The most dangerous cyclist in the world?

[DCLane]

Seems OK to me; it's somewhere in Ireland I guess.

Edit; http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Cru...d,+Dublin+16,+County+Dublin,+Ireland&t=m&z=15

Just south of Dublin.

 

[Archie_tect]

Lots of this is fabulous.

A couple of truly silly moments, but this is a helluva lot more sensible that lots of the things I see on my commute.

Some of the blind approaches to start the overtakes were truly spectacularly stupid .

 

[Scruffmonster]

Some of the blind approaches to start the overtakes were truly spectacularly stupid .

I know. I acknowledged that.

These kind of things are always harder to watch though. Some people do posess skill that we can only dream of. I once sat in a 2 seat F1 car type effort and it completely redefined my idea of what was possible.

Some people really can confidently make judgement calls on level of risk vs available options at a truly shocking speed.

 

[Flying Dodo]

A couple of possibly iffy manoevres such as overtaking on a blind corner which if he'd been a few seconds later could have meant hitting an oncoming car, but certainly not a major issue. I wish I'd be able to handle a descent that well.

I see car drivers do far worse things every day. For example the Toyota estate driver at 5:09 in that video which pulls straight out in front of him.

 

[beastie]

Great riding, but those overtakes are completely reckless. Any cyclists who think that is acceptable road craft are having a bubble. I don't say I don't push it on descents sometimes, but I know myself it's reckless.

 

[asterix]

looks good to me. He or she clearly knew the road.

although if you want to see it done properly...

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxXqQqAc2pA

I love mountain descents but I don't try to copy what I see on the telly! Why? Because they can use all the road and I have less than half. One of the most dangerous aspects on hairpins is underestimating how much you lean into oncoming traffic's lane.

My best descents have been down the Tourmalet. Going west in the dry I overtook 5 cars. It is a very long descent. Going east we had snow falling at the top turning to torrential rain. I had to keep pedalling to stop my shivering shaking the bike, so I came down pretty quick although the road was a stream. My fellow riders tended to get off and walk, having no mudguards and were picked up by the mini bus but I felt that was not in the spirit of the thing. Bastard hotel had run out of hot water when I arrived.

 

[clarion]

I think that was pretty poor, though I've seen worse. I wasn't exactly watching for it, but the first time I was conscious of him (it's a bloke, isn't it? Course it is) checking behind was about 5:40. Several overtakes without the space visible ahead. Lucky =/= skilful. Very close pass at high relative speed of another cyclist. Lucky the slower guy didn't wobble at all, or evade a pothole.

And, yes, I do see cars doing worse. Including that Toyota pulling out. Which is why this was crap cycling.

 

[Matt1705]

I lost the will to live after 2 minutes

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Skillful certainly, but not safe, and at several points not legal either. The kind of cyclist who pleases himself and gives the rest of us a bad name, unfortunately.

 

[Gary E]

Just think how fast he'd have gone if it had been downhill

 

[byegad]

He overtook on a single white line several times. Ask yourself if a car overtaking a bike like that would get pulled over and prosecute? No, IMHO.

However, there are at least two overtakes when he was blind to oncoming traffic and in almost all of these cases he did not look back. Both of these 'habits' are going to get him killed and I pity the poor sod who he hits.

 

[Glow worm]

Some iffy bits but some good skills - and blimey it looked fun.

 

[MarkF]

I wonder how old the rider is?

 

[thom]

Some of the overtakes appear dicey but the rider has a better view and more info than you can perceive from the video alone. He will be more aware of gradient obviously so will have a feel for the acceleration he will get going round a slow car and also have a feel for the likely speed of potential oncoming cars if he knows the road and this obviously factors into his personal decision making, along with knowledge of the power of his brakes.
I'd be braking much more approaching the vehicles, particularly diving up the inside of the car turning right but otherwise I envy his speed and skill although I think I've had my fair share of risk taking.

That Cancellara vid is something else - he retains speed through the corners so effortlessly it's bonkers. But the peloton probably wasn't balls out racing and Cancellara is heavier than those waif like Astana grimpeurs. It's much easier descending on your own rather than in a group where you have to be much more disciplined in your movements for the safety of others.

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

Impressive riding but totally bonkers at points. Be surprised if he could do that often and live to tell the tale.
Still makes me want to go and find a big descent.

Also are all the cars doing 20mph in this clip? Really slow or he is stupid fast.