Your rants here.

Sailorchick

Have had 2 people go slower than me downhill in a vehicle twice this week! One (WVM) going down a hill that I usually hit about 31mph on refused to go over 20mph, annoying but I can cope. The other pulled out from a left turn in front of me when I was doing about 25mph down another hill. I managed to brake enough not to hit him but still ended up very close to the back of his car. He then took the rest of the hill at 12mph which meant I was riding the brakes the rest of the way down which was very annoying. Don't think he had seen me at all when he pulled out so the sight of me so close to the back of his car confused him or something.

benno68

Some drivers don't think that cyclists can go over 10mph, so if they see us in the distance they think they've got plenty of time to pull out, scratch their b@lls for a minute and then decide to pull away.

No chance of an overtake then Sailorchick? That usually wakes them up.

Sailorchick

Unfortunately not, the first hill had oncoming traffic, the second its quite narrow and winding with parked cars on both sides of the road so didn't want to risk it (plus thought he would accelerate any second)

Rockbuddy

Sailorchick wrote:

Unfortunately not, the first hill had oncoming traffic, the second its quite narrow and winding with parked cars on both sides of the road so didn't want to risk it (plus thought he would accelerate any second)

That's the thing, I may be paranoid but I think it is a bit of a game with some drivers and if you go to overtake they'll put their foot down leaving you for dead :? Yay, lets see how annoyed we can get the guy (or girl) on the bike and have a good old chuckle :roll: I'm quite sure it is deliberate, at least sometimes! But as Benno says drivers can't really judge cyclists speeds very well....which can make for some scary moments

Ok, I'm off to have the chip removed from my shoulder, it's starting to weigh me down

downfader

Theres been a number of letters in the local papers (annoyingly not reproduced online) about drivers coming too close, and in some cases actually hitting cyclists. It seems to me that drivers here are taking the mick again.

I'm at work today and one of the young lads who sometimes helps out during college holidays is there and he's rubbing his wrist. So I ask him if he's hurt himself at work, no. He was cycling home from work last week when a car sideswiped him and the next thing he knows he's waking up in hospital with concussion. He doesnt even have any memory of what happened exactly. :evil:

FFS. What are people playing at in Southampton?! If there is ANY reason to give a cyclist space THAT is it - to avoid coming in contact. I tried to offer some advice but he's understandably well and truly p***ed off about this still.

Chewy Cheeks

Last night it was my turn.

Got barged by a brompton rider while waiting at a pedestrian red light - he went straight on, and was giving out some advice afterwards.

Got cut up by a bus straight after - doesn't happen very often

Then got right hooked when going through a green light - very scary at full pelt

Its strange how it happens after someone say's have a safe journey

Boy was I glad to get home

CiB

Took a detour home tonight as it was a nice evening, had the wind behind me, & it adds a few miles on to the stats...

Approaching a left turn in a village, I noted a queue of vehicles ahead waiting to turn right so was ready for the fact that once I was round the corner they'd be looking to get past. They did, most of them successfully.

You know that feeling you get when some numpty can't wait...? I was in a stream of traffic all doing about 25mph as we approached a car with trailer parked up on the left and as I move alongside it still in the traffic flow there's suddenly a Transit minibus alongside me. There's also oncoming traffic; numpty headed Transit driver does exactly what we'd expect, and moves to his left, narrowing the gap between himself and the parked car down to not much more than the width of my handlebars. Talk about nearly cacking your pants. Strewth he was close. For his complete lack of awareness I managed to treat him to a mouthful of abuse and a few sharp blows to his side panels with my right fist (didn't have to reach very far), largely in an attempt to get him to move back to the right, but to no effect. Did he stop? Did he f

The brainless twonk had obviously forgotten though that he was driving a minibus with the name of a well known local school plastered all over it. What a chuffing muppet. Their office was closed by the time I got home but I've left them a message, stating my intention to follow this one through.

I also phoned Plod - they've made a note of the 'incident' but nothing more will come of it as there were no independent witnesses. WTF? I have to be knocked off before they even think about sending some big burly plod round to stand on this bloke's toes and ask him what he was doing? Useless.

downfader

ChrisInBicester wrote:

Took a detour home tonight as it was a nice evening, had the wind behind me, & it adds a few miles on to the stats...

Approaching a left turn in a village, I noted a queue of vehicles ahead waiting to turn right so was ready for the fact that once I was round the corner they'd be looking to get past. They did, most of them successfully.

