It Could be worse

[Glow worm]

Ambling idly along the lanes among the rolling hills east of Newmarket earlier, as the umpteenth volvo whizzed past at about 90mph within a foot or so of my handlebars, I was reminded of something I read about cycling in India while I was on holiday last week.

In a book by Chris Smith (many on here will probably be familiar with), called 'Why don't you fly? - backdoor to Beijing by bicycle', describing his journey from Worcestershire to Beijing by bike, Smith likens the hierachy on India's roads with its deeply ingrained caste system.

Lorries and buses are at the top of the chain, followed by cars and vans, rickshaws and scooters occupy the next tier and right at the bottom, ''only the pedestrian defers to the cyclist''. According to smith, motorists in India use their horns like emergency services use sirens to get the lower castes out of their way. (That bit sounds quite familiar). On hearing approaching horns, apparently Indian cyclists immediately leave the road ''scattering like wildebeest ambushed by a lion'' only rejoining the carriageway after the moton has passed by.

Flippin' eck! Don't fancy that one bit. So as old flabby chops in his volvo hereabouts whizzes dangerously past today I'm thinking I guess things could be a whole lot worse and my middle finger remains unusually fixed to my handlebars instead of being raised! For now anyway.

 

[gemsno4]

see here for examples of Indian driving
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7za1m9lwng


Apparently the speed didn't drop below 85mph in this video. Later on the guy hit a goat and didn't blink or slow down.

Having said that, when the Indian guys visited the UK as the return part of this project they were terrified on motorways as no one was using the horn!

 

[Archie_tect]

If you catch up with a Toyota Previa or Hyundai Serena sedately doing 60 or less in the middle/ fast lane of a motorway I can guess who'll be driving...

 

[Glow worm]

Apparently the speed didn't drop below 85mph in this video. Later on the guy hit a goat and didn't blink or slow down.

Blimey! I'd love to cycle across Europe to Asia one day. I'd quite like to finish in Pyongyang as there's practically no traffic there (or food but that's another story) but frankly seeing that vid and reading the horror storys I don't fancy it it much beyond Folkestone!

 

[Arch]

Blimey! I'd love to cycle across Europe to Asia one day. I'd quite like to finish in Pyongyang as there's practically no traffic there (or food but that's another story) but frankly seeing that vid and reading the horror storys I don't fancy it it much beyond Folkestone!

No no. Beyond Folkestone is where it gets good (well, once you're over the wet bit). I don't know where it gets dodgy again, but France is brilliant and from what I've heard, so is most of Northern Europe...

 

[NormanD]

What! they have volvo's in Newmarket now? last time I was there it was full of Munchkins on horseback .. which part were you riding at, bury road? Exning road?, Ashley road? can you tell I've lived in Newmarket before

 

[Glow worm]

No no. Beyond Folkestone is where it gets good (well, once you're over the wet bit). I don't know where it gets dodgy again, but France is brilliant and from what I've heard, so is most of Northern Europe...

Hi Arch- from the book, it sounds like Europe's fine as you say to be fair, although the Germans hate you not using the cycle paths apparently and will beep at you if you are on a road (sticklers for rules I guess!), Romania is tricky (mostly kids throwing stuff at you). Turkey's better as is Iran- once you get into Pakistan you are at risk from kidnapping and drivers gobbing at you, and then into India it's the mental drivers! It's a great book- I feel I've done the route myself (if only!)

 

[Glow worm]

What! they have volvo's in Newmarket now? last time I was there it was full of Munchkins on horseback .. which part were you riding at, bury road? Exning road?, Ashley road? can you tell I've lived in Newmarket before

I've got this week off and took the bike to Moons cycle shop (now renamed Revel) near the clock tower in Newmarket High street for a full service and new chain / cassette, bearings and some other stuff. You know how great it is when your bike's in great shape and all's ticking along lovely, so I took a spin the long way home up to Moulton, then on through the hills to Chievely, Stetchworth and Dullingham before spinning back home to Swaffham Bulbeck. There are some lovely routes up there in the 'hills'. You get to cross into Suffolk and back into Cambridgeshire countless times which if you are extremely dull like me, is really quite exciting!

 

[Arch]

Hi Arch- from the book, it sounds like Europe's fine as you say to be fair, although the Germans hate you not using the cycle paths apparently and will beep at you if you are on a road (sticklers for rules I guess!), Romania is tricky (mostly kids throwing stuff at you). Turkey's better as is Iran- once you get into Pakistan you are at risk from kidnapping and drivers gobbing at you, and then into India it's the mental drivers! It's a great book- I feel I've done the route myself (if only!)

Having limited experience of cycling in Germany, I would say that at least the cycle paths are good! It took a bit of getting used to though. At a roundabout for example, the path follows the pavement across each exit. And if a driver is coming onto or off the roundabout, and sees you approching on the path - they stop! Same with paths crossing side roads and stuff. So you have all the benefits of priority, with the joy of motor-traffic free.

Several times, I stopped and waited, and they stopped and waited, and we all looked confused. We need jerseys that say "Sorry, I'm British and therefore expect you to run over me...." Only in German.