Considering buying a road bike, do you get much abuse?
Discussion
I ride trail normally. Considering a road bike for exercise on an evening especially during lock down. Bit of a random question but...
Do you get much abuse while out on the road?
Wanting to go out late evening when its quieter and on quieter back roads, and dont want to be too much of a nuisance to road users, personally I understand people want to bike and the only time my piss boils while driving is when theres two of the twunts racing each other erratically at 25mph, otherwise I also think I'd feel guilty for holding up lorries and causing a long line of traffic, how some road bikers think that's ok is beyond me.
Do you get much abuse while out on the road?
Wanting to go out late evening when its quieter and on quieter back roads, and dont want to be too much of a nuisance to road users, personally I understand people want to bike and the only time my piss boils while driving is when theres two of the twunts racing each other erratically at 25mph, otherwise I also think I'd feel guilty for holding up lorries and causing a long line of traffic, how some road bikers think that's ok is beyond me.
I ride on my own 100% of the time on a mix of Highland roads.
Without a doubt there are a few categories of drivers that I have consistent problems with generally.
Those of the older generation who dont seem to be able to judge distances well and tend to pass far too close.
The only abuse I have ever suffered if you ever call it that is from the younger generations though. But generally never had many issues, you get used to idiots passing too close and people hammering past on their "fun" run.
I once got an orange thrown at me by some morons but it missed.
By far the worst thing thats happened to me was by a threesome of sports bike riders funnily enough - you would of thought two wheels might not be like that.
Anyway generally up here its fine and quiter roads with the scenery can be a joy.
Without a doubt there are a few categories of drivers that I have consistent problems with generally.
Those of the older generation who dont seem to be able to judge distances well and tend to pass far too close.
The only abuse I have ever suffered if you ever call it that is from the younger generations though. But generally never had many issues, you get used to idiots passing too close and people hammering past on their "fun" run.
I once got an orange thrown at me by some morons but it missed.
By far the worst thing thats happened to me was by a threesome of sports bike riders funnily enough - you would of thought two wheels might not be like that.
Anyway generally up here its fine and quiter roads with the scenery can be a joy.
I've never had anyone give me abuse out o the road in 40 years of cycling.
Plenty of close passes, people not see me etc..
Main worry today is people on phones not looking where they're going, and the state of the roads.
I swapped to a decent hybrid a few years ago with much stronger wheels.
Plenty of close passes, people not see me etc..
Main worry today is people on phones not looking where they're going, and the state of the roads.
I swapped to a decent hybrid a few years ago with much stronger wheels.
MarcelM6 said:
Depends where you ride - rural home counties is where I ride and seldom get abuse. It's usually in the form of a little hoot or a very close pass. Just ignore and move on.
Cycling in a big city is probably different, but unless it's for commuting wouldn't bother riding there anyway
Cycling in a big city is far better as speed differentials are far lower. Plus there are plenty of traffic lights to calm things down and tons of quiet backroads.Cycling in a big city is probably different, but unless it's for commuting wouldn't bother riding there anyway
I tried cycling in Dorset with some family members and, although the lanes were OK, the brief periods on A roads were pretty terrifying with blunt-fronted wobble boxes passing just a few feet away at 60mph.
Personally I much prefer to be either properly off road or in a City. The middle bit isn't fun.
Per mile, more often than when driving, but you are more vulnerable on a bike, so when it happens it is scarier. I have had some moments where i could see that it was my error and given an apologetic wave and others where you are left completely bewildered at what the supposed transgression was!
t mates behind him.
halo34 said:
By far the worst thing thats happened to me was by a threesome of sports bike riders funnily enough - you would of thought two wheels might not be like that.
Interesting, by far the closest pass I've ever had was from a dick on a sports bike at high speed on an otherwise empty, straight road. Assume he was doing it for GoPro or showing off to his tt mates behind him.I got a bike a couple of years back (I'm 42 now) to ride to work, part semi-rural part large town roads. Most of it with reasonable cycle paths.
It was 11 miles each way. I rode in all weathers for about a year.
