Cyclist gesticulating wildly at me

Thank you for all the replies and sorry it’s taken me all day to respond!

Firstly we do live semi rurally- the lane I described has no footpaths and as mentioned is narrow- if someone is walking their dog on it and a car comes along they have to sink into the hedge so it’s not a route suitable for walking to school with a child. We also live three miles away and this is the nearest school.

I do accept on reflection I should have waited to overtake until I could see further ahead and wasn’t as near to a bend, but I’m not lying when I say I was considerate to the cyclist and felt I left plenty of room. Like I say it was definitely over the minimum, I’m not saying it was that amount exactly, but he was certainly never in danger of being hit by the car and nor did I slam on my brakes after passing him as some have suggested.

The reason I mentioned his clothing is because he seemed it me to be out for a hobby ride, not cycling to work, plus there’s nothing around there unless he’s a teacher at one of the schools! I know cyclists have the same rights to use roads as everyone else but you’d think people would exercise common sense and not choose to cycle on narrow country lanes when there are lots of cars trying to get to school for a specific time. I know I’ll be flamed for saying that but come on it’s common sense!

Unlikely. Cyclists like to have a go even when they don't have a leg to stand on. Absolutely baffling they'd decide to take their ride during the hours of the morning everyone's going to work or dropping kids off at school, if they're afraid of cars being close to them. I suppose he expected you to trawl behind him the whole way.

They do seem rather an unhappy bunch, don't they

Don’t worry op. In the words of Malcolm Tucker - even cyclists hate cyclists.

Is it? Feels like a challenge according to this thread.

Its also a really good way to get to work

Cyclists are so bloody selfish, they choose to play their little hobby on a public road, creating a nuisance and inconveniencing others, then they get all upset when someone overtakes them, behaving in a threatening and abusive manner. We need to start reporting Cyclists for their behaviour.

I don't know of any other hobby that’s played on public roads.

Don't worry OP, I doubt the little man child you passed will report anything.

Cycling should be banned on public roads.

Cycling has become a protest against climate change. Wake up, have breakfast, put your helmet on and hope one those b*d cars or vans comes near enough to get them on camera. One less car off the road, done my bit for climate change.

Come within two metres of me when I'm cycling, I dare you!!

All hail King Jeremy!!

My cycle path gripe is they don’t go from A to B without going via C and D first. Or there are shared with oblivious pedestrians with headphones in. So while it’s legal to do so I’ll use the road thanks.

But have you tried actually cycling along them? Because seeing them does not always mean you see the actual issues. Sometimes they are also more dangerous because they end abruptly in a dangerous location, there’s one near me which ends with a massive kerb/drop down. I’m not using that with 25mm tyre carbon wheels. It’s like a 30cm drop.

Other ones i don’t use have loads of driveways and side roads which the cycle path crosses, so puts me at risk of a collision with every crossing.

Then the fact they aren’t swept of debris so I get more punctures….the thorns and glass aren’t going to be noticeable to a motorist driving alongside.

But have you tried actually cycling along them? Because seeing them does not always mean you see the actual issues. Sometimes they are also more dangerous because they end abruptly in a dangerous location, there’s one near me which ends with a massive kerb/drop down. I’m not using that with 25mm tyre carbon wheels. It’s like a 30cm drop.

Other ones i don’t use have loads of driveways and side roads which the cycle path crosses, so puts me at risk of a collision with every crossing.

Then the fact they aren’t swept of debris so I get more punctures….the thorns and glass aren’t going to be noticeable to a motorist driving alongside.

Running on pavement (at speed), going through red lights, not stoppping at stop signs. Just some examples. Someone in my family was actually injured by a cyclist on the pavement - and they didn’t even stop!

Yes i agree! And I stand by my original post 'entitled' possibly back down on moron!!!! It's all Boris's fault!!

That is fair, but why not also ask: how many times do you witness dangerous/illegal behaviour from cyclist on an average 15min spent walking outside vs from car drivers?

Today, just 1h ago on the school run, literally when leaving my house there was a cyclist on the pavement. More pavement-riders were encountered. Some also crossed red lights. Nothing to report from drivers, they all indicated when turning into the side roads I was crossing and left me cross before turning. And none of them drove at a red light. Anecdotical of course, but this is a fair representation of what happens in urban areas.

Im talking about the ones I have seen! Lovely cycle paths with beautiful scenery.

Just another wee point to raise on the anger thing, I really dont like the idea of a woman on her own with children being shouted at and aggressively sworn at.

How many people are killed by cars each year vs how many are killed cyclists?

I don’t even own a cycle but the posts here are crazy.

Possibly cyclists like to "have a go" due to the adrenaline of almost being killed by someone in a car who overtakes when they can't see if there's enough room.

Absolutely baffling to me that so many people insist on driving kids to school when much healthier options are available. This doesn't apply to everyone but maybe it applies to the OP, that's for them to decide.

While I can kind of understand you being annoyed have you ever thought there may be a valid reason why they’re not using the cycle path? Cyclists don’t have a death wish…if there is a safe option they’ll normally take it. Some cycle paths are awful, either due to design or debris…and it’s not always apparent to a motorist.

i was cycling once down a hill, clear straight road. I was in the middle of the left hand lane because the inner third had an awful crack/rut running the length of the hill as well as numerous potholes. No cars coming up the hill and you could see for a mile. A car coming behind me overtakes, slows to my pace and winds the window down and the woman driver proceeds to berate me for being in the middle of the lane not at the left. I wasn’t in her way, I caused her no issue at all, she had plenty of space to pass me, I didn’t affect her in anyway shape or form. I was so fucking cross. But in her big 4x4 bubble she had no idea at all and I guess just thought I was being “entitled”.

Ok I admit I find the majority of them a nuisance. For instance it annoys me when cyclists are on a busy dangerous road holding up traffic when there is a clear cycle path alongside.