You know that feeling you get when some numpty can't wait...? I was in a stream of traffic all doing about 25mph as we approached a car with trailer parked up on the left and as I move alongside it still in the traffic flow there's suddenly a Transit minibus alongside me. There's also oncoming traffic; numpty headed Transit driver does exactly what we'd expect, and moves to his left, narrowing the gap between himself and the parked car down to not much more than the width of my handlebars. Talk about nearly cacking your pants. Strewth he was close. For his complete lack of awareness I managed to treat him to a mouthful of abuse and a few sharp blows to his side panels with my right fist (didn't have to reach very far), largely in an attempt to get him to move back to the right, but to no effect. Did he stop? Did he f

The brainless twonk had obviously forgotten though that he was driving a minibus with the name of a well known local school plastered all over it. What a chuffing muppet. Their office was closed by the time I got home but I've left them a message, stating my intention to follow this one through.

I also phoned Plod - they've made a note of the 'incident' but nothing more will come of it as there were no independent witnesses. WTF? I have to be knocked off before they even think about sending some big burly plod round to stand on this bloke's toes and ask him what he was doing? Useless.

These people know they are untouchable.. but this will lead to some nasty repercussions when vigilantes start to bash in wing mirrors or carry weapons and catch up in heavy traffic. :?

I suppose a less classy cyclist might go around to the school and pay a visit to said van.

Mithras

ChrisInBicester wrote:

I also phoned Plod - they've made a note of the 'incident' but nothing more will come of it as there were no independent witnesses. WTF? I have to be knocked off before they even think about sending some big burly plod round to stand on this bloke's toes and ask him what he was doing? Useless.

God, no ,even if you get knocked off, if there aren't any Independant witnesses we'll just say you fell off. Saves on paperwork.. :twisted:

Cardinal Nation

Really need to get this off my chest

Coming back from a lovely ride around Richmond Park on my new pride and job, coming up my own road, which has chicanes along it. It's a slight uphill, but I'm pacing it up at about 18-20mph, and some complete twonk driving a sodding great green van decides to try and overtake me on the outswerve of the the chicane, passes literally about 3 inches from my hand. Had I had my elbow out a little further, he would have taken my arm off. I'm literally still shaken by it, I've been riding for years now in London, and this is the closest I've ever come to a serious collision for about 3 years.

Worst of all is that the van was emblazened with company name, telephone numbers etc, but in the heat of the moment, I can't remember it, so I can't even phone them up and complain.

Somedays I look at humanity and shake my head...

deffler

To the stupid Ejit who undertook me as I was signalling to turn right, nearly knocking me off, you truly are a w@nker and Im so glad you were annoyed at me for shouting the fact, quite loud, twice.

PS- That heap you were driving is awful, even Gordon Brown wouldnt give you 2k for that shower of sheet.

Skippy2309

Today was a little dodgy... Had a run in with a 94 bus in london AGAIN!!!! First was a few weeks back the bloke driving cut me up twice.... turns out today it was the same guy AGAIN!!!!!!!!

coming up to the junction at marble arch, bus is at the stop so I pull round to pass, the guy puts the bus on full lock and swings right out into the outside lane (where I was at the time) forcing me to brake hard or end up in the bus or on the wrong side of the road... fought the urge to lose my temper, so whizzed round the 1 way system as I can pull away fast, about 15minutes down the road I get caught at another set of lights. casually waiting and tapping on the handle bars (was near enough in the middle of the inside lane - another bike on my left) motor bike on the right in the middle of the outside lane, the bus (same driver) just misses my hand pulling between the motor bike and me then turning in stopping me from pulling out... the bloke had stopped at the red but a good 6feet over the line stopping me from pulling away when it changed.

Spent the rest of the ride being very wary of the bus the guy was deliberately doing stupid things like pulling in/out if you tried to pass.

Reporting the man to TFL as it was bloody dangerous

Deadeye Duck

Apologies, as I know this has been ranted about numerous times, but every, and I mean every, cyclist I have come across on the way from work last night, and to work today, has trackstanded their way half way across a junction while the light is red. One instance, a car actually went between me (sat at the junct in the bike box) and them, because they were about 2-3m from the other side of the junct! If you're not going to RLJ at least have the decency to stop at the line and not trackstand into the middle of a busy junction acting like a twerp! You are worse than RLJers in my eyes, because you think you've still done the right thing by not RLJing!

cat_with_no_tail

Made the silly mistake this morning of forgetting that Range Rover drivers own the roads.

