Sound advice from an old timer?..

[TonyEnjoyD]

Every now n then on my daily commute on a stretch of 40mph dual I see another roadie ahead of me and as usual go for it to see if I can pass him before either of us turn off, then on catching him and being knackered I see it's a guy about 20 yrs my senior (I'm 50) on his trusty steed - no helmet and his Morpeth CC jersey on.
Anyway, 2 weeks ago I got closer and drafting him n we had a bit of a chat.
He then gave me the Sage advice of "you ride too far out - you need to be closer to the kerb lad - most of them drivers have no special awareness!"
All due respect, I just replied " I see" and left it at that.
I always ride primary or at least LH tyre track to force the drivers out into the other lane to overtake.

Next time I think I'll let him just talk to himself!

Tony

 

[compo]

If he's getting on for 70 he must be doing something right

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

If he's getting on for 70 he must be doing something right

My mother-in-law smoked 40 Woodbines a day all her life and lived to be over 80. Must have been doing something right!

 

[BentMikey]

Dual carriageway? I'd probably ride primary in the nearside lane too.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Dual carriageway? I'd probably ride primary in the nearside lane too.

Agree with that, I've a short stretch and I'm always out a bit.

 

[endoman]

I ride about 3 miles on a busy dual carraigeway on my commute. I'm at the left side, there's a solid white line which I'm on the RHS of, but never go into the crud that's on the other side of it. Wouldn't go out as far as primary, would antagonise with no need. Not had any close passes yet on this stretch.

 

[HLaB]

I tend to ride a bit further out especially at doorzones and a few times I've had another cyclist comment that I should be nearer to the kerb but I prefer to be more spatially aware and dominant when I need to be.

 

[Bicycle]

On a 40mph dual carriageway, I'd be about 12-15 inches from the outside of the left-hand lane-edge-marking white line of the nearside lane. I'd take the same position on a 30mph or 60mph dual carriageway.

That probably puts me in the same boat and the ancient roadie in the OP. I'm not sure why he would have felt it necessary to pass on his 'wisdom' to another rider. I don't for a moment think my way is the right way or the wrong way. It's just my way.

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

I have over the last 3-years tried primary, secondary and gutter and always found primary more beneficial as they have to cross into the other lane to get past me, although I have had more abuse.
In secondary they just tend to squeeze past - at 45mph!
In the gutter - a definite no-no.

Another part of my route takes me into a v-narrow lane - single carriageway - leading under a rail bridge. The side streets are so tight that their give way lines are 18" out into the road and there's a solid white line adjoining these that runs to the bridge.
On this stretch I take centre lane until clear of the bridge.
Amazing how many 4-wheel eejits have shouted at me "get in your f'ing cycle lane you *(*&^%.

Tony

 

[G-Zero]

Amazing how many 4-wheel eejits have shouted at me "get in your f'ing cycle lane you *(*&^%.

Tony

That's what the long finger is for on each hand

 

[G-Zero]

Every now n then on my daily commute on a stretch of 40mph dual I see another roadie ahead of me and as usual go for it to see if I can pass him before either of us turn off, then on catching him and being knackered I see it's a guy about 20 yrs my senior (I'm 50) on his trusty steed - no helmet and his Morpeth CC jersey on.
Anyway, 2 weeks ago I got closer and drafting him n we had a bit of a chat.
He then gave me the Sage advice of "you ride too far out - you need to be closer to the kerb lad - most of them drivers have no special awareness!"
All due respect, I just replied " I see" and left it at that.
I always ride primary or at least LH tyre track to force the drivers out into the other lane to overtake.

Next time I think I'll let him just talk to himself!

Tony

I don't have a great deal of experience of cycling on dual carriageways, but there is a short stretch (50 mph) close to me which I occasionally use.

A few days ago I was heading home and was a distance from the kerb that I felt was ok and as traffic flow was light, most vehicles were using lane 2 to pass me. All of a sudden, one motorist woke me up as he passed close enough to me that I could have easily slapped the side of his car, probably only 12 -15 inches between me and his door mirror. As I was in the middle of shouting a loud "Oi" or similar , the reason he squeezed me came into my peripheral view.

A Police motorcyclist squeezing him from lane 2.

Poor driving from them both, but especially disappointed by the motorcyclist, as with his level of training, he should have anticipated the car needing room to come round me and either should have held back until it was past me, or he should have accelerated through before we ended up 3 abreast.

For me, it certainly brought home the merits of riding even further from the kerb.

 

[semislickstick]

Does anyone here cycle on the A14? I did once but I cycled in the gutter/left of the line, I found it terrifying. I just wonder if anyone else who does it feels better/trusting further out?

 

[pshore]

There was a thread on it a while back: Cycling on the A14

Personally, I don't think taking the lane is possible on the A14. It would be like trying to hold back a tsunami. There are way too many crashes from peoples inattention. It is nothing like a 40mph dual, it is more like the A1 used to be, effectively a motorway but worse.

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

Does anyone here cycle on the A14? I did once but I cycled in the gutter/left of the line, I found it terrifying. I just wonder if anyone else who does it feels better/trusting further out?

I hate driving on the A14 and I would never, ever try to cycle on it. As pshore says, it's effectively a motorway, and it will probably get worse as the years go by.

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

Personally any road with a limit over 40 I avoid during the week and especially rush hour.
Obviously weekend and country rides are different as the majority of the time you are faced with single carriageway national speed limit A, B & C roads.

There's a guy who regularly cycles the A1 up here in Newcastle between Cramlington and Westerhope - pure unadulterated deathwish.