Tales from today's commute....

[Pauluk]

Two close encounters today, both when I was signalling to turn right. Riding down the road about 15 to 20mph and need to turn right. Two cars close behind so I wait for them to pass then with a clear gap I signal and move to the middle of the road. After a few seconds I hear the sound of a revving engine behind and white van man over takes me on the right hand side (I'm in the middle of the road with my arm out with orange hi viz jacket, he's now level with me but on the right hand side). On coming cars blare their horn at him and everyone brakes, including white van man luckily. With all cars and van now stationary I make my turn and give him the look as I pass across the front of his stationary vehicle.

Then bugger me he takes the same right turn after me. I moved down the side street and waited for him, thinking he wanted to say something but alas he made another turn and was gone.

Second one was coming home. Signaled to turn right on approach to a mini roundabout, moved into the middle of the road. As I was nearly at the roundabout 4X4 woman drives on the right hand side of the road, enters the island from this position then turns/cuts left. I must admit she missed me by quite a few feet.

I'm beginning to wonder if there is something wrong with my right turn technique, but its hard to see what else I could be doing. Its not like I'm moving quickly at the last minute, not looking for a gap behind or not signalling so I'm not sure what else to do.

I usually make my maneuver about 50 yards from the turn and I get to the middle of the road progressively but reasonably quickly.

Any ideas what I could be doing wrong?

 

[ianrauk]

Get rid of the hi-viz.. it's urban camouflage.

And seeing as it doth offend the eye... he probs tried to hurt you because of it.

 

[Liamjc90]

yes, mycyclinglog.

Great idea, never thought of using it for that but i will now.

 

[mangid]

Nice commute back to Cambridge from Coventry. Once the sun rose above the horizon it was sunny and I had a nice little tail wind. Even managed to get flashed by a BMW and a Range Rover, but they were hazard warning lights on/off thanking me (I like to think) for me acknowledging their nice behaviour in waiting for the appropriate spot to pass (not at a pinch point, or on a narrow bridge going over a canal).

 

[Maz]

Mate in car overtakes me on way to work. Winds his window down and says "Get a bloody move on!". I catch up with him at the roadworks. As I filter past him it's my turn to say "Get a bloody move on!"

 

[ianrauk]

Nice commute back to Cambridge from Coventry. Once the sun rose above the horizon it was sunny and I had a nice little tail wind. Even managed to get flashed by a BMW and a Range Rover, but they were hazard warning lights on/off thanking me (I like to think) for me acknowledging their nice behaviour in waiting for the appropriate spot to pass (not at a pinch point, or on a narrow bridge going over a canal).

What was the distance Dan? Hold on.. will go look

EDIT: 87 miles.... nice one..

 

[Maz]

Nice commute back to Cambridge from Coventry. Once the sun rose above the horizon it was sunny and I had a nice little tail wind. Even managed to get flashed by a BMW and a Range Rover, but they were hazard warning lights on/off thanking me (I like to think) for me acknowledging their nice behaviour in waiting for the appropriate spot to pass (not at a pinch point, or on a narrow bridge going over a canal).

That's a fair distance. How often do you cycle that?

 

[Nocode]

Get rid of the hi-viz.. it's urban camouflage.

And seeing as it doth offend the eye... he probs tried to hurt you because of it.

Really? What's wrong with wearing hi-viz stuff?

I tend to try and wear a bright coloured running top if I can, or one of those hump bag covers if it's a little dark. I'm convinced the bright top has got some drivers just about to pull out of a junction to notice me even though I was already in either the primary or secondary riding position.

 

[ianrauk]

Really? What's wrong with wearing hi-viz stuff?

I tend to try and wear a bright coloured running top if I can, or one of those hump bag covers if it's a little dark. I'm convinced the bright top has got some drivers just about to pull out of a junction to notice me even though I was already in either the primary or secondary riding position.

1: As I said, it's urban camouflage
2: You look like a bag of custard
3: Don't listen to me
4: Wear what you like

 

[mangid]

That's a fair distance. How often do you cycle that?

Normally just do 40 mile loop into work, but had a training course up there so thought I would take the opportunity, some lovely countryside, although it was a tad wet and windy on Monday ;-)

 

[Maz]

Normally just do 40 mile loop into work, but had a training course up there so thought I would take the opportunity, some lovely countryside, although it was a tad wet and windy on Monday ;-)

40 miles is also a fair distance!
I once cycled from Leicester to Cambridge. I really enjoyed going through all the villages. Came into Cambridge from the West side..Bourn - Toft - Barton - Comberton etc

 

[Spartak]

Lots of traffic this evening, notably blind bus driver, female car driver on mobile phone and an annoying headwind !
But still much better than driving, sorry crawling along at 10 mph !

 

[Blurb]

Almost left hooked last night. Driver decides last second to cut across from the outside of two lane road. I don't think he even considered\noticed anything was in the inside lane!
This morning. Squeezed /forced to emergency brake by minicab who must have seen me ahead of him before said move. Gave him the "what you doing" hand gesture, nothing rude, and saw him signal an apparently apologetic hand signal to me for almost taking me out. That's alright then! Ignored him as I left him in the traffic.
Hey ho, roll on tomorrow's adventures in CommuterLand :-)

 

[Drago]

Worst ride in a while. First half was great. Light drizzle, wet roads, but full mudguards and I'm appropriately dressed so I was enjoying carving through the heavier than normal traffic.

2nd half included nearly every single car deciding not to dip their lights whether oncoming or coming from behind, and one cro-magnon in a black Corsa with an exhaust like a dustbin steering at me at speed, I believe deliberately, which seriously put the wind up me. Didn't get the reg but I've seen him about our village so I'm planning a nice surprise for him.

Looking forward to the weekend so I can have the roads to myself.

 

[gambatte]

Pleasant ride back, no incidents.
Unless you count the driver of a big Beemer, who decided that as I'd held him up along a 100m section with parked cars, roadworks and a big sign saying "SINGLE FILE TRAFFIC ONLY", he'd show his displeasure by accelerating past at his 1st opportunity with a big wheelspin.
Aah well, more proof of the inverse relationship between size of car and size of........
Anway, 13+ miles with a PB and a 2nd best on the strava segments
Strava