Is this how cyclists treat considerate drivers these days?
Discussion
So, driving home last night (6 ish, so still light) and I come up behind two cyclists on racing bikes on a wide country road. I know the road quite well, and it has hedges on each side so line of sight through the bends is poor for drivers. There was a corner coming up, so rather than over take the cyclists on the bend I decided to wait till we got round it.
I waited a good 20 meters behind the cyclists, did not rev/hoot/encroach in any way.
Obviously the cyclists reach the bend first and go round the first part of it - this gives them line of sight for the rest of the bend and the straight beyond. They both begin to signal me to overtake them - clear signals, nothing wishy washy. So I pull over onto the other side of the road and start the overtake, only to be immediately confronted by a car coming towards me. I only just avoid the accident..... Looking in my mirror I can see both cyclists pissing themselves with laughter and high fiveing each other.
Clearly they had hoped to cause a head on collision. I was dumbstruck!
Is this the new modus operandi for cyclists? In 30 odd years of driving I have never come across this before.
I waited a good 20 meters behind the cyclists, did not rev/hoot/encroach in any way.
Obviously the cyclists reach the bend first and go round the first part of it - this gives them line of sight for the rest of the bend and the straight beyond. They both begin to signal me to overtake them - clear signals, nothing wishy washy. So I pull over onto the other side of the road and start the overtake, only to be immediately confronted by a car coming towards me. I only just avoid the accident..... Looking in my mirror I can see both cyclists pissing themselves with laughter and high fiveing each other.
Clearly they had hoped to cause a head on collision. I was dumbstruck!
Is this the new modus operandi for cyclists? In 30 odd years of driving I have never come across this before.
Edited by andymadmak on Thursday 25th September 10:30
andymadmak said:
So, driving home last night (6 ish, so still light) and I come up behind two cyclists on racing bikes on a wide country road. I know the road quite well, and it has hedges on each side so line of sight through the bends is poor for drivers. There was a corner coming up, so rather than over take the cyclists on the bend I decided to wait till we got round it.
I waited a good 20 meters behind the cyclists, did not rev/hoot/encroach in any way.
Obviously the cyclists reach the bend first and go round the first part of it - this gives them line of sight for the rest of the bend and the straight beyond. They both begin to signal me to overtake them - clear signals, nothing wishy washy. So I pull over onto the other side of the road and start the overtake, only to be immediately confronted by a car coming towards me. I only just avoid the accident..... Looking in my mirror I can see both cyclists pissing themselves with laughter and high fiveing each other.
Clearly they had hoped to cause a head on collision. I was dumbstruck!
Is this the new modus operandi for cyclists? In 30 odd years of driving I have never come across this before.
There are knobs on all forms of transport. The fact that it's only happened to you once in 30 years of driving suggests it's not how cyclists treat drivers. I waited a good 20 meters behind the cyclists, did not rev/hoot/encroach in any way.
Obviously the cyclists reach the bend first and go round the first part of it - this gives them line of sight for the rest of the bend and the straight beyond. They both begin to signal me to overtake them - clear signals, nothing wishy washy. So I pull over onto the other side of the road and start the overtake, only to be immediately confronted by a car coming towards me. I only just avoid the accident..... Looking in my mirror I can see both cyclists pissing themselves with laughter and high fiveing each other.
Clearly they had hoped to cause a head on collision. I was dumbstruck!
Is this the new modus operandi for cyclists? In 30 odd years of driving I have never come across this before.
Edited by andymadmak on Thursday 25th September 10:30
You just met a couple of odd nutters, dont judge all cyclists that way
You get complete pricks on whatever form of transport they choose
It is odd behaviour, as lots of cars would "turn in" on cyclists to avoid a head on, thereby injuring the cyclists!
I always try and say thanks when a driver holds back or is considerate
You get complete pricks on whatever form of transport they choose
It is odd behaviour, as lots of cars would "turn in" on cyclists to avoid a head on, thereby injuring the cyclists!
I always try and say thanks when a driver holds back or is considerate
t
ttish thing for the cyclists to do.
Although you probably shouldn't have overtaken on a blind (from your point of view) bend, regardless of being waved through or not. It's like people that drive across junctions/cross the road if someone flashes them out, oblivious of what's coming the other way. Never rely on anyone else, wait until you can see what's there before committing.
ttish thing for the cyclists to do.Although you probably shouldn't have overtaken on a blind (from your point of view) bend, regardless of being waved through or not. It's like people that drive across junctions/cross the road if someone flashes them out, oblivious of what's coming the other way. Never rely on anyone else, wait until you can see what's there before committing.
lufbramatt said:
tttish thing for the cyclists to do.
Although it's the same as people that drive across junctions/cross the road if someone flashes them out, oblivious of what's coming the other way. Never rely on anyone else, wait until you can see what's there before committing.
That is good advice. Indeed, normally I would follow this line of thinking. I was caught out by the cyclists. What shocked me most was their reaction. I mean, if it had been a mistake then fair enough, but laughing and high 5s? That suggests deliberate intent. ttish thing for the cyclists to do.Although it's the same as people that drive across junctions/cross the road if someone flashes them out, oblivious of what's coming the other way. Never rely on anyone else, wait until you can see what's there before committing.
