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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:
Thread gallery
6
ifIwerenotanandroid · 04/04/2023 14:16

MaryMcCarthy · 04/04/2023 14:12

There's not really anything in the story that would infuriate a cyclist. They couldn't care less whether you're overtaking them or not, they're just used to the drivers behind them being frustrated so signalling when it's safe to overtake would be appreciated by drivers more often than not. It's considerate.

It makes no difference to the cyclist whether you overtake them, so what's your feeling on why they were so aggressive?

I think a key question is how close behind them are you driving, generally?

You've missed the point that cyclists across England are signalling drivers to overtake them when it isn't safe to do so.

Badger1970 · 04/04/2023 14:17

Our village has the joy of being part of a national cycle route. Now they just hog the road in gangs and don't let anyone pass at all. I have a 40 minute commute home and oddly enough don't want to sit behind their lycra clad arses for an extra 10. I'm seriously thinking of one of those american train horns for my car.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 04/04/2023 14:20

Harrypewter · 04/04/2023 14:14

I think dithering drivers are worse than cyclists.
Instead of stalking them just overtake.

Another one who hasn't read the OP or the rest of the thread.

Someone who doesn't overtake because they can't see whether there's traffic coming the other way isn't 'dithering'. They're driving safely & correctly. And my experience has proved that some cyclists wave drivers round them even when it would cause a collision were the driver to take their 'advice'.

Original poster
SpanielSprint · 04/04/2023 14:27

MaryMcCarthy · 04/04/2023 14:12

There's not really anything in the story that would infuriate a cyclist. They couldn't care less whether you're overtaking them or not, they're just used to the drivers behind them being frustrated so signalling when it's safe to overtake would be appreciated by drivers more often than not. It's considerate.

It makes no difference to the cyclist whether you overtake them, so what's your feeling on why they were so aggressive?

I think a key question is how close behind them are you driving, generally?

But signalling ISN’T appreciated! It’s unsafe! Goodness it’s no wonder I come across this problem so much given how many on here don’t seem to get it.

I believe the thing that infuriates the cyclists is that I ignore their ‘command’ to overtake and they feel pressured having a car behind them for a long period (even at a safe distance). Perhaps they think I’m expecting them to pull over or something (I’m not).

I don’t drive too close but I have no way of proving it to you. I will say however that I don’t think the cyclists should be waving cars on no matter what’s going on behind them.

OP posts:
Harrypewter · 04/04/2023 14:30

ifIwerenotanandroid · 04/04/2023 14:20

Another one who hasn't read the OP or the rest of the thread.

Someone who doesn't overtake because they can't see whether there's traffic coming the other way isn't 'dithering'. They're driving safely & correctly. And my experience has proved that some cyclists wave drivers round them even when it would cause a collision were the driver to take their 'advice'.

Show quote history

I've read the thread.
The op is dithering, then stalking. The op is a classic no confidence driver. There are lots about ATM.
No wonder they cyclists are getting annoyed.

Original poster
SpanielSprint · 04/04/2023 14:31

Harrypewter · 04/04/2023 14:30

I've read the thread.
The op is dithering, then stalking. The op is a classic no confidence driver. There are lots about ATM.
No wonder they cyclists are getting annoyed.

Show quote history

What part of ‘single track lane only wide enough for one car’ have you not understood?

OP posts:
Original poster
SpanielSprint · 04/04/2023 14:33

I suspect a lot of the cyclists round here are townies out for a day in the country and have no experience of driving on these sort of roads themselves which is partly why their understanding of the physics of it all seems so out.

OP posts:
Hobert · 04/04/2023 14:36

I cycle much more than I drive and totally recognise the OP's frustration here. If I want a driver to pass me then I pull in, signalling is not helpful.

I get overtaken unsafely in town a lot though (I cycle in central London for my commute) and overall there are many more unsafe twatty drivers than cyclists.

Sistanotcista · 04/04/2023 14:47

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.

Exactly this. DH cycles to and from work. We live in a rural area with narrow roads and ditches on the sides, so not much room for maneuver. The other day he said, "This guy drove behind me all the way from the train station. He was so good and courteous." DH recognised that the driver was patiently waiting until it was safe for everyone if he overtook. He was impressed.

