Do You Get Scared At Times

[Frood42]

Have it your way then, if doing something makes you scared or frightened you shouldn't be doing it.

Crossed wires here? I don't know.

I would never leave the house if I didn't do something that scared, frightened or concerned me...
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[lukesdad]

Don't worry fear becomes addictive after a while.

Don't worry fear becomes addictive after a while.

There is a big difference between fear and apprehension, fear usually results in panic.

 

[lukesdad]

Crossed wires here? I don't know.

I would never leave the house if I didn't do something that scared, frightened or concerned me...
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Crossed wires here? I don't know.

I would never leave the house if I didn't do something that scared, frightened or concerned me...
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I see so, you are working on the assumption that everybody reacts to and overcomes their fears in the same way you do ?

 

[Doc333]

Thanks all but just to clarify things, I'm not commuting although I intend to next year at least 2 days each week when the weather picks up.

So I'm glad its not just me being a bit of a pussycat. I've been driving myself for more years than I care to mention and have licenses to drive coaches and HGV articulated trucks so am fully aware of what to expect etc. I also know what drivers of coaches and trucks are thinking and in the main they are fully aware of what can happen when they pass, so do their best to ensure cyclists are safe. However all this can go out of the windows on certain roads and certain times as it becomes a frenzy of seething vehicles all trying to outthink each other and get into that little bit of the road before anyone else. Recipe for disaster in some cases as drivers are having to concentrate on too many things at any one time. Speed, road position, vehicles in front, vehicles overtaking, cyclist, traffic lights ahead try and beat them, slow bus ahead get round it, raining, window, street light flashing, car behind with no headlights on idiot, theres that fool I've overataken three times and he still wants to play .... Too much computing going on because of all the different activities happening at the same time, plus the frustration of needing to get to where they are supposed to be and never imagined the traffic being tis bad.

Then theres the lonely cyclist minding his/her own business, trying to stay out of everyones way, but finding it almost impossible because drivers are not concentrating on them or seeing them too late because they were so busy speaking on hands-free or battling other road users.

Yes I imagine we all need to be brave many times when cycling, but think there may just be some roads where the risk is not worth it. I'm new and will get more confidence but I also know that human nature means I being a cyclist cannot be 100% focused all of the time and neither can a motorist, so accidents can happen. I've just got over a heart attack, hence taking up cycling to build my fitness etc. There are some roads that may just give me another attack ....

 

[lukesdad]

A little anecdote [ i know we don't like anecdotes on CC but...] I used to do a lot of mtb coaching, in hindsight I probably wasn't very good at it, the reason ? I couldn't see the difference between fear and apprehension.
Everybody has the ability to leap off a drop off but just because you can doesn't mean everybody can, what makes one person able and the other not ? Fear or stupidity, thats what.

 

[vickster]

Don't worry fear becomes addictive after a while.

Dying doesn't however!

 

[Doc333]

A little anecdote [ i know we don't like anecdotes on CC but...] I used to do a lot of mtb coaching, in hindsight I probably wasn't very good at it, the reason ? I couldn't see the difference between fear and apprehension.
Everybody has the ability to leap off a drop off but just because you can doesn't mean everybody can, what makes one person able and the other not ? Fear or stupidity, thats what.

18-years ago I too did a lot of MTBing and even did a couple of trips into the high Alps. I may have been younger but not stupid enough not to be scared at some of the stuff we could have done. I had hours of schlepping up the mountains around Mt Blanc or Cirque Fer e Cheval and the Samoens area and Argentierre and into the swiss borders. I have hammered down some serious fire trails and saw the old Saracen MTB summer camp. But to be fair there was some scary stuff but you had to depend upon your own skills. On a road bike you have to depend on your skills but also the concentration of other people and that can be the scary thing.