Anyhoo, the purpose of the original post was not to paint all cyclists in this way - that would clearly be nonsense, I just wondered if there was some sort of new "underground style" type behaviour going round the nutter elements of the cycling community - you know a sort of cyclist version of the Knockout Game?
That was bang out of order, they could have caused a serious collision.
I would have stopped and told them what I thought of them.
I would say though that it's extremely unusual behaviour, so please don't judge all cyclists, the majority of whom are well behaved, by the actions of these two wkers.
I would have stopped and told them what I thought of them.
I would say though that it's extremely unusual behaviour, so please don't judge all cyclists, the majority of whom are well behaved, by the actions of these two w
kers.anonymous said:
[redacted]
well, they were in lycra.. 
Does my use of the term "racing bikes" mark me out as a bit old fashioned. I am hearing that NTNON sketch in my head now......"Gramophone? " http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSINO6MKtco
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yep absolutely sure about the laughing and the high 5s. The intent was pretty clear in my mind. I was foolish to make the overtake, that is for sure. I won't be making that mistake again, no matter who waves me through! Here's an example of a tt driver btw.
Residential crossroads. Me and 10yo son waiting to cross a busier road. Van driver coming down that road stops, flashes and waves us across. I wave back 'no thanks carry on', there's a car coming the other way too and I can't now see around this stopped Van.
We sit it out til he moves on, he then BLASTS his horn loudly as he passes us. Mental!
t driver btw.Residential crossroads. Me and 10yo son waiting to cross a busier road. Van driver coming down that road stops, flashes and waves us across. I wave back 'no thanks carry on', there's a car coming the other way too and I can't now see around this stopped Van.
We sit it out til he moves on, he then BLASTS his horn loudly as he passes us. Mental!
With some minor sleuthing via strava (providing they are uploading ride data of course), you could probably find out who they are.... not that I would condone it but their actions put the rest of us in danger from the angry driver out for revenge types....
I wave cars through if its clear and there is a good view of the road ahead, normally get a positive reception.
I wave cars through if its clear and there is a good view of the road ahead, normally get a positive reception.
richardxjr said:
No this is how tt cyclists treat considerate drivers. There are also tt drivers and considerate cyclists.
Personally I now Never wave a car through. Not my call.
This. I go when i know, KNOW, mind, not suspect, that the road IS clear. Anyone doesn't like it they can 100% ft cyclists treat considerate drivers. There are also tt drivers and considerate cyclists.Personally I now Never wave a car through. Not my call.
k themselves.I will wave a driver through if I can see far enough ahead to allow a safe overtake. It's up to them to go or not. I do also wave in acknowledgement of a considerate overtake, holding back or plenty room etc. I always try to be considerate when passing cyclists too, I hate it when the car kicks down a gear when I pass them, I hope they don't think 'knob' but I can't please everyone.
mikecassie said:
I will wave a driver through if I can see far enough ahead to allow a safe overtake. It's up to them to go or not. I do also wave in acknowledgement of a considerate overtake, holding back or plenty room etc. I always try to be considerate when passing cyclists too, I hate it when the car kicks down a gear when I pass them, I hope they don't think 'knob' but I can't please everyone.
I also try and wave cars through, if they're good/considerate enough to hang back, I think it is the least I can do. Quite often get a friendly toot of thanks or the quick flash of the hazard lights too, but this has got me thinking about not doing it. I don't want to be tarred with that brush!Daveyraveygravey said:
mikecassie said:
I will wave a driver through if I can see far enough ahead to allow a safe overtake. It's up to them to go or not. I do also wave in acknowledgement of a considerate overtake, holding back or plenty room etc. I always try to be considerate when passing cyclists too, I hate it when the car kicks down a gear when I pass them, I hope they don't think 'knob' but I can't please everyone.
I also try and wave cars through, if they're good/considerate enough to hang back, I think it is the least I can do. Quite often get a friendly toot of thanks or the quick flash of the hazard lights too, but this has got me thinking about not doing it. I don't want to be tarred with that brush!oyster said:
Oh come on. Every single day I ride a bike into work I can guarantee at least 10 occasions when cars are pathetically slow to accelerate away from lights and hold me up. Are they idiots too?
If so, it just proves there's idiots all over the place.
I like filtering to the front of the queue then (where there is no ASL) carry on past the stop line by about 5 metres or so. At this point you can almost feel the driver at the front of the queue start to fill with rage as they think you are jumping the red light.... then I stop. As the lights go green its just enough time to clip in and then the driver isnt inconvenienced. Maybe I am too nice?If so, it just proves there's idiots all over the place.
I never respond to people waving me through, I wait until I'm happy to overtake.
I learnt a good lesson a few years ago. My cousin was passing a car crash with the police in attendance policewoman waved him through the junction only for him to bump an oncoming car at a slow speed, straight away the policewoman mentioned it was his fault as you still need to check the route is clear.
I learnt a good lesson a few years ago. My cousin was passing a car crash with the police in attendance policewoman waved him through the junction only for him to bump an oncoming car at a slow speed, straight away the policewoman mentioned it was his fault as you still need to check the route is clear.
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