Hurry up and overtake me then you silly man

[Ganymede]

I've always tended to not wave folks past which is only down to an "incident" with a horse many years ago while I was riding a motorcycle. Maybe I should resume doing it.

I'm grateful for people's caution and I'm Joe Cautious myself whether I'm on the bike, motorbike or the skip... sorry car. However in this, and other cases I'm sure many of us have experienced, it points to a wider issue of general poor driving.... imho anyway.

Yeah I think you have to be really careful about waving people on in unknown territory. I get really hacked off when driving, when other drivers insist on letting me out and giving their right of way away to me when I'd be perfectly happy if they just carried on using the rules of the road - I don't want to be told to move unless I am really seeking a way to get out of a difficult situation.

Equally I am happy to encourage a driver to pass if I am very sure it's safe and I don't want his radiator warming up my back tyre!

 

[Garethgas]

I get exactly the same thing happening to me on almost every ride and I agree with the OP.
The worrying part for me is that they demonstrate a complete lack of confidence, ability and good judgement.
Now, I'm happy to give them the benefit of the doubt occasionally but usually they display the traits of a learner out on his first lesson.
It's as if they have no idea how to negotiate a cyclist.

 

[mrbikerboy73]

I will not wave people past as I firmly believe that the overtaker has all the responsibility for making a safe pass and it is nothing to do with me.

+1 on that. When I rode a motorbike, car drivers would pull into the gutter, spraying me with gravel, rubbish, road kill etc and wave me past as if they were doing me a favour. I know they had good intentions, but I hated it. If I wish to overtake, I'll do it when I'm ready and I feel it's safe. So as a cyclist, I just get on with it and let them make that decision.

 

[Apollonius]

Indeed, it is very likely that they have no idea how to pass a cyclist. This is true of about 70% of drivers. I would really like to see an advertising campaign educating drivers. The only drivers I have met with any real idea of what cyclists do (apart from cyclists of course) are a couple who have been forced to do a speed awareness course after being caught speeding. They even knew terms like "primary"!

 

[GrasB]

Yes there's not taking risks but also refusing an overtake opportunity when it's clearly on is also bad driving. It tends to lead to frustration for drivers behind & that can mean someone committing to a dangerous overtake without knowing you're there! These people also turn a cyclists into an effective rolling road block forcing them into getting off the road to let traffic past when it's needless.

 

[mrbikerboy73]

Yes there's not taking risks but also refusing an overtake opportunity when it's clearly on is also bad driving. It tends to lead to frustration for drivers behind & that can mean someone committing to a dangerous overtake without knowing you're there! These people also turn a cyclists into an effective rolling road block forcing them into getting off the road to let traffic past when it's needless.

My thoughts exactly. A person would fail a driving test for hesitation. It infuriates others and creates a potentially far more dangerous situation.

 

[Roadrider48]

Fast or close pass or hang behind. You can't have it both ways!
I would rather someone waited behind me if they were not sure about overtaking or nervous.
What ever way you look at it, it shows caution.
Isn't that what cyclists want motorists to be?

 

[Apollonius]

If the car (I think tractors are worse) behind is troubling you, pull over and let it pass. Simples!

 

[Retribution03]

He was looking at your bump the whole time

 

[GrasB]

Fast or close pass or hang behind. You can't have it both ways!
I would rather someone waited behind me if they were not sure about overtaking or nervous.
What ever way you look at it, it shows caution.
Isn't that what cyclists want motorists to be?

One of the most comfortable passes I've ever experienced is also one of the fastest. I guess the guy was doing about 95mph & overtook holding about 75cm from the opposing road edge. Easily could have fitted another vehicle between me & the car, I experienced no more, if not less, wake from the car than a car doing 20-30mph on a typical overtaking distance.

If the car (I think tractors are worse) behind is troubling you, pull over and let it pass. Simples!

Yeah, that's the right call but that also means the driver has been putting pressure on you for no reason.

 

[Roadrider48]

One of the most comfortable passes I've ever experienced is also one of the fastest. I guess the guy was doing about 95mph & overtook holding about 75cm from the opposing road edge. Easily could have fitted another vehicle between me & the car, I experienced no more, if not less, wake from the car than a car doing 20-30mph on a typical overtaking distance.


Yeah, that's the right call but that also means the driver has been putting pressure on you for no reason.

If they're not sucking on your back wheel or blowing the horn or shouting at you, how are they putting pressure on you?

 

[50000tears]

Had worse on my Saturday ride. Again towards the end when my legs were feeling it. Car stays behind me all the way up a mid shortish, but still 1-2 minute climb, which was fine as he couldn't see over the brow of the hill. But once we got to the top and he had a clear view of the road in front of him he makes a nice wide overtake completely ignoring the car heading straight for him. A long blast on the horn later and he nips back in on me hard ending up perilously close to my front wheel.

So he started out fine and got the first two parts right but then completely failed to see beyond his attempt to overtake me.

 

[GrasB]

If they're not sucking on your back wheel or blowing the horn or shouting at you, how are they putting pressure on you?

By simply being there at well bellow their normal road speed for sustained periods allowing traffic to build up behind them. That puts pressure on you to get out their way.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Car drivers - can't win with some cyclists.

We have one lop-sided story and all of a sudden 'most drivers can't see beyond the end of their bonnet' etc. Ridiculous.

I cycle mainly on country lanes and this happens a lot ie drivers 'hanging back'. And yes I do admit to thinking 'come on get on with it' but when they do they always get a friendly wave from me. They were doing their best to de-risk a situation as far as I am concerned.

I have no idea why people moan about these things.

 

[jazzkat]

Car drivers - can't win with some cyclists.

We have one lop-sided story and all of a sudden 'most drivers can't see beyond the end of their bonnet' etc. Ridiculous.

I cycle mainly on country lanes and this happens a lot ie drivers 'hanging back'. And yes I do admit to thinking 'come on get on with it' but when they do they always get a friendly wave from me. They were doing their best to de-risk a situation as far as I am concerned.

I have no idea why people moan about these things.

+1
I'd rather have them sat behind me dithering and waiting for a very clear view before going past than close passing me.
The driver is in charge of their vehicle, if they don't feel safe overtaking they're doing the right thing hanging back. True it may not be the best example of driving skill, but it is the better of two evils.