Short commute + harassment = worth giving up and saving the hassle?

[pedaling]

If you have to ride in the middle to protect yourself and you get beeped, take it as positive reinforcement. They've seen you and are saying hello!

Now I see how you continue! Yeh, I think that, plus staring at their number plate can make them a bit more sensible.

 

[pedaling]

I do make eyecontact a LOT - definitely helps! (I learnt this as a driver trying to get out of tricky junctions in the morning rush, then as a cyclist!) I look around me as well quite a lot. Like if I hear someone revving a lot behind me as they're trying to overtake I will look behind just to make them a bit more aware (hopefully.)

I probably should say thanks more - I do it if driving but not cycling. Sometimes I nod my head/ smile obviously though... which I suppose is an acknowledgement of sorts.

Rear view mirror is a good idea, will give me a wider vision. Will check that out.

I'll have a google for those suggested jackets, and yes, probably they will be appearing on my Christmas list (along with a proper hiking jacket!)

 

[fossyant]

Cheadle Hulme - we may even pass - I ride Bredbury Didsbury via Cheadle - live pretty close to St Marks Church.

Pedaling, Yep the roads are really bad in Bredbury now - some light changes as part of the new road plans have snarled up the roads around the Woodley/Bredbury area. I only venture through and past Morrisons on the commute - when out training it's head directly South or East.

Pedaling - Cheadle Hulme to where - just the other side of the A6 ?

 

[PBancroft]

With regards to getting beeped at, I think that often people beep because they can, and because they're frustrated. You know that person at work who makes people's life a misery because they complain and kick up a fuss? They drive a car with a horn.

Get a pannier, it's a good thing. It makes even shorter distances that much easier.

 

[J4CKO]

Cant actually say I have been beeped at yet, after six months, maybe its my riding or more likely my route, shat myself this morning, was on my little jib across the pavement to avoid the lethal offset junction at Ollerton and a car pulled out on a speeding Artic, smoke, horns the lot !

Also, if I get buzzed or pissed off at a car I make a point of memorising it, I have an amazing memory for cars, make model, colour, plate and any deviations from standard, I then wait and exact my revenge when driving my large and very powerful Saab.

 

[fossyant]

Jacko - I know the junction at Ollerton very well, and Longers and Dan_bo experienced it one sunday when we were out - you do have to look very carefully - don't think many folk stick to 60 on that road........

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Cant actually say I have been beeped at yet, after six months, maybe its my riding or more likely my route, shat myself this morning, was on my little jib across the pavement to avoid the lethal offset junction at Ollerton and a car pulled out on a speeding Artic, smoke, horns the lot !

Also, if I get buzzed or pissed off at a car I make a point of memorising it, I have an amazing memory for cars, make model, colour, plate and any deviations from standard, I then wait and exact my revenge when driving my large and very powerful Saab.

I've not been beeped yet either, but that is almost certainly down to my route which has little car interaction.

I did get buzzed this morning, in a 30 limit where I was "only" doing a little over 20mph due to the headwind - I'm normally closer to the limit down there. There was a van parked (half on the path) on the other side of the road, a van overtaking that, yet the car behind me still went for the overtake - well, I say overtake, he just drove past me really. Course, the wind was gusty so I was getting bounced about a bit and was less than pleased. Then he turned onto his drive about 400 yards later.

 

[gbb]

Another south Manchester commuter here. I'm A56 from Altrincham, 9 miles.

My advice to you is to stick with it. Be very careful and gain experience, road sense, confidence and assertiveness with each day's commute. Then you should be OK.

Simons right, it does get easier, perhaps without you realising it.
Ive had bad days, weeks in the past..it seems like everyones out to get you.

But when i think about it..i havnt had a bad commute in a couple of years now. yes, of course the occasional idiot, the occasional close call, but generally, i dont suffer that much.

So why ? I guess ive gained confidence, higher fitness has allowed me to maintain better speed in the traffic, and reading others expriences in this forum together with reading Cyclecraft...you realise what you're doing isnt alway right or best practice.