Sistanotcista · 04/04/2023 14:49

*manoeuvre

Neededanewuserhandle · 04/04/2023 14:51

Harrypewter · 04/04/2023 14:30

I've read the thread.
The op is dithering, then stalking. The op is a classic no confidence driver. There are lots about ATM.
No wonder they cyclists are getting annoyed.

Show quote history

You are wrong.

albapunk · 04/04/2023 14:52

Driver. Road Cyclist. Mountain Bike racer.

The road is used by a wide variety of unpredictable, idiotic arseholes who often refuse to accept they are using the road dangerously. On foot, behind the wheel, handlebars or reigns.

Was there safe and suitable places for these cyclists to actually stop and pull in? This could be made even more difficult if the driver is sitting too closely behind as the cyclists need time to actually stop and pull over. Was the Cyclist simply scared and out of her depth? Or was she just an arse?

I won't say YABU or YANBU because none of know the actual version of events, but I will say the Cyclist bashing here is disgusting, especially the comments over Lycra. As a plus size women, wearing lyrca to be comfortable enough to cycle in for long periods is already incredibly daunting, so to read on a female dominated forum the unpleasant comments about people, especially bigger people wearing it, just makes me feel even more self conscious!

Neededanewuserhandle · 04/04/2023 14:55

The last time this happened to me the dickhead on the bike frantically waving me past and getting irate when I didn't had failed to take into account that my door mirror would have been an inch or two from his arm if I'd complied with his frantic waving. Tool. It was simply too narrow to pass him safely, especially if he was planning on wobbling about even more was I passed, making more hand gestures - far better to stay behind and pass at a wider point which I knew was coming up.

I won't pass a cyclist dangerously close just because it suits him.

Devoutspoken · 04/04/2023 14:55

You are in denial op, if you think these sorts of threads do not incite hatred towards a vulnerable road user group, there's enough hatred out there as it is

Neededanewuserhandle · 04/04/2023 14:57

Devoutspoken · 04/04/2023 14:55

You are in denial op, if you think these sorts of threads do not incite hatred towards a vulnerable road user group, there's enough hatred out there as it is

Ridiculously over dramatic.

NoodleQueen90 · 04/04/2023 14:59

Cyclist here... IME, a lot of people (not saying OP) are really poor at judging how far ahead you actually need to see to overtake a bike depending on what speed it is travelling. I can be struggling up a hill at <10mph and people sit behind for aaaaaaaages when they could have passed me safely 10 times over before the next bend at that speed...coming down that same hill on the way home I'm usually sitting at 38-40mph and some will try to overtake me then slam on the brakes at the next bend...all of which is incredibly frustrating/scary but I still don't gesture angrily (although I've been known to shake my head to myself).
I also had an elderly lady sit behind me for about 10 minutes when she could have passed many times. It was a bit unnerving and I did look round a few times but she seemed to have no intention of passing even on very long clear straights. I will note that there were no lay-by's or gates to fields etc or I would have pulled over, this particular road is 13 miles long with a steep verge immediately to the left of the road lane so I didn't stop. When she did eventually pass, another driver that had been sitting behind her for less than a minute passed me extremely close shouting at me to get off the fucking road...so wee Doris was quite happy to sit there but she did inadvertently almost get me killed by not passing when she could😬

Original poster
SpanielSprint · 04/04/2023 15:17

NoodleQueen90 · 04/04/2023 14:59

Cyclist here... IME, a lot of people (not saying OP) are really poor at judging how far ahead you actually need to see to overtake a bike depending on what speed it is travelling. I can be struggling up a hill at <10mph and people sit behind for aaaaaaaages when they could have passed me safely 10 times over before the next bend at that speed...coming down that same hill on the way home I'm usually sitting at 38-40mph and some will try to overtake me then slam on the brakes at the next bend...all of which is incredibly frustrating/scary but I still don't gesture angrily (although I've been known to shake my head to myself).
I also had an elderly lady sit behind me for about 10 minutes when she could have passed many times. It was a bit unnerving and I did look round a few times but she seemed to have no intention of passing even on very long clear straights. I will note that there were no lay-by's or gates to fields etc or I would have pulled over, this particular road is 13 miles long with a steep verge immediately to the left of the road lane so I didn't stop. When she did eventually pass, another driver that had been sitting behind her for less than a minute passed me extremely close shouting at me to get off the fucking road...so wee Doris was quite happy to sit there but she did inadvertently almost get me killed by not passing when she could😬

I can’t comment on your experiences but I find around here it’s more often the width of the road that is the difficulty rather than the visibility ahead. I think the cyclists either misjudge the width of the road, or think I should be driving along the verge to get past them (and I have already explained why I’m not happy to do that).

