Cycling Advice

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

Was out on Monday and did a 50 mile ride, got near Hollingsworth lake and was passed by a group of cars near the roundabout which they all had to queue at, one dickhead decided he would stop against the curb meaning I’d have to stop. Instead I went around him which caused him to bang on his window and start shouting abuse at me, I got around the roundabout first but when he passed me he again was shouting abuse but this time had his wallet open showing me some form of ID as though I was supposed to be impressed then he shot off. Knowing the area I knew I’d catch him at the crossing ahead so head down and I chased the ****.... he shit himself when I was banging on his window asking him what he was playing at... he didn’t want to know and fucked off after that, wish I’d taken his plate now.

Unless there is a decent gap on the inside, I generally just join the queue, then overtake on the outside if oncoming traffic is clear. Most people are generally okay with that, but you do get the odd clown that see's you coming and moves across, either to the kerb or the middle of the road depending on your position on the road. You see them do it, and it's 100% on purpose 'I'm queuing, so you can f*ck off as well' kind of attitude.

With some of the stories you hear about cyclist purposely being clipped (attempted murder in my book) I just try not to engage with these selfish idiots. It's just not worth it. I did have a go at a motorcyclist on the way home yesterday though. He'd pulled into the cycle box at a set of traffic lights on red. I pulled up slightly ahead of him, about half a wheel over the white line. He started gesticulating that I was over the line, and said that 'the box he was in was for bikes'. I just pointed to the sign on the floor and said "It's got f*cking pedals on you tw*at", at which point the light went green he sped off, cutting right across the front of me.

Another totally unrelated incident this morning, I was spat at by a pedestrian. He missed me, and I couldn't be arsed stopping. I really don't know what goes through peoples heads.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

. . . . . . You see them do it, and it's 100% on purpose 'I'm queuing, so you can f*ck off as well' kind of attitude.

. . . . the cycle box at a set of traffic lights on red.

I really don't know what goes through peoples heads.

Cars that are about six inches from the kerb, and a yard 'n half from the inside white line! They'd never continue driving at that distance from the kerb! Selfish. They can fuck some cyclist over - so they do!

I'm certain that a majority of motorists who haven't got bikes just don't understand what the box is for!

I know what goes on in that person's head - absolutely nothing. What I can't understand is why their head doesn't cave in when the interior of the skull contains nothing but a vacuum. They must have very thick skulls. Perhaps three inches thick so it can contain a vacuum.

 

[Tommy_Catons_Perm]

Was out on Monday and did a 50 mile ride, got near Hollingsworth lake and was passed by a group of cars near the roundabout which they all had to queue at, one dickhead decided he would stop against the curb meaning I’d have to stop. Instead I went around him which caused him to bang on his window and start shouting abuse at me, I got around the roundabout first but when he passed me he again was shouting abuse but this time had his wallet open showing me some form of ID as though I was supposed to be impressed then he shot off. Knowing the area I knew I’d catch him at the crossing ahead so head down and I chased the ****.... he shit himself when I was banging on his window asking him what he was playing at... he didn’t want to know and fucked off after that, wish I’d taken his plate now.

A similar incident happened to me many years ago on my commute home when a car deliberately blocked my route on the inside, but there was a dropped kerb, so I overtook on the pavement and then hopped back on the road a few cars in front. A few minutes later on the other side of the junction the same car sped past very close hooting the horn and disappeared in front. I forgot about the incident.

Until a about a week later when the same car cut me up at the same junction. Incidents continued on the same road for months. He would regularly intimidate me despite me being legal and just ignoring him. The incidents were mostly minor. Just close passes and hooting. Once, in clear traffic he stopped in front of me and waited. I stopped and waited. He drove off. Once he drew alongside me, wound the window down and started shouting abuse. I ignored it. It was quite scary for a while and I did not enjoy those commutes home for a few months.

Eventually I got the number plate and reported to police. I was contacted by a copper who was a cyclist who said the driver had been spoken to. The incidents stopped.

It's best to ignore stupid drivers. Take the number plate and report it. A car driver can run you down and seriously hurt you. It's not worth it.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

I'm now on my second week of commuting. After doing 100km last week (I know some people do this in a single ride), I had a weekend off. This morning, I breezed up the hill, and managed to overtake someone in the process. I even had enough breath left in me to muster a hearty 'morning' as I rode past. I did feel a little bit guilty. I'm sure I'll slow down as the week progresses.

I did have to go out and buy a new front light at the weekend, as it's now dark when I leave the house in the morning. Autumn Equinox tomorrow, so it's soon going to be dark still when I get to work.

If anyone is interested I got one of these from Halfords 200 Lumen front bike light It's USB rechargeable and it has multiple brightness/flash modes. Seems decent enough, and not too expensive (when you factor in not having to buy new batteries every couple of weeks or so).

 

[jamesha]

My commute is only 3km but there are a couple of points where I am regularly put in danger by motorists. The worst is a mini-roundabout at the top of a slight hill where I turn left. I have had several motorists overtake as I am turning and, if I had not quickly braked, would have caught my front wheel. The ridiculous thing is that 100 metres further on the road reaches a major road where, during busy times, there is always a queue of traffic.
I normally cath up to the offender and give them some feedback but it is never accepted - thinking of getting a camera to capture footage and report the worst cases.

 

[AlexWilliamsGloves]

I went down the rabbit hole of finding a new helmet....

Helmets with indicators? really?

What about these smart helmets that have speakers for music/phone connectivity? i admit i miss listening to music on my way to and from work, but im wary of being distracted....

I dont want to wear earphones, so these are slightly appealing as you can still hear things around you....has anyone tried them?

 

[uweuweuwe]

Anyone use tubeless tyres? Thinking of swapping over to them but don’t think mine wheels are tubeless ready so will probably have to buy the whole wheel set. So want to know if there worth it before diving in. mainly do country roads and paths on my gravel bike So not bothered extra weight etc. last couple of week the cycle lane on Alan Turing way seems to be getting filled with more crap every time I use it and it only a matter of time before my luck runs out.

 

[JOGAMIGMOG]

Went to Blackpool and back on Sunday without incident until cycling through Bury about 5 miles from home when some balloon decided to pass me about two inches from my elbow. One of the lads I was riding with said he'd just pulled out infront of him to join our road forcing him to slam the brakes on. The driver almost succeeded in killing two cyclists for the price of one.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

I went down the rabbit hole of finding a new helmet....

Helmets with indicators? really?

What about these smart helmets that have speakers for music/phone connectivity? i admit i miss listening to music on my way to and from work, but im wary of being distracted....

I dont want to wear earphones, so these are slightly appealing as you can still hear things around you....has anyone tried them?

Not for me. I prefer not to listen to music when I'm riding as I want to have as much awareness of traffic as possible, although electric cars can be a bit of a nightmare ;-)

 

[discopop]

I went down the rabbit hole of finding a new helmet....

Helmets with indicators? really?

What about these smart helmets that have speakers for music/phone connectivity? i admit i miss listening to music on my way to and from work, but im wary of being distracted....

I dont want to wear earphones, so these are slightly appealing as you can still hear things around you....has anyone tried them?

Jaw Bones are a choice if you want music but also to still hear traffic noise