Mum had a bump with an agressive woman.

[montyboy]

You mean reinforce the thought in their mind that their actions are correct?

No, just avoid an accident or a confrontation.

 

[vernon]

I dont speed up or slow down. I find that if I just maintain my course, it iritates them but I know that they wont go into me (unless they do and then I call the police).

Matthew, you do seem to enjoy attracting misfortune or revelling in it when it finds you.

Try a conventional life. It's much less stressful and there's less paperwork involved.

 

[Norm]

It is such a shame that modern advances in engine and car design is being used to provide bigger and heavier vehicles. OK it is remarkable how economical these cars are becoming, take my wife's ridiculous mode of transport, 200+ bhp in a car weighing nearly 2 tons on long journeys can get nearly 60mpg. If this technology had been used to make a car of 1980s power and dimensions, (70bhp and less than a ton) we would be probably getting in excess of a 100 to the gallon.

It's not easy to completely separate modern advances from the trend to bigger & heavier as some of the advances (passenger & pedestrian safety structures, airbags, abs and, yes, 4 wheel drive for normal cars) come with weight and / or efficiency penalties. Modern cars are also significantly larger than previous generations, with the current Mini having a longer wheelbase than the original Range Rover and the current VW Polo being larger than the original Golf.

There are also modern small cars which have been made for economy, which claimed figures over 70mpg.

But, in general, I agree that it would be great to see a 21st century take on a Model T. Gordon Murray's new machine looks good, for instance, and a decent 2 seater would be great to see, although I also think there's mileage (sorry) in a development of the BMW C1. BMW's mid-size bikes are getting some excellent economy figures but they are still a bit too bike-ish for many people to consider.

 

[asterix]

I let people past if anyone tailgates ridiculously close.

My approach is simply to drive with a good distance between the myself and the car in front and otherwise to carry on as normal and that is what I did. Once we reached the dualled bit before Hayton he zoomed past before turning off in the village which is presumably where he (middle-aged, grey haired with beige jacket, greenish tartan tie and horn-rimmed specs) lived. Probably an accountant, so yeah maybe it was a cost-saving exercise except for the zooming past bit.

Being a WVM sometimes I am aware how such larger vehicles can play the bully and try to avoid such antics.

It's good to see one or two adverts extolling the virtues of lighter vehicles recently.

 

[Matthew_T]

It's good to see one or two adverts extolling the virtues of lighter vehicles recently.

Well how about those signs which deter people from driving dangerously? The ones which say THINK BIKE! and BE AWARE OF CYCLISTS!. I hav also seen one on the back of a lorry which said "Cyclists be aware that this vehicle may not see you". It was on the back of a Carlsberg lorry of all things!

 

[stephec]

No, just avoid an accident or a confrontation.

Who are you, Neville Chamberlain?

 

[montyboy]

Who are you, Neville Chamberlain?

No, just a reasonable guy with a reasonable suggestion.

 

[stephec]

Most people who know me describe me as very laid back, but I won't allow myself to be bullied by anyone.

If you're driving along at the speed limit and someone insists on trying to push you on then that's tough shoot for them, they will have to wait their turn like everyone else.

If they're old enough to be driving a car then they should be old enough to know that what you want, and what you actually get aren't always the same thing. It's time that people like that learnt that behaving like a knob gets you nowhere.

 

[montyboy]

Most people who know me describe me as very laid back, but I won't allow myself to be bullied by anyone.

If you're driving along at the speed limit and someone insists on trying to push you on then that's tough shoot for them, they will have to wait their turn like everyone else.

If they're old enough to be driving a car then they should be old enough to know that what you want, and what you actually get aren't always the same thing. It's time that people like that learnt that behaving like a knob gets you nowhere.

maybe you are mistaken and they want you to move over so they can overtake? there is a difference between being bullied and being accommodating.

as for being laid back, that doesnt seem to fit in with your reply to me "who are you Neville Chamberlain"? some people might think that was a little aggressive.

 

[montyboy]

+1

And I think it is quite acceptable to slow down to a speed that reflects the dangers of having a larger vehicle tail gating you. I am sure the highway code tells us to slow down when faced with dangers!

you guys just ask for trouble dont you?

I thought that a cycling forum would be full of fairly placid members, some of you are a bit sparky

 

[Norm]

Ah, but (he says with a wry smile on his face) cycling can make you a tad more assertive.

 

[montyboy]

Ah, but (he says with a wry smile on his face) cycling can make you a tad more assertive.

i think its all down to interpretation and what you are used too.

i have been into motorsport for years and in a mixed class if a faster car comes up behind you and is all over your bumper, you have to move over otherwise you will be penalised by the stewards. A big car tailgating me isnt intimidating, its just saying I am quicker can you please move over so i can get passed.

 

[montyboy]

We don't appear to be living up to our stereotype do we; Where on the other hand as a 4x4er you are certainly living up to yours with your expectation that others should get out of your way!

What do you recommend in the following scenario that I occasionally find myself in. Its a B road of about 8 miles, quite bendy with virtually no overtaking opportunities and a couple of suspension busting laybys. Now I like to drive this road at about 50mph (which incidentally is the speed limit for my van) Unfortunately if I you get a logging truck behind, he will tail gait really really close, usually with a cb radio mic in one hand!, they like to drive on their speed limiter at 56 (their speed limit is 40). What do you recommend speed up so as you can keep out of his way, continue at your own speed and hope an emergency situation doesn't arise such as meeting a logging truck coming in the other direction, or do you drive slower so if an accident does occur the consequences will be less severe? Remember their is not really anywhere suitable to let them past without seriously inconviening yourself.

When I see a logging truck coming and I am on the bike I just get off, climb up the bank side well out of the way!

I forgot to mention that I am a qualified racing instructor and hold a full international licence,

My honest opinion is that you should never drive at a speed that you dont feel comfortable at or in full control. If they tailgate you and its not safe to move over then maintain your speed, no faster and no slower. It might be considerate however if you were to pull into those laybys, if safe to do so in order to let those travelling faster get by.

How does that sound?

 

[montyboy]

The race track is the race track, try not to get it confused with the public highway.

Dont worry, i wont.

A lot of the disciplines are transferable though.

 

[Arch]

I forgot to mention that I am a qualified racing instructor and hold a full international licence,

See Reiver's previous remark about the race track and the highway....

If it's not safe to overtake a car travelling in a central position in its lane, then it's not safe to overtake, fullstop. What difference is moving to the left a foot or so going to make?