Sunday cyclists

[ihatefuckingfrozen]

I'm probably going to be flamed for this but here goes.

Out driving today and come across the usual Sunday cyclists, fine I just drive around them. They've every right to use the road and I've no issue with that.

However my bugbear is the ones in large groups who think it's ok to cycle 3 or 4 or even 5 in a row whilst having a chat when there are numerous cars behind them - these are on country roads too so not exactly easy or safe to overtake them.

I was waiting behind a group like this for over 5 minutes and there was a build up of cars behind me and the guy in front. There was no safe way to go around them as it's quite a windy country road so guy in front gives them a gentle beep to see if they can move over, he was met with a torrent of abuse! They cycled even slower to piss him off even more!

Aibu to think they are twats and should be thinking of other road users too? Especially the ones that pay road tax?!

[acasualobserver]

Oh good, we haven't had a slag off cyclists thread for a few days.

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

It's actually easier on some roads to overtake a group of cyclists riding 4 abreast than 4 cyclists strung out one after another taking up more length of the road.

A driver should overtake cyclists giving plenty of space, ideally on the other side of the road, so wait until it's clear the other way. If they're doing this then it shouldn't matter if they're 4 abreast or not.

The danger when cyclists are single file is that a car tries to squeeze past when it's not really safe. If a car comes the other way the driver will probably swerve into the cyclists to avoid a head on.

[acasualobserver]

And there's no such thing as road tax. Only utter morons trot out that argument.

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

Of course if the road is wide enough for two cars and a cyclist safely then yes the cyclists should be in single file. But cyclists generally will place themselves into what is safest.

[mellysam]

If its bendy country roads probably not safe to overtake even if they are in single file.
Tbh I never get frustrated when stuck behind a cyclist, so what, really isn't going to have that much of an impact on your overall journey time, and you could get stuck behind a tractor at the next corner, temporary traffic lights in another few minutes, just accept that these things happen in life and move on

[TortoiseVTurtle]

Knockholt is horrendous, every Sunday all the cycling clubs come out from London, the country roads are heaving. Today we had one group strung out over a mile, single file, another one in groups of three and another one a mixture of both.
I waited for at least 15 minutes today to overtake, as I did, one of the other cyclists pulled out at the same time to overtake one of his companions.

I actually don't mind waiting behind them if they occasionally wave thank you, like the horse riders around here.

It is a bit of a bashing thread but I have to allow an extra 15-20 min now on a Sunday because of the cycle clubs.

Just a thank you would make it much more bearable.

[TortoiseVTurtle]

To even it up though, I also saw some really dangerous overtakes today by cars in front of me.

[IggyPopsicle]

You have no idea what "road tax" actually is, do you?

[ThisPanCan]

Especially the ones that pay road tax?!

yeah the usual slag off people on s thread. Start off all reasonable, get basic stuff wrong, and then assume the worst about them.

it's soo tedious.

[ThisPanCan]

I don't think it's incumbent on people on bikes to say 'thank you' every time the HC is observed. Do car drivers do that every time?

[BikeRunSki]

I'm an (occasional) club cyclist, club rules is that we ride 2 abreast, and this is in line with the Highway Code. A group that big is likely to be a club, were they mostly wearing club jerseys? (Cycling tops). If so, I'd find their website and drop them a line. A proper road club will take that etiquette seriously so should mountain bikers and triathletes.

[TortoiseVTurtle]

I don't think it's 'incumbent' on anyone to say thank you- ever.

It's nice to though, especially if you are holding up traffic for several miles.

[wasonthelist]

YANBU it wouldn't kill them to pull over for a minute once they have a sizeable tailback like tractors, but some of them are just selfish cocks.

[TortoiseVTurtle]

They do bike, it has the name of their club on it.
There are three from London who train on the roads there I think because of the hills.

[TortoiseVTurtle]

I do always thank everyone in my car yes, when walking my dog on the lanes I thank cars that wait for me or pull over. Thank yous make the world a nicer place

[ThisPanCan]

Oh we're now up to several miles? Wow.

fwiw we often pull over, depends on lots of road conditions that drivers do not anticipate nor experience. So do not understand. So the sad 'selfish cocks' line gets slilled out.

[TortoiseVTurtle]

Yes, as I said earlier? 15 min is several miles, still I can see that you are very self righteous and will never have a word said against any cyclist.

[ThisPanCan]

[TortoiseVTurtle]

I am confused - are you actually speaking on behalf of the cycle club or the other cyclists mentioned? How on earth can you possibly know unless you were there?

[dementedma]

I agree with the OP. If I choose to drive my vehicle at 10 miles an hour and thus hold up the traffic, I would get hooted at and possible cautioned for dangerous driving. But cyclists impose their speed on other drivers and we all have to accept it because......they're cyclists?

[NeedACleverNN]

Aren't cyclists supposed to cycle in the middle of the road anyway as opposed to right to the kerb?

For the cyclists safety

[acatcalledjohn]

Car tax is emissions based, nothing to do with the roads. So on that front YABU. You are also assuming that cyclists do not have a car. Again, YABU.

It annoys the life out of me that some people cannot grasp the above two concepts. How hard can it be? If as a car driver you don't understand the basic concept of the tax you have to pay for said car, I worry about what other basics you don't know. Changing a lightbulb or a fuse? Topping up oil/water/antifreeze/brake fluid?

However, the cyclists should limit to 2 wide at the most, in line with the Highway Code. They were l wrong to cycle 4 abreast.

[JudyCoolibar]

How do you know they don't pay vehicle excise duty? For all you know each and everyone of them runs a car.

[canyou]

I live in an area where we have a lot of cycle clubs and loads who do speed trials. I don't engage but I do take note of their club shirts and msg their clubs if they are dangerous. Those without lights and hi viz in the evening get reported to the gardai who in fairness 90% of the time follow up. We all need to use the road safely and the gardai in my area are fed up of minor accidents between cyclist and cars. The most recent accident was a cyclist ran into the back of a tractor which he apparently didn't see DP was parked last week on the road inside the white painted line getting out of the car another cyclist doing a time trial hit the open door. Head down so did not see the door and cycling in the parking area at speed. Ambulance called only injury was her ankle as her foot was clipped into the pedal, DP needs a new car door and side panel Thankfully her insurance is paying for it. I wish the clubs would ensure cyclist knew the rules of the road and practised them they need to spend the money they spent on a car driver education leaflet on their cyclists as well.

[Newes]

On a country road where you can't see if it's clear to overtake 2 cyclists then it's not going to be any easier to overtake 4 cyclists. What you might be able to do is cut past 2 with not enough room to spare, which is dangerous.