Regents Park: it's getting a bit hairy?
Toks
Posts: 1,143
Now back in the day when I started riding around Central London's most famous training loop you were always grateful for a bit of company. Most of the time you would do quite a number of laps before even meeting another cyclist - so taking turns in 2's, 3's, 4's or even shock horror 'thru and off' in a larger group was pretty a rare occurance. Fast forward 7/8 years and we all know Road Cycling is now very popular so this means your pretty much guaranteed company (preferred or not) nearly every day of the week in RP. Fine, no issue with that, using other riders as carrots is a great way to get those competitive juices flowing. But...pretty much on a daily basis there are large groups of cyclists taking risks - racing through lights, dodging cars, swerving past pedestrians recently in the dark. Worse still in the last couple of weeks I've personally witnessed 2 crashes and the aftermath of a 3rd: A Dynamo rider got taken out in a group; someone knocked down a pedestrian and someone else was taken away in an ambulance. In the previous six years I can't remember ever witnessing a crash. I think biggest risk to safety are the fast groups. I personally feel if your riding as part of a group and you're at the front you have a responsibility to communicate all various hazards to people behind you. Tonights hammerfest, featuring a number of Rapha riders, was quite dicey especially when it got dark - I decided to quit. Guys becareful :roll:
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Bike Radar Strava Club
The Northern Ireland Thread
How is pedalling harder or staying on the front going to prevent some of the lunacy which has seen innocent third parties get injured, and which will inevitably lead to a crackdown on cycling in RP?
Weekend wise it's best to avoid after midday at the latest. Far too many morons not looking were they are walking, too busy talking on the phone and happy to step out into the road.
For now, still a great place to train.
So what's your point :?:
Did I hit a nerve? I'm not looking for an argument, just checking the possibility that your concern might not actually be for the other people, but for your own safety. Let people do what they want. Why should people be bound to what you think is safe?
Your baby analogy is funny because of your nanny state attitude, and you throwing the toys out of the pram in response.
Bike Radar Strava Club
The Northern Ireland Thread
People riding like twats creates consequences for others. People injuring innocent third parties creates even bigger consequences for others. There are enough people in cars, vans, even in the media who like to bash cyclists at any opportunity - why given them a stick to do it with?
Who made you the traffic police :?:
<rolls eyes>
Toks has served his time racing so I think is well placed to call out dangerous practice.
In reply to some of the posts here, riding on the roads is actually governed by various traffic laws so you are not free to ride how you want. Any decent person should also ride with consideration for others, laws or not. If you want to do a session without stopping/dropping pace etc I'd suggest that the roads in London are not the place to do so, get yourself either a turbo or head to the countryside, or try the velodrome (Herne Hill).