I know you’re being a bit tongue-in-cheek but I don’t think it’s fair to blame ‘Doris’ for what the driver behind her did. We are all responsible for our own behaviour on the road!

OP posts:
Florissante · 04/04/2023 15:25

YANBU. I don't own a car and loathe cyclists' arrogant attitudes.

Devoutspoken · 04/04/2023 15:42

Needabewusername, I'm not sure what's over dramatic about not wanting to be the recipient of unprovoked aggressive verbal abuse when I'm on my bike, I guess that's all judt part of the female experience, I should just put up and shut up

albapunk · 04/04/2023 15:46

Devoutspoken · 04/04/2023 15:42

Needabewusername, I'm not sure what's over dramatic about not wanting to be the recipient of unprovoked aggressive verbal abuse when I'm on my bike, I guess that's all judt part of the female experience, I should just put up and shut up

This.

I find often I'm almost expected to just put up with abuse even when I'm riding my bike safely, legally and courteously...just because I'm riding a bike! It's interesting because when I ride MTB on designated MTB trails, with signs saying such, I'm still absolutely hounded by walkers telling me I shouldn't be there.

Can't win anywhere!

Ktime · 04/04/2023 15:49

NoodleQueen90 · 04/04/2023 14:59

Cyclist here... IME, a lot of people (not saying OP) are really poor at judging how far ahead you actually need to see to overtake a bike depending on what speed it is travelling. I can be struggling up a hill at <10mph and people sit behind for aaaaaaaages when they could have passed me safely 10 times over before the next bend at that speed...coming down that same hill on the way home I'm usually sitting at 38-40mph and some will try to overtake me then slam on the brakes at the next bend...all of which is incredibly frustrating/scary but I still don't gesture angrily (although I've been known to shake my head to myself).
I also had an elderly lady sit behind me for about 10 minutes when she could have passed many times. It was a bit unnerving and I did look round a few times but she seemed to have no intention of passing even on very long clear straights. I will note that there were no lay-by's or gates to fields etc or I would have pulled over, this particular road is 13 miles long with a steep verge immediately to the left of the road lane so I didn't stop. When she did eventually pass, another driver that had been sitting behind her for less than a minute passed me extremely close shouting at me to get off the fucking road...so wee Doris was quite happy to sit there but she did inadvertently almost get me killed by not passing when she could😬

How can a road be simultaneously too dangerous for you to pull over by but safe for the lady to overtake you?

If it’s wide enough for her to overtake you then it’s wise enough for you to pull over.

ZeroWorshipHere · 04/04/2023 16:34

Devoutspoken · 04/04/2023 13:24

Ifiwerenot, yes you are right, that is why I called the annoying cyclist a 'mardy arse', but still the op did indeed get so mad that she felt the need to post her experience on mumsnet, now if I did that every time I get grief from drivers as a cyclist, I'd never be off here

Honestly I’m cringing for you - you leapt right off at the deep end without even reading and understanding the OP. Now you’ve had it explained to you what it was about you’re still doubling down

midgemadgemodge · 04/04/2023 16:43

Cyclists tend to drive on the left anyway

It could be safe to overtake if you go into the other lane

Without it being possible for the cyclist to move much further left

Logic - a lane with a cycle is always narrower than the lane without the cycle in it

Original poster
SpanielSprint · 04/04/2023 16:46

Devoutspoken · 04/04/2023 15:42

Needabewusername, I'm not sure what's over dramatic about not wanting to be the recipient of unprovoked aggressive verbal abuse when I'm on my bike, I guess that's all judt part of the female experience, I should just put up and shut up

And yet you seem to think I should put up and shut up? I’m sorry that cyclists experience bad behaviour from drivers but I don’t think that invalidates my own experiences.

OP posts:
Original poster
SpanielSprint · 04/04/2023 16:48

midgemadgemodge · 04/04/2023 16:43

Cyclists tend to drive on the left anyway

It could be safe to overtake if you go into the other lane

Without it being possible for the cyclist to move much further left

Logic - a lane with a cycle is always narrower than the lane without the cycle in it

There isn’t another lane 🙇🏻‍♀️

OP posts: