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.