Any comments?

[Origamist]

Well, that's just inept and woeful driving - the safety margins are far too tight.

TF has given you some sound advice, but what I would add, in the particular circumstances you found yourself in yesterday is that the traffic lane narrows as the median widens. I would either try to get into the centre of the lane earlier than you attempted. Or, slow, hold/maintain secondary postion before the pinch point, and when the car is about to pass, drift left to give yourself more space. This technique of course works better with single vehicles approachig from behind.

However, it's a real problem when you have multiple vehicles, (often above the limit) in close order. In these sitautions, I have (thankfully only occasionally) had the second or third vehicle try to overtake the car(s) ahead and try to beat me to the pinch point, by using the median or opposing lane.

BTW, how are the police dealing with your complaints, Matthew?

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Audi is the new BMW. They used to be sensible/boring, these days they target the tosspot market with e.g. the TT - a muppet's car if ever there was one.

Yes, they do seem to be like haemorhoids, don't they? Sooner or later every peanut gets one.

 

[Bicycle]

What a shocker.. It was an Audi driver.. Why is it nearly always an Audi driver?

Very poor driving by the motorist, but these things happen. I'd shrug and move on.

I'm not sure (while I'm typing) where the negativity about owners of one marque or another comes from.

There is a degree to which some contributors to this forum rail against the stereotyping of 'typical bloody cyclists' but are happy to berate Audi drivers, BMW drivers, lorry drivers and the like as a group.

I'm just back from a 40-mile shakedown spin after giving my fixie some TLC. Nearly every driver out there was courteous, skilled and thoughtful. This includes BMWs, Audis, Artics, skip lorries and even a Bentley.

I really don't think it helps to create an enjoyable, shared road network if there are people out there on bicycles who already hold some motorists in disdain purely because of what they drive. Up to a point, it is the equally pernicious inverse of what some people refer to as Clarksonism.

Lovely ride today, by the way. Bitterly cold and unhelpfully windy, but just lovely. In a moment of insanity I put an old cadence computer in the fixie. Mostly just to make sure I stay in the right gear at all times.

 

[Arfcollins]

Very poor driving by the motorist, but these things happen. I'd shrug and move on.

I'm not sure (while I'm typing) where the negativity about owners of one marque or another comes from.

There is a degree to which some contributors to this forum rail against the stereotyping of 'typical bloody cyclists' but are happy to berate Audi drivers, BMW drivers, lorry drivers and the like as a group.

I'm just back from a 40-mile shakedown spin after giving my fixie some TLC. Nearly every driver out there was courteous, skilled and thoughtful. This includes BMWs, Audis, Artics, skip lorries and even a Bentley.

I really don't think it helps to create an enjoyable, shared road network if there are people out there on bicycles who already hold some motorists in disdain purely because of what they drive. Up to a point, it is the equally pernicious inverse of what some people refer to as Clarksonism.

Lovely ride today, by the way. Bitterly cold and unhelpfully windy, but just lovely. In a moment of insanity I put an old cadence computer in the fixie. Mostly just to make sure I stay in the right gear at all times.

+1 to that. There is only one type of car I'm more wary of than others, and that is a small car with an old plate. Usually driven by a 17 year old, always worth giving a wide berth to.

 

[col]

I agree with Hippo, as you approach a pinch point, regular checks so you know whats coming is the best thing to do. then you can decide what you prefer to do, either hold a primary line, or slow and move over and let pass. Personally Id slow and let pass

 

[gaz]

I wouldn't say that line is a good line to follow. Doesn't go out far enough and it does so far too late.
You need to be checking what is behind you way before the the pinch point. Adjust speed so you can fit into a gap of the traffic and control it. Move out well before the pinch point. Thank any drivers who waited and move back over to the left when safe.

Happy cycling

 

[Bicycle]

Thank any drivers who waited...

This point is not made enough. It makes a huge difference. +1

 

[lukesdad]

Being a bit wobbly when you look over your shoulder is no bad thing when approaching a pinch point or anything similar because it will give the driver pause for thought. I have never been cut up at a pinch point, it's all about anticipation Matthew, look behind you in plenty of time, look at the driver, let them know that you know they are there, it really works. I have a slight worry that the camera is somehow being thought of by the wearer as a kind of armour or insurance and consequently some riders are losing their normal self preservation instincts and maybe a bit of road craft too. Incidentally, all drivers who are patient get a raised hand in acknowledgement from me and I almost always get an answering wave.
I could be completely wrong on all of this, just the impression I am getting from reading all the posts of near misses. Finally I would say practice looking over either shoulder on a deserted bit of road until you can do it and still hold a straight line, I know it is something a lot of people have trouble with, there is a way of mastering this skill but it would take too long to explain here.

Looking under your arm is the skill you really need to perfect.

 

[Bicycle]

Looking under your arm is the skill you really need to perfect.

MASSIVELY O.T. WARNING:

This applied in the 80s when maxing a big, twin-cylinder trail bike (Dakar Stylee) or an Italian twin on Autobahns...

Mirrors were useless over 100 mph and looking backwards the normal way meant losing a visor. So.... under the upper arm was the way.

You got 911s and 745is blatting along at 150+, casually flashing people out of their way.

I later came to the conclusion that riding motorcycles on the Autobahn was slightly less safe than being a Christian cast member in a Colosseum production.

 

[CopperBrompton]

This point is not made enough. It makes a huge difference. +1

Agreed. I've seen cyclists on here argue that as they have as much right as car drivers to occupy the road (true), it is somehow wrong to thank drivers who did no more than they should have done. My view is that thanking a driver for being patient, even if that should be expected, can only make them more likely to treat the next cyclist with the same courtesy.

 

[ianrauk]

I wouldn't say that line is a good line to follow. Doesn't go out far enough and it does so far too late.
You need to be checking what is behind you way before the the pinch point. Adjust speed so you can fit into a gap of the traffic and control it. Move out well before the pinch point. Thank any drivers who waited and move back over to the left when safe.

Happy cycling

See, take heed and listen to your Uncle Gaz.

 

[lukesdad]

See, take heed and listen to your Uncle Gaz.

Uncle gaz ?....but that.... would make you grandpapppy Ian,... and feck knows what it would make me !

 

[BlackPanther]

I think that if you're going to take primary you must go the whole hog. Half hearted attempts just let the poor drivers think they can squeeze through. That said, I had primary coming up to a traffic island this week. The van went around the wrong side of the island!!!! I would've happily paid £100 for there to have been a cop car coming the other way. Of course there wasn't one. In fact I'm not sure that police cars actually patrol the roads an more.

 

[ianrauk]

Uncle gaz ?....but that.... would make you grandpapppy Ian,... and feck knows what it would make me !

Ancient?

 

[Hip Priest]

Poor driving. You didn't do anything wrong, but take the advice written above. If I feel someone is considering an unsafe pass, I put my palm out in a 'stay there' gesture, which becomes a 'thumbs-up' once the hazard has passed. Never had any objection from a driver.