Normal clothes; very close passes.

[MrHappyCyclist]

I usually cycle to work in cycling clothes as I find grinding may arse on a saddle for 10 hours a week in normal clothes can become a little uncomfortable. Yesterday, I nipped the 3 mile round trip to the supermarket in normal clothes and without a helmet. (Not a helmet thread, though!. I made sure that I cycled in my normal, fairly assertive way.

I was surprised to get 3 extremely close passes in that short distance, and in general I found the drivers even more ignorant than usual. Now, this is a small sample, I admit, but it seems to fly in the face of the generally touted wisdom about how drivers treat cyclists wearing different clothes (e.g. Ian Walker's research on helmet/no helmet; male/female appearance; etc.).

Anyone else have comparisons of how they are treated by drivers depending on their clothes?

 

[numbnuts]

That's funny, I have some red tights and when I have them on motorists give me more room.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

That's funny, I have some red tights and when I have them on motorists give me more room.

That's interesting; I hadn't thought of that. Because I was leaving my bike outside the supermarket, I took all four lights off and left them at home. I usually have them all flashing in the daytime.

 

[BSRU]

I have not noticed any difference in driver behaviour depending on my choice of clothing, cycle clothing for the morning/afternoon commute and civvies for the short spurt home and back for lunch.
I have noticed that time of day plus location make a difference, more aggressive/ignorant drivers in town especially in rush hour but no problems when out in the countryside, even with men in white vans .

 

[roadrash]

That's interesting; I hadn't thought of that. Because I was leaving my bike outside the supermarket, I took all four lights off and left them at home. I usually have them all flashing in the daytime.

i think you should read numbnuts post again .... carefully

 

[fossyant]

i think you should read numbnuts post again .... carefully

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I'm sure flashing in red tights is going to be very successful. But on a more serious note, I did find that wearing anything hi-vis unfastened, so that it flaps around untidily behind you, did seem to make drivers give a wider berth. Maybe it makes the cyclist look wider and more unpredictable.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

i think you should read numbnuts post again .... carefully

Ah, yes. Perhaps I need to go to stronger reading classes.

 

[numbnuts]

ah yes you should have gone to specsavers

 

[Theseus]

Monday through Thursday I commute on my fixed wheel with drop bars & clipless pedals, wearing cycle clothes although I use baggies to save the horror of my arse clad in lycra.

Friday (as it is dress down day) I commute on one of my more sedate bikes with flat bars and pedals, wearing normal street clothes with the trouser leg tucked into my sock.

Can't say I have ever noticed a difference in the closeness of the passes.

 

[gambatte]

Maybe we need a study?
I suspect the ideal combination may be fishnets and a mankini to gain the maximum passing distance?
Any volunteers?

 

[Melonfish]

So we do a test, we each do our regular commute in our:
Cycling gear.
A tutu
A Mankini
An itsi bitsi teenie weenie yellow polkadot bikini
a morph suit
and finally a business suit.

we record the number of close passes (or indeed pick up lines for the bikini wearers) and compare?

pete

 

[MontyVeda]

i wish I'd known just how disturbing this thread was going to be before I opened it

 

[Ian Cooper]

I only ever wear 'normal' clothes when cycling. I can't remember the last time I got a close pass. I don't know what I'm doing right - either my taking primary position every chance I get is making the difference, or it's just that what seems close to others seems perfectly fine to me.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

That's funny, I have some red tights and when I have them on motorists give me more room.

View attachment 10230

ah yes you should have gone to specsavers

Nice bum!

When you were talking about wearing red tights, I suddenly had an image of you dressing up like the Devil in Le Tour De France!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didi_Senft

Maybe you should and report back to us your findings!

http://www.beachholidayguide.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/tour-de-france-didi-devil1.jpg