Cyclecraft

[jimboalee]

Over the last seven days, I've ridden 200+ miles around the West Midlands conurbation on a slower-than-death 20" shopping bike. Half of those miles were following my usual cycling traffic techniques, and the other half 'Cyclecraft' recommendations.

Solihull to Walsall twice, Solihull to Wolverhampton twice. Solihull to Merry Hill Decathlon twice and Solihull to Harbourn twice.

Evening twylight, Friday afternoon rush-session, Saturday, Sunday and last night in the sunset.

And d'ya know what? Cyclecraft recommended technique didn't make a scrap of difference. In fact, it made me feel more vunerable, riding 'in the middle of the lane' at every junction and narrow section.

Thanks, but no thanks.

 

[theclaud]

Some motorist getting a blowjob from Penfold.

 

[jimboalee]

Jim, you said he was in secondary, "wandered" to a broader position as he approached "central bollards", and held-up traffic - hence why you gave him the evil-eye, you big tough guy you! It thereofre seems a reasonable asusmption that this guy was riding in the centre of the lane, or thereabouts as this manoeuvre always seems to get you agitated.

Re-read my post.

I called "Rider up!".

I KNOW YOU ride your bike 'to the book'.

Sometimes thare are situations where a slow cyclist should have the dignity to let a faster cyclist through.
I do on that 'slower-than-death' 20" shopper.

I presume you don't.

 

[Origamist]

Re-read my post.

I called "Rider up!".

I KNOW YOU ride your bike 'to the book'.

Sometimes thare are situations where a slow cyclist should have the dignity to let a faster cyclist through.
I do on that 'slower-than-death' 20" shopper.

I presume you don't.

You sound like a pompous, Mr Toad-type cyclist. I would not expect another cyclist to get out of my way because I was faster than them - particularly if they were proceeding in a manner that they thought maximised they're safety (whether you agree with their road positioning or not). What's more, not every cyclist can hear or understand some impatient cycle-hog shouting "Rider Up" as they probably don't come from a club background.

 

[jimboalee]

I don't have a flouro coat. Will bright red suffice?

BTW, when riding to my own technique I wore a black sweatshirt to render myself more invisible than usual....

 

[jimboalee]

You sound like a pompous, Mr Toad-type cyclist. I would not expect another cyclist to get out of my way because I was faster than them - particularly if they were proceeding in a manner that they thought maximised they're safety (whether you agree with their road positioning or not). What's more, not every cyclist can hear or understand some impatient cycle-hog shouting "Rider Up" as they probably don't come from a club background.

So presumably, you wouldn't get out of the way of a faster cyclist, you pompous RoadHog !

And in Origamist's book, a fast cyclist who shouts a Nationally recognised signal of warning from one cyclist to another, is an "impatient cycle-hog".

Warning to all. Don't ride up behind Origamist.

 

[Origamist]

So presumably, you wouldn't get out of the way of a faster cyclist, you pompous RoadHog !

I'll happily defer to faster cyclists, Jim. However, I don't expect others to do this for me - if you ride in this more cautious manner you don't get stressed or feel the need to give other cyclists a nasty stare...

 

[theclaud]

So presumably, you wouldn't get out of the way of a faster cyclist, you pompous RoadHog !

And in Origamist's book, a fast cyclist who shouts a Nationally recognised signal of warning from one cyclist to another, is an "impatient cycle-hog".

Warning to all. Don't ride up behind Origamist.

Well, you could try...

 

[Origamist]

And in Origamist's book, a fast cyclist who shouts a Nationally recognised signal of warning from one cyclist to another, is an "impatient cycle-hog".

Warning to all. Don't ride up behind Origamist.

If you want to shout club warnings at utility cyclists (for example), you won't get far, apart from most likley frightening them.

You were impatient as you wanted to overtake at a pinch point with a cyclist in front of you in the centre of the lane - just relax, Jim.

 

[Origamist]

Seems we're diametrically opposite.

