I am aware that some of my views on road position are out of line with those of some other contributors. As a result of that, I've been thinking recently about how I ride and looking at situations where there may be disagreement. The passion with which views are held by some contributors has been a big surprise to me since I joined CycleChat, but I do not see that as a bad thing.
Here are my 'findings' about my own riding:
1. Riding in rural areas, I find I am almost always about 30cm to the right of the white roadside line. I am significantly slower than most motorised traffic on 'NSL' A-Roads. It's my practice in most cases to do what is practical to ease the passage of other vehicles past me. Very rarely, I'll pull into a farm gate. This might be if an HGV is following me at 20mph and I know it'll have no opportunity to pass safely for some distance. Approaching roundabouts where I'm turning right, I tend to move fairly assertively to the middle and hug the centre of the roundabout until the exit before I'm leaving. I know there are those who don't, but this is an old habit of mine. I dislike riding next to other cyclists.
Many vehicles put two wheels slightly acroiss the centre line to pass me; some move right across. A few barely move out at all. I am broadly OK with this, although the occasional close pass does give me a slight shudder.
I find this road position allows swift progress and holds up other road users very little. My preoccupation is making sure other road users are aware of my presence and my intentions. I find that where I do get into hazardous situations, it is nearly always when other road users have been unaware of my presence.
My rural riding conforms closely to what I was taught in the 70s in Cycling Proficiency classes.
2. I was surprised how much my urban (London) riding differs. I ride just under taffic speed, just above it or at about the same speed. This seems to make me ride more as I would a motorcycle.
When travelling at traffic speed, I'm more inclined to move into the centre of my traffic lane. I notice that I 'drift around' a little to put myself into the mirror view of drivers or to make sure they know I'm there. I don't do this to prevent close passes, but to allow myself the freedom to cross the lane to make right turns and also to avoid left hooks.
I'm a serial filterer, but very wary of doing so when not visible to drivers I'm passing.
I find that I ride quite assertively in cities. I want my knees and elbows to look like a threat to car bodywork and I tend to get out of the saddle more, which seems to make close passers hold back a little. I try only to ride a 'roadified HT MTB' in cities, as it allows me a more upright and 'MotoX' body position - better leverage on bars and brakes.
I use my bell quite a lot (never on rural roads) and make quite big, theatrical hand signals.
The rural riding style I adopt has been described by some posters as timid or subservient to motor traffic. I can see why, but I don't find it so. It is jolly fast and doesn't upset other road users.
I think some motorists might see my urban style as slightly assertive, but it has served me well and doesn't seem to upset drivers.
Wordy as I am, I can't go into more detail without this becoming a novel.
My rural style should remain unchanged into old age if I live that long; my urban riding style is strictly for use by those with energy. It would not work over 55, which gives me about five more years...
Broadly, do other contributors ride very differently in rural and urban environments?
Also, does anyone have any constructive criticism of the two styles?
Here are my 'findings' about my own riding:
1. Riding in rural areas, I find I am almost always about 30cm to the right of the white roadside line. I am significantly slower than most motorised traffic on 'NSL' A-Roads. It's my practice in most cases to do what is practical to ease the passage of other vehicles past me. Very rarely, I'll pull into a farm gate. This might be if an HGV is following me at 20mph and I know it'll have no opportunity to pass safely for some distance. Approaching roundabouts where I'm turning right, I tend to move fairly assertively to the middle and hug the centre of the roundabout until the exit before I'm leaving. I know there are those who don't, but this is an old habit of mine. I dislike riding next to other cyclists.
Many vehicles put two wheels slightly acroiss the centre line to pass me; some move right across. A few barely move out at all. I am broadly OK with this, although the occasional close pass does give me a slight shudder.
I find this road position allows swift progress and holds up other road users very little. My preoccupation is making sure other road users are aware of my presence and my intentions. I find that where I do get into hazardous situations, it is nearly always when other road users have been unaware of my presence.
My rural riding conforms closely to what I was taught in the 70s in Cycling Proficiency classes.
2. I was surprised how much my urban (London) riding differs. I ride just under taffic speed, just above it or at about the same speed. This seems to make me ride more as I would a motorcycle.
When travelling at traffic speed, I'm more inclined to move into the centre of my traffic lane. I notice that I 'drift around' a little to put myself into the mirror view of drivers or to make sure they know I'm there. I don't do this to prevent close passes, but to allow myself the freedom to cross the lane to make right turns and also to avoid left hooks.
I'm a serial filterer, but very wary of doing so when not visible to drivers I'm passing.
I find that I ride quite assertively in cities. I want my knees and elbows to look like a threat to car bodywork and I tend to get out of the saddle more, which seems to make close passers hold back a little. I try only to ride a 'roadified HT MTB' in cities, as it allows me a more upright and 'MotoX' body position - better leverage on bars and brakes.
I use my bell quite a lot (never on rural roads) and make quite big, theatrical hand signals.
The rural riding style I adopt has been described by some posters as timid or subservient to motor traffic. I can see why, but I don't find it so. It is jolly fast and doesn't upset other road users.
I think some motorists might see my urban style as slightly assertive, but it has served me well and doesn't seem to upset drivers.
Wordy as I am, I can't go into more detail without this becoming a novel.
My rural style should remain unchanged into old age if I live that long; my urban riding style is strictly for use by those with energy. It would not work over 55, which gives me about five more years...
Broadly, do other contributors ride very differently in rural and urban environments?
Also, does anyone have any constructive criticism of the two styles?
