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?!

I stopped riding on the road a couple of years ago - way to much aggro where I am. We call them cityboy cyclists rather than selfish c*nts. A lot of people in our village plan around not going out at all on a Sunday and minimising Saturday trips in the car. I say this as an ex-competitive road cyclist. I always try to be polite, give them enough room, overtake safely, even if it does cost me several minutes on a journey into the nearest town. I am still met with verbal abuse if I try and step out of my front gate as one is speeding past, and (this afternoon), a guy stopping to have a pee against my garage door. Fortunately, there is now a much greater police presence around here on the weekend but I am still afraid there is going to be a serious confrontation one day.

I live in a village that is popular for cyclists to pass through and my main bugbear is the shouting that many of them do. In the summer they start as soon as the sun rises and have very loud conversations with each other. You want to chat about your current pension options?? Stop for a cup of tea and do it there - not shouting at each other. I don't drive my car along the road and attempt to have a chat out of the window with my mate behind me. We stop and eat cake like civilised people and chat face to face.

I once had to follow a tandem along four miles of country roads, where it was totally unsafe to overtake unless they pulled over and stopped to let cars past. They happily cycled past two lay-bys, where it would have been perfectly safe for them to pull in and let vehicles pass. Such people don't help the image of cycling in this country.

I think that cyclists should be compelled to give up work so they are Monday-Sunday cyclists

Selfish bastards. ...earning a crust on those other 6 days

Exactly!

Sorry cheesecake, I should have said that we ride no more than 2 abreast, and always ride in a closely spaced "crocodile". I'm sure there's a cycling term for it. We thin out to single file as the road conditions require. Rides are always led (and tailed) by experienced, British Cycling trained ride leaders. Commands are called down and up the line.

That was to bastard not fucker

I think some people are missing the point. Two abreast fine - yes same width as a car and can only overtake when safe to do so.

3, 4 or even 5 abreast is not an uncommon occurrence and is just plain dangerous and inconsiderate to other road users - be it other cyclists, motor cycles or cars.

Oh, I'm sorry. Do cyclists hold you up? How selfish. Next time they should all cycle at 50mph.

Oh wait. They can't.

But if you can see the road is clear to overtake you can do so whether there are 2 or 4 abreast.

But it is against the Code to cycle more than 2 abreast. [I'm a bit obsessed with the Code, you see).

Heron - no being the operative word. They're creating a dangerous road situation for the sake of having a chat.

It's against the Code to overtake when you can't see if your way is clear. No matter how many cyclists there are.

Yes but if they cycled as per the code they wouldn't create the need to overtake! Well at least not overtake fully into the next lane.

Fair enough you need to see that the way is clear in any situation, but doesn't change the fact that cyclists shouldn't cycle more than 2 abreast. Rules is rules. [I fucking love The Code]

On a small country road there probably isn't room to overtake one safely. So unless it's a medical emergency you just need to cool your boots.

As a cyclist and road user...

There's some law (or possibly accepted etiquette) in NZ about camper vans having to pull over if there are 2 or more vehicles queuing behind them.... I think we should have that, and apply to all users. Am fed up of being stuck behind caravans as a car driver, and I don't like being stuck behind slow cyclists that really have no business trying to go uphill on busy roads ar rush hour. (!)

But the number of times I am overtaken in dangerous situations as a cyclist makes me v cross. There are a lot of idiots out there. We try to keep to the quieter lanes to stay out of the way of traffic, but on those you get idiots who fly around corners and have to slam on the brakes. I sometimes lead my DD on a pony, lead rein, me on foot obviously, and there is nothing more terrifying than hearing the noise of an approaching car, that hasn't been able to see you yet - going too fast on a single track road.

I'm more worried about speeding cars driven by impatient and distracted drivers, than people out enjoying their hobby.

Overtaking is overtaking whether you go in the other lane or not.

And can I point out for the millionth time on MN rule 66 of the Highway Code is a should.

There is a big difference in the code between the rules which start should and the rules which state must. One is advisory the other is something you must/must not do.

So you must never ride on the pavement
You should never ride more than two abreast
you should wear a helmet
You should take extra care around road humps
You must not hold another moving vehicle

Can people please see the difference. So actually it isn't against the law/not allowed to ride more than two abreast.

Good point stinkerbelle. I think the issue where I am is the combination of (Sunday) cyclists and Sunday drivers on narrow country roads. The former may be a bit rude and hold you up - but the latter could/will kill someone eventually.

But 2 abreast should be taking up the whole lane with the cyclist 1 metre from the middle line.

WhotheFuck - point taken. They shouldn't do it.

Live in a very rural area where cyclists are the curse from hell. Am I the only person who waits patiently to overtake these lycra clad posers, but then really wants to drive just in front of them- very slowly - so that they understand just how frustrating it can be to have to wait for AGES for an opportunity to overtake?
Even more irritatng is that today I was waiting for a traffic light to change, but the cyclists just behind me decided to cycle through the red light, then hold eveyone on up on the narrow road ahead. Not given to road rage - but they are BASTARDSSSS||| Sorry!