1st outing with my cheap headcam

[Alan O]

To be honest (and accepting that the camera angles probably aren't the best for judgment), I don't see any real problem with those passes - I experience many similar passes on even a short journey, and I think it's unrealistic to expect anything better.

I think your road positioning is probably about right on that road, with relatively narrow lanes and constantly overtaking traffic - I'd say the important thing is to keep your line and avoid any wobbling, making yourself more predictable to traffic coming from behind, and with enough space on the inside to dip into when you need it.

Getting back on your bike after an accident can be hard, but focusing on cameras and "looking for" close passes is not, in my opinion, the best way to regain your confidence. Having the camera can perhaps focus your mind on the negatives rather than getting back in the saddle and regaining your confidence?

I'd say switch off the camera and ride, and get your innate sense of safety back - and then maybe switch it back on again just to record your progress for fun.

Alan

 

[Crackle]

They looked OK. Leave yourself enough room to move left and do some more shoulder checking at the points you've identified attract close overtakes and there is always a road or part of a road where this happens. I tend to find shoulder checking helps with driver behaviour. If someone tries to come past me when they shouldn't I'm not averse to sticking out a palm to halt them but that's rare and normally on narrow bendy roads when I can see and hear better than the car behind me.

 

[thecube]

Can I ask what camera you use? Do you find it a bit cumbersome mounted on your helmet?

 

[Dismount]

Difficult to determine from the camera angle the van possibly was close. But the passes looked safe to me. On such roads with regular on coming traffic it can be difficult to pass giving the full 1.5m. regular shoulder checks and hold your line were possible always give yourself enough room to move into the left. For me personally I cycle recreational only and stick to quiet b roads. I would not cycle on some of the main roads nearby where I live.

 

[Vantage]

I personally didn't see much wrong with the passes but as already stated, your accident will make them seem closer than they were. In time you'll no doubt get used to crap passes in general.
But......
No wishing to get into a helmet debate.......that camera mounted on your helmet is in my opinion a terrible idea. You don't want the cam making its way through the helmet and finishing up buried in your head if you do hit the ground. Best mount it on the bike.

 

[Tom B]

One of the thing I worry about if I got a camera would be the fact that I would become hypersensitive for this sort of thing and almost be looking for it. Then because I am looking for it, I find it, then because I look for it and find it, I look more and find more, each time I find more I get crosser and my blood pressure rises and I stop enjoying riding.

Whereas now I can rarely say that I am squeezed too often and if I am then Ive forgotten about it by the next corner - I'm not coming home running through hours of CCTV looking to raise my BP again and again.

I also wonder if having a camera changes peoples riding attitudes giving them a holier than thou attitude and causing them to do stuff, ride in a way in which they wouldnt normally or behave in ways in which they wouldnt without the camera. Looking at some of the helmet cam warriors on youtube reinforces this.

I personally didn't see much wrong with the passes but as already stated, your accident will make them seem closer than they were. In time you'll no doubt get used to crap passes in general.

Indeed, about 12months ago I got knocked off at a T junction when a driver emerging failed to see me and give way. I wasn't injured, nor particularly traumatised and I've had worse falls all on my own. However for the 12 months after I have been noticeably a lot more cautious when approaching Tee junctions, especially when a car is approaching the give way leg as I approach. So i very much agree with this comment

But......
No wishing to get into a helmet debate.......that camera mounted on your helmet is in my opinion a terrible idea. You don't want the cam making its way through the helmet and finishing up buried in your head if you do hit the ground. Best mount it on the bike.

Agreed.