Feels weird but oddly safe...

[downfader]

Past couple of days I've not been riding to work, but have been ferrying stuff about on the bike. Helmet was a faff so left at home, and had to be in normal clothes so I rode "Danish", if you get me.

I have to say I have noticed several things.

1. no wind noise in my ears, I could hear cars approaching a hell of a lot better.

2. It feels as if drivers went much further around me. There was a lot more consideration around junctions and when passing.

Havent ridden like that in a long while, it felt remarkably liberating and even safe.

 

[MontyVeda]

Yup... I think drivers perceive a cyclist in civvies and a cyclist in cycling gear as two different things. The latter being presumed more competent than the former.

 

[jayonabike]

When I cycle to work I'm wearing my Royal mail uniform, and drivers are very considerate. I'm not sure if it's because the public are used to seeing posties on bikes or the fact I'm not in lycra. There is one driver I see every morning on my way home, no idea who he is, but he always gives a cheery wave.

 

[downfader]

Yup... I think drivers perceive a cyclist in civvies and a cyclist in cycling gear as two different things. The latter being presumed more competent than the former.

I know there are studies that suggest this, however I have wondered how much the risk aversion crap has been influencing me in recent years. I know that some psychologists suggest the brain can be trained to recognise certain things faster and form a kind of "muscle memory", I have wondered if hiviz and helmets leads to similar behavioural practice whereby they stop assessing the risks properly?

(Sorry not intending this to be a helmet thread, just rambling on tbh)

 

[Moodyman]

I just wobble side to side occasionally so that they think a newby and give wide berth.

 

[BSRU]

Yup... I think drivers perceive a cyclist in civvies and a cyclist in cycling gear as two different things. The latter being presumed more competent than the former.

I cycle to work in the morning and home in the afternoon in Lycra but I also cycle home at lunch time in normal clothes but I see no difference.

 

[Adasta]

I find that traffic is generally more receptive to my attempts to "control" taffic when I'm wearing lycra. When I'm in normal clothes, I'm just another "hipster" to them, I suppose.

 

[Banjo]

I just wobble side to side occasionally so that they think a newby and give wide berth.

Thats one of my tactics. On quiet but fast A roads etc when I see a car a good way behind a little wobble out into the road then back again definitely assures you get a wide berth.

 

[downfader]

Thats one of my tactics. On quiet but fast A roads etc when I see a car a good way behind a little wobble out into the road then back again definitely assures you get a wide berth.

One of my tactics is to turn around and give "puppy dog eyes", LOL! No idea if it works.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Yup... I think drivers perceive a cyclist in civvies and a cyclist in cycling gear as two different things. The latter being presumed more competent than the former.

I must be confusing the hell out of the drivers around me, I ride in civvies, but I normally wear a long sleeved cycle jacket as well.

 

[ManiaMuse]

I just wobble side to side occasionally so that they think a newby and give wide berth.

Strangely enough this works quite well for me as well. Especially coming up to pinch points, I'll often hear a revving engine back off once I stop maintaining a straight line and give the air of being a bit incompetent.

 

[MacB]

I wonder if envy is a factor? :-

lycra clad, svelt, speedy and looking the part - they hate you for being something they'd like to be, ie fit, athletic and with an interest

any old clobber, fat, sweaty and looking in pain - they don't exactly love you, but they pity you which is great for their egos and they can comfortably indulge in that favoured pastime of, 'thank god that's not me'.

 

[cyco2]

I'm always a bit worried if some nutter comes along and behaves inconsiderately. Most of my rides contain at least one. I'm annoyed and grateful when the incident passes without problems. I sometimes do the wobbly thing but not sure it works though because I've not seen it whilst driving.

 

[Norm]

I'm riding lidless more frequently, resulting in a long chat with Small #1 about it this morning, as we were out riding together, and a chat with Mummy Norm yesterday afternoon.

Unfortunately, incidents like this, where Daniel Pace appears to have lost his life to a head injury in a single-vehicle accident, even though he was reported as wearing a helmet, do have a bearing on the discussions beyond the effect that they should have. IMO.

 

[gavroche]

As I said in another thread, I dont wear a helmet. For some time now, I have been considering joining my local club for rides. I finally decided last night to give them a ring to find out about it.
One of the rules they insist on is that wearing a helmet is compulsory to join in any rides. So thats me out as I resent being told to do something which is not a legal requirement.
On the other hand, I have found a couple of members who have agreed to let me go with them, without a helmet, outside the club's normal activities.