Cyclists - your experiences on the road

[TheBigD]

Another cyclist who encourages behaviour that damages the reputation of cyclists by way of wilfully inconsiderate use of shared facilities. This is very much noted. This sort of behaviour is what causes calls for more legal restrictions on cycling, and leans me - as a cyclist - towards supporting them.

If you think racing in busy areas is appropriate, then you are part of the problem.

I'm happy for people to have the freedom to make their own choices. If someone wants to race, that's their choice; if someone wants to winge and whine about, that's also their choice.
I get that you have this deep rooted, almost pathological desire to control and dictate what others are allowed to do, i simply do not share your desire to control or coerce others.
You have made clear in preevious posts that you have a very prescriptive belief of what cycling should be. Others are not as intolerant of the diversity of talent across cycling as yourself. Tour inability or unwillingness to embrace this diversity is sad, but that's your choice.
I don't know if you are jealous of those who are better than you at cycling, or envious of those have more ambition to improve themselves than you, or you have other issues, but its certainly entertaining.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'm happy for people to have the freedom to make their own choices. If someone wants to race, that's their choice; if someone wants to winge and whine about, that's also their choice.

One's free choices end when they have an adverse effect on others. Thus at 7am on a Sunday morning race away, but NOT on a Saturday lunchtime. It is about acting reasonably to share a space safely and considerately with others.

I don't know if you are jealous of those who are better than you at cycling, or envious of those have more ambition to improve themselves than you, or you have other issues, but its certainly entertaining.

I just think the only way to use any form of shared public infrastructure is considerately and defensively so the space can be shared. It is the same with cars on the roads.

That does mean that people need to use some sense, e.g. to recognise that if they wish to ride fast when the Busway is busy then the place to do that is the parallel(ish) road. However I also have misgivings about cycle races on non closed roads - in some cases this causes them to take unacceptable risks towards other road users. It is legally allowed but I don't think it should be without specific risk assessment and the Police being able to say no for specific sections of road (e.g. the triathlon I witnessed running over the Hardknott Pass was highly dangerous and should have required a closure).

 

[TheBigD]

We have different views on life, which we ain't going to agree on. I embrace personal freedom and am against others trying to control and coerce others.

Anyway, back to the cycling...

 

[Techniquest]

Quite so, let's go back to our subject of supposed common interest here. I'll introduce a discussion:

Recently-ish I started watching Wanderizm's videos on YouTube and I've found brilliant for both when I am missing London and for when I'm planning a cycle ride. Their recent videos on Dover-Rye and Rye-Hastings in particular really got me wanting to go and do the ride from Dover to Hastings. It was the same with Brighton to Eastbourne on another of their videos, that route does look more challenging it has to be said!

I've started watching a video recorded on the X54 from Poole to Weymouth, that one is on a channel I haven't got the name of to hand. It's given me ideas for some Dorset cycling that's for sure! I've only got to the outskirts of Wareham on it so far, but it's a great way to get a feel for the gradients/sharp bends etc ahead of going on an adventure.

Anyone else research their rides in a similar way?

 

[TheBigD]

Used YouTube numerous times to research a ride. Currently looking at The Way Of The Roses and there's lots of useful videos online with helpful hints.
Don't have a big lunch in Settle seems to be recurring theme as there's a tough climb out of there!

 

[JohnMcL7]

That's what I was riding for many years. But my heart is now so feeble that I can only use it for short journeys with no hills.


It is quite simple. With the motor I can cycle much longer distances and go uphill without getting off to push.

On longer and hillier journeys the motor is the difference between going or staying at home.


With an ebike it is later, with a pedal bike it is sooner. Before I got the ebike I was about to give up cycling, now I can see myself continuing for a few years yet.

Quite right too and it's great to see many others like yourself carrying on cycling or people who have retired and starting cycling with e-bikes.

I had a thyroid condition a couple of years ago and briefly wasn't able to cycle, thankfully it was temporary but if it wasn't I wouldn't have hesitated to replace my current bikes with e-bikes as it would be silly to give up cycling when there's a tool out there that could let me carry on.

