Mikey's upright overtaking rant

[BentMikey]

I'm just back from collecting miniMikey from school on the fixed wheel Langster, with his trek trailerbike attached. Great fun, but it is a 6 mile trip along the A233 Biggin Hill-Keston.

What is it with drivers overtaking me so close? FFS, even with a 6 y/old visibly on the back. I had a good 4 or 5 that were close enough to touch and got an OI OI and a pushing out motion, but many many others were much closer than I'm used to. I get hardly anyone overtaking me so close on the recumbent, I would have thought a child on the back would have a similar effect.

 

[magnatom]

A sad reflection of societies 'must get there quickly at all costs attitude'. When I think about it, it does depress me how difficult it is for some road users to show a little courtesy and a little patience. I try not to think about it.

 

[Bollo]

I notice a difference in people's driving style near me when on the tandem with Bolletta, but there's always the occasional pr1ck who'll not give a toss.

Hope you had powder-coated deep V rims on the tag-along

 

[PrettyboyTim]

I was thinking today that I need to get my ranger sensor up and running again. I had a few pretty close passes today - all within easy touching distance I would have thought.

 

[Nigeyy]

That's funny/strange (well not funny, but you know what I mean). Being a recumbent rider myself, I've often heard -and sadly mostly from other bike riders -that "cars won't see you" or similar, and that they are "unsafe". Usually the people who declare this with great knowledge and certainty are people who don't know the difference between SWB or LWB and have never ridden one. I've always maintained my experience on the recumbent has been the opposite; I can't recall ever having a close encounter when riding and have experienced more often than not people overtaking in an exaggerated fashion. Classic case of what people just think is conventional wisdom.... isn't. On bike boards I usually take with a huge grain of salt any "expert" poster who posts until I can find out whether they talk from *real* experience.

But I digress; anyway, rant over, really sorry to hear that. I'd be peed off too if it were my kid. Pity you can't have a reasonable chat with them to request they give a good amount of space to you.

 

[Wolf04]

Bummer! You will have to work out a way of fitting an Airzound on your Langster and then educate them in the error of their ways.
Might need ear defenders for MiniMikey.

 

[hackbike 6]

Same here Mikey,BMW passed me close at Whitechapel on the ride in today,so as I passed him I blew the horn.Once I got a bit further up the road I heard the tooting of a horn and looked round to find BMW driver chasing me,so he gets past me and bloke in passenger seat has a good look at me and the car passes me,then I pass him again.

Strangely enough the 2nd overtake was better than the original overtake,he actually gave me room instead of me having to take a more defensive position as he tried to squeeze through first time.

I can only think on the first overtake he wasn't concentrating as much as he was when he was desperate to catch me up on the second overtake but he still got caught in traffic.Mug.

Didn't think i'd say anything though as the bloke in the passenger seat looked a double hard barsteward.

Ironically my bike horn was louder than his muppet horn must have really upset them.Shame I didn't work them both at once but at least I got the right side.