I feel like a menace to the drivers as it is since I'm not 100% sure what I'm doing. When I think I'm actually doing the right thing I can pull it off more assertively, perhaps!
Hi Firoz.
I hope bike-less Birmingham was fun.
I suspect that, in the sentence above, you have summed up the entire ethos of riding in traffic. This really is the bottom line and a reason why we published the guide. We wanted riders to *KNOW* what was right and what was wrong, as knowledge brings confidence.
As you have spotted, until we are confident that what we are doing is the "right" thing, something in our nature causes us to hold back. This is perhaps one of the reasons many seasoned cyclists become a little like road warriors, always getting into confrontations and having agro, what I suspect is happening is that they are "so" aware that they are doing the right thing, they become very angry that other road users are so poorly educated. Its the opposite end of the spectrum that you are some way into already.
So its a fine line but for my money, having knowledge/confidence is the key.
Oh and PS, if it was a left strike then ...as you mentioned...you are too close to parked cars and are well and truly in the door zone
...be careful of that.
Perhaps use the same theory that we ask of other road users, if you cant pass safely, then don't. Hold back and wait. The key is probably good rear obs and early positioning to take control of your position in the road
Bit like this vid, where you will notice I hold up the blue taxi (that is trying to pass) for good reason.
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uKuy22TtEk
