Road sense.

[Recycler]

Having returned to slightly serious cycling after a gap of more than 40 years I've got a bit of catching up to do and, as a newbie here, I've got a few questions to ask.............

Most of the rides I go on involve at least some distance on a fairly fast but narrow "A" road. Most of the time it is OK but when approaching some bends I feel more than a little vulnerable to car drivers who are racing along and just want to get passed me. On more than one occasion I have nearly been knocked of when they decide to overtake on a blind bend, only to run out of space when another car comes from the opposite direction. On another occasion a car was about to overtake and ended up skidding towards me when he realised that he couldn't get passed and slammed on his anchors.

I've done all the obvious things like getting a decent rear light, but the problem is not that they don't see me; rather it's that they are simply prepared to risk it (i.e me!) for the sake of a few seconds on their journey time.

I was always taught to tuck myself into the side of the road to avoid problems but I'm beginning to think that, when approaching these bends, I would be better sticking myself in the middle of "my" side of the road and thus forcing drivers in following cars to slow down.

What do the experts do these days?

 

[sheddy]

Can you find another (slower to motors) route ?

 

[tsddave]

Better safe than sorry. Dismount on these bad bends and use your ears to tell you when its safe to walk at the edge....its not as much fun but it keeps you alive another day ^

 

[Recycler]

Can you find another (slower to motors) route ?

Sadly, no. There is no option but to go along this stretch of road if I want to get anywhere.

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

Having returned to slightly serious cycling after a gap of more than 40 years I've got a bit of catching up to do and, as a newbie here, I've got a few questions to ask.............

Most of the rides I go on involve at least some distance on a fairly fast but narrow "A" road. Most of the time it is OK but when approaching some bends I feel more than a little vulnerable to car drivers who are racing along and just want to get passed me. On more than one occasion I have nearly been knocked of when they decide to overtake on a blind bend, only to run out of space when another car comes from the opposite direction. On another occasion a car was about to overtake and ended up skidding towards me when he realised that he couldn't get passed and slammed on his anchors.

I've done all the obvious things like getting a decent rear light, but the problem is not that they don't see me; rather it's that they are simply prepared to risk it (i.e me!) for the sake of a few seconds on their journey time.

I was always taught to tuck myself into the side of the road to avoid problems but I'm beginning to think that, when approaching these bends, I would be better sticking myself in the middle of "my" side of the road and thus forcing drivers in following cars to slow down.

What do the experts do these days?

a glib short answer to a serious question, but it's not easy to give a good short answer. The best I can suggest is this http://www.cyclecraft.co.

 

[CopperCyclist]

I wouldn't be riding primary on a road where the speed limit is NSL (you don't specify but I presume), but I'd drift out slightly towards the bend. If its a left bend this assists drivers in both direction to see you, but be aware if its a very sharp right bend it can have the opposite effect.

By drifting out just a little I'd hope to make the following car realise there is room to overake, but 1) they'd be more cautious as they would have less room (they actually would have the same amount of room as they need the other lane clear, but if you're further out their brain interprets this as having less) and 2) If their overtake does go wrong I've now got further to my left to 'retreat'.

And always remember to look over your shoulder at them as they approach and make eye contact. It'll give you a good instinctive idea of what they will do, it may cause them to be more cautious thinking you are about to move out, and if ou actually get eye contact it'll remind them you are a human being.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

Agreed. Being too close to the side of the road is a rooky mistake. Unfortunately, a lot of car drivers having not ridden a bike since they were kids do not have the experience to know this, and will beep their horn impatiently to tell you to get closer to the side. By being a little further out, you make yourself more visible, and you also don't go down the pot holes that are so frequent closer to the side. When you go round a sharp corner, get further out towards the middle. And, I personally always wear very visible clothes. This is the top I usually wear. If nothing else, it makes me feel safer. To protect yourself from cars coming the other way, if the bend is very sharp, you could give a hoot with one of these. Believe me it's loud - saved my skin a couple of times in Greece this year.

 

[fimm]

+1 to Cyclecraft and to what CopperCyclist says, especially the bit about looking back frequently and giving following drivers a Hard Stare... I've read a theory somewhere that it helps a motorist to see you more as a person and less as "just a cyclist" if they see your face. Being a bit further out makes you look bigger, therefore more of a hazard. I've also seen suggestions that deliberately wobbling a bit has a similar effect.

 

[Recycler]

Thanks for that everyone. Really helpful.

I've ordered a copy of "Cyclecraft" and I quite fancy one of those air horns.

It does look as if I am going to have to rethink some of what I do on the road. I'm all for defensive driving whenever I'm on the road. However, I am beginning to think that there are times when the best form of defense is attack!

 

[rowan 46]

Thanks for that everyone. Really helpful.

I've ordered a copy of "Cyclecraft" and I quite fancy one of those air horns.

It does look as if I am going to have to rethink some of what I do on the road. I'm all for defensive driving whenever I'm on the road. However, I am beginning to think that there are times when the best form of defense is attack!

It's not attacking anyone. It's being assertive, recognising that you have as much right to a safe journey as any other road user. In the long run it makes almost everybody happy, you stay safe and those 99.9% of drivers who don't want to hurt anyone get a guilt free sleep because they haven't hurt you. They might beep their horns but they would be much more upset to hit you.

 

[byegad]

If it's safe to do so then riding in primary, that is where the centre or even right wheel of a car would be for those corners is a good move. BUT... Don't do this if there's any chance of being hit before you are out there. It is sometimes safer to ride a different route! However don't be intimidated into the edge of the road by drivers passing too close as this only encourage a bad driver to pass... too close.
I suppose what I'm saying is it's sometimes a fine line between being assertive and taking the lane and being foolhardy.