Full agreement. No contact, no problem. Ever.'Too close' is flying over the bonnet, if there's no contact, there's no problem. However, where there's contact, there's a claim, and a new bike.
When is 'too close for comfort' - ?
- Thread starter simongt
- Start date
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classic33
Leg End Member
I didn't know him, he knew me. Not too many on bikes on that particular road. All I knew was there's a vehicle that size coming at me, and a car driver behind, trying to get past me.
Tractor took the best part of the road up, so going where I liked was never an option.
KnackeredBike
I do my own stunts
What about "punishment" overtakes where they cut back in a gnat's crochet of your handlebars for the temerity of using the road?
uclown2002
Guru
- Location
- Harrogate
wtf!!
CanucksTraveller
Macho Business Donkey Wrestler
- Location
- Hertfordshire
Nonsense sir. Where they're close enough for you to touch, especially at speed, then Houston, we have a problem.
Lozz360
Veteran
- Location
- Oxfordshire
Surely you have no respect for your own life. There has to be a safety margin. You will swerve to avoid a pothole at the point you are being close passed. The overtaking vehicle might make an error of judgement by just a few inches and contact is made.
Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
What?! It was a problem for me last Saturday when i heard this tractor rumbling behind me. I'd indicated my intention to turn left. He could've held back until i'd gone,but he decided to overtake me,letting his trailer pass me by about 1 foot. As he overtook i imagined what it'd be like to lose my balance or be clipped,then fall under the wheel. That @#~! put my life in danger,either because he was an impatient git or an anti cyclist @#~! That to me was a problem!
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classic33
Leg End Member
I sincerely hope you're being facetious...
D
Deleted member 1258
Guest
If the drivers that close that they've almost brushed my elbow with their mirror they're too close, any over take that means I've got no room to dodge potholes and debris is dangerous. I tend to use primary a lot which does reduce the the problem, I don't get many close passes.
Racing roadkill
Guru
And that is the correct answer. If your in primary, you can make room by moving left if you have to. If you don't give the motorist the opportunity to squeeze you, they can't squeeze you.
Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
I'm a bit dubious about taking a primary position,after a few nasty incidents. One particularly plays on my mind. There i was in primary approaching a busy mini roundabout when Mr Land Rover Discovery thought he'd try and overtake me. He waited till we'd both passed the little bollard,island then in a fit of rage cut me up and blocked my path forcing me to stop. Out he got waving his arms and shouting abuse. I tried to calmly explain my reason for stopping him from close passing me.He wasn't having it and started to threaten me. Luckily for me a police car was passing which i flagged down. He even started ranting at the copper,calling me and other cyclists all sorts of names. I thought the copper might've asked for the idiots insurance details etc,but no he just let him go after asking if he'd calmed down.
The idiot had a young child with him in the car to make matters worse. I bet the tool thought he'd be teaching his sprog how to treat cyclists,when he's old enough to drive.
rugby bloke
Veteran
- Location
- Northamptonshire
This is a good point, my genuine question would be - Should you be using primary all the time ? Most of my riding is on quite country roads, so I ride outside of the debris / gully zone, but certainly to the left of primary. Whilst the majority of drivers are sensible, it unfortunately does invite the occasional close pass - an idiot in a Ford Mustang speeding in a 30 zone was the latest. Should I be moving to primary to discourage ? I ask for pardon my ignorance in advance ...
D
Deleted member 1258
Guest
Last year on a lane near Upper Brailes there was no need to pull left to let the farmer though, he overtook on the grass verge in his Landy and trailer.
Now I'm retired I do most of my riding on quiet country lanes but even on a lane controlling overtakes can be useful.
