Thoughts on Cyclists not in cycling lane

We get the summer time trials on public roads round here and that's where problems often arise due to the competitive edge safety takes a back seat with some. Agree about a group of riders on main roads too especially where there are solid white lines. I think it was when Andy, Ant, Roy and I had a tootle round some back lanes there were groups of cyclists along that route.

Tony.
 
Was a club / time trial rider for 19yrs and finally gave it up year before last at 67 not because I got too old but because I found it too dangerous. If you've been a club / fitness riber or commuted to work on yer bike you'll have a differant perspective on cyclists, all X riders will know how to deal with them in most situations but those that have never ridden for comp/fitness or commuting will find it difficult to judge how best to cope with this moving hazard, learner drivers are probably some of the only drivers that negotiate cyclists properly and It seems a lot of us have just forgotten what they were taught when learning to drive, it's mostly impatience that causes drivers to put cyclists in danger. If you approach a cyclist at a safe speed and judge how fast he is going along with watching his confidence you'll have a good chance of getting by no problem, as for the cyclists overtaking / undertaking in traffic queues then it's up to us to stay alert, after all we're in a slow moving situation so we've got plenty of time to keep a look out behind and hopefully not be surprised by one. Don't forget, we have a Metal shell around us, they have nothing not even a helmet if they don't want to wear one and if we're caught out and have a accident with one the authorities will try their hardest to convict us for just the very reason that they are 100% vonerable to us in our vehicle. That's why wether we like it or not we'll have a job proving we're innocent. Cyclists a nuisance on our roads???? Yes I believe they are but then they have as much right to be there as me and you, I believe it's worth having some patience with them. It works for me.
Rha, Roy.
 
Out driving the South Downs today after a BM meet.. What did I come across on a steep windy hill section... About 20 plus riders over both sides of the road.. Was it a race ? No... Was it a time trial ? No.. I pulled over at the top to take a few photos and one of the cyclists called me a wan***r for over taking them.. Then one of the old ctc guys pulled over for a chat and apologised. He, as a cyclist got pushed out the way on his way up too. He was going to report them to a local cycle group who were doing a hill climb practice. Aka King of the mountain. So not all cyclists are the same. All I can say is that if a truck had been coming down, which they do on that road.. You would be hearing about it on the news :mad::mad:
 
pgunter said:
Out driving the South Downs today after a BM meet.. What did I come across on a steep windy hill section... About 20 plus riders over both sides of the road.. Was it a race ? No... Was it a time trial ? No.. I pulled over at the top to take a few photos and one of the cyclists called me a wan***r for over taking them.. Then one of the old ctc guys pulled over for a chat and apologised. He, as a cyclist got pushed out the way on his way up too. He was going to report them to a local cycle group who were doing a hill climb practice. Aka King of the mountain. So not all cyclists are the same. All I can say is that if a truck had been coming down, which they do on that road.. You would be hearing about it on the news :mad::mad:
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Sorry to hear that PJ, but just goes to show you that there are good and bad in all walks of life, as a X cycle touring club member I'm so glad that some one on a bike tried to put things right.
Roy.
 
@Rha the cycle touring club guy was probably early 60's and was on a really nice Reynolds with campag gears. Nice bike, and a nice chap riding it too. It seems the guys with all the carbon bikes and flash clothing had a point to make. It's the second time out in the South Downs I gave come across a large group doing an 'event' which has not followed any of the guidelines relating to use of the highway. If it was a group of motorists, I am sure the boys in blue would be making an appearance. God help anybody who gets in the way of this lot in the future :mad::mad: Time to fit a cattle bar to the zed I think :whistle::whistle:
 
pgunter said:
@Rha the cycle touring club guy was probably early 60's and was on a really nice Reynolds with campag gears. Nice bike, and a nice chap riding it too. It seems the guys with all the carbon bikes and flash clothing had a point to make. It's the second time out in the South Downs I gave come across a large group doing an 'event' which has not followed any of the guidelines relating to use of the highway. If it was a group of motorists, I am sure the boys in blue would be making an appearance. God help anybody who gets in the way of this lot in the future :mad::mad: Time to fit a cattle bar to the zed I think :whistle::whistle:
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There will be tears....
Sounds like a red mist descends on some of these riders.
Thankfully some groups seem to take things seriously - http://www.southeastcycling.co.uk/news/cycleracingadmin2.htm
 
