Different skill sets

[Maverick Goose]

Many a farmer in the village I lived in in Derbyshire used to drive their tractors to the pub, drink enough to fill Ladybower and then drive back home again totally hammered.... one of them flattened a load of lights in the youth hostel driveway once..

 

[gaz]

On average i have nearly 10 traffic lights per mile on my commute into central london. and up to 1/3rd of them can be red when i get to them. It's a sprinters game.

 

[GrasB]

Exactly, loads of power for a short periods, however no time to understand the physical requirements & pain pushing out upwards of 200w for 5 miles without relent (welcome to my commutes).

 

[totallyfixed]

Of course they are totally different, but it is also what you feel comfortable doing. Mrs TF has a 22 mile commute each way and out of that 44 mikes only 4 are in heavy traffic. Even this is not exactly London but she hates it, the stop start, pollution and inconsiderate drivers.
We have also noted that driving in the countryside within a few miles of the city is particularly dire. It's like the petrol heads escape into the local countryside to blow off steam or something. I'm sure you guys we came up to cycle with on the fixed ride [Stockport] must experience the same thing.
To the OP who rides with earphones in the countryside, yes you are correct, each to his own, I just enjoy listening to birdsong and appreciating where we live with all my senses [not to mention the odd idiot approaching from behind].

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Something I noticed when we moved house a couple of years ago, they drive differently this side of Coventry, where cyclists are rare, than they do on the other side of the city where there are more cyclists, the area where we lived was closer to the university. After many years crossing Coventry twice a day I got made redundant last year and am now working in Nuneaton. Twice a day I'm travelling out through Ash Green and Bedworth to Nuneaton and back and I quickly found out they drive differently outside Coventry than they do in Coventry. The difference is that marked that I have to remember to adjust the way I ride when I'm back in Coventry, I need to be more aggressive and alert.

 

[Globalti]

We have also noted that driving in the countryside within a few miles of the city is particularly dire. It's like the petrol heads escape into the local countryside to blow off steam or something. I'm sure you guys we came up to cycle with on the fixed ride [Stockport] must experience the same thing.

Good point. In urban traffic everybody is constrained by the same hazards. In suburban traffic drivers relax and put their foot down; I used to commute in east London and I honestly cannot remember a single bad incident in several years of riding. However I'm quite fearful of riding the suburban roads around Greater Manchester because traffic speeds are faster, there are more junctions and opportunities for numpties to get it wrong and of course more twats in Corsas who shout abuse and throw stuff at you. That's the reason why almost 100% of my riding is in a northerly direction, out into the Ribble Valley and Bowland Forest where there's almost no traffic bar the odd tractor and the few drivers you do see are usually retired folk who drive very courteously.

 

[Aperitif]

I found the reverse. I thought London was pretty easy. Providing you could stand a lot of noise and traffic (not everyone's cup of tea) it was probably easier than other places. It was mad but a very predictable mad. A lot of the main roads and particularly side roads in central london are so straight and generously wide compared to other places and the road surface is a dream come true. The only bits I thought were a bit bad were Park Lane and the Hangar Lane Gyratory.

Class!

 

[summerdays]

I found the reverse. I thought London was pretty easy. Providing you could stand a lot of noise and traffic (not everyone's cup of tea) it was probably easier than other places. It was mad but a very predictable mad. A lot of the main roads and particularly side roads in central london are so straight and generously wide compared to other places and the road surface is a dream come true. The only bits I thought were a bit bad were Park Lane and the Hangar Lane Gyratory.

I guess as someone who only goes to London perhaps once every 2 or 3 years and then uses the underground ... the bits I tend to think of as London are the touristy bits... whereas there must be lots of quieter back street London too.

 

[gbb]

Of course they are totally different, but it is also what you feel comfortable doing. Mrs TF has a 22 mile commute each way and out of that 44 mikes only 4 are in heavy traffic. Even this is not exactly London but she hates it, the stop start, pollution and inconsiderate drivers.
We have also noted that driving in the countryside within a few miles of the city is particularly dire. It's like the petrol heads escape into the local countryside to blow off steam or something. I'm sure you guys we came up to cycle with on the fixed ride [Stockport] must experience the same thing.
To the OP who rides with earphones in the countryside, yes you are correct, each to his own, I just enjoy listening to birdsong and appreciating where we live with all my senses [not to mention the odd idiot approaching from behind].

I read somewhere once, that statistically cycling is more dangerous in the countryside. (More accidents)
I thought how can that be ? but its logical. I can ride one of my country loops and see maybe 10 or 20 cars in 25 miles. Fabulous. BUT, the car drivers are probably enjoying it too, relaxed, not as switched on as in town. They're probably driving and only see a car or two every 5 or 10 miles. Its so easy to put the foot down and let your mind wander.