Ideas for checking for cars approaching from behind?
- Thread starter bayareacyclist
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Archie_tect
De Skieven Architek... aka Penfold + Horace
If you are hard of hearing you can't hear things behind- don't know anyone who uses headphones either- a mirror is great but few give you a clear rear view which isn't obscured by your own body getting in the way... that frame clamped one has been photoshopped - it would just give you a lovely view of your knee and torso!
I find it's a waste of time riding two abreast as you are constantly checking behind to pull in to let cars past... it's not a relaxing ride and is more hassle than it's worth attempting a conversation which I can't hear and if you don't pull in then you don't need to know what's behind you because you don't care anyway.
I find it's a waste of time riding two abreast as you are constantly checking behind to pull in to let cars past... it's not a relaxing ride and is more hassle than it's worth attempting a conversation which I can't hear and if you don't pull in then you don't need to know what's behind you because you don't care anyway.
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Hitchington
Lovely stuff
I agree, get into the habit of doing it and eventually it becomes automatic
theclaud
Openly Marxist
I expect no less.
stephec
Squire
Same here, there's no substitute for a look over the shoulder.
It always amazes me when I see a cyclist riding towards the back of a parked car who suddenly veers right without even a glance over the shoulder.
Archie_tect
De Skieven Architek... aka Penfold + Horace
But tho be fair stephec people behind a bike approaching a parked car know they are going to pull out so it's hardly a surprise when they do.
theclaud
Openly Marxist
Motorists appear to hold some extraordinary beliefs, such as that cyclists can levitate, are indestructible, and have the power of invisibility. No wonder they are so jealous of us.
stephec
Squire
I was thinking more from the point of view as to why you would just assume it's safe to pull out without checking, there's always the chance of a smidsy, it only takes a second or two to avoid it.
It's no good being able to say, "I was in the right there, you should've known what I was going to do," if you're in a hospital bed when you're saying it.
vickster
Squire
You'd think but it's often not the case. Many seem to think a cyclist is going to stop behind a parked car and let them go past!
Archie_tect
De Skieven Architek... aka Penfold + Horace
I've never met an inconsiderate driver up here TC... though when we've hired bikes 'down south' there have been a few occasions as you describe!
Archie_tect
De Skieven Architek... aka Penfold + Horace
Perhaps it comes down to road positioning and confidence... and checking behind, though I've never stopped behind a parked vehicle yet.
MontyVeda
a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
yup... i think in the driver's version of the HC, there a bit that says "cyclists must give way to traffic behind them" although I'm yet to find a copy of the Driver's HC to check.
To the OP... just use your head... in more ways than one.
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
Depends where you are. Out on the fens yesterday, we went along a couple of 2.5mile straights, sometimes able to see around the next few bends too, so little traffic that we could chat even one in front of another. The main incentive not to ride two abreast was the Dutch mountain we were climbing
Anyway, look around occasionally. I've never found a mirror I like that both works and doesn't get in the way. I can look around fairly easily without weaving (99.5% of the time) although I do ease off a bit because I can't quite bring myself to power into a space I'm not looking at.
theclaud
Openly Marxist
I can only surmise that you've not ridden the B6341 from Alnwick to Rothbury...
Archie_tect
De Skieven Architek... aka Penfold + Horace
Noooo....you mad person!
