Depressed and contemplating selling my Bike - Cardiff

[Jezston]

Must admit i always dreamed of getting my ideal road bike that i finally did on a cycle to work scheme, but since i have started riding i must admit that enjoyment has been few and far between.

It seems every time i go out i risk my health because other road users are oblivious to cyclists or dont care. I had some guy undertake me in a roundabout and then look at me all angry like it was my fault. Then some stupid woman nearly cleaned me after doing a 3 point turn.

I wanted it so i can cycle to work but even this is risky 0900am as the roads are busy so i cant get up to speed. Even though i average 20mph on the road other cars seem to find it acceptable to try to overtake a meter before a roundabout. Im getting to the point of frustration where i want to get off my bike and kick the crap into a passing car. Its like they feel i have no rights because i go slower.

Im contemplating selling my bike as im not getting out of it what i want, its a boardman large road bike, comes with odometer shimano spd pedals,.i have bought schwlable marathon plus tyres. Also has nice set of LED lights.

If anyone interested let me know,

Just one to throw out there, but what are the lights like, what colour is your outfit and does it have reflectives?

Not that it really excuses shitty aggressive driving, but being more visible may cut down on some of the idiots.

 

[fossyant]

Don't go giving up. I pick a steady commuting route - i.e the best route without lots of traffic hold ups, side roads etc.

At weekends, spend a bit of time picking all the back roads for a pleasurable training/leisure route - you'd be surprised how traffic free these are.

 

[400bhp]

1. Go to work earlier. Set off home earlier or later (avoiding the busy times).

2. Go on google maps, coupled with bikeroutetoaster and look for alternative routes to / from work. Look for cut throughs/off road with good surface. See if you have any cycle schemes for your area that provide mapping of the area for bicycles.

3. Mix and match routes to/from work, making you think about the journey rather than just being on autopilot.

4. Consider your riding style and position / visibility to other road users. Could it be better.

5. Go out on an early morning weekend run.

 

[theclaud]

Well you see Falling Down was ruined for my by the innaccuracy of his route. I can't remember the precise details but it's like he starts off in West Hollywood, walks to Down Town then pops up in Beverley Hills then Hollywood and somehow appears in Venice and Silverlake before finally landing in Santa Monica. Totally unrealistic, like an enormous zig-zaggy squiggle. It'd be like jumping off the bike in Cardiff and walking to Newport via Penarth and frickin Barry Island. And Monmouth.

But your point stands. All drivers are ****s.

 

[Jim_Noir]

Bruce, I feel for you. After being hit I have the fear to go back out on the road... that said I love cycling and refuse to let some erse in a car ruin my life. Hang in there, it's nearly Spring/summer and then it's all worth while

 

[Bruce85]

Yea i do use a florescent jacket but if im honest it pains me to use this, and i have good led lights, i live in cardiff bay and have found whatever route i use to get out of the city to head to the mountains just gives me a brain ache.

I hate stopping and stating and being strapped into cleats means i cant coast down between traffic

And i know changing pedals would help but once you had cleats its hard to go back

I think maybe i need to meet with a few riders and gain some Urban experience because being a valley boy i gues not used to the city.

But i feel so releived after moaning on her lol



Thanks guys

 

[ianrauk]

Yea i do use a florescent jacket but if im honest it pains me to use this, and i have good led lights, i live in cardiff bay and have found whatever route i use to get out of the city to head to the mountains just gives me a brain ache.

I hate stopping and stating and being strapped into cleats means i cant coast down between traffic

And i know changing pedals would help but once you had cleats its hard to go back

I think maybe i need to meet with a few riders and gain some Urban experience because being a valley boy i gues not used to the city.

But i feel so releived after moaning on her lol



Thanks guys

Unfortunately that is part and parcel of a city commute.
And why can't you coast (filter) whilst wearing cleats? Is it because you are new to them/a confidence thing?
It's another one of those things that the more experience you gain the more easier/natural it becomes. And it comes quickly, you will be surprised.

