Road Rage !

[Norm]

Ashamed to say but got really angry today, got caught up behind two cars held up on a 40mph limit single carriageway which is a fairly busy road by two lycra clad cyclists riding two abreast, eventually the two cars in front managed to pass, one of them obviously frustrated stupidly risked overtaking approaching the brow of a hill!. I stayed back waiting for a safe space to overtake when the riders signalled a right turn and moved to the centre of the road, drawing up alongside them window down I politely asked wouldn't it be safer to ride single file on a busy road like this? the response was a curt yeah so what, you just keep your distance! well my blood boiled and the second word was off . I appreciate that the roads are for all of us, bikes, farm vehicles, horses etc and that delays behind such things are inevitable and cannot be avoided, a bit of common sense allows us all to get along but two selfish barstewards seem to think that donning bright red lycra gives you the right to think I'm all right so stuff everyone else.
I now understand how these things can get out of hand, I'm normally very calm adopting a better to get there safely approach to driving but I could easily have swung for this guy .

 

[rkde]

They should not have been 2 a breast on a road like that. I ride a lot but try and make it easy for car drivers as I know what its like on my bike.

You can just relax now

 

[chunkolini]

Pillocks.
I cycle about 5000 miles a year. Riding side by side on public roads is stupid and dangerous.
But never get mad, getting mad causes accidents later on.
Stay cool babies and have faith in the power of the healer.
Chunko'.

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

Ashamed to say but got really angry today, got caught up behind two cars held up on a 40mph limit single carriageway which is a fairly busy road by two lycra clad cyclists riding two abreast, eventually the two cars in front managed to pass, one of them obviously frustrated stupidly risked overtaking approaching the brow of a hill!. I stayed back waiting for a safe space to overtake when the riders signalled a right turn and moved to the centre of the road, drawing up alongside them window down I politely asked wouldn't it be safer to ride single file on a busy road like this? the response was a curt yeah so what, you just keep your distance! well my blood boiled and the second word was off . I appreciate that the roads are for all of us, bikes, farm vehicles, horses etc and that delays behind such things are inevitable and cannot be avoided, a bit of common sense allows us all to get along but two selfish barstewards seem to think that donning bright red lycra gives you the right to think I'm all right so stuff everyone else.
I now understand how these things can get out of hand, I'm normally very calm adopting a better to get there safely approach to driving but I could easily have swung for this guy .

Oh dear, don't get us started lol

On one occasion, a woman driver in front of me stopped to let a horse and rider out onto the road, in a twisty village out in the country. Thankfully I was only a 3 minute plod from my turning where the horse and rider carried on.

I couldnt get my head around that one.

 

[MattF]

But never get mad, getting mad causes accidents later on.

Wot'e said. No point getting mad. A*******s will always be a*******s, and showing total disinterest/indifference can be the most relaxing thing on earth, (plus it also tends to irk people far more than if you become annoyed at them).

 

[tigler]

Cretins ! With an attitude like that they will most likely be in an A&E dept before long !

 

[FranV8]

I class myself as a cyclist - and we've got to show care and consideration on the roads whether on bikes or in the car. I don't think those two cyclists help the casue, unfortunately I think it does tar a lot of other cyclists with the same brush.

We're not all millitant people trying to prove something.

There's, sadly, idiots on 2 and 4 wheels.

 

[TechnicAl]

Theres a cyclist I meet everyday on my way home. He is one of those that has the camera mounted on his helmet (on his head)

I wonder if he is filming when he overtakes on the inside at a roundabout. One day he will meet someone turning left who hasnt seen him.

 

[Norm]

I class myself as a cyclist - and we've got to show care and consideration on the roads whether on bikes or in the car. I don't think those two cyclists help the casue, unfortunately I think it does tar a lot of other cyclists with the same brush.

We're not all millitant people trying to prove something.

There's, sadly, idiots on 2 and 4 wheels.

I ride a bicycle myself at times Fran and I understand that car drivers are often not considerate, I think cycling has improved me as a car driver, it was just the attitude of this pratt that got me so angry, I really went into fight or flight mode increased heart rate etc. not a happy teddy bear even thinking about it now.
Norm

 

[tigler]

I know exactly how you feel, the same happens to me at least once a week due to some imbacile or other on the road.
Is it me or are people just not indicating when they turn, exit or change lanes these days ?

