HJ
Cycling in Scotland
- Location
- Auld Reekie
Get a copy of Cyclecraft and read pages 128-144. The important thing with roundabouts is to get into primary and stay there until after you are clear of the exit...
Man Up or Play It Safe?
- Thread starter Jezston
- Start date
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HJ
Cycling in Scotland
- Location
- Auld Reekie
Get a copy of Cyclecraft and read pages 128-144. The important thing with roundabouts is to get into primary and stay there until after you are clear of the exit...
Crankarm
Guru
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
HJ said:
On his grave stone,
HJ
Cycling in Scotland
- Location
- Auld Reekie
Do you actually ride on the roads Crankarm, or just on a turbo?
In the real world where cycling is a means of transport it is useful to know how to ride around a roundabout. By knowing how to ride on roads with other traffic you can avoid being flattened by a 40 tonne truck...
In the real world where cycling is a means of transport it is useful to know how to ride around a roundabout. By knowing how to ride on roads with other traffic you can avoid being flattened by a 40 tonne truck...
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
Crankarm, careful now, carry on like that and people might start thinking you're another Jimboalee!!!
Scratch
Über Member
- Location
- Birmingham
I've had a car undertake me very close by driving slightly in the verge whilst I was riding in primary on a big roundabout, if I was further to the left no doubt I would have been overtaken and left hooked.
The amount of looking back to try and prevent undertaking and close overtaking whilst also looking for cars speeding on the approach roads that might not stop makes the whole thing stressful. You can follow the rules in cyclecraft and I'm sure it helps but if you want a quiet life on some dangerous roundabouts it can be easier to go soft and take the underpass or pedestrian routes.
The amount of looking back to try and prevent undertaking and close overtaking whilst also looking for cars speeding on the approach roads that might not stop makes the whole thing stressful. You can follow the rules in cyclecraft and I'm sure it helps but if you want a quiet life on some dangerous roundabouts it can be easier to go soft and take the underpass or pedestrian routes.
beanzontoast
Guru
- Location
- South of The Peaks
I know the road and roundabout, having tackled it from all directions in the past. It's quite the worst in Derby IMO because there are no traffic lights. Drivers constantly have to judge (wrongly half the time) whether it's safe or not to emerge and often do so at speed. It's the meeting of major roads and very, very busy most of the time. Plus it's not flat. Coming out of Ashbourne Road (as the OP will know) there's a nasty incline on the approach to and for the first half of the roundabout making set-off - even using the correct gears - tricky when you have traffic bearing down on you at speed from your right plus a queue of vehicles behind you trying to avoid blocking the ped crossing but not wanting to miss their chance to get out.
My observation is that lots of cyclists use the crossings.
My observation is that lots of cyclists use the crossings.
Sh4rkyBloke
Jaffa Cake monster
- Location
- Manchester, UK
Jez, I know that roundabout as I used to live in Ripley and went into Derby quite a lot. The last time I was riding around that roundabout was coming from Ripley to Markeaton Park for the CC Meetup (at the Cyclemagic event last year). I came along the A38 to that island (not all the way from Ripley though!!Jezston said:
) and had to go right round to the last exit to get into the Park - had no real issues though as I took the lane and rode with confidence whilst keeping the motons informed through the use of signalling etc.If you take the centre of the centre lane on the approach then you shouldn't have any bother - people can take the left lane to turn left, and the right lane to go either the same route as you or off down the A38. If there's a lot of traffic then this can actually help you as people can't accelerate wildly anyway and have to be more cautious of other traffic too. The only real problem is the hill start on your workbound journey, but going home should be easier as you have the incline working with you.
Hope this helps.
Origamist
Legendary Member
I don't know the RaB but if there's a THink! Bike poster there it usually means it is a known collsion black spot for motorbikes, or it is recognised as being potentially dangerous for motorbikes. I'd extrapolate from that, that it is not great for cyclists either.
If you've followed recommended best practice and still feel uncomfortable on the RaB continue to do what you are doing.
If you've followed recommended best practice and still feel uncomfortable on the RaB continue to do what you are doing.
