Wheeeeeeeeeee
- Thread starter benb
- Start date
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Ian Cooper
Expat Yorkshireman
- Location
- Silver Spring, MD, USA
My wife does it by convincing herself that the gridlock doesn't happen every day, and by trying to persuade me that the hour commute she endures almost every day only really lasts half an hour, so cycling those 8 miles wouldn't be any faster.
I'm guessing she also believes that driving keeps her as fit as cycling would, and that she isn't 'really' carrying around extra weight that she could do with losing. Don't tell her I said that.
I'm guessing she also believes that driving keeps her as fit as cycling would, and that she isn't 'really' carrying around extra weight that she could do with losing. Don't tell her I said that.
Miquel In De Rain
No Longer Posting
I was doing that last week till some t*at threw a right without looking.
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biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
must admit i ride along side when traffics stops but at a much reduced speed keeping an eye open for right or left turners
thefollen
Veteran
- Location
- Balham/Tooting Bec
A while back now I passed a gridlocked open-top Ferrari in Knightsbridge, couldn't resist giving the chap a couple of tings with the bell.
Do you mean you ride up the left? I sometimes do, but generally I much prefer to be on the right. You're more visible, more expected, much reduced danger of passengers dooring you, and cars are less likely to suddenly turn into your path.
Obviously you do still need to keep the brakes well covered and watch out for people doing U-turns, or being flashed in from the oncoming lane.
Ian Cooper
Expat Yorkshireman
- Location
- Silver Spring, MD, USA
I never filter if I can avoid it - I've seen too many cyclists get hit doing it. But in a situation like this, I'd be tempted. Even so, I'd filter on the driver's side and only very slowly. Filtering on the kerb-side gets so many people crushed under the wheels of lorries. I don't want to go out that way.
If I didn't filter, what would be the point of cycling!
I think filtering on the right like this is pretty safe. You do need to watch out for people pulling unexpected U-turns, but I think it's pretty safe on the whole/
Ian Cooper
Expat Yorkshireman
- Location
- Silver Spring, MD, USA
All cycling is 'pretty safe'. Even cycling on the road against traffic is 'pretty safe', in that such a salmon cyclist is probably not going to get killed for years. But filtering is a risk factor - and an avoidable one. In my opinion, it would be better not to be in that much of a hurry to be tempted to do it. But again, like I said, I'd be tempted too in the situation shown in the video. I just wouldn't do it that fast.
And as for your assertion that 'If I didn't filter, what would be the point of cycling!' all I can say is this - I seriously doubt filtering is the only thing that gets you on a bike.
All cycling is 'pretty safe'. Even cycling on the road against traffic is 'pretty safe', in that such a salmon cyclist is probably not going to get killed for years. But filtering is a risk factor - and an avoidable one. In my opinion, it would be better not to be in that much of a hurry to be tempted to do it. But again, like I said, I'd be tempted too in the situation shown in the video. I just wouldn't do it that fast.
And as for your assertion that 'If I didn't filter, what would be the point of cycling!' all I can say is this - I seriously doubt filtering is the only thing that gets you on a bike.
What I meant is, if I didn't filter, so went at the same speed as the cars, I might as well not bother. One big reason why I cycle to work is that I don't have to be stuck in traffic!
numbnuts
Squire
- Location
- Gone over the hill and far away
I'm very confidante as a rider in heavy traffic, but there is no way I would ride overtaking traffic like that I would be frighten of getting squashed between two cars.
Got to admit that filtering is something I really need to improve on but very cautious to do so. I am happy to filter when its back to back traffic jams but coming to lights and you're not sure how far you'll get before being exposed makes me slightly nervous. The feeling of streaming past "parked" cars is extremely enjoyable though.
Excellent, and a great advert for urban cycling.
Where I live, every now and then when I'm in the front garden I notice cyclists shooting past giggling, going weeeeee, and on one occasion shouting 'fek, fek, fek' to themselves. Nearly a mile long, 17%, and 50 mph, I often have trouble stopping at my house in time, but no worries, there's the pub a bit further on.
PS Great to see someone overtaking on the outside as well, as I always do.
Where I live, every now and then when I'm in the front garden I notice cyclists shooting past giggling, going weeeeee, and on one occasion shouting 'fek, fek, fek' to themselves. Nearly a mile long, 17%, and 50 mph, I often have trouble stopping at my house in time, but no worries, there's the pub a bit further on.
PS Great to see someone overtaking on the outside as well, as I always do.
Ian Cooper
Expat Yorkshireman
- Location
- Silver Spring, MD, USA
Yes, I certainly understand. What you seem to be saying is that if you couldn't overtake cars, you feel you may as well drive. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that attitude. What I'm saying is that I feel that cycling is always better than driving - even if I always go slower than the cars.
I just don't feel the need to go anywhere faster than anyone else. When I'm in traffic, it gives me a chance to look around, take in the scene, people-watch - something I don't get the chance to do when I'm moving.