome and that's their physique (they always try to bluster their way around why they shave their legs too), or are they some sort of sexual deviants? I think it's really, really odd.
Full disclosure - I'm quite partial to porky middle aged women in lycra so maybe they're on to something?
Do you feel the same way about runners in short and trainers? Or horse riders in jodhpurs? Do they actually think they're Chris Froome and that's their physique (they always try to bluster their way around why they shave their legs too), or are they some sort of sexual deviants? I think it's really, really odd.Full disclosure - I'm quite partial to porky middle aged women in lycra so maybe they're on to something?
DoubleD said:
kambites said:
Tommo87 said:
If the road is narrower but still passable safely, its bonkers to suggest that riding two abreast is sensible as you are reducing the room for any overtake,
It such situations, its far safer for everyone to ride single file.
Yes but how many roads are like that? There's a few, certainly, but the vast majority are not, IME. I'd say 90%+ of the time if I come up behind a pair of cyclists, I'd prefer them to be two abreast. It such situations, its far safer for everyone to ride single file.
Parsnip said:
This comes up a lot - so much infact that the second to last time someone brought it up, I paid it for all of the cyclists on PH, if you happen to have a bike in your garage, I paid it for you as well - no thanks needed.
The last time it came up, I paid it for all of the cyclists in the UK.
I'll go one further this time and pay it for all bicycles and cyclists around the world who use the UK road network on their bikes. A 3rd cheque for £0 is winging its way to the DVLA as we speak.
Also, I have fairly comprehensive cycling insurance through British Cycling, I'm not entirely sure what I'm supposed to think twice about?
The last time it came up, I paid it for all of the cyclists in the UK.
I'll go one further this time and pay it for all bicycles and cyclists around the world who use the UK road network on their bikes. A 3rd cheque for £0 is winging its way to the DVLA as we speak.
Also, I have fairly comprehensive cycling insurance through British Cycling, I'm not entirely sure what I'm supposed to think twice about?
Yep, British Cycling insurance is cheap and does the job. That’ll annoy them.
NDA said:
Foss62 said:
So what about all the inconsiderate tw*ts who overtake cyclists when it is clear that they will be holding those cyclists up a few yards down the road? If it is obvious that someone is travelling faster than you, then why insist on trying to get past them?
I have a neighbour who will hold up cyclists as that's what they do to him. Keeps him happy. He figures cyclists will do anything to get in front of him - to only hold him up down the road. So he does that to them.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff