Appalling Club Run

[DCLane]

I'd rather not put it on here, but this was going through Rothwell at around 15:30, it was a club not too far from you, there was also one rider from another club that's local to me & slightly further from you with them with them, I know they were nothing to do with the target demographic for the HSBC Ride Leeds.

If that's the case, and we had several other clubs with us, it's worth dropping a note to their secretary. They do get listened to.

Happy for you to PM me and I'll confirm whether or not they were with us: I've had a look on Strava flyby. We were through Rothwell in the afternoon, although my group came through about an hour after this around 16:30.

 

[DRM]

If that's the case, and we had several other clubs with us, it's worth dropping a note to their secretary. They do get listened to.

Happy for you to PM me and I'll confirm whether or not they were with us: I've had a look on Strava flyby. We were through Rothwell in the afternoon, although my group came through about an hour after this around 16:30.

No problem, I think we are thinking of the same club, I've had a look at their facebook page and indeed they had a large ride on yesterday with visitors from nearby clubs too, I don't do facebook so can't comment on there, I would confirm they would have been heading for the Huddersfield side of Dewsbury.

 

[DCLane]

No problem, I think we are thinking of the same club, I've had a look at their facebook page and indeed they had a large ride on yesterday with visitors from nearby clubs too, I don't do facebook so can't comment on there, I would confirm they would have been heading for the Huddersfield side of Dewsbury.

They need to know then please. If I was the club secretary I'd want to - and most clubs can identify which riders were involved. I know I can

The club secretary rides the same commute as me. If I see him I'll have a word.

 

[DRM]

I'll leave a message with the secretary, I'm sure they would rather me let them know about it, then have do deal with contacting someone other half to say there's been an accident, some of the overtakes were frankly horrifying.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

I don't think it is technically possible to get five abreast on one side of the road is it?

 

[Tiger10]

They sound like a bunch of newbies to me and i am sure they will appreciate the warmth and understanding from the cc massive.

(Damn autocorrect)

 

[mjr]

I don't think it is technically possible to get five abreast on one side of the road is it?

Wide single carriageways can be 5m plus shoulders on each side and handlebars 40cm or so, add some wiggle room and so, yes, pretty easily.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

There was a large cycling event on my Sunday ride route. Incredibly, some riders decided to stop to check directions IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I passed them and made a comment "NOT THE BEST PLACE TO STOP". It happens

 

[mjr]

I'm not giving fools in cars a get out or offering any excuse for stupid or dangerous driving but [...]

It looks like you are. Even with the widest standard single carriagway lane width of about 5m, motorists still need to use the oncoming lane to overtake safely and so the cyclists' formation is basically irrelevant, so the main thing 5 abreast does is make the group shorter and quicker and easier to pass. Maybe they should have broken into tens or dozens but that's about all and it would have coalesced temporarily at the junction metioned anyway.

Motorists were doing 50 in a 30 to overtake, according to the OP. Where's the condemnation and calls for penalties?

 

[mjr]

There was a large cycling event on my Sunday ride route. Incredibly, some riders decided to stop to check directions IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I passed them and made a comment "NOT THE BEST PLACE TO STOP". It happens

Not incredible at all. Some flimsy-tyred riders don't like to pull into field gateways for such things. Even persuading them not to stop on blind corners or junctions can be a challenge!

 

[kingrollo]

Theres bad drivers , and of course there are bad cyclists.

I really don't know many people who ride more than 2 abreast. They would be politely told not to in the club I ride with.

Pulling away from lights and junctions can be difficult - esp on a hill - all sorts of minor scenarios can arise, which means the pull away click in isn't as sleek as you would like.

 

[kingrollo]

It looks like you are. Even with the widest standard single carriagway lane width of about 5m, motorists still need to use the oncoming lane to overtake safely and so the cyclists' formation is basically irrelevant, so the main thing 5 abreast does is make the group shorter and quicker and easier to pass. Maybe they should have broken into tens or dozens but that's about all and it would have coalesced temporarily at the junction metioned anyway.

Motorists were doing 50 in a 30 to overtake, according to the OP. Where's the condemnation and calls for penalties?

Couldn't agree more - filing out to single file IMO makes it more difficult for the driver. Bunch up to two abreast the motorist is overtaking for a shorter amount of time.

 

[colly]

It's not about blaming idiot drivers or blaming idot cyclists. It's simply about being aware of other road users. It works both ways.

 

[Fab Foodie]

It looks like you are. Even with the widest standard single carriagway lane width of about 5m, motorists still need to use the oncoming lane to overtake safely and so the cyclists' formation is basically irrelevant, so the main thing 5 abreast does is make the group shorter and quicker and easier to pass. Maybe they should have broken into tens or dozens but that's about all and it would have coalesced temporarily at the junction metioned anyway.

Motorists were doing 50 in a 30 to overtake, according to the OP. Where's the condemnation and calls for penalties?

Well said.
Cars have no right of way over cyclist or other road users. Would they have passed in the same manner if they were horses not cyclists?

 

[DRM]

This has now been dealt with, with a polite email to the club concerned I’m not naming names and in certain parts of their route there was no safe place to pass, we did hang back until it was safe & clear, however some impatient idiots didn’t, yes they need prosecuting for the bad driving, let’s just say having done a little research there will have been some very tired legs in that group dealing with some long dragging inclines, which aren’t massively steep but seem to never end, that I know from experience can be torture after a long hard ride, yes part of that road will take 4/5 abreast but if perhaps if they had split into two groups it may have been better for all road users at the time, thankfully the majority of drivers gave them a wide berth when passing.