 

[HLaB]

Yea i do use a florescent jacket but if im honest it pains me to use this, and i have good led lights, i live in cardiff bay and have found whatever route i use to get out of the city to head to the mountains just gives me a brain ache.

I hate stopping and stating and being strapped into cleats means i cant coast down between traffic

And i know changing pedals would help but once you had cleats its hard to go back

I think maybe i need to meet with a few riders and gain some Urban experience because being a valley boy i gues not used to the city.

But i feel so releived after moaning on her lol



Thanks guys

What cleats are you using? I prefer SPD's in traffic its easier to clip in and out; I also like ones with a cage so if I I do miss the clip I can pedal on no problem. On the hybrid I just use m424 and cheap lidl shoes. On my road bike I use A520's with stiff soled Mtb shoes, I use them on the club run and quite a few century plus ride and there really efficient and nobody has said anything to all intense purposes the look like road shoes but I can walk and clip in easier. I have spd-sl on the summer bike but the A520's IMO perform better.

 

[400bhp]

1. Yea i do use a florescent jacket but if im honest it pains me to use this

2. i live in cardiff bay and have found whatever route i use to get out of the city to head to the mountains just gives me a brain ache.

3. I hate stopping and stating and being strapped into cleats means i cant coast down between traffic

4. I think maybe i need to meet with a few riders and gain some Urban experience because being a valley boy i gues not used to the city.

1, Why?

2. Just vary the route one iteration at a time.

3. Have you tried mtb cleats? Easier to get in/out of.

4. Agree.

 

[Brahan]

Im contemplating selling my bike as im not getting out of it what i want,

I suppose it all depends on what your expectations were. Sailing through slow moving fraffic at 20mph isn't always on the cards and you're always going to have a few close passes through the course of a week.

If you decide to keep at it, I'm sure you'll be happy. You just need to toughen up your coping mechanism.

But if you want to jack it in then I'll give you a tenner for the bike.

 

[Rochenko]

i live in cardiff bay and have found whatever route i use to get out of the city to head to the mountains just gives me a brain ache.

Use the Taff Trail? Hell of a lot more pleasant than the roads going north, just avoid the road bike-unfriendly muddy bits in Bute Park...

 

[brickisred]

Use the Taff Trail? Hell of a lot more pleasant than the roads going north, just avoid the road bike-unfriendly muddy bits in Bute Park...

I’d second using the Taff Trail, it's the easiest way to commute South-North(-South) in Cardiff. You won't be able to average road pace with the amount of peds, dog walkers etc but can at least get out of the city quickly.

Could also try leaving the Taff Trail and heading across through Fairwater-St Fagans to head out to the Vale roads if you want to let rip on a weekend

 

[boydj]

Instead of trying to press hard all the time, try to chill out a bit when the traffic is heavy - just enjoy making faster progress than the cars. Your overall time will not suffer much and you'll be more relaxed and a bit safer too. Use the week-ends or quieter times for pushing the pace. As others have said, a fairly assertive riding style to control the space around you will help minimise incidents with other traffic and make the commute more enjoyable. You've done the hard bit in getting out there on the bike, so keep it up and don't beat yourself up.

 

[skudupnorth]

Don't sell ! I am also having a kack week with bad/close overtakes,left hooks and general numbnuts driving but I will not be beaten !!!!! Having a couple of days off the bike to have a rest from it but will be back next week.

 

[joebingo]

The more you commute the more you will learn to anticipate any problems/incidents. Moton's are sat in their tin cans trying to get to where ever they need a millisecond faster then anyone else, getting fat in the process. They are the dumb ones sitting in traffic jams. You however are a cyclist, filtering past. Cycling is enjoyable, even commuting. Spring/better weather will soon be here which will make it even more so. There is nothing better then commuting to work and back in glorious sunshine.

Aint nothing better than being lucky enough to have 2 bike rides on a lovely spring day