Defensive riding

mattshrops

out for a ride in the sun today and i got 'buzzed' a couple of times by car drivers.
Realised that each time it had happened id lost concentration and had been riding close to the kerb. Now this is aimed specifically at new riders- DONT RIDE IN THE GUTTER, if you leave a car van etc JUST enough room to squeeze through without slowing they will take it everytime. about a metre out from the gutter means if the roads not clear (or very wide) they are forced to slow and go round you. the other benefit of this is if you need to swerve around a pothole you can swerve towards the gutter not in front of the traffic.
You might get the odd person annoyed at you but ooh boo hoo.

DONT RIDE IN THE GUTTER

(if you wish to post thanking me for stating the bleeding obvious- this is the beginners forum)

Mike67

Good advice.

Most of my ride today was on narrow country lanes.
Staying out from the edge definitely forces cars to slow down and it also has the added benefit of allowing the rider to choose a good spot to pull over slightly to allow a safe pass. (Straight road, good visibility etc.).

In fact the only idiot encountered today was on a nice wide road where a car passed me (leaving plenty of room) but somehow didn't see the massive Range Rover coming the other way. They missed each other luckily.

ilm_zero7

mattshrops
agree - I never ride in the edge - I regard that bit of the road as my emergency exit, before I have to take to the grass/kerb/path

especially valid advice when it comes to roadworks or single file where you may get squeezed - dont give the driver the change of 'maybe I could just get through' ... some will try and its you that will come of worse or be forced to bail out

velvetytoast

....and at this time of the year riding in the gutter also gives you a much better chance of punctures - so there's another good reason!!

markos1963

Good post

MattC59

Good advice !!

I usually ride a minimum of a 1M from the edge of the road. This gives you plenty of 'escape' room if it's needed and forces other road users to alow and pass properly. It also means that you don't have to ride in all the crap that gathers at the side of the road !!

Mind you, it does take some balls to hold this position sometimes !!!

Tony Mc

I tend to assume the a position 1m from the curb but when passing /comming up to traffic island move more into the middle, theres always some bloke thinks he can squeeze his passed you so I prefer to make him think its a no go before he chances it at the last minute

Don't get me started on Bus drivers who don't give a monkeys if they force you in the gutter

petemadoc

markos1963 wrote:

Good post

^ What he said

AndyF16

Good advice fo' sho' mattshrops - I learned very quickly that at Pedestrian refuges and other pinch points, a glance over shoulder to 'warn' any following motorists, then into the middle of the lane

MichaelW

I use a rue of thumb that drivers give you the same clearance that you give yourself.

Lillywhite

Good advice here:-

http://www.tibsnjoan.co.uk/Big.html

stvn758

Balls of steel!

Got yelled at the other day and I was riding close to the kerb as the road is quite narrow and long. Driver behind me didn't have the where with all to pass and trailed me for what seemed like an eternity, when he did the driver behind yelled bloody cyclists!!!

I find the sound of cars slowly growling away behind me quite annoying, I wouldn't want to be held up so why should they, as long as everyone gives a little bit we can all get to where we are going.

velvetytoast

When they give you grief wave at them like you know them (wave with a thumbs up after) they'll be driving around wondering who tf do I know who rides a bike for hours after - it kind of takes the heat out of it for me