Molecule Man said:
I have never read (or even seen) Cyclecraft, but I have heard a lot about what it recommends on internet forums and elsewhere.
It seems to coincide quite closely with what I have learned through experience alone over the last 20 years.
Maybe if I had read it when I started cycling, I might have avoided some scary moments when I started off cycling regularly in towns and cities.
Having well over 30 years experience of riding on the road and having recently been given a copy of Cyclecraft (and read it), I was surprised by how useful it is. The section on "Observation and anticipation" (pages 78-84) should be compulsory reading not just for cyclist but learner drivers as well.
As a former full qualified driving instructor (DOT ADI) and an advanced driver, I feel the observation quiz on page 83 should be part of the driving test. Sadly this level of observation is only really taught on advanced driving courses.
Anyone who think they already know it all, can't learn anything more is fooling
only themselves. Especially if they are young and inexperienced. You only have to look at the mortality rates of cyclist and drivers in their teens and early twenties see just how much they are fooling themselves. However not all of them put themselves up for Darwin Awards, some are luck enough to survive, then try to teach the next generation not to make that same mistakes...