CyclingMikey aka CrikeyMikey

Post by **bluejackhustler** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 12:09 pm

If all drivers checked their blindspots before changing direction there would be hardly any car vs cyclist videos on youtube.

How many of us regulary check the huge blind spot we all have?

Post by **Gayno** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 1:26 pm

bluejackhustler wrote:How many of us regulary check the huge blind spot we all have?

Me.

I dropped it very quickly after passing my test (which is bad I know) but then I had to teach my other half to drive so I had to do everything by the book to set example. It has now become second nature.

Post by **4thgenphil** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 1:34 pm

bluejackhustler wrote:If all drivers checked their blindspots before changing direction there would be hardly any car vs cyclist videos on youtube.

How many of us regulary check the huge blind spot we all have?

you laugh at me but i was told off for checking over my left shoulder when i learnt to drive. its a habit for riding motorbikes!

Post by **bluejackhustler** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 2:00 pm

Being a motorbiker I always check mine, have tought the girlfriend to do the same.

Post by **vanzep** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 3:00 pm

I must admit to being bike aware but less cycle aware - you can hear an see a motorbike and ive never been held up by a biker but cyclists are a problem in town mainly due to the fact that quite a number of them seem to think its a good idea to cycle about at night with no high vis vest or reflectors or lights - this scares me as they are practically invisible and it would only take one small hit to seriously injure them. The other problem is the poor state of the roads that make means cyclists have to swerve out to avoid potholes and rough surfaces. Over complicated road layouts with cycle lanes and bus lanes just add to the misery for all of us but there is no doubt all the pressure is being put on car drivers with more rules, regulations and fines

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 3:33 pm

The one thing that annoys me about cyclists around here is there's quite often more than one of them out cycling together, and it's quite common for them to think it's fine for them to cycle side by side. More often than not it's through the windy country lanes, so there's no real safe place to over take them. When you do finally get a chance I must admit I do want to scare them. I used to cycle a lot and I worked in the trade, so I know they must be incredibly arrogant not to move over into single file to let cars past. The only way I see them learning is if they do actually have an element of fear. Otherwise they're causing a potential accident for the driver behind, and on-coming car and themselves!

But yeah to second your comment about the cycle "row" at the front of traffic lights Andrew... That really does make no sense! First come first serve I say. To be safe cyclists should be in single file (especially in towns and cities), so why allow them to all bunch up at the front of traffic, which in turn is just adding to the potential risk that one or two of said traffic is going to hit them?!

bennyboy · Post by **bennyboy** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 3:44 pm

NafemanNathan wrote:The one thing that annoys me about cyclists around here is there's quite often more than one of them out cycling together, and it's quite common for them to think it's fine for them to cycle side by side. More often than not it's through the windy country lanes, so there's no real safe place to over take them. When you do finally get a chance I must admit I do want to scare them. I used to cycle a lot and I worked in the trade, so I know they must be incredibly arrogant not to move over into single file to let cars past. !

They are actually perfectly allowed to ride two abreast (snigger) according to the HC, as you say, its the arrogance of some that ruin it for others.
I was out riding the other week with a girl I know, side by side as we were chatting, down a country lane as you say. Next thing a guy in a van toots and waves his fist, squeezing past and leaving no room, on a corner too, so that was safe

so I gave him the finger and called him a pointy tool.
Had he given me even 2 seconds to be aware of him, we would have gone single file as we always do if a car turns up, he was just am impatient prick, came up on us at about 60 and wasn't about to slow for anyone. The trouble with being in a car, and we're all guilty of it, is that you think you are immune in your little bubble, you forget how fast 40mph is (try it on your bike).
I'm not championing the cause of 'cyclists' here, there are tools in all sheds - car drivers/bikers/cyclists that ruin it for everyone else.

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 3:48 pm

bennyboy wrote:and called him a pointy tool.

What you do I'm completely fine with. That's what I used to do

It's the ones that don't go single file when they know there are cars behind them that chap my wick.

bennyboy · Post by **bennyboy** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 5:34 pm

Agree 100%.

lxstuart · Post by **lxstuart** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 9:42 pm

Oh my word, the chap in that vid is a tad annoying. I hope he ends up under a lorry.

I can't stand cyclists on the road, in part because I used to be one.
Same as with a car, its not hard to have a little consideration on the road.