To get wound up at cycle races on public roads

[Ilovemyself]

It is so annoying to me when I am on a journey and come across a gaggle of cyclists on an organised race. Quite often they are 3 or 4 abreast and all over the road.

Racing on the public highway foe motorists is a serious offence. Why are cyclists allowed to race.

I like a bit of disruption, for fun

It reminds people, to smell the flowers
You should go out for a bike ride and chill out a bit

We have the road through our village and the surrounding villages closed for an annual race. I cant leave my home for up to 12 hours because of a triathlon. Now that IS annoying.

I'm more annoyed at twats like this... ipayroadtax.com/no-such-thing-as-road-tax/i-knocked-a-cyclist-off-his-bike-i-have-right-of-way-he-doesnt-even-pay-road-tax

Risk assessments and consultation take place before an organized race. It's also signposted and usually has a security presence. Get over it.

But they are a danger to themselves and others. I don't mind having to slow down for anyone or thing.

Why are they allowed to do it when no one else is?

There are no cycle races on public roads. It doesn't happen.

There are one or two events that taken places on closed roads each year, but nothing compared to say France.

In other words cyclists are not allowed to do this, and what you may interpret as racing is likely to be just a group of cyclists out for a ride.

There is simply no racing, because there are no competitive common start events on roads that are open to the public. If you perceive people to be racing, that's just them being dickheads. Rather less antisocial than the dickheads who held a drag race in their cars on my road at 3am a few months back

So what are the events that are signposted and have large numbers of cyclists riding in a pack? The cyclists are also sometimes numbered - why if they are not racing?

If cyclists are riding 3 a breast, they are taking up no more room than a car

There are cycle races on public roads and they are legal. If they are races with groups of riders there are cars in front and behind for safety.

There are time trials on public roads though. I know, I saw someone killed in an accident on the A1, doing a time trial on a busy BH weekend And, no, it wasn't a car, two cyclists collided.

And are far more vulnerable to overtake when they are traveling at a speed much slower than other vehicles on the road.

My point is that they are quite often a danger to them selves and other road users.

I take it you're not sporty then OP?

A danger to themselves, eh? Tut tut.

Shouldn't be allowed...wrap them up in cotton wool and force feed them burgers, I say.

I disagree, I don't think they are

Also, it is so infrequent as to be insignificant

Time trials are not races because riders are not trying to overtake each other. They may however be trying to get the best time.

Where else are they meant to do it?

Also, as above, I'm pretty sure roads are closed off for races same as they are for marathons and half marathons.

I used to live in an area frequently used by nearby cycle clubs for group rides etc., and yes it is a bit inconvenient if you're stuck behind them for miles, although in my experience they can pick up some pretty good speed so it isn't as though you're crawling along at 3mph in 1st.

At the end of they day they have a right to use the road. They're no more annoying than an old tractor. Just because you are capable of moving faster doesn't mean you have an entitlement to do so.

Unless you're on a horse, a cyclist isn't much danger to you. You're encased in metal that a mere pushbike won't penetrate. But you are a potential danger to them, they are NOT a danger to themselves and others unless you attempt to over-take dangerously, or similar foolishness.

I live very near to the Box Hill Loop, and ever since the Olympics the roads here at the weekend are swarming with cyclists.

It is incredibly dangerous, I think, as the roads are fairly narrow and winding, and they are relying on motorists to take a lot of care, and overtake only when safe. I certainly wouldn't ride a bike on some of the roads around here. But I guess it's their choice to do so.

Relying on motorists to take care and to overtake only when safe doesn't seem like a very big ask to me.

To be fair Cointreau I'm not too sure what the Box Hill Loop is (Google suggests something London-ish, so it went over my flat-cap-cladded Yorkshire head ) but having grown up with narrow, winding lanes (though admittedly full of tractors, horses and day trippers) I do think motorists need to be taking a lot of care anyway. At the end of the day you have no idea what is around the next leafy bend, and need to be able to break in time.

It isn't just their choice to cycle on the roads, but their right. They should be able to do it safely.

Admittedly I might be over sensitive due to the number of "oh god oh god I'm gunna die" moments I had as a young teen when on the roads with horses (more than one of which was caused by cyclists! Although the majority were in cars, and the most memorable- a Warbutons van! My kneecap still stings whenever I see his loafs, the git! ) and that was often just trying to get the hairy buggers from one patch of grazing to the next.

But I do feel strongly that we should all take some care on the roads for more vulnerable users, and that saying "well, it's dangerous but if you choose to go out there, well that's your choice" veers too far towards victim blaming when the worst does happen.

Roads ate for alsorts.... Not just cars!

Good grief. I drive a car. Dh and dd2 are disabled, I live rurally and I need to drive. I also live next door to one of the people involved in the incident on Sunday.
Roads, you may be surprised to know, where made for horse and carts. Bicycles were around before cars.
Chill.

It does annoy me when they are doing time trials on a stretch of road which has a very good cycle lane alongside it - serious question is there a reason they couldn't use the cycle lane?

Generally though I would rather be behind this type of cyclist who is normally quite sensible than the idiots who seem clueless of road safety.

oh forgodness sake - since when where motorists some kind og top of the pile gods! Roads are for everyone - and if that means you have to drive slowly for a bit well...get over it

As a horse rider I hate inconsiderate road OWNERS

we are have exactly the same rights on the road

Sirzy have you seen the state of some cycle lanes? They are not swept like roads and are often full of glass and pot holes. The cyclists who race have probably spent about £50 on tyres and a lot more on wheels which they would rather not damage

Sirzy the reason cycle lanes when separate to the road aren't used is because they are rarely if ever swept so lead to punctures and accidents. The second reason is junctions, if the bike is going across a side road then if he's/she's on the main road cars give way if on a cycle path cars expect them to give way.

Sirzy - because sometimes the cycle lanes are shared with pedestrians, or full of gutters, or cars go in them, or they have potholes. Same reason I run on the road sometimes rather than the path - it's smoother!

I try to be considerate to cars, and keep out of their way as much as possible, but unfortunately the council doesn't always consider cyclists in the same way. One road I ride on, it has crumbled at the edges, so I do have to ride out and get in cars way a bit - or I would have an accident!

I think drivers really need to have more patience!! It only takes a couple of minutes out to slow down for some cyclists or a horse.

It might not always be races neither, in our area there are a few organised bike rides too, not races, but organised routes of varying length for all abilities.

I live in Ascot, and for at least 5 days each year the roads grind to a halt and our high st is changed to one way, and dh can't park at the station, and we have to walk or cycle anywhere we want to go. maybe horse racing should be banned too!