 

[Techniquest]

Used YouTube numerous times to research a ride. Currently looking at The Way Of The Roses and there's lots of useful videos online with helpful hints.
Don't have a big lunch in Settle seems to be recurring theme as there's a tough climb out of there!

Sounds like that route isn't for me, I don't get on well with big hills I've started a Sheffield to Doncaster X78 video today, looks good for some cycling one day so far but I've only got to Rotherham on it yet.

I am strongly considering getting a handlebar camera soon, I started looking on Sunday at some but I want something better than some cheap knock-off thing from China. The combined front light and camera for £99 on Aldi's website promises a lot, but I'm still dubious. Whichever one I go for, it's got to be decent quality, so that probably means I'll go for a GoPro. I wasn't going to get one, but a combination of idiotic driving on Thursday and a gentle ride-about on Sunday has got me tempted.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Wouldn't a helmet mount be better? The bike itself vibrates a lot and will affect quality. Also makes it more visible to drivers, and it does (from cycling with a mate who has one) make them behave better - word does seem to have got out that many cyclists with them are reporting drivers for e.g. close passes.

 

[Techniquest]

Wouldn't a helmet mount be better? The bike itself vibrates a lot and will affect quality. Also makes it more visible to drivers, and it does (from cycling with a mate who has one) make them behave better - word does seem to have got out that many cyclists with them are reporting drivers for e.g. close passes.

Ideally I'd get one with both options, and have a bit of a play-around with what works better. I think you're right though, one that mounts to a helmet would be a lot more visible to others.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ideally I'd get one with both options, and have a bit of a play-around with what works better. I think you're right though, one that mounts to a helmet would be a lot more visible to others.

My mate's is an actual GoPro, by the way, and the quality is very good, though the battery life fairly poor.

 

[Haywain]

Ideally I'd get one with both options, and have a bit of a play-around with what works better. I think you're right though, one that mounts to a helmet would be a lot more visible to others.

If you look around you might find articles suggesting that attaching a camera to a helmet can compromise the effectiveness of the helmet in an accident.

 

[Techniquest]

Very good points there from you both. As with just about everything, a lot of pros and cons to consider!

 

[JohnMcL7]

Very good points there from you both. As with just about everything, a lot of pros and cons to consider!

The two cases I've seen where a camera can cause a problem on a helmet is using a cheap mount that doesn't break away properly or having the camera out in front to capture the wearer's face. I use Bell helmets with an integrated mount that's been tested to ensure it doesn't affect the safety of the helmet design. If you're wanting to record bad driving or similar the helmet position is useful because it's going to be looking where you are so a single camera is likely to capture what you're needing whereas fixed cameras on the bike may not, it's also easier to go into shops and take the camera in for recharging since it's not fixed to the bike. For recording the ride itself particularly the mountain bike I like the chest mount because it gives a good angle, not too high like the helmet mount but you get the bars in the shot and it's quite a stable position. The bar mount isn't great because it's subject to side to side movement and the audio is unusable because it picks up a surprising amount of vibration noise from the bike although I usually use this position for recording road rides since I don't want to wear the chest mount for hours and the bar mount keeps a better viewpoint for recording the cycle.

I've a number of action cameras and consider using them for dashcam type recording but it's too much of a fiddle keeping them charged and ready plus for longer rides where I usually have the most incidents I'd want to record there's no way the camera battery will last that long.

 

[dcbwhaley]

We have different views on life, which we ain't going to agree on. I embrace personal freedom and am against others trying to control and coerce others.

Anyway, back to the cycling...

To invoke a cliché: one man's freedom is another man's chains.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Cyclists do indeed break the laws countless times every day, just as drivers do . Of course the consequences of "cycling crime" are far less than the consequences of drivers who break the law.

What about walkers? Do they break the law and endanger others?

I certainly do not favor "more cycling" where I live!

 

[Bletchleyite]

What about walkers? Do they break the law and endanger others?

The law is, for good reason, mostly on the side of pedestrians, though we are one of the few countries not to have a "jaywalking" law. However, pedestrians often do cause a problem, most often due to being "mobile phone zombies", walking along messaging their friends or scrolling Facebook without looking where they are going.

