Sucked under

[captainhastings]

How big is the danger of being sucked under by big lorries especially on dual carrageways.
Right out my door I have a stretch of 7 miles to my nearest town its nice and flat with only a few gentle climbs so ideal for a quick crusie there and back. Also once I can do the miles its an ideal town to then branch off for some nice rides along the towy valley etc.
Had a bit of a fright tonight most of the lorries move out a few feet even if they are being over taken but the one tonight didnt first I new of it was the feeling of warm air as he passed only what felt like inches away. I felt the pull of the air but I was ready to just vear off in the hedge if needed but it got me thinking.
If I go the other direction I just have bendy as hell a roads with no room for lorries to get by with out doing a full over take. I suspect I just need to get used to traffic in general maybe

 

[Arch]

I don't know whether you would be 'sucked under' - but the draught can certainly be very alarming, and a slight wobble caused by alarm could send you under a close enough lorry. I'd also be worried about loose straps dangling off the lorry catching you - or loose straps on amy clothing or bag you might be wearing...

How far out do you ride? It can seem counterintuitive, but riding further out can make following traffic give you a wider berth. Have you read a book called 'Cyclecraft'? It explains the various road positions to take, and how to use position to make it as safe as possible for you.

http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk/

Riding futher out has a dual benefit - it makes you more visible to following traffic so that it's more likely to give you space, and it gives you a wider space to dive into if someone does come close. A lot of the discussion of positions tends to focus on urban situations, but you can use it on rural roads too.

Of course that bendy road where traffic is forced to overtake properly might be an option, depending on your speed. But there's always the odd idiot who'll chance an overtake on a blind bend anyway.

 

[skudupnorth]

When i rode down to Cornwall i found no problem of being sucked under during the boring bits along the A49/38/39.The only problem was the force of the draft but you could hear the traffic coming so you prepared yourself for the onslaught !

 

[captainhastings]

Thanks chaps I couldnt see how you would actually be sucked under not like there a big hoover under them but people keep saying watch you dont get sucked in. I ride down the edge of the line on the dual carrageway on the traffic side I have tried riding along the the other side of it but its full of bits of metal and all sorts plus as you say people then make no effort to move out. I will check out that book too

 

[Davidc]

This'll get some disagreements - I always find that having a bright flashing red light on the back in daytime helps keep lorries and other professional drivers out a bit.

What Arch says is spot on too. Read Cyclecraft and apply the advice on positioning, it works well.

 

[photography27]

where in swansea are you? i dont do the dual carriage ways, i could do, it would be easier for me to get towotk and back, but i like and prefer the side roads

 

[captainhastings]

where in swansea are you? i dont do the dual carriage ways, i could do, it would be easier for me to get towotk and back, but i like and prefer the side roads

Hi I am in St Clears and I nip upto Carmarthen and back on the dual carrageway
Just been looking on the the map and llandeilo along the a40 then back up the other side of the river looks a great spin but that would 50 miles or there abouts bit far at the moment but it wont be long

 

[HJ]

This'll get some disagreements - I always find that having a bright flashing red light on the back in daytime helps keep lorries and other professional drivers out a bit.

What Arch says is spot on too. Read Cyclecraft and apply the advice on positioning, it works well.

Disagreement?? No, I agree bright flashing red light on the back in daytime helps keep most traffic a bit further away. Also I would thoroughly recommend reading Cyclecraft.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

i once road a dual carriage way near me, the A56. it was dreadful, i will never ride that road again. the traffic gets awfully close because i just don't think the drivers expect a nutty cyclist, to be riding there. it was really really busy and really really noisy. riding across the exit slips also made me nervous, it's a hilly road and i was going slow across a large piece of 'open ground'. i always expected a car to knock me off from behind or to start skidding when they did eventually see me.

so i suppose it depends how busy it is. like others have said, i don't think your chances of being knocked off on main trunk roads increases. just the enjoyment decreases.

 

[srw]

I consider myself a fairly experienced, confident cyclist. I would never ride on a busy trunk dual carriageway. It's just not worth it - the experience is too unpleasant. I don't do hills, but in your situation I would.

 

[zacklaws]

The effect I find on my riding when a big "Wuffer" goes past at speed a bit close, is that it initially pushes you into the kerb with its shockwave and then just as it passes it pulls you back out into the road. The real danger is when your recovering from being pushed into the kerb you suddenly find yourself moving back out into the road a bit faster than you planned on as the lorry passes, but if you anticipate it, then you can be prepared and turn gently back into the kerb as the lorry passes and hopefully keep a straight line.

 

[captainhastings]

Much better ride tonight moved a good foot or two from the line with my flashing red light on the rear and the lorries gave me a wide birth.
Saw another chap on bike coming up the other side I braced my self to take a hand off the bars to give him a wave but he didnt bother to busy concentrating I guess

 

[Norm]

Saw another chap on bike coming up the other side I braced my self to take a hand off the bars to give him a wave but he didnt bother to busy concentrating I guess

Maybe, he was thinking the same thing. Why didn't you wave first?

 

[captainhastings]

Maybe, he was thinking the same thing. Why didn't you wave first?

He didnt look across so i assumed he was in the zone

 

[Arch]

Ah good, glad to hear you're getting on better.

As I understand it, the idea is that a driver will tend to give you as much room as they perceive you taking up - so the wider you make youself (by being further out - up to a point of course) the more room you get.

And don't worry about whether other cyclists wave. Some do, some don't, sometimes it depends on the situation - if I waved at everyone in town, I'd be carted off to the loony bin, whereas out of town I tend to give a nod, but I'm not bothered about being acknowledged. As you say, he may have been 'in the zone'.

If you're bracing yourself to take one hand off, it might be worth doing some practice. Find a quiet residential area, and ride round, indicating. You may find that you can balance better if you sit up a little, or hold your arm at a certain angle. As ever, practice makes perfect...