A tad nervous....

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

You seem to have three choices,
Avoidance - don't try therefore never find out if your fears are valid.
Graded exposure - build up in small steps to riding similar amounts that you did in France to build resilience and coping strategies.
Flooded exposure - accept it is going to be uncomfortable and crack on.

Remember that studies show that the human body can only sustain fight or flight response for 45 minutes, in other words, you can only shoot yourself for so long and then you'll start to adapt.

 

[BrianEvesham]

Any advice would be gratefully received (either serious or not).

Don't forget We ride on the left hand side of the road

 

[DooDah]

[QUOTE 2854784, member: 259"]On the bright side, you'll be able to get decent bacon![/quote]
Now that is a plus point, yummy.

Don't forget We ride on the left hand side of the road

Had not thought of that, does it mean I have to put those funny sticker things on my lights

 

[DooDah]

I live in Buckinghamshire. In town the drivers are observant and polite. Once I'm out of town the roads are almost as quiet as they are in France, and the drivers are also observant and polite. I regularly ride in London. There's lots of traffic, but the drivers are observant and polite. This week we rode to Guildford and back, including some stretches along main A roads. The drivers were observant and polite.

Do you see a theme?

Oh, and as modes of transport go, road cycling is really very safe.

From what I have read on CC, I don't think drivers are observant and polite, but I take your point

 

[Banjo]

Now that is a plus point, yummy.

Had not thought of that, does it mean I have to put those funny sticker things on my lights

On a boring point if you reside in the UK your french car insurance wont cover you after the move. Police are hot on it.

I think reading some of the stuff on forums could give you the impression cycling in UK is worse than it really is.
No one posts stuff like "Did 100 kms today and didnt have any problems with motorists" .

 

[DooDah]

On a boring point if you reside in the UK your french car insurance wont cover you after the move. Police are hot on it.

I think reading some of the stuff on forums could give you the impression cycling in UK is worse than it really is.
No one posts stuff like "Did 100 kms today and didnt have any problems with motorists" .

My french car insurance will cover me for 90 days after my move to the UK, which will give me enough time to get sorted.

 

[Banjo]

My french car insurance will cover me for 90 days after my move to the UK, which will give me enough time to get sorted.

The guy I know that fell foul of it must have exceeded the 90 day thing then. Good Luck with the move.

 

[mattobrien]

I have a number of different routes and ride virtually incident free. I live of the outskirts of Ipswich and can be on the country roads within a mile. I actually find that very nearly all drivers I encounter are courteous and drive well, I ride many miles without and bad passes etc.

I am sure I could pick busier roads to ride on and up the incident rate, but I am quite happy how things are.

The biggest issue I encountered this morning was that out of the town it was a little icy, I actually had the back end step out a few times, so had to be mindful of how I progressed. Too many years of driving rear wheel drive sports cars meant my instinct was in tune with controlling a 'power slide' so I continued, albeit a little gingerly, and made it back in one piece. I shan't be writing home about by ave speed, but safe nonetheless.

 

[DooDah]

I live in Buckinghamshire. In town the drivers are observant and polite. Once I'm out of town the roads are almost as quiet as they are in France, and the drivers are also observant and polite. I regularly ride in London. There's lots of traffic, but the drivers are observant and polite. This week we rode to Guildford and back, including some stretches along main A roads. The drivers were observant and polite.

Do you see a theme?

Oh, and as modes of transport go, road cycling is really very safe.

I grew up in a little village in Bucks and I remember it being quiet and tranquil, but on more recent returns, it feels a whole lot different. I guess it is going to take a while to adjust. Thanks for all the replies, and in the main, morale boosts

 

[Herzog]

Not quite sure where to out this thread. I have lived in rural france for 12 years now and took up road cycling here. I have to say it is a joy, i possibly see less than ten cars on a 80km ride. However, for family reasons we are moving back to the uk in the spring. I am a bit nervous about the traffic, weather, uk drivers. Not sure where exactly we will be living as yet but likely to be between birmingham and bucks. Any advice would be gratefully received (either serious or not). I think i am going to seriously miss my sedate rides around rural france. In fact, i cannot remember the last time i had to unclip on a ride (apart from stopping for a pee).

I always get a shock when returning to cycle in the UK (from Switzerland). Loads of cars, poor roads, bad drivers...amongst others.

Good luck!