Mike Sales wrote: ↑13 May 2021, 1:57pm
jo' bo wrote: ↑13 May 2021, 1:45pm
Il put my cycling credentials up against anybody, I've been one since 1966, I missed the world cup final as I was out on my bike, it doesn't get more dedicated than that
It's got far far worse since the 2012 related cycling boom, it almost like every idiot for miles around thought, " il get a bike"
In a non scientific survey, I'd assess that 40% of cyclists are inconsiderate idiots, and another 50% are dangerous inconsiderate idiots, that doesnt include the ebikers, who seem to be roughly split between, young men doing 30 on the back wheel or people so decrepit they really shouldnt be allowed motorised transport
Beibg right forma
My anecdotage is very different from yours.
In sixty years of cycling I can recall a couple of close calls with cyclists, which at worst would have meant a fall, but so many threats to my life from motorists that I cannot ditinguish one from another in my memory. Of course, coming into collision with a car is a much more serious occurence.
A couple of times I have turned up on spec to ride with other clubs and felt quite secure riding in close formation with a bunch of strangers.
Being in tight formation is fine, as you all tend to be going in much the same direction at very much the same speed, going in tight formation down a shared use path or indeed the road, however means non of you can stop with out crashing into each other like they frequently do on the tours, and unlike the tours had the,addded complication of people comming the other way,
That the very essence of anti social riding unless you have closed roads and out riders
I had an unfortune number of crashes as a young man both on cycles and motorbikes, once I'd lost the bravery of youth, about 22 yo, these stopped, I've been free from being knocked off either since 1981, I just proceed in a way that doesnt infuriate others into reckless passing and just assume they havent seen me
Ive also developed quite a tolerance to close passing, anything that doesnt catch my elbow on their mirror is fine with me, it's just about the same clearance I give them when I'm filtering
I was having a conversation with my 13 yo niece about road / cycling safety, " but I had right of way" she said," yes but theirs weighs 2 tonnes " I replied, flipping give way