 

[compo]

A young female cyclist was killed last night in Cambridge. For some reason this has really affected me to the extent that I just couldn't face my planned ride this morning. I don't know the circumstances of the accident but that hasn't eased my concern. As a cyclist, and a very experienced cyclist at that with well over half a century of riding in my legs, I can take all the precautions I want. I can study and apply good roadcraft, wear sensible and appropriate clothing and keep my bike in good nick, but I cannot control other people.

 

[lukesdad]

Sorry, I wasn't referring to skills but fear I may not have made that clear.

 

[Frood42]

I see so, you are working on the assumption that everybody reacts to and overcomes their fears in the same way you do ?

No.
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[vickster]

Be assertive, but not aggressive
Make yourself seen (positioning, clothing, lighting)
Ride in a predictable manner
Try to plan ahead when coming to potential conflict areas (junctions, roundabouts, pinch points)
Communicate (shoulder check, arm/hand signals, eye contact) with other road users so that they know where you are going and what you are going to do (look, signal, look, move)
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That's all very sensible advice, however on a chocka block light controlled massive big 5 or 6 exit roundabout in the dark rush hour, easier said than done when numerous drivers are in the wrong lanes!! I planned my route around the roundablout, lights, hi viz, I am not exactly small, indicated, shoulder checked etc, and still I got abuse...Pavement next time (there may be a shared path around some of it)

 

[lukesdad]

No.
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... But there are people who don' t leave their houses for
The reasons you outline.

 

[Frood42]

That's all very sensible advice, however on a chocka block light controlled massive big 5 or 6 exit roundabout in the dark rush hour, easier said than done when numerous drivers are in the wrong lanes!! I planned my route around the roundablout, lights, hi viz, I am not exactly small, indicated, shoulder checked etc, and still I got abuse...

Ah, yes, it would be easier if people stuck to their lanes and weren't so impatient, Gants Hill near me can be a pain for correct lane choice from car drivers, but its not too big.
You would think the huge signs and road markings would be a good start or a good hint, but no...

The biggest roundabouts depending on my route are these:

http://goo.gl/maps/H7lU2 - 2nd exit heading for Leytonstone A12 (start primary middle lane)
http://goo.gl/maps/0UlZb - 3rd exit (start primary right hand lane)
http://goo.gl/maps/rEWyd - 1st exit (start primary left lane) or 2nd exit (start primary middle lane)
http://goo.gl/maps/oK8bN - 2nd exit (start primary left lane) or 3rd exit (start primary right hand lane)

http://goo.gl/maps/oDzcn - 4th exit (start primary in right lane) or 2nd exit (start primary left lane),
However there is now a light controlled advanced cycle start box, so it is much easier to get away but I still imagine the box split into lanes so as to make my line more obvious to cars behind.

http://goo.gl/maps/ZKQVw - 2nd exit - but layout has changed, with a sort of seperated cycle lane and head start traffic lights (but still take a strong position at the second set of red lights as if I were in the left hand lane).

Not really up there with some I have seen, and are small enough that taking primary is ok, but Bow you do have to watch out for trucks...

The roundabouts I tend to avoid are ones like this:
http://goo.gl/maps/Xg0Ez

Thankfully I have alternatives.
I have used it before in rush hour using the suggested methods to take the 4th exit, but as there are other roads I use those.
My main concern was being lost in the glare of headlights on this one in the evenings.
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[vickster]

This was the Rose Hill Roundabout, I was coming up from Sutton, going down the A217 towards Mitcham. I kept left but in the correct lane, eejit came from somewhere and wanted to take the exit before mine, but he was in the right hand lane until the last minute...impatient so-and-so should have either waited or gone round again and got in the correct sodding lane

At work so can't find the map

 

[Frood42]

... But there are people who don' t leave their houses for
The reasons you outline.

Yes.
I try not to let my fears paralyze or panic me, which is a choice I make, they can make a choice and hopefully also have the choice of getting assistance where needed, but then this is not a perfect society.

I was simply making a cheeky comment on your post as to you considering yourself unintelligent, some people are just too modest

Ive heard only intelligent people get scared and suffer from fear... I wouldn't know TBH.[\QUOTE]
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