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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Fucking Cyclists

624 replies

SpanielSprint · 03/04/2023 16:17

I live in a very rural area that is super popular with cyclists. All of the roads around me are narrow, bendy, single track lanes - no white lines. Wherever I go I get stuck behind cyclists. I accept this, always leave extra time for my journeys and never drive aggressively.

The issue is that the cyclists always seem to try and wave me past when I don’t feel it is safe to overtake. Either into blind corners, or when the road is too narrow so would necessitate going onto the verges which are rutted and full of hidden rocks and pot holes - I’m not willing to risk my tyres driving at pace along them. Obviously I just ignore them but this seems to infuriate them.

I’ve just returned from yet another journey where I was behind a pair of cyclists for several miles. The cyclist at the rear kept waving me on and when I didn’t go past she seemed to get increasingly angry about it, gesticulating etc. when I finally did pass, she screamed fucking twat at me and gave me the Vs.

Nice. So basically that’s my ‘thanks’ for trailing patiently behind them for 10 minutes and almost doubling the duration of my journey.

disclaimer: I realise that not all cyclists do this, but there seems to be a significant enough number of them around here to make this sort of thing a weekly occurrence.

AIBU to overtake cyclists when I’m good and ready, and think that some of them need to learn a few lessons about manners and road safety before they go out on their bikes?

OP posts:
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6
QuintanaRoo · 03/04/2023 21:43

ConcordeOoter · 03/04/2023 21:37

Right 👍 like a competent cyclist

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Yeah and I don’t try and wave cars to overtake me either. <polishes halo>

though I have told the odd motorist to fuck off, normally after they’ve done a close pass, screamed abuse for no reason, thrown something out a window for no reason, etc. honestly you’d be amazed how many men travelling in the opposite direction (so totally unaffected by my presence) slow down and scream “fat cunt” or “fucking cunt” as they pass me for absolutely no reason!

Original poster
SpanielSprint · 03/04/2023 21:51

QuintanaRoo · 03/04/2023 21:23

Really? Really?

several miles? Really? I’m a decentish cyclist and average 15mph….so if you’d been stuck behind me for “several miles” you’d be looking at being behind me for 30 mins. We’re you really behind a cyclist for thirty mins?

if it is genuinely as you describe then of course she shouldn’t have acted like that. Just seems a crazy over reaction. Why would she call you a twat for being stuck behind her? It wouldn’t affect her. Unless of course you were up their arse and intimidating them.

of course you will say no. And possibly even have convinced yourself that you weren’t too close, etc. but I really think you probably were.

fucking motorists. I could certainly say that just about every bike ride. Certainly for the one who killed my friend last year and for the one who’s up in court for turning their car round and purposefully driving into another friend last year.

I was behind the bikes for roughly 3 miles. It was around 10 mins as I say. So sorry I’ll make sure I post my Strava next time 🙄

I certainly wasn’t driving aggressively but I was hoping to overtake at some point so I wasn’t trailing miles behind either. I kept a safe distance. Believe me or not, either way that cyclist should not have been waving me on into oncoming traffic. And then getting irate.

As a horse rider I could also start a fucking motorists thread. And a few more fucking cyclists threads too. But that’s another story.

OP posts:
PathOfLeastResitance · 03/04/2023 21:55

Inthesamesinkingboat · 03/04/2023 16:40

I find this as well. We have a lot of cyclists who aren’t local coming down from London and they try to wave you past, whereas those of us who know the roads will know if there is a dangerous corner coming up. I will always make my own assessment when driving and I see some really dodgy judgement calls from one of the cyclists

Exactly this. I know these rural roads and have been waved on numerous times and I haven’t gone for it as I can’t see and I know the layout. Invariably I would’ve been in a collision had I taken their direction. Coupled with the loud calling to each other as they cycle past from 5am is enough to stir up negative emotion. A growing trend (from my observation) is also wearing all black and on rural roads with tree shadows and tight bends, they are so hard to see. I also ride bikes and motorbikes and I make myself as visible as possible. Hi vis and extra lights at all times.

Original poster
SpanielSprint · 03/04/2023 21:55

Devoutspoken · 03/04/2023 21:38

Oh sorry op, I think I misunderstood your post, so you are angry at cyclists for trying to get you to pass them when you consider it unsafe, not because they are slowing you down?

Yes exactly this

OP posts:
Devoutspoken · 03/04/2023 21:58

Ah, still, the 'fucking' part was a bit ott, surely?

Hawkins003 · 03/04/2023 22:00

I can understand your perspectives op it's a mix at times

Saz12 · 03/04/2023 22:09

When I learnt to drive, I was taught to assume pedestrians and cyclists couldnt drive. So you dont trust their judgement when they beckon you to overtake.

When cycling, I dont want cars behind me. But, why would any responsible driver rely on a random strangers judgement as to wether it was safe to overtake???

Original poster
SpanielSprint · 03/04/2023 22:16

Devoutspoken · 03/04/2023 21:58

Ah, still, the 'fucking' part was a bit ott, surely?

It was an offhand remark, I didn’t realise that some cyclists consider themselves to be a persecuted minority and would take it personally. Most people I know (including myself!) own a bike and are therefore technically cyclists, so in my head it wasn’t much different to saying ‘fucking people’ or ‘fucking drivers’. But yes, I do wish I’d gone for a different title now!