 

[Techniquest]

The two cases I've seen where a camera can cause a problem on a helmet is using a cheap mount that doesn't break away properly or having the camera out in front to capture the wearer's face. I use Bell helmets with an integrated mount that's been tested to ensure it doesn't affect the safety of the helmet design. If you're wanting to record bad driving or similar the helmet position is useful because it's going to be looking where you are so a single camera is likely to capture what you're needing whereas fixed cameras on the bike may not, it's also easier to go into shops and take the camera in for recharging since it's not fixed to the bike. For recording the ride itself particularly the mountain bike I like the chest mount because it gives a good angle, not too high like the helmet mount but you get the bars in the shot and it's quite a stable position. The bar mount isn't great because it's subject to side to side movement and the audio is unusable because it picks up a surprising amount of vibration noise from the bike although I usually use this position for recording road rides since I don't want to wear the chest mount for hours and the bar mount keeps a better viewpoint for recording the cycle.

I've a number of action cameras and consider using them for dashcam type recording but it's too much of a fiddle keeping them charged and ready plus for longer rides where I usually have the most incidents I'd want to record there's no way the camera battery will last that long.

Thank you for the detailed views, I have plenty to consider then. What I might do is get a modestly priced one and give it a try in the various positions of choice. My primary aim would indeed be to record any potential incidents, and for what it's worth motorcyclists are usually the worst offenders in my experience. I also fancy recording the ride for sharing on YouTube potentially, on the more interesting bits at least. My ride on Thursday would have made for interesting viewing, and I was inspired by a Bicycle Dutch video!

 

[Bikeman78]

Another cyclist who encourages behaviour that damages the reputation of cyclists by way of wilfully inconsiderate use of shared facilities. This is very much noted. This sort of behaviour is what causes calls for more legal restrictions on cycling, and leans me - as a cyclist - towards supporting them.

If you think racing in busy areas is appropriate, then you are part of the problem.

To be frank, I don't care what other people think. I trundle back and fore to work and try and do everything by the book. There will always be idiots that get annoyed merely by cyclists existing, e.g. the numpty bus driver that insisted on driving too close behind along Newport Road. Apparently I should have been in the cycle lane. As already mentioned upthread, I refuse to use the cycle lane when it's on the wrong side of the road. He wasted more time arguing with me than if he'd just let me be.

When I'm driving, I don't care if someone on a bike jumps a red light, any more than I care if a pedestrian ignores one so long as they don't ride/walk under my wheels whilst doing it. As a pedestrian I don't recall any recent near misses with cyclists, I always check before crossing. Anyway, it's not just bikes. Last week I saw a four axle tipper truck blatantly jump a red. I don't mean just after it went red. He waited about 20 seconds and then just drove through about halfway through the red phase! The roads are full of morons. The solution isn't more and more laws, it's better enforcement of those that already exist.

 

[JohnMcL7]

Thank you for the detailed views, I have plenty to consider then. What I might do is get a modestly priced one and give it a try in the various positions of choice. My primary aim would indeed be to record any potential incidents, and for what it's worth motorcyclists are usually the worst offenders in my experience. I also fancy recording the ride for sharing on YouTube potentially, on the more interesting bits at least. My ride on Thursday would have made for interesting viewing, and I was inspired by a Bicycle Dutch video!

It's worth the time as I like recording events and special rides as memories to look back on years down the line, even boring videos taken while testing can be surprisingly valuable in time.

 

[Techniquest]

It's worth the time as I like recording events and special rides as memories to look back on years down the line, even boring videos taken while testing can be surprisingly valuable in time.

I would agree with that, I did a ride around Hereford recently, just on the way to the shops before they closed and I had a family meal to attend, it occurred to me going along part of the old GWR line that it could be nice to share it on YouTube. Of course, as you say it'll be nice to look back at some of these experiences one day!

