No wonder cyclists are hated

[Ming the Merciless]

It's another long and varied road.
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In fact, my first time cycling in London, at night, I ended up on it by mistake. Probably one of the worst stretches, and is in fact meant to prohibit cycling.

The Westway.
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At the point of no return, there was no warning sign. No signs prohibiting cycling at that entrance. And I didn't know the area, so I wasn't expecting effectively an urban motorway, half of it with the hard shoulder barriered off.

Other entrances have warning signs. Just not that one.
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Tell me you had your dog running alongside.

 

[Ian H]

I've driven that road a lot - I spent 7 years commuting daily from Merthyr to Cheltenham. It did get pretty busy on a Friday afternoon in summer, but otherwise, while not exactly quiet, it wasn't too bad. Yes, the traffic does travel fast on it (except when seriously busy), but you can always see several hundred yards ahead except for coming down that hill into Monmouth.

Possibly there was some event on making it much busier than usual, which the organisers hadn't catered for.

I have seen Time Trials taking place on the section between Raglan and Abergavenny, but that is definitely not busy for a dual carriageway.

Shorter events (up to 100 miles) start early to avoid the worst of the traffic. Risk assessments usually include traffic counts. I'm not sure whether the 12hr still runs through Usk. The lights on the chain-ferry bridge might have stopped them.

 

[Ian H]

Can't recall exactly which bit but it was very busy and very fast traffic on it. Not just cars of course, bigger issue is lorries and freight trucks going past and associated draft. And not the sort of draft cyclists want
Holding an event on such a road was ill advised at best.

In your humble opinion.

 

[Binky]

I've driven that road a lot - I spent 7 years commuting daily from Merthyr to Cheltenham. It did get pretty busy on a Friday afternoon in summer, but otherwise, while not exactly quiet, it wasn't too bad. Yes, the traffic does travel fast on it (except when seriously busy), but you can always see several hundred yards ahead except for coming down that hill into Monmouth.

Possibly there was some event on making it much busier than usual, which the organisers hadn't catered for.

I have seen Time Trials taking place on the section between Raglan and Abergavenny, but that is definitely not busy for a dual carriageway.

Well which ever way you look at it, holding a cycling event on a fast busy dual carriageway to me at least seemed not a good idea. I was actually at one of the services(can't remember which) but could see riders on the road and I was astounded at what I saw. Even with good line of sight, cars lorries etc going past at 70 and no doubt in some cases significantly faster made me fear for the riders. Maybe it's a regular thing there and it's all fine but I'd never consider it.

 

[Binky]

In your humble opinion.

Well obviously. I was there witnessing it, hence my opinion.

 

[Alex321]

Well which ever way you look at it, holding a cycling event on a fast busy dual carriageway to me at least seemed not a good idea. I was actually at one of the services(can't remember which) but could see riders on the road and I was astounded at what I saw. Even with good line of sight, cars lorries etc going past at 70 and no doubt in some cases significantly faster made me fear for the riders. Maybe it's a regular thing there and it's all fine but I'd never consider it.

That probably means you were at the services near the top of the hill, on the edge of Whitchurch, as you can't really see the road from the ones the other side of Monmouth.

I would hope they weren't going down that hill, but were turning off/on close to the services (there are junctions both sides close by there).

The hill itself is the only bit I would be seriously concerned about, TBH. As a single cyclist I wouldn't be keen, but an event (hopefully with signs), having a cyclist every minute or two wouldn't be so bad.

 

[Ian H]

Well obviously. I was there witnessing it, hence my opinion.

And as I said, I've ridden several events on that course.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I have seen Time Trials taking place on the section between Raglan and Abergavenny, but that is definitely not busy for a dual carriageway.

My parents used to live near there and I did too, for a while. I can recall seeing TTs on that stretch. From memory always at low traffic times so all quite easily managed.

 

[Binky]

And as I said, I've ridden several events on that course.

When was this? Maybe you were one of the cyclists I saw.

 

[markemark]

"No wonder cyclists are hated"

Not for the original video.

But for the 17 pages of drivel.......

 

[Dogtrousers]

"No wonder cyclists are hated"

Not for the original video.

But for the 17 pages of drivel.......

Those bloody cyclists. Have you seen the rubbish they post on cyclechat? I hate them!

 

[Ajax Bay]

. . . it was very busy and very fast traffic on it. Not just cars of course, bigger issue is lorries and freight trucks going past and associated draft. And not the sort of draft cyclists want. Holding an event on such a road was ill advised at best.

TT organisers/clubs take systematic care to risk assess routes: traffic counts (to show when less busy and below threshold) are used to inform choice and start window.
As for "the sort of draft cyclists want", testers are not picky: they'll take any draft going and larger vehicles are a particular treat.

 

[Binky]

TT organisers/clubs take systematic care to risk assess routes: traffic counts (to show when less busy and below threshold) are used to inform choice and start window.
As for "the sort of draft cyclists want", testers are not picky: they'll take any draft going and larger vehicles are a particular treat.

The draft I was referring to was the sudden side draft as a big lorry etc goes past. Not sure many cyclists want that but if you do, enjoy. I'm sure organisers do try and pick times when it's less busy, I haven't said otherwise. However on the day I was there it was indeed busy.

 

[wiggydiggy]

"No wonder cyclists are hated"

Not for the original video.

But for the 17 pages of drivel.......

To be fair the pictures of roads that some might cycle on are more interesting than the previous 15ish pages. There have been threads before about "roads you wouldn't cycle on' which I do like (better than the video that started this thread at least anyway).

This is one I mean: Cycling on dual carriageway and car beeps...

 

[HLaB]

It's Goats you've really got to watch out for
View: https://youtu.be/a1BNaQ0EueE?si=Ve3lm5fNhwcugeV3