When to call it a day?

[TheDoctor]

Indeed. There's so many other ways to die that I'm just not concerned about cycling.

 

[kingrollo]

Should have been sitting on the roof like a winner, spraying his fizzy pop over the gathered queue.

That's a sad tale: who was it?

Mike Hailwood. Died in 1981 Truck hit his car

 

[Shearwater Missile]

It's dangerous out there for us guys that's for sure. But my love for cycling and the immense health benefits it provides vastly outweigh any ideas I might have of calling it a day.

My missus hates me going out on the bike and I learned years and years ago that talking about my ride and the near misses I've had during it were not helping her one bit. We have a kind of cycling "omerta" in our house......never talk about my rides!!

There are things we can do such as use quieter roads at off peak times if possible. And also stop chasing PB's all the time so you become happier, and safer, cycling at a slightly slower pace.

But even then it only takes one lapse of concentration on your part and/or a lapse of concentration by another road user in a much larger vehicle than yours, and that can be it.

My wife is pretty much the same. Instead of talking about the ride, as such, I talk about what birds I have seen or flowers that are in bloom, etc etc. I go out for about an hour and a quarter, that way my wife knows when I will be back and the kettle is ready. My last off was because of an ebike on the cycle lane that did`nt stop when approaching the road I was on. I have mentioned this in an earlier post. I did play down the collision. my wife knows that going out on the bike is important to me so I would hate to give it up. School pick up times are a bad time and weekends, when the loud exhaust brigade and the kami-kazi motorcyclists are out. I don`t wish to tar everyone with the same brush as most are generally OK.

 

[MontyVeda]

Hitting the gym won't get me to work and back, and there's no 5.30am bus on the weekends.

I do choose my routes carefully though and avoid the A6 around rush hour as best i can.

 

[wakemalcolm]

Mike Hailwood. Died in 1981 Truck hit his car

Just followed that up. Truck driver makes an illegal turn, causing the death of 2 people, gets fined GBP100. Different times.

 

[kingrollo]

Just followed that up. Truck driver makes an illegal turn, causing the death of 2 people, gets fined GBP100. Different times.

Yeah he rode motorbikes and drove rally cars - but died fetching fish and chips in his family saloon.

 

[Binky]

Lots saying they keep to quiet roads etc but often these are as bad. I had two close passes this week by tractors and one was REALLY close. It doesn't stop me riding but it keeps me recording my rides and reporting bad and dangerous drivers and I wish more cyclists did this as ultimately it benefits us all.
If drivers think they can get away with all manner of bad, careless and at times downright dangerous driving then unless something changes they will continue to do so.

 

[raleighnut]

Yeah he rode motorbikes and drove rally cars - but died fetching fish and chips in his family saloon.

He won the Senior TT on his 'comeback' 10 years after retiring on the 'Sports Motorcycle Ducati' he then went on to win the 'Post TT' international meeting at Mallory Park on the same bike beating Phil Read, Asa Moyce, Barry Ditchburn and Steve Manship

 

[esoxlucius]

I talk about what birds I have seen

I find that if I wax lyrical about the beautiful birds I've seen whilst out riding, that tends to go down like a lead balloon too!!🤣

 

[kingrollo]

I hope this doesn't bite me in the backside. But I used to commute all year round in the traffic dense west midlands.

I also used to lead the club training rides at the weekend I was complimented more than once on how alert I was and anticipating hazards in advance.

 

[Exlaser2]

Err no . End of story .

 

[MontyVeda]

... I was complimented more than once on how alert I was and anticipating hazards in advance.

I get a lot of 'road morons' and dash cam videos on my YT feed and it's amazing how many drivers fail to anticipate that a car is going to pull out on them.

 

[SteveH80]

Lots saying they keep to quiet roads etc but often these are as bad. I had two close passes this week by tractors and one was REALLY close. It doesn't stop me riding but it keeps me recording my rides and reporting bad and dangerous drivers and I wish more cyclists did this as ultimately it benefits us all.
If drivers think they can get away with all manner of bad, careless and at times downright dangerous driving then unless something changes they will continue to do so.

I just pull over to get out of the way of tractors. There is no way one of them can pass safely on a road less than 3 metre wide, and it would be out of order to hold it up for the next 3 or 4 miles.

 

[Binky]

I just pull over to get out of the way of tractors. There is no way one of them can pass safely on a road less than 3 metre wide, and it would be out of order to hold it up for the next 3 or 4 miles.

Both incidents were on roads over 4metres wide and on the worst one there was a wide section just ahead clearly in view. No excuses for the drivers, they were in the wrong not me. Who said anything about holding them up at all let alone for 3 or 4 miles?

 

[Pblakeney]

Both incidents were on roads over 4metres wide and on the worst one there was a wide section just ahead clearly in view. No excuses for the drivers, they were in the wrong not me. Who said anything about holding them up at all let alone for 3 or 4 miles?

Being right and 6 feet under, or pull over. Your choice.
I use it as an excuse for a breather and a relaxed drink.