Riding with other people

[summerdays]

I often end up cycling back with a work mate for part of my commute, and I generally enjoy it. They may vary in their speed but we can usually adjust to each other and if you get separated you just wait / go slow until the back one has caught up. It often brings you new short cuts or with one colleague this week she seemed to know all the good places to stop and grab a warm pastry. Yes we don't always have the same filtering techniques but that isn't a problem, if you don't want to do it you just let them do it on their own.

There is someone who I don't like cycling with as she is really slow and a bit to much of a gutter hugger - I'm not prepared to cycle with her in the gutter to keep her company.

 

[GrasB]

I suppose I should add, in traffic I tend to find that even when I'm cycling slower than other cyclists I make better progress than them due to less change in speed. I assume this is my ROSPA advanced driving training coming through & I'm simply able to read what's going on around me better from a motorists point of view. Out & about I tend to find that I'll be moving slower than normal or not able to keep up the really fast pace of the higher ability club riders. There seems to be a distinct lack of riders who can sustain the lower ranks of the mid-20mph range around me.

 

[upandover]

I'm trying to teach my wife to cycle on the road. Realised this week though, She can't look behind her though without veering into the road, so at cars etc, she simply pulls out into the road, without the faintest idea of what is coming. It scared the life out of me several times, to the point where I was riding two foot out from her, just for the protection!

Next stop - bike shop for a mirror!

 

[BentMikey]

Perhaps more time in a park practicing these skills?

 

[upandover]

Yes - that was my first choice. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be happening. I'm hopinh that will come in time...

 

[jonny jeez]

I often ride with people on my commute, normally two abreast. .

Nope, sorry.

I cant stand seeing rider's that go two abreast in the rush hour (in London)...it's seems so inconsiderate to other road sharers as the roads just cant take it.

It's one of those things that I think destroys other road sharers faith in cyclists asthey "mooch along holding up traffic" and in that sense is as bad for cyclist relations Red light Jumping.

IMHO Two abreast is not for the busy towns at busy times of day!

That said, i dont know where your commute takes you Origamist

 

[John the Monkey]

I cant stand seeing rider's that go two abreast in the rush hour (in London)...it's seems so inconsiderate to other road sharers as the roads just cant take it.

I hate seeing drivers sat on their own in a vehicle large enough to carry four or more people at rush hour, taking up the space of four or five bicycles. The roads just can't take it, and it seems really inconsiderate to other road users who've taken the trouble to car pool, take a bus, or ride a bike.

 

[jonny jeez]

I hate seeing drivers sat on their own in a vehicle large enough to carry four or more people at rush hour, taking up the space of four or five bicycles. The roads just can't take it, and it seems really inconsiderate to other road users who've taken the trouble to car pool, take a bus, or ride a bike.

Nicely put.

but that dosent make either of them right.

 

[Origamist]

Nope, sorry.

I cant stand seeing rider's that go two abreast in the rush hour (in London)...it's seems so inconsiderate to other road sharers as the roads just cant take it.

It's one of those things that I think destroys other road sharers faith in cyclists asthey "mooch along holding up traffic" and in that sense is as bad for cyclist relations Red light Jumping.

IMHO Two abreast is not for the busy towns at busy times of day!

That said, i dont know where your commute takes you Origamist

Mostly in bus lanes. Cyclists often cycle three abreast in the rush-hour, JJ - imagine that!

On my commute, motorised vehicles hold me up - they accelerate, crawl along and then stop. It works both ways.

10000s of motorists drive short distances everyday, creating congestion, and making the streets unsafe and less pleasant for vulnerable road users. That's inconsiderate in my book...

 

[jonny jeez]

Mostly in bus lanes. Cyclists often cycle three abreast in the rush-hour, JJ - imagine that!

On my commute, motorised vehicles hold me up - they accelerate, crawl along and then stop. It works both ways.

10000s of motorists drive short distances everyday, creating congestion, and making the streets unsafe and less pleasant for vulnerable road users. That's inconsiderate in my book...

I agree with all of that and you are both right, thats why i now cycle in myself.

..but.. (ther's always a but) my point is that it's unnecessary and doesnt help to improve relations.....and if we dont NEED to do it, then why do it and draw negative attention to ourselves.

 

[Origamist]

I agree with all of that and you are both right, thats why i now cycle in myself.

..but.. (ther's always a but) my point is that it's unnecessary and doesnt help to improve relations.....and if we dont NEED to do it, then why do it and draw negative attention to ourselves.

It is necessary, if I want to talk to someone.

Cars are not allowed in the bus lanes that I use, so it does not impinge upon them - but you're right, drivers will still wrongheadedly curse the semi-civilising nature of a bus lane, the "selfish" cyclists who are delaying the wind and the leaves - squashing innocent conkers as they go, destroying the road surface, and blaming pretty much everything and everybody else but themselves for choosing to embark on a frustrating car journey...

If you think about it, driving a car in a dense urban environment with various alternative modes of transport available is what should draw "negative attention", not riding a bike two abreast...

 

[BentMikey]

I'm with Origamist on this one. There's nothing wrong with riding two abreast, particularly in bus lanes like Origamist suggested.

Just remember that two cyclists abreast are no more difficult to pass than one cyclist on their own, assuming a proper overtake of course.

 

[Arch]

I'm with Origamist on this one. There's nothing wrong with riding two abreast, particularly in bus lanes like Origamist suggested.

Just remember that two cyclists abreast are no more difficult to pass than one cyclist on their own, assuming a proper overtake of course.

Cue chorus of slack jawed drivers: "A wha'?"

 

[Woz!]

I'm a loner when it comes to cycling - I prefer to go out on my own, even on pleasure rides. There's no-one who commutes my route anyway so it's not an option.
As regards to filtering - I don't tend to do it much on a pushbike because I don't like the idea of the traffic moving off while I'm between them.
On my Vespa I filter pretty aggressively - always used to on my motorbike too. I think this comes from very early on when I was learning and a police biker actually waved me to follow him through traffic There's a camaraderie amongst motorcyclists that even breaks the police/citizen boundary

 

[jonny jeez]

If you think about it, driving a car in a dense urban environment with various alternative modes of transport available is what should draw "negative attention", not riding a bike two abreast...

Yep...I get all of that.

But you still havent convinced me, so I respectfully disagree.

Not saying your wrong, just saying i dont agree with you...like you dont agree with me.

(except maybe in bus lanes)