Long steep hill on way to work, 30mph zone. I can hit 35 without much trouble and maintain all the way down. Mr range rover decides that he absolutely must pass me, even though I am already doing over the speed limit on that road. Starts to pull along side me then realizes he will run out of road before the bend at the bottom of the hill. Rather than pulling in behind me, he decides that what he will do is have a nice big honk of the horn, then move in regardless. Thankfully I was on the MTB and was able to pull a (rather masterful) bunnyhop onto the kerb, or the barsteward would have quite simply crushed me.

My own fault for having the temerity to travel on the same road as his Range Rover, how very dare I :roll:

Reported to police as soon as I stopped shaking. Of course I'm sure nothing will ever come of it. Hopefully Karma will pay him a visit and a plane will land on his range rover, while he is driving it. Nob!

downfader

Deadeye Duck wrote:

Apologies, as I know this has been ranted about numerous times, but every, and I mean every, cyclist I have come across on the way from work last night, and to work today, has trackstanded their way half way across a junction while the light is red. One instance, a car actually went between me (sat at the junct in the bike box) and them, because they were about 2-3m from the other side of the junct! If you're not going to RLJ at least have the decency to stop at the line and not trackstand into the middle of a busy junction acting like a twerp! You are worse than RLJers in my eyes, because you think you've still done the right thing by not RLJing!

Technically they have RLJ'd. Also there is the added risk of a motorist getting their line wrong in places and taking them out. There are several roads here where big vehicles cant make the turn unless they cut the corner a bit, so they set the line way back for safety. Have seen plenty of cyclists sat way out like you say.

snellgrove

Dear driver of the black BMW 1-Series,

When you, ahead of me, approach a junction with a car coming (so you have to stop) but I, being slightly later to arrive (due to my lower top-speed) at the junction do not have to stop (therefore leaving me to overtake you easily) kindly refrain from 'hanging around' to my left, leaving me on the wrong side of the road with on-coming traffic and no-where to go, but the pavement on the right, which is illegal.

Please, next time would you either stay back behind me so I can slip back into the left of the road, allowing you to legally overtake me, or just get the fuck ahead of me (undertake - I don't care) as soon as possible.

Wanker car drivers

:evil:

downfader

When I am doing 30mph on a 30mph road.. what is the point in Matey in a BMW this morning overtaking me, and to make matters worse he overtook as I was heading through a junction with a traffic island immediately infront. Pillock.

He got the full vocal treatment and only ended up having to stop at the next set of lights. I arrived immediately after. I remained right behind him for the next half a mile. I know my speed as I have installed a computer. :x

KnightofCydonia

to the indian/subcontinental looking lad in burton-on-trent who undercut our cars and drove across 2 crossings including a really really busy one where the cars motor at the uxbridge street junction without even looking..... I don't know how you didn't get hit, let alone how you are alive. We shouted at you for your own safety and that of everyone else on the road, seriously, learn how to obey the laws and you might not end up dead somewhere with your parents obviously blaming bad driving. I consider myself a safe cyclist and a safe driver, following the correct laws for each but sometimes you have to wonder how people survive. Thankfully I don't have to drive to that area often.

Kieran_Burns

Hang on. He went ACROSS Uxbridge St???? Without looking? and he's not dead?

Please God don't tell me RLJ'd at the lights there?

KnightofCydonia

Yep. totally across them. We saw him at the previous junction which is new street & something near where the old hospital was, the one i was born in, and he jumped that before we turned into it, then we passed him and we waiting for the main flow of traffic, we wanted to turn left out onto evershed way and he just rode straight across whilst those lanes were green. I don't know how he didn't get hit, he just put his head down and rode but not even fast, kinda meandering. No helmet or owt either. The thing is as anyone whose been through there will know, is that there's the 2 lanes by the traffic lights and cars are always toeing it trying to get ahead so they can cut in after the lights each way. It was shockingly bad riding.

biondino

I guess he knew it was safe. RLJers know when it's safe, you see.

downfader

KnightofCydonia wrote:

Yep. totally across them. We saw him at the previous junction which is new street & something near where the old hospital was, the one i was born in, and he jumped that before we turned into it, then we passed him and we waiting for the main flow of traffic, we wanted to turn left out onto evershed way and he just rode straight across whilst those lanes were green. I don't know how he didn't get hit, he just put his head down and rode but not even fast, kinda meandering. No helmet or owt either. The thing is as anyone whose been through there will know, is that there's the 2 lanes by the traffic lights and cars are always toeing it trying to get ahead so they can cut in after the lights each way. It was shockingly bad riding.

