Cyclists who cycle incredibly slowly (out of choice not lack of fitness)

[postingandrunning]

Ok so my hard hat is on and I should preface everything by saying that I am very safe around cyclists on the road etc...

But what about the cyclists whom you can't overtake for quite a stretch, who presumably know that there is a car / there are cars behind them but who cycle as if they are out for a Sunday jaunt in the countryside. Sometimes not even pedalling but slowly coasting . No sense of urgency or of keeping the traffic flowing at all. I see this quite a lot.

Sod, the last question mark was supposed to be

Sometimes I cycle slowly because I'm catching my breath after cycling up a massive hill. Sometimes I can see the traffic light ahead is red so there's no point cycling at top speed just to brake at the last minute. Sometimes it's not safe to go fast, because the road surface is uneven, or slippery. Sometimes I go slow because there's a strong headwind (this is one that really gets me, as the wind can slow a cyclist down a lot and the cars just don't realise it).

Sometimes I cycle quickly.

I adapt my cycling to the circumstances, like most cyclists, I suppose.

Well - I don't ever start threads like these and am a little scared!

Seriously though it's good to confront one's own intolerances. ..

(That was to Eanair)

Sometimes I go slow because there's a strong headwind (this is one that really gets me, as the wind can slow a cyclist down a lot and the cars just don't realise it).

Will think of this too gastropod.

I will tell you why the slow cyclists don't "Just walk"

Some of them like me have bad ankles and can't get far without agony....on a bike, the pressure is off my ankle....and I can't drive...so I NEED my bike.

Or they have invisible disabilities like my sister with Lupus who needs her bike to get about too.

Or they just like to bike. Doesn't need to be a special reason to justify it!

Apologies to you too TheHouse.

Oh yes, the wind wobble is always fun! It's been really interesting for me - I failed my driving test a few times and I don't think it's a coincidence that I had a few years' cycling under my belt before I passed my driving test. Cycling has made me a better driver and vice versa, and having a partner with other challenges has improved my road awareness even more.

I've injured my foot. Walking hurts at the minute. Careful cycling less so. So at the minute, I am cycling slowly a lot. I could drive but why waste petrol?

I agree. But you are going to get a load of cyclists complaining that no cyclist has ever been inconsiderate of others on the road and can do no wrong.

I believe it's called 'taking command of the road' and cyclists do it because blocking a whole lane means people can't overtake them so they perceive that they are safer as they won't be overtaken. Although personally I think it often means that they won't be overtaken by safe drivers, but some unsafe ones will have a go and it will put them at greater risk.

What gets me where I live, is that they go slowly in front of the trams which cannot overtake them and then cause a massive tailback. I don't know why they go on that road. There is a new cycle path on the road which runs parallel about 50 yards away, and they just won't use it. It's new, it's well maintained. But if you ever mention it to a cyclist they always come out with a litany of reasons why cyclists can't use cycle lanes.

What makes it even worse is that it's incredibly dangerous for them. They regularly come off their bikes going over the tram tracks, especially when it rains, and have gone into oncoming traffic, I have seen a couple of people quite seriously injured. And you'd think that might encourage them to use the cycle lane. But no. They want adjustments made to the tram lines which will cost hundreds of thousands of pounds. On top of the large investment on the fucking cycle lane nobody bloody uses. Because nothing a cyclist ever does can be wrong, so it must be the fault of the tram lines rather than people who cycle along them knowing they are dangerous when there is a perfectly safe alternative close by.

I have no problem with cyclists good on them I can't even ride a bike!
A few individuals do make the red mist descend though. Our bus was stuck for fifteen minutes behind some very slow cyclists once as they refused to use the layby even though they were out of breath.