3 cycling firsts today ,

[ozboz]

Went to London to see my Daughter , so on my 2 week old Surley the bikes well set up now and I'm getting used to the differences between this and my MTB ,

So the first 1st was..
I used cleats , got on with them ok, only downside , emergency stop , as explained below

Second 1st was
Rode on a Cycle Super highway , the one along the Embankment , only a few of us on it , but nice not not have to worry about dodgy car drivers ,

Third 1st
Nearly mowed down a stupid pedestrian on Putney High St, totally unaware of anything as she was reading her mobile crossing the road , got me beat how I managed to stop and get my feet to ground for emergency stop with cleats on, almost went to ground
So good learning curve and experience today , and missed all down pours !! Result !!

 

[toffee]

got me beat how I managed to stop and get my feet to ground for emergency stop with cleats on, almost went to ground

I find that in any mild panic situation the cleats just come out. I haven't hit the ground yet although it has been close some times

Derek

 

[ozboz]

, mad thing is , the woman's look at me was as though I was at fault !! Amazing !!

 

[Racing roadkill]

Putney high street.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Went to London to see my Daughter , so on my 2 week old Surley the bikes well set up now and I'm getting used to the differences between this and my MTB ,

So the first 1st was..
I used cleats , got on with them ok, only downside , emergency stop , as explained below

Second 1st was
Rode on a Cycle Super highway , the one along the Embankment , only a few of us on it , but nice not not have to worry about dodgy car drivers ,

Third 1st
Nearly mowed down a stupid pedestrian on Putney High St, totally unaware of anything as she was reading her mobile crossing the road , got me beat how I managed to stop and get my feet to ground for emergency stop with cleats on, almost went to ground
So good learning curve and experience today , and missed all down pours !! Result !!

When you come across the idiot fannying around with their mobile as they cross the road i find one of these helps to alert them of your presence. http://www.swinnertoncycles.co.uk/accessories-c1/horns-bells-c55/standard-c57/air-zound-3-rechargeable-air-horn-p2926/s3037?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=kf-air-zound-3-rechargeable-air-horn-hr021&utm_campaign=product+listing+ads&gclid=Cj0KEQiAwNmzBRCaw9uR3dGt9

 

[jefmcg]

When you come across the idiot fannying around with their mobile as they cross the road i find one of these helps to alert them of your presence. http://www.swinnertoncycles.co.uk/accessories-c1/horns-bells-c55/standard-c57/air-zound-3-rechargeable-air-horn-p2926/s3037?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=kf-air-zound-3-rechargeable-air-horn-hr021&utm_campaign=product+listing+ads&gclid=Cj0KEQiAwNmzBRCaw9uR3dGt9

Yes, very handy if you are a mute and you like terrifying people, otherwise you can use your voice.

@ozboz, you have to assume that every pedestrian near the kerb who is not actually looking directly at you is about to step off the pavement. Cycle well away from the edge of the road, keep a lookout for them, and be prepared to take emergency action. If you don't do this, you will eventually it a pedestrian.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Yes, very handy if you are a mute and you like terrifying people, otherwise you can use your voice..

Just a quick pip not a full blast usually wakens them from their slumber. I've found in the past that shouting or saying something sarcastic to them get's you into an unwanted exchange of words. Saying excuse me in a polite way just gets ignored. Motorists use their horn to warn other road users of their presence so why can't cyclists?

 

[ozboz]

Hi , I have been riding bikes since 1958 or so , so do not really need any pointers on how to deal with pedestrians , this person was crossing from the other side and was not visible as she walked in front of a bus , which I was pedaling very slowly alongside in the cycle lane, a bit hard to make assumptions about a near incident such as this when some one appears 1 meter in front of you , I agree with Accy , a horn such as the one in the link would be an asset , if you consider the amount of pedestrians using earphones, boy racers with million decibel sound systems in their cars , bus and HGV drivers who could never hear you simply shouting even if you had a booming voice like Brian Blessed ! , considering the number of cyclist killed by large vehicles usually turning left , a very loud horn blast may have alerted the driver to the presence of the cyclist and saved lives , why scoff at a fellow cyclist who advocates and promotes any safety device ?
A big thumbs up from me Accy !!
I'll be looking at one for sure

 

[jefmcg]

why scoff at a fellow cyclist who advocates and promotes any safety device ?

I had one myself a number of years ago, I didn't find it a safety device. YMMV.

I had an airzounds on my bike briefly decades ago. I found that in an emergency situation, I focused much more avoiding danger than operating the horn, so only used it in not-quite-emergency situations, or after the immediate danger had passed - in both cases to "punish" the driver. The only effect I could be sure it had was raising my adrenaline levels. I got rid of it pretty quickly.

Might have felt differently if I didn't have a very loud shout.

 

[vickster]

I had one myself a number of years ago, I didn't find it a safety device. YMMV.

She does have a very loud shout!

 

[mrbikerboy73]

Mobile phones are a curse.

Sent from my iPhone

 

[ozboz]

Haha , hope fully not sent when your riding !

 

[mrbikerboy73]

Haha , hope fully not sent when your riding !

Look Mum, no hands!!!!

 

[gbs]

"this person was crossing from the other side and was not visible as she walked in front of a bus , which I was pedaling very slowly alongside in the cycle lane",

Putney High St is a nightmare 23/7. Seems to me that you were undertaking the bus and hence were unsighted. I prefer to overtake down the centre line.

 

[ozboz]

Putney High St is a nightmare 23/7. Seems to me that you wereundertaking the bus and hence were unsighted. I prefer toovertake down the centre line.

It is a nightmare ! but an evil must encounter regularly ! Yes I was moving down the inside of a stationary bus when the pedestrian appeared , I was on the same stretch yesterday , the traffic on the opposite side was stationary , I took my normal route on the kerbside , very slowly , the was another cyclist traveling on the centre line and much more quickly than I , when, out of the blue 3 teenagers appeared ,running from behind a waiting HGV, the cyclist I observed had to brake severely in order not to clobber them , so really speaking , it Sod's law , which ever direction you decide to follow , on a busy town centre route , if it can , it will , let's just hope it doesn't !
BTW , my Dad was born on the Isle of Man, in Douglas , 1922 , It seems his Dad worked as a Waiter in the large hotels there after serving in the Army after WW1 , one of the lucky ones !!