My ride through part of the Brecon Beacons the other day would have been great watching again some time, but who knows I may have it all set up ready to go for next time. As soon as I can afford to get one, I'll have to invest and give it a go. Such a camera could come in handy on my World Frenzy trips too!

 

[SCH117X]

Had a notification from the Police they ae taking "appropriate" action against a motorist. Last week going up a 1 in 10 a car overtook me just before a left hand bend and then promptly almost clipped the kerb on the bend leaving me with no visible road ahead. Good job it was't a downhill situation as I quickly slowed to avoid a collision. All caught on the handlebar mountded sportcam that I nearly did not bother fitting for the ride.

This morning another cyclist drew attention to something my sportscam caught. We had both stopped behind a car in queue behind two others at a red light for a pedestrian crossing when the front two cars decided to continue despiute the red light and the third almost did slamming the brakes on.

 

[Techniquest]

That sort of thing absolutely makes the case for getting a camera fitted! I should have got one by now, but I spent the money on adventures instead.

Glad you're OK after that close call on the climb

 

[yorkie]

I get absolutely fed up of people overtaking and then either turning left, stopping or simply slowing down in front of me.

 

[SCH117X]

The left turn one is definately an offence now - worth getting a cheap sportscam if you have not got one. Have an elderly GoPro that is now an emergency backup - always found it awkward with the removable battery and sd cards covers which tempt fate to be dropped/lost. Have a couple of Lidl ones, one a warranty replacement for the other whose case clip broke and they sent me the complete set. Easy enough to get a replacement case on AliExpress once you find out the actual make and model of the camera Aldi/Lidl are selling and similar for sourcing additional batteries - a google search for reviews of the camera will usually reveal all. I was a bit worried that the Police might not accept the video as I had picked up the older of the two Lidl cameras, which I rarely use as its battery cover has come loose, and did not realise it had the date stamp set on so the video has a date of last year on it.

Have found handlbar mounts to be a weak feature with at least twice a mount breaking whilst riding and seeing the sportcam tumbke to the ground and currentlky favour theat from Klickfix https://klickfix.com/en/products/detail/variants/0210CO where the support that is attached to the camera case clips onto a plastic cube on the handlebar and conseuentkly does not seem as if it as readilly going to suffer a stress fracture.

 

[Dr_Paul]

It just seems that antisocial cycling is way, way too common, mostly by the 20s-30s male age group in lycra on fancy road bikes. I think the behaviour of a lot of that group seriously discredit cycling.

The lycra boys do symbolise selfish cyclists in many people's eyes. To some degree there's reason for this; for example, they use my local park as a race-track, riding circuits around it, overtaking motors that are keeping to the speed limit, disregarding wildlife (deer) and pedestrians. On the other hand, I've found that they are much more likely to obey traffic lights, one of the most common complaints about bikes: I find the chief culprits there are 'box boys' on delivery bikes, blokes on fixed-wheel bikes with sawn-off handlebars in Central London, and the type of kids who do wheelies up busy roads. And the lycra boys are much more likely to have lights on their bikes than other types of cyclists.

 

[Bikeman78]

Another thing that is bad is the tendency to put cyclist and buses in the same lane. While I see how it happened, it just sucks for both bus passengers and cyclists.

I guess this depends on whether there are laybys for the bus stops. I rarely get stuck behind a bus. If I do, it's still more pleasant to ride in a normally empty wide lane than take my chances with hundreds of other vehicles. On the rare occasion that a bus catches up with me, it stops 10 seconds later and is usually never seen again.

Bizarrely, since the cross city cycle lane was put in, I've had lectures off two bus drivers "you should be in the cycle lane." On both occasions, it was on a bit of road with no bus lane so the far bigger cause of delay was the long line of cars. To put this in context, the two way cycle lane starts on the north side of the road between junctions. Heading westbound, there is no obvious way of crossing the four lanes, and the central reservation, to get to it. Two blocks later, the cycle lane switches to the south side of the road, see post #405, so I'm not wasting my time crossing the road. I simply join the cycle lane when it switches sides.