 

[Norm]

I know exactly how you feel, the same happens to me at least once a week due to some imbacile or other on the road.
Is it me or are people just not indicating when they turn, exit or change lanes these days ?

Unfortunately the norm these days, seems to me the common courtesy and respect we used to extend to each other is fast diminishing or maybe I'm just getting old............

Norm

 

[chunkolini]

Then again.
I pushbike to work everyday. A twenty mile round trip.
On tiny country lanes.
I lurve it.
I used to dive into the bushes to miss cars coming the other way.
One day I was in the bushes five times in ten minutes.
These days I eyeball the driver of the car approaching me, if he looks like running me off the road I will move into the centre of the road and look him in the eye. If he still wants to kill me I will grudgingly move out of the way. It does give me an option, might seem agressive to the driver. Tough taters. It is very rare for MR/Mrs driver to react to this.
Riding in groups on roads side by side is a dumb ass behaviour for cyclists.

Chunko'.

 

[FranV8]

Sorry Norm, I wasn't having a go at you, I can see how they wound you up. And it's not like you put them at risk, which some drivers do.

On a separate point, I think car drivers today often get confused by cyclists. I.guess less of them have been cyclists, or perhaps there are fewer of us on the road? But the effect seems to be dodgy overtakes, where they underestimate the distance to overtake a cyclist, (especially if you're really shifting!) - but interestingly what normally happens is they give you the cyclist plenty of room (thank you) but put oncoming drivers at risk.

 

[FranV8]

PS - Cycling weekend for me at Bristol Bikefest!

 

[KemppiFrog]

If you do run them off the road, don't get caught on video, like that bus driver

Here it is a national sport, most days I find a peloton or two on the side roads. Often there is a car behind 'supporting' them. Legally you must give them two mtrs of space, but even that is not enough for three abreast. No point in getting annoyed. Stress shortens life, 20 irate cyclists even more so.

 

[Norm]

One day I was in the bushes five times in ten minutes.

Chunko'.

Ooo errr! Nice one Chunko, you have a great way with words, that's cheered me up. Your commute sounds like that old film death race you need to video it. Would make great viewing.
Regards Norm

 

[Norm]

Sorry Norm, I wasn't having a go at you,.

No apologies needed Fran, didn't for one minute think you were having a go sorry if it came across that way

 

[pedrobedro]

I ride a road going hybrid and notice round here a lot of cyclists don't even bother troubling the cars, they ride on the pavement even though it's not marked for them. This is not children either but adults who should know better, the roads here are not that busy. My worst incident was riding past a bus at a bus stop and he just pulled away as I was almost level with the cab, he got an earful as I hammered on the side of the bus. I can understand dedicated cyclists taking up more road than you think they should as it makes you treat them as a vehicle, times many I've been squeezed into the kerb on some of the main roads out of town.

 

[anto]

Cycling seems to be the "in thing" these days.
Lots of cyclists on the road usually 4 abreast on the main roads and in large groups.
I imagine that even 2 cyclists will ride abreast so that cars wont try to squeeze by like you would with 1 cyclists. Thats one theory on why they do it although my other theory is that some are just ignorant fckers.
Either way it is extremely frustrating for the motorist.

5th gear, 20mph in a 306 diesel, foot to the floor and James Bond smokes screen helps to take some of the edge off the road rage lol

 

[droopsnoot]

I used to cycle for exercise, and had to change my route because of motorists cutting me up on a roundabout to a point where I could hardly control the bike properly with one hand while making rude gestures to them with the other. I've recently started cycling to the workshop when it's dry enough, but the biggest problem I have now is the state of the roads - I don't like the potholes when I'm in the car and have suspension, but on a bike they're much worse.

When I used to go to work every day there was a guy on a tricycle who would always seem to be going home at the same time as me, and it was very difficult to get past him due to the extra width. Annoying, but nothing you can do about it, just be patient and get past when you can.

Yesterday I followed behind a bike which had a car behind it. Through the narrow twisty lanes we went at bike speed (why do they always freewheel when there's a queue behind them?), until the road straightened out and the woman in front overtook the cyclist. Even though there was a car coming towards her and she had to swerve back in a bit sharpish. We'd waited all that time, another few yards would have made no difference, but it looks like she ran out of patience.