My First SMIDSY

[Banjo]

Hmm, do you think I'm being too cautious?

I do always take primary at junctions and lights and I always make eye contact at roundabouts and such like. I started commuting in November, a couple of days a week but since the New Year it's been pretty much every day.

I have grown in skill and confidence but I'm very concious that overconfidence can result in mistakes.

I'm really looking forwards to cycling home in daylight.

Really glad you managed to avoid an accident, at least the guy was decent about it.

Dont be too influenced by other peopples opinions of your riding style. If they had ridden behind you for an hour then fair enough but to make judgements on someones riding from internet postings is a dodgy road to go down IMHO.
When I came back to cycling a couple of years back I was way to timid initially getting off and using pedestrian crossings at major junctions for example.

After getting some miles in and becoming an "expert" by reading stuff on the net I became overconfident and probably lucky to not get hit by anything. Now I try to take the middle ground, I am confident enough to dominate my bit of road at junctions etc but cautious enough to realize I may not have been seen despite favouring red ,yellow and orange kit .

Cycled home after my night shift this morning in almost daylight theres light at the end of the tunnel.

0720 this morning just as I was heading for home.

 

[carolonabike]

I always assume two things about other drivers (or pedestrians), but not cyclists, obviously

1. They haven't seen me
2. They will do the very thing they should not do

Also applies when I'm driving.

I don't want to give the impression that I'm one of these timid people scuttling along in the gutter, either on a bike or in a car, but discretion is the better part of valour and it does no harm to be careful.

 

[Banjo]

I always assume two things about other drivers (or pedestrians), but not cyclists, obviously

1. They haven't seen me
2. They will do the very thing they should not do

Also applies when I'm driving.

I don't want to give the impression that I'm one of these timid people scuttling along in the gutter, either on a bike or in a car, but discretion is the better part of valour and it does no harm to be careful.

I think thjats what i was trying to say but you put it much clearer .

 

[carolonabike]

That's a lovely sunrise btw.

 

[Mad at urage]

I always assume two things about other drivers (or pedestrians), but not cyclists, obviously

1. They haven't seen me
2. They will do the very thing they should not do

Also applies when I'm driving.

I don't want to give the impression that I'm one of these timid people scuttling along in the gutter, either on a bike or in a car, but discretion is the better part of valour and it does no harm to be careful.

It was probably a joke, but personally I'd apply those two assumptions to cyclists as well (both as a driver and a cyclist).

 

[Arch]

It was probably a joke, but personally I'd apply those two assumptions to cyclists as well (both as a driver and a cyclist).

I'd apply them to everyone, whether I'm driving, cycling or walking.

I've yet to have a car drive into me, a bike ride into me, or pedestrian walk into me while at my desk or in bed, but I'm not discounting the possibility one day!

Although any of those while in bed would be an achievement, as I'm in a flat two floors up....

 

[I like Skol]

I have grown in skill and confidence but I'm very concious that overconfidence can result in mistakes.

Spot on Carol, everyone has to ride within their abilities and be confident about what they do. By discussing this you are clearly demonstrating that you are not one of those people that go through life completely oblivious to whatever is going on around them and only seem to survive mostly unscathed by either good luck or the grace of God!

if we also abuse our rights by being cocky/ risky cyclists, we're no better than the complacent motorists who inhabit the roads with us.

I guess I am probably one of those 'cocky' riders as I am very confident in my actions and abilities but then I am a cyclist, a car owner/user, a parent and until recently I was driving around 40k a year in commercial vehicles so I consider myself an experienced and considerate road user that looks at road conditions from many aspects. As for being 'risky', no way. I have no intention of taking undue risks with my well being

It's as well I did stop short because if I had been on the line he would probably have hit me.

Or he might have seen you in his mirrors? It is a possibility that by hanging back you dissapeared into his blind spot. I am not saying this is your fault but it is a possibility

Dont be too influenced by other peoples opinions of your riding style. If they had ridden behind you for an hour then fair enough but to make judgements on someones riding from internet postings is a dodgy road to go down IMHO.

I hope I didn't come across as judgemental or critical of your riding style. I am simply giving my take on your incident given the information you give and trying to be helpful

I don't want to give the impression that I'm one of these timid people scuttling along in the gutter, either on a bike or in a car, but discretion is the better part of valour and it does no harm to be careful.

Great to hear it, we have the same right to be there as other road users. As a driver you are hopefully already equiped with decent road sense and a comprehension of the rules of the road.

 

[carolonabike]

Don't worry Skol, I'm not that thin skinned .

Very excited at the minute, I've just spent the afternoon booking accomodation for our works Coast 2 Coast in July

 

[Banjo]

Spot on Carol, everyone has to ride within their abilities and be confident about what they do. By discussing this you are clearly demonstrating that you are not one of those people that go through life completely oblivious to whatever is going on around them and only seem to survive mostly unscathed by either good luck or the grace of God!



I guess I am probably one of those 'cocky' riders as I am very confident in my actions and abilities but then I am a cyclist, a car owner/user, a parent and until recently I was driving around 40k a year in commercial vehicles so I consider myself an experienced and considerate road user that looks at road conditions from many aspects. As for being 'risky', no way. I have no intention of taking undue risks with my well being



Or he might have seen you in his mirrors? It is a possibility that by hanging back you dissapeared into his blind spot. I am not saying this is your fault but it is a possibility




I hope I didn't come across as judgemental or critical of your riding style. I am simply giving my take on your incident given the information you give and trying to be helpful



Great to hear it, we have the same right to be there as other road users. As a driver you are hopefully already equiped with decent road sense and a comprehension of the rules of the road.

I wasnt having a dig at your post skol, just refering to the fact that I had let other people influence my riding possibly too much.

 

[Headgardener]

I'd apply them to everyone, whether I'm driving, cycling or walking.

I've yet to have a car drive into me, a bike ride into me, or pedestrian walk into me while at my desk or in bed, but I'm not discounting the possibility one day!

Although any of those while in bed would be an achievement, as I'm in a flat two floors up....

Your not that far from the Minster and the bloody tourists get everywhere so I wouldn't bet on it .

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Tomorrow, I'm off to the lbs to buy a bell!

Glad you're OK! I don't think a bell would help much in this situation. (See Gaz's post here: http://croydoncyclist.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/ding-ding-the-unheard-bicycle-bell/).

I recommend the Airzound air horn. It can come across as a bit aggressive (and there is a temptation to use it in that way), but it has got me noticed a few times when otherwise I might have been hit.