In general, the implementation of the cycle lane has been poor. There is a separate green phase at traffic lights. There are sensors so if there's no bike, they skip that phase. The problem is that the sensors are often not set to detect a bike that stops at the line. One has to stop randomly some distance before or after it. Even then it's hit and miss, and you have to be there at least one phase before the bike lane should go green, otherwise you have to wait another complete cycle. I now know when they should go green at every junction, so I ignore the cycle lights and just go as soon as the previous phase goes red. Another minor irritation is that none of the other routes into junctions have cycle lights. If there were, cyclists could proceed from any direction during the relevant green phase.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I guess this depends on whether there are laybys for the bus stops. I rarely get stuck behind a bus. If I do, it's still more pleasant to ride in a normally empty wide lane than take my chances with hundreds of other vehicles. On the rare occasion that a bus catches up with me, it stops 10 seconds later and is usually never seen again.

I think bikes in bus lanes is a reasonable compromise if proper Dutch style segregation cannot be provided. If it can, then that is undoubtedly better. Riding among large vehicles, even ones that are generally well-driven like London buses, is just a bit intimidating.

 

[Trainbike46]

I guess this depends on whether there are laybys for the bus stops. I rarely get stuck behind a bus. If I do, it's still more pleasant to ride in a normally empty wide lane than take my chances with hundreds of other vehicles. On the rare occasion that a bus catches up with me, it stops 10 seconds later and is usually never seen again.

I agree that riding in a bus lane is more pleasant than riding in a car lane, mostly because most bus drivers seem way more capable at operating vehicles than many car drivers.
However, between stops the bus should be faster than most people on a bike, but the bus stops more often. This can lead to repeated catch-ups / both modes travelling at the speed of whichever one is slowest, which really isn't ideal.

In addition, some people will be scared off from cycling by having to coexist with rather large vehicles in the same lane. As I said, I see why this was introduced in some places, but

Bizarrely, since the cross city cycle lane was put in, I've had lectures off two bus drivers "you should be in the cycle lane." On both occasions, it was on a bit of road with no bus lane so the far bigger cause of delay was the long line of cars. To put this in context, the two way cycle lane starts on the north side of the road between junctions. Heading westbound, there is no obvious way of crossing the four lanes, and the central reservation, to get to it. Two blocks later, the cycle lane switches to the south side of the road, see post #405, so I'm not wasting my time crossing the road. I simply join the cycle lane when it switches sides.

In general, the implementation of the cycle lane has been poor. There is a separate green phase at traffic lights. There are sensors so if there's no bike, they skip that phase. The problem is that the sensors are often not set to detect a bike that stops at the line. One has to stop randomly some distance before or after it. Even then it's hit and miss, and you have to be there at least one phase before the bike lane should go green, otherwise you have to wait another complete cycle. I now know when they should go green at every junction, so I ignore the cycle lights and just go as soon as the previous phase goes red. Another minor irritation is that none of the other routes into junctions have cycle lights. If there were, cyclists could proceed from any direction during the relevant green phase.

Sounds like your council needs to improve some things (for starters, there should be a button to press as well for cyclists, because I don't think there is, as of yet, a sufficiently reliable technology in road use for detecting bikes.) And clearly, having bike paths cross the road, especiially repeatedly, should really be avoided.

 

[ashkeba]

I think bikes in bus lanes is a reasonable compromise if proper Dutch style segregation cannot be provided. If it can, then that is undoubtedly better. Riding among large vehicles, even ones that are generally well-driven like London buses, is just a bit intimidating.

The problem with cycling in many bus lanes is the black cabs which seem to speed and pass far too close.

 

[Trainbike46]

I think bikes in bus lanes is a reasonable compromise if proper Dutch style segregation cannot be provided. If it can, then that is undoubtedly better. Riding among large vehicles, even ones that are generally well-driven like London buses, is just a bit intimidating.

I do agree that it isn't the worst solution, but it is far from ideal, especially for bus passengers

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Dec 2022 ==

The problem with bus lanes is the black cabs which seem to speed and pass far too close.

It's funny how in many places the bus drivers are, on average, better drivers than car drivers, while taxi drivers are, on average, worse than non-taxi car drivers