OP posts:
Devoutspoken · 03/04/2023 22:23

As a female cyclist, I get sworn at indiscriminately quite alot, mostly by men, so yeah, not a big fan of the title

Droppit · 03/04/2023 22:27

I just wish people used the roads for transport only and not for exercise.
I always have more respect for a cyclist who is clearly going from a to b (ie commuter) as opposed to someone who could very easily be doing Peleton instead.

6namechang3 · 03/04/2023 22:43

@Droppit
I wish people would use their cars for essential journeys only rather than clogging up the roads to do all kinds of activities that seem pointless to me.

mostlysunnywithshowers · 03/04/2023 22:50

I did my CBT to ride a moped many years ago. The best thing I learned was to stay dominant on the road. In other words, you are the only person who makes the decisions about when and how you drive. Don't let other road flash you, tailgate you, wave you on, or in any way intimidate you into making a manoeuvre that you are not satisfied is safe. You are in charge of your vehicle. And yes, cuntry lane cyclists are just that really.

Neededanewuserhandle · 03/04/2023 22:51

Finalstar · 03/04/2023 16:53

FWIW I drive for a living but also cycle as a hobby so have experience on both sides of this coin.

A confident cyclist will recognise what you are doing and not be bothered by it. A cyclist who is bothered by it should pull into the verge and stop, so that the car can crawl past and be on their way. I have done both, at different times.

^This

ifIwerenotanandroid · 03/04/2023 23:20

Devoutspoken · 03/04/2023 19:38

Another angry car driver takes to the road, just chill the eff out, unless of course you're on your way to perform brain surgery

You've misunderstood the situation. Car drivers on country roads are happily staying behind cyclists. It's the cyclists who object to this situation. I'm hoping somebody will soon explain why.

Hint: read the OP.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 03/04/2023 23:33

TruthsAndALie · 03/04/2023 20:52

Cyclist should not have done the V’s and sworn, as no road user should.

Cyclist did nothing wrong in trying to wave you past. If you don’t want to go that’s fine, but there’s a thread on here everyday complaining cyclists don’t let people past. Can’t win.

Saying cyclists made your journey 10 mins longer is just the same as a car driver saying “all these annoying cars in front of me made my journey 10 mins longer”. Cyclists are road users like everyone else.

As I pointed out, there's a difference between a cyclist letting a motorist pass them & a cyclist waving a motorist past them. The first is a considerate cyclist taking action & making it possible for the motorist to safely pass them. The second is just some tit on a bike waving their hand about, in spite of the fact that it's not safe for the motorist to go past them. That's what we're talking about here. I've had cyclists do it to me on ludicrously dangerous stretches of road.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 03/04/2023 23:39

@Devoutspoken Just saw your update.

Redebs · 03/04/2023 23:40

farnhamgal · 03/04/2023 16:38

Bullied 😂😂

I'm not the biggest fan of cyclists. But come on, someone in a big metal box with an Engine and doors that lock with considerably more speed than the vulnerability of someone sitting on a metal frame, is huge. Especially when they're pootling along BEHIND them for 10 minutes.

Don't be ridiculous.

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But when they beckon you to overtake, it's not a cyclist you'll collide head on with, it's going to be a car or lorry coming the other way.
Leisure cyclists are bloody nuisances!

ifIwerenotanandroid · 03/04/2023 23:41

Anyone who thinks we single out inconsiderate cyclists should hear what we say about tractors & caravans on our country roads.😂

Deathbyfluffy · 03/04/2023 23:46

begoneday · 03/04/2023 17:12

I have a theory that it is a similar demographic of white middle aged men who drive German cars , who cycle aggressively. They will be twats in their cars , and also in their too tight Lycra suits so it’s wise to get a dash cam.

Well your theory must be bullshit, as the aggressor in the OP’e post was a woman!

Nursejackie1 · 03/04/2023 23:50

To be spending my child free night playing old songs from “the box” and absolutely loving it but wondering where the hell time went. Jodeci, TLC, ll cool j. Today’s kids have no idea of the excitement of your song coming on tv!

Sodd · 03/04/2023 23:53

Yes her behaviour was unnecessary and you should overtake when you’re ready. However my experience is that cyclists are generally well behaved and drivers less so.

Nursejackie1 · 03/04/2023 23:55

I hate them. There is a bike trail right along the winding road I drive down purposely made for bikes, yet they live to clog up
thr road for miles before it’s safe to go past.

maddening · 04/04/2023 01:14

Lockheart · 03/04/2023 16:29

It sounds like - rightly or wrongly - you'd made her nervous and intimidated by sitting behind them for so long. If you're confident you're leaving enough room and not tailgating then you're doing the right thing by waiting until it's safe to overtake before doing so, but 10 mins / a few miles with absolutely no opportunity to overtake safely sounds unlikely.

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They have the option to pull over and let the car pass.

AskMeMore · 04/04/2023 01:29

A few miles with no opportunity to overtake safely is normal on very windy narrow country lanes.

DdraigGoch · 04/04/2023 06:36

ConcordeOoter · 03/04/2023 20:46

Much as that may be, you wouldn't expect the rest of the world to bend around your emotions like you're Neo from the Matrix, unlike the person OP encountered I suppose.

A couple of metres behind, a wide berth on overtake, absolutely reasonable. Shouting at people because they overtake when they consider it safe vs what you consider nice, unreasonable.

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Stopping distance from 20mph is 12m. Sitting 2m behind the road user in front is dangerous.

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