Sucked under

[captainhastings]

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...

Cheers for the tips arch I am also practicing looking over my shoulder on the quiet roads where it seems a piece of cake. Try it on the busy roads and I wobble every where like you say its all practice that is needed.
Going for my first 20 miler at the weekend at nice gentle pace. Looking forward to it

 

[G81]

I've been having this discussion with Mr.G81 because I took my 9.y.o on a 60mph A road (not dual carriage way but single lane), I road behind her and slightly wider to "protect" her, we wear hi-vis even my child seat on the back of my bike has a hi-vis jacket on, yet he said I shouldnt have taken her there at all because of the lorries pulling her under.
She didnt care, infact that road didnt come up as being a difficult part of the trip and she didnt feel scared.
Was I wrong to take her on it?
There were no paths and in any case I want to install as much road sense as I can into her, I'm not keen on seeing her on paths (unless I'm walking behind to the park or similar)

(sorry for the hi-jacking of your thread)

 

[SavageHoutkop]

I've been having this discussion with Mr.G81 because I took my 9.y.o on a 60mph A road (not dual carriage way but single lane), I road behind her and slightly wider to "protect" her, we wear hi-vis even my child seat on the back of my bike has a hi-vis jacket on, yet he said I shouldnt have taken her there at all because of the lorries pulling her under.
She didnt care, infact that road didnt come up as being a difficult part of the trip and she didnt feel scared.
Was I wrong to take her on it?

I think it depends a lot on the road itself and the type of drivers on it (which varies greatly). If you both felt safe then I'd say it's a 'calmer' A road than some on this thread have been discussing!

One thing I would be worried about if you are behind and wider is to make sure that she is very visible from behind as well - maybe make sure you are wide enough so anyone coming up behind can see you both, and perhaps give her a rear flashing light? Only because sometimes drivers do cut in sooner than is ideal (for one cyclist) and if they do that to you and haven't seen her....

 

[Ticktockmy]

The various topics’s relating to the cyclist and big Wuffers as someone called large and long vehicles, before I retired I used to drive such things, as a few others no doubt that use this chat room. I have to say as a cyclist and a driver of a big Wuffer , I was always happiest to see cyclist cycling at least 18 inches or so from the kerb or road edge, the reason being:

Firstly I would be lest likely to try and squeeze past, and they were more in my main line of vision, rather on the edge, secondly the road surface further out from the kerb or road edge is less liable to have potholes and rubbish to cause the ride to swerve, also if the rider is out from the kerb or road edge he or she at least has some room to manoeuvre without hitting the Kerb.

Riders who get too near to the kerb edge do themselves no favours for as happened one day to me, the guy was cycling with his wheels about 9 inches from the kerb, I could see what was going to happen and sure enough he looked back at me over his shoulder, moved towards the kerb and caught his peddle on the kerb and over he went, straight down in front of me. But lucky I had anticipated his downfall and had slowed waiting for it to happen; lucky for him he was not hurt.

As to being sucked under a heavy good vehicle, that chance is always going to there, if you and the lorry are in the wrong situation, then it could happen, but it is a rarity, again I found with a long vehicle, that rainy days where the worst on busy main roads, as having overtaking a cyclist the rain and spray would reduce visibility, and often I would lose sight of the cyclist, and it would then be hard to know whereabouts he or she was in relationship to my trailer which was a nightmare, as often I was needing to get back across onto the correct side of the road because of approaching traffic.

So for those who find long and large vehicles intimidating, be bold, be brave, don’t be hesitant, be clear in your signals, ride in a position which is safe for you, and the driver, do not be worried about or intimidated by the sound of the vehicles brake’s venting, that how they work, at least you know the driver is using his brakes and not going to run you over. Remember by far most Heavy good drivers are highly professional, and will be anticipating your every move.

 

[doog]

I commute down one of the busiest roads in Dorset. I kind of get a perverted sense of satisfaction when an HGV passes at speed. The first sensation is that of hitting a wall of air as it goes by, this is quickly followed by a very warm envelope of air that pulls you along.. (nice in winter) this air has no resistance so gives you the impression of being pulled along for a few seconds..strange feeling.

Foreign lorry drivers I find to be appalling at giving me room, although being left hand drive I guess they think they are in a better position to judge distance...or they just dont care

 

[Will1985]

DC time trialling is all about using the lorries for a bit of assisted speed! It feels scary at times, especially with arms on the tribars rather than covering the brakes. As long as you aren't close to the kerb and have a working flashing light, you should be pretty safe from all but the worst drivers.

In a commute/non-competitive situation, you are also more upright so there is more chance of being seen.

 

[captainhastings]

Well I was running up the edge of the same road today against the traffic when a car with a trailer in the fast lane had a wheel barrow of all things fly out the back across the front of a car in the slow lane just missing it then bounce down the road to land infront of me. I just picked it up and threw it in the hedge and carried on. If I hadnt of got a paint brush out the shed before I left I would have had to hurdle it
I could see the head lines now runner run over by wheel barrow wouldnt say much for my turn of speed would it.
Just goes to show what flukey accidents are out there waiting to happen