This give cyclists a bad name.

CanalRider

I'd rather have an impatient motorist speeding away from me than hanging on my back wheel regardless of how in the right I think I am.

For the historians http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/technique-road-positioning-197/

Tom Dean

CanalRider wrote:

I'd rather have an impatient motorist speeding away from me than hanging on my back wheel

It's the part in between that can be a problem

CanalRider wrote:

regardless of how in the right I think I am.

huh? So you want to do the wrong thing?

negativelycra

Styx said:
Do people actually pull over to let cars past?

Not a chance, especially if I'm on a good strava time.

They'll have to just wait it out, they've only got themselves to blame for choosing to drive a car.

Styx, i have a question - do drivers often treat you badly on the road?

diy

smidsy wrote:

The argument that you are shorter shows a lack of understanding of the correct way to assess an overtake. Its time exposed to danger that is important not time taken to overtake.

Yes so if the line of bikes is twice as long it takes twice as loing to overtake - given that this means being on the wrong side of the road for the overtalking vehicle THEY ARE EXPOSED TO DANGER (from oncoming vehicles, side streets etc.) LONGER.

I'm comparing side by side with staggering - a difference of no more than say a 1/5th of a second for a car at typically overtake speed. In addition the distance from danger is also greater, plus with staggered riders, both riders have much more of the road for escape if there is a problem. Two abreast cuts the available options by half which is why groups of motorcyclist will never ride two abreast. They always stagger to keep options open.

sub55

Out of interest , partically to those who appear to be so , "mustn't get in the way in their attitude".
When riding solo , where do you position yourself when riding in the road?
Personally , i choose to ride roughly where you'd expect to find the left hand wheel of a vehicle. The problem is that this section of the road can often be quite cut up , in which case i would put myself on the righthand side of that. The coincidence of that is that the cars invariably have to slow down and wait until such a time , that they can pass me safely on the opposite side of the road. So what about you ?

slowbike

Seems to me that a lot of respondents don't drive or cycle far on the roads!
2 abreast is fine when conditions allow.

diy

Without trying to give the smart arse answer.. It depends.. Usually I will settle about 1m from the edge, further out if I am going fasterer. I'll use the whole lane if it's tight and twisty and I don't have anyone behind me. One of the advantages of riding solo is you have more space to play with, though you are far more exposed to drivers passing you too close if you are on your own