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@Redline yes I even have to inform the Police regarding organising a run out of like minded car owners... It's good ethics and manners to inform and follow just in case any issues should arise. Take the South Downs run, I had to inform Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex. Only Surrey asked me to change part of the route so that we all did not bunch at a junction black spot. So all happy.

Below is a photo of the road that they were on both sides off !!! You can see the bends and some are hairpins at 20 mph.

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I wonder how often the police get the courtesy of a notification of an event. Not often enough I expect.
Well done on behalf of everyone involved on what sounds like a grand day out!

That road looks fairly innocuous but would be fairly intimidating if faced with a wall of cyclists coming the other way.
 
@Redline the road is wooded on both sides with a very steep drop. The bends are like switch backs and 20mph 2nd gear too at some points. The view is amazing and if a driver was not watching the road, I am sure a few accidents will happen.

The view :whistle:

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It's Ashford Hangers, South Downs National Park. Back road between Petersfield and Ropley. One of my fav places as it's also on the route the a famous pub with no name. It's local name is little Switzerland due to the curves and the views.
 
Our .org group go out mostly on Sunday's as with the cyclists and I've remarked to other org members that it makes me uneasy to try and keep up on one of these runs as we're usually on the B roads/country lanes as again are the Sunday cyclists, this being the case the front car would come into contact with the cyclists first going round a blind bend, this is what worries me most, if there is a vehicle oncoming and cyclist on our side there's not enough room to avoid cyclist and the only option is putting your vehicle into the ditch or through the hedge if you can't stop. Admitted that's when you've gone round the bend too fast, just think about it for a second, makes me nervous. Remember my father teaching me to drive and saying, " son when approaching a blind bend just think what might happen if on the exit your confronted with a broken down caravan (hazard)and driver trying to fix it, if you think of this every time you negotiate a blind bend then you will / should adjust your speed knowing you'll be adle to stop before you crash into something the other side ". Do I still do this ?, Yes and although I don't think of a caravan I do consciously think, what if ? Cyclist !! Horse!! Vehicle over the white line overtaking cyclist too close to the bend etc.
Roy.
 
Roy, I don't speed around the lanes, what I do expect though is a bit of common sense. Large groups of cyclists should not be right across the road. I used to and still do cycle, off road if I see a horse rider, I pull over and wait for the rider to pass, likewise on the road I pass wide and slow. All road users should respect the other users.

If they wanted to do a hill race, they should have applied for a road clousure order and had signs and marshals. Like every other event does. Not hard.

If one of the timber wagons had been coming down with a full load, I can imagine splattered bikes and limbs..
 
pgunter said:
It's Ashford Hangers, South Downs National Park. Back road between Petersfield and Ropley. One of my fav places as it's also on the route the a famous pub with no name. It's local name is little Switzerland due to the curves and the views.
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I must take a drive out that way when I'm next down at the head office in Winchester.
 
@Redline give me some notice, I might be free to take you on a good run as I am just south east of Winchester.
 
pgunter said:
@Redline give me some notice, I might be free to take you on a good run as I am just south east of Winchester.
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Will do - Its usually down and back in a day but occasionally I get a stopover. We normally stay in Stockbridge - its more convenient to get into the office. Have stayed south of Winchester though.
 
Good runs out on the Stockbridge side too.
 
So my thoughts on cystitis, drink more fluids, especially cranberry juice, oh and frequent showers / baths...
 
pgunter said:
Good runs out on the Stockbridge side too.
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Indeed - Its normally just to the curry house, over to the pub and then back to the hotel though ;-)
 
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