Steep uphill, primary and close passes.

[Sara_H]

Just got home from a night shift.

The last part of my route home involve a steep climb for about 1.5 miles. It's a single carriageway, cars parked on both sides and I pass two primary schools.
I really am the worlds worst hill climber, and I would guess that I'm doing 5mph, if that.

I have to say this morning on that short stretch alone I've had at least five real nasty close passes, one I'm sure would have involved an accident if I'd not been turning left and another that actually flipped the hem of my coat up

I'm at my wits end, I really could do without it at the end of a 13 hour night shift. I try to cycle in primary, but the road is so narrow and choked up with parked cars that primary often puts me head on with on coming vehicles.

There's alternative route, but it isn't much better tbh.

Any advice?

 

[400bhp]

show us the route. Can an alternative be found?

 

[Sara_H]

Don't know if this'll work, but this is the worst section:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr...QMdvJHp_w&gl=uk&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=15&t=m&z=15

 

[mangid]

Don't know if this'll work, but this is the worst section:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=145-147 Derbyshire Lane, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S8 9EQ (Cross Scythes)&daddr=Derbyshire Ln&hl=en&sll=53.340406,-1.474099&sspn=0.009429,0.029097&geocode=FYgJLgMdQXbp_yGNKIhIMZP-4imvka2IV4J5SDGNKIhIMZP-4g;FfbnLQMdvJHp_w&gl=uk&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=15&t=m&z=15

I guess you've tried Warminster Road ? Looks like it might be quieter, and less steep as it's longer ?

 

[TheJDog]

Avoid it like the plague, or get off and walk. Sure there's some shame in it, but it sounds like the safer option, and not much slower

 

[Ian Cooper]

I don't care how narrow the road is, nor how busy, nor how slow you're going, if you're getting close passes on any stretch of road, the cure is to cycle in primary.

In fact, narrow and busy roads choked with parked cars are exactly the sort of roads on which a cyclist MUST control the lane for his own safety.

The motorists behind will wait, and if you do it enough, those who can't wait will take the Chesterfield Road or Gleadless. They might not like it, but would you rather satisfy their impatience at the cost of your life?

By the way, I was born and brought up right there in Heeley, a stone's throw from there.

 

[endoman]

Ditto for Warminster road, my commute goes through Woodseats on Chesterfield Road, only a bit steep near Morrisons, Warminster is a bit of a car rat run though, but less busy than Derbyshire Lane.

 

[TheJDog]

I don't care how narrow the road is, nor how busy, nor how slow you're going, if you're getting close passes on any stretch of road, the cure is to cycle in primary.

Common sense would say that if you are cycling at 5mph for a mile and a half in primary on a very narrow, busy road you are doing something badly wrong. If I was behind you in a car for more than a minute I would get out and tell you to pull over and walk. There's cycling safely, and there is willingly holding up other traffic.

 

[Crankarm]

Walking pace is 4-5mph. If there is a pavement get off and walk.

 

[400bhp]

^^this^^

 

[BentMikey]

I have a similar situation, Sara, so I have much sympathy for you. My road is also narrow, very busy, and a 40mph limit, but luckily is quite a lot shorter. I get some insane overtakes there, and sometimes even mirror to mirror contact of cars oncoming and overtaking.

My response is to ride an alternative route if I'm not feeling mentally tough enough, and I've asked the council to see if they can't make the pavement shared use (might well happen, it's currently in progress). It's the Leaves Green ascent for anyone here that knows it, and when I'm knackered I do around 8mph up there.

 

[gaz]

I don't care how narrow the road is, nor how busy, nor how slow you're going, if you're getting close passes on any stretch of road, the cure is to cycle in primary.

There is no out and out cure for preventing close passes. I've had many many many close passes while in primary.

 

[BentMikey]

Gaz is right, Ian. Primary will dissuade most drivers, but not the absolute nutters. Going uphill and slowly then takes away the biggest advantage of primary, which is to leave you room to dive left. You can't manoeuvre quickly when you're going slowly uphill.

 

[Sara_H]

Maybe I underestimated my speed, cos I'm definitely going faster than walking pace, fast enough that it would be a pain to get off and walk and slow myself down further.

I've found similar problems on Warminster rd, but thinking about it, probably not quite as bad. I'll probably try it on my way home in the morning.

Thanks for the support chaps, was feeling a bit crap this morning. Riding in the rush hour after a night shift is a hair raising experience - combine the fact that you're not thinking a sharply as usual with the usual crap with have to contend with.

 

[MrJamie]

Its hard to get perspective from streetview, hills never seem to look as steep but that first 400m up to the crossroads/pub looks by far the hardest. I think the sensible option would to be walk the steepest part to the crossroads and then get back on for the rest of the hill and you should keep a better pace having not done the steep bit. Personally if it were me, id probably just cycle up the first 400m of path at 5mph if it looked quiet and safe to do so (ie. not at school start/end times!) and give absolute priority to any pedestrians otherwise id walk.

if you're getting close passes on any stretch of road, the cure is to cycle in primary.

Had my first properly close pass yesterday on a NSL road in a strong road position. Its a fast road though as its relatively straight with no turn-offs for 2 miles. I was doing a steady 16mph and most passes were veryconsiderate, some excessively so and then some blacked out, lowered, de-badged 206 with a silly loud exhaust passed me very very closely at ~70mph while the oncoming carriageway was visably empty for hundreds of metres. Theres not a lot we can to avoid deliberate close passes by chavs, he was gone too quick for me to even get his plate anyway and it hadnt made me jump as id heard the exhaust a mile off, so i didnt wobble or get scared as it was all too quick.