A helmet would be as good as tin foil anyway in that situation. Prolly better he gets properly wiped out rather than suffer years of injury and invalidity...? :? :roll:

Kieran_Burns

For reference; he would've gone from top right to bottom left across this junction:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sourc ... 5&t=k&z=19

without looking, stopping and while the dual carriageway bit was on green. It's notorious for people tearing down there at well over the 40mph limit, in both directions

benno68

Sounds like he was a very lucky guy. Let's hope he learns from it!

KnightofCydonia

Kieran_Burns wrote:

For reference; he would've gone from top right to bottom left across this junction:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sourc ... 5&t=k&z=19

without looking, stopping and while the dual carriageway bit was on green. It's notorious for people tearing down there at well over the 40mph limit, in both directions

Yeah. And pretty much anywhere around the town if he rides like that. Then again are there even any schemes these days to teach them to ride safe? I remember as a kid we did proficiency & stuff :?

jimmypippa

KnightofCydonia wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

For reference; he would've gone from top right to bottom left across this junction:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sourc ... 5&t=k&z=19

without looking, stopping and while the dual carriageway bit was on green. It's notorious for people tearing down there at well over the 40mph limit, in both directions

Yeah. And pretty much anywhere around the town if he rides like that. Then again are there even any schemes these days to teach them to ride safe? I remember as a kid we did proficiency & stuff :?

Yes: towards the end of primary school.

I have helped out with some of teh year-6 cycling proficiency at my kids' primary school this summer.

It was pretty scary:

"... look behind and if it is safe signal and begin to pull out... LOOK INFRONT NOW!

...O..K... GLANCE behind and THEN LOOK WHERE YOU ARE GOING"


I could only help with the first session on the road, apparently they got better.

KnightofCydonia

At least it's done somewhere then I remember doing it & we spent about 3 sessions on the school yard before being let out onto the road nearby. Thankfully it was a dead end at the school and surrounded by old folks houses so the traffic was light & it was great to learn the basics. Maybe others need to be taught it now. Living near an infants school, I can tell you loads of stories of parents & their kids doing stupid things like getting out on the road side etc.

jimmypippa

I don't know if it is national or county-wide...

Anyway it is done in your county for certain.

marchant

[amusing rant] Have I got a target on my back? Today, in a short 2 mile ride to town today I got pooed on twice by birds (tweet tweet kind). That's four times in two weeks :x [/amusing rant]

CiB

Not a rant, more a reversion to the norm for stereotyping particular car owners.

Coming into Buckingham on the main road on Friday evening there's the usual rush hour queue into town with slow moving traffic creeping along. On the odd occasion that I come this way [was collecting m'boy's swimming badges on the way home for what it matters] the usual performance is to ride down the outside of the semi-stationary traffic in the middle of the road and then slot in when it moves a bit. So that's what I did. Dropped in front of a Bee-Em [see where this is going yet...?] but the q started to move. I gave it some as the gap wasn't big, and then the car ahead stopped anyway; not an issue. I could hear the beemer behind and noticed that he was trying to sneak up the inside, so I moved left and gave him the dismissive 'back off' gesture - the one that equates to pushing a playful puppy back behind you with your left hand. Do it now to see what I did - open palm pushed down towards the floor and behnd you...

Bear in mind that the Audi up front is about 50 yards or so ahead and has now stopped again, so you'll have not the slightest surprise when I report that the BM behind passed me here - big revs, lot of noise, bell curve from where he was to get round me and back in behind the Audi. And then a big load of brake lights as he had to bring it back to a stop just in front of me. Twunt. That's the new word here I believe.

It was hard not to, so I did. Rolled up alongside his window, smiled at him and mouthed 'Well done. Typical B M driver. Awesome driving there...' smile smile. Got a load of abuse back so gave him another big smile, slapped my forehead at him, waved and set off past the still not-moving traffic.

What goes on these people's minds? Traffic is slow to the point of not moving, yet this prat can think only of overtaking a cyclist just so that he can stop behind the Audi in order to watch me slide past again? Amazing. I don't go for stereotypes normally, but this guy fitted the norm.