Weather warning for cyclists!

[Ming the Merciless]

What on earth are you on about?

"oncoming" doesn't mean "coming from the front", it means just "approaching you".

Specifically, it describes traffic traveling in the opposite direction on the same road

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I'm saying nothing - fell off my studded tyres, and look where it's got me !

Aww, a big hug to you!

"Coming towards you". Indeed.

That can be from any direction. It does NOT mean only "coming from your front". Anything overtaking you is "oncoming", as is anything coming from the side towards you. It is the coming towards you that defines it, not the direction of travel. If they are behind you maintaining a reasonably fixed distance, then they are not oncoming (though you still should be aware of them and act appropriately), but if they are traveling significantly faster than you, they are.

This post certainly makes me doubt my competence in the English language!
Lucky there was some roadworks today, a big sign saying "give way to oncoming traffic".
Now, one wouldn't give way to an overtaking car, no?
Oncoming (in a road traffic sense) can only mean "coming towards you".
Imo

 

[Alex321]

Aww, a big hug to you!

This post certainly makes me doubt my competence in the English language!
Lucky there was some roadworks today, a big sign saying "give way to oncoming traffic".
Now, one wouldn't give way to an overtaking car, no?
Oncoming (in a road traffic sense) can only mean "coming towards you".
Imo

It seems to be the meaning of "coming towards you" that we are differing on, as I agreed upthread that yes, it does mean that.

But I don't agree that coming towards you means it has to be coming from the front. Anything approaching you, from any direction is coming towards you.

But dictionaries appear to agree with you, and Ming, and Marchrider, so I have to accept I am wrong here.