I give way to faster cyclists and ( somehow with politeness ) expect the same gesture from slower cyclists.

You don't expect slower cyclist to give way, so you don't give way to faster cyclists.

Am I correct?

Do keep up:

I'll happily defer to faster cyclists, Jim. However, I don't expect others to do this for me

 

[jimboalee]

"Past the central bollards I call "Rider up!" but he just glances at me and continues on his merry slow way as if he's all the right in the world to hold up faster traffic.



As the chap who wishes to overtake, I have to judge my move which doesn't happen for quite a while."


'Quite a while' was almost two miles, which throughout he knew of my presence.

Remembering the occasion, he seemed reluctant to look round at me. Am I THAT frightening????

Was it an 'anti-scalp' tactic which is written in coded texts within Cyclecraft and only decipherable by the inner circle?

 

[Origamist]

"Past the central bollards I call "Rider up!" but he just glances at me and continues on his merry slow way as if he's all the right in the world to hold up faster traffic.



As the chap who wishes to overtake, I have to judge my move which doesn't happen for quite a while."


'Quite a while' was almost two miles, which throughout he knew of my presence.

Remembering the occasion, he seemed reluctant to look round at me. Am I THAT frightening????

Was it an 'anti-scalp' tactic which is written in coded texts within Cyclecraft and only decipherable by the inner circle?

Ahhh, the usual seepage of additional information that (not so coincidentally) supports your anti best practice stance, Jim.

If I were you I'd have embroidered the tale still further by throwing in some dialogue when you finally overtook the cyclist - maybe he shouted "I'm cycling the Cyclecraft way, Origamist told me to - xxxx you, buddy" when you finally made it past?

 

[clarion]

Warning to all. Don't ride up behind Origamist.

I rather think that Origamist is most often the faster rider in his interactions. Hundreds of them every ride, at a guess. And very polite & careful he is too.

In your example, the rider you cite doesn't seem to be following Cyclecraft guidelines, so you've got a bit of a straw man there.

If a faster vehicle of any kind comes up behind a slower, it is up to them to respond appropriately, wait for the opportunity to overtake safely and legally. If that doesn't happen, then you should wait, not blast your horn or shout (depending on which vehicle you are in), until it is safe.

There is an obligation on the slower not to swerve or speed up while being overtaken, but they should not be intimidated.

 

[marmalade400]

I have on occasion been cycling along an arterial route out of Birmingham when I come up behind a 'Flourocoat Hybridian' doing 12 – 13 mph in secondary. There is a stream of traffic passing us and he wanders across to a broader position when we approach central bollards. As per the 'Book', and all the traffic slow up with me at their side and I shrug my shoulders at the guy in the leading car.

Past the central bollards I call "Rider up!" but he just glances at me and continues on his merry slow way as if he's all the right in the world to hold up faster traffic.

As the chap who wishes to overtake, I have to judge my move which doesn't happen for quite a while. When it does, he gets a glare that would freeze hell's basement.

I don't understand why you had so much trouble overtaking someone doing 12mph, and why you seem to think it was their fault that you couldn't deal with it very well.

Try to spot slow moving cyclists in the distance instead of waiting until you are right behind them.
Check the flow of traffic on your right, try and spot a gap coming up and adjust your speed to time the arrival of this gap with the time you will reach the slow moving cyclist.
Signal and move out into the main flow of traffic, putting on a good burst of speed to get past the slow cyclist quickly.
You have the whole lane so you can leave the slow cyclist plenty of room in case they need to avoid potholes etc.
Move back to your usual road position once you are safely past the slow cyclist.
No-one is held up much, no-one feels threatened, no-one gets angry and there is no shouting involved.
It is so much easier that way.

 

[summerdays]

"Past the central bollards I call "Rider up!" but he just glances at me and continues on his merry slow way as if he's all the right in the world to hold up faster traffic.

I don't know the meaning of rider up ... though I'm presuming it means I'm coming by?

We can't presume what riding experience another road user has or background.