I find my confidence is so high now (hope i'm not headed for a fall saying this) i actually get a huge buzz from commuting, and i have much greater control and assertiveness with the traffic around me.

Stick with it bud...

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Higher speed does help, gbb is right. Obviously you get the odd one that thinks "it's a bike so I must overtake it .. at any cost" but many will realise that you're not slowing them down.

I'm lucky in that much of my commute (which isn't off road) is on estate roads with attendant "traffic calming" and so I'm often quicker than the cars. I was seriously thinking about overtaking a SUV the other day but thought that might be a bit too close to taunting Alpha Male inside.

 

[J4CKO]

Jacko - I know the junction at Ollerton very well, and Longers and Dan_bo experienced it one sunday when we were out - you do have to look very carefully - don't think many folk stick to 60 on that road........

It scares the shoot out of me, hence my hop onto the pavement, round the corner and join it in a safer manner, the woman the other morning when I was in my car that nearly hit me because she was on the phone reinforced my decision, plus I get to overtake all the cars as well.

Got buzzed today, very close as a pair of peanuts overtook me on a blind bend, not anticipating the artic coming the other way so out of a choice of hitting oncoming truck or cyclist alongside, I lost, didnt actually collide but only because I was virtually in the hedge, breathing in, the lot, so a black Peugeot 107 with red stripes on the roof is coming in for some retribution when I see it and I am in the car.

 

[pedaling]

fossyant -

Cheadle Hulme to Nangreave Road (you'll know where I mean if you know the area! ) Met a fellow cyclist the other day. He suggested panniers, too... Could be much further, to be honest, it's not really far at all!

Lazy Commuter -

I think higher speed does help, which obv comes with stamina. Often though, they overtake, then end up slowing me down when they either turn in soon after or stop.

I need to sort out when to be how far out in the road still. I'm not quite sure about that :/

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

fossyant -

Cheadle Hulme to Nangreave Road (you'll know where I mean if you know the area! ) Met a fellow cyclist the other day. He suggested panniers, too... Could be much further, to be honest, it's not really far at all!

Lazy Commuter -

I think higher speed does help, which obv comes with stamina. Often though, they overtake, then end up slowing me down when they either turn in soon after or stop.

I need to sort out when to be how far out in the road still. I'm not quite sure about that :/

Oh yes, the old go past and then make you slow down ploy.

I reserve a special place on my hate list for the ones that start to slow down when they're halfway past and move back over as though they've gone past you. It's as if they've got the front of the car past so you're no longer in front of the driver and so you no longer exist.

You can position yourself to deter some of that, but some people will just force their way past whatever. Cyclecraft is probably your best bet for more tips in that respect.

 

[fossyant]

pedaling, have you thought of a slightly longer route - worth a try - i.e. head south east, then up towards stepping hill hospital ?

 

[pedaling]

fossyant -

i've thought about that but the traffic is pretty dia (sp?) there too, although at least you're cutting out Davenport I suppose. I've had a few better times cycling recently, with much better overtaking (don't know why!) That would mean having the A6 to contend with as well, so I'm not sure stepping hill would be much better really. Do you cycle that way and find it okay?

At least with the current way I get a nice-ish bit past the park. What would be great is if they made some cycle-only routes in Stockport (dream on, I know...)

 

[fossyant]

I go from east/west (Bredbury) via Stockport Centre to Didsbury (via Cheadle as the quick way is a pig) and on a regular basis into Central Manchester. All roads round this place are busy, but I'd go for as wide a road as you can, so you can filter OK. At least Davenport is nice to ride along (i.e. all the trees) but it gets a bit hairy towards the end.

I'm sure you'll get loads more confident as you keep at it. I used to commute into Manchester via the A6 - no longer - I was brought down big style in Levenshulme and it's stinky...(exhausts)....

I now ride a 4 mile longer route in to Manchester as it can be done with a lot less stop starts and less traffic fighting.