I gave it up for the following reasons
- I am the main earner in the household, had too many near miss incidents with people pulling out in front despite wearing high visibility clothing and having very good lights. Couldn't risk being off work for too long for an accident. Would rather exercise some other way in my own time.
- Time is very short for me generally with a lot of things on the go, a 15 minute commute by car or motorcycle vs 40 minutes on bike is a lot of time wasted at home for me right now
- Cars ignore priority signs if you are on a bike. The amount of times I was actually half way across a priority bridge with width only enough for a car and the car would still plough through was incredible. I had to bin the bike once in order to avoid getting crushed.
Other than that I generally enjoyed it. I don't think we are quite there yet in terms of attitude and infrastructure. The militant attitude of other cyclists doesn't help things either in terms of helping positive change but that's another subject.
It was 11 miles each way. I rode in all weathers for about a year.
I gave it up for the following reasons
- I am the main earner in the household, had too many near miss incidents with people pulling out in front despite wearing high visibility clothing and having very good lights. Couldn't risk being off work for too long for an accident. Would rather exercise some other way in my own time.
- Time is very short for me generally with a lot of things on the go, a 15 minute commute by car or motorcycle vs 40 minutes on bike is a lot of time wasted at home for me right now
- Cars ignore priority signs if you are on a bike. The amount of times I was actually half way across a priority bridge with width only enough for a car and the car would still plough through was incredible. I had to bin the bike once in order to avoid getting crushed.
Other than that I generally enjoyed it. I don't think we are quite there yet in terms of attitude and infrastructure. The militant attitude of other cyclists doesn't help things either in terms of helping positive change but that's another subject.
I've generally found other road users to be very courteous, even taxi drivers! Mobile phone zombies and bus drivers are the ones I have to really look out for, and I do appreciate that a lot of cyclists here are new to the country and our roads.
Only received abuse once, from another cyclist.
Only received abuse once, from another cyclist.
I can only remember one incident since I got my road bike in 2014, when a chavvy looking woman in a beaten up old Picasso was desperate to get past me (I was doing 30mph in a 30mph speed limit), she was edging closer and closer to me but didn't have enough room to pass, she did not appreciate me pointing at a 30mph speed limit sign and then tried swerving into me as she overtook. Got a load of abuse from her passenger too.
But on the whole it's all fine. Get the odd person not realising how quick you're moving and pulling out in front of you.
Commuting is a different story though. you tend to get a feel for areas which are ok to road bike around, places off the beaten track a bit.
But on the whole it's all fine. Get the odd person not realising how quick you're moving and pulling out in front of you.
Commuting is a different story though. you tend to get a feel for areas which are ok to road bike around, places off the beaten track a bit.
Trevor555 said:
I've never had anyone give me abuse out o the road in 40 years of cycling.
Plenty of close passes, people not see me etc..
Same where, been road cycling for nearly 2 decades cannot think of a single incident I would count as abuse.Plenty of close passes, people not see me etc..
Am far more worried about cars, pedestrians not seeing me.
lufbramatt said:
I can only remember one incident since I got my road bike in 2014, when a chavvy looking woman in a beaten up old Picasso was desperate to get past me (I was doing 30mph in a 30mph speed limit), she was edging closer and closer to me but didn't have enough room to pass, she did not appreciate me pointing at a 30mph speed limit sign and then tried swerving into me as she overtook. Got a load of abuse from her passenger too.
That was Mrs Pickering. Ronnie was instructing her from the passenger seat 
pp
hyperblue said:
Interesting, by far the closest pass I've ever had was from a dick on a sports bike at high speed on an otherwise empty, straight road. Assume he was doing it for GoPro or showing off to his tt mates behind him.
Yup - I am a petrol head and respect peoples need to have fun. But when you cycle past 3 parked up bikes chatting to each other during lockdown you dont expect what happens next. t mates behind him.First 2 go past me 5 minutes later pinging me all over with stones in middle of road...fine. Last one passed me about 1 foot away on full chat with open cans. I couldnt hear in my right ear for a good while and had to stop and chill out for a while.
I was so angy had I any recording device would of happily reported them - thats something I would never do. Just disappointing really given I was out for my own sanity.
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