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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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Original poster
SpanielSprint · 03/04/2023 16:35

I’m a horse rider and did my ‘riding and road safety’ test when I was a teenager. I remember being told to NEVER wave a car on even if you can see much further ahead than they can because it’s for the driver to establish whether it is safe to overtake or not.

OP posts:
Coyoacan · 03/04/2023 16:35

As a cyclist, there are few things more terrifying than a car just behind you for a prolonged period of time. One feels that if anything were to tip you off the bicycle, they'd be right over you before they could stop

Dreamysaurus · 03/04/2023 16:35

@SpanielSprint you've poked a 2 wheeled hornets nest.... but YANBU x

CoalTit · 03/04/2023 16:36

Obviously it's shit when you get abuse for driving safely and considerably. It's scary how many road users don't know the highway code or don't think it applies to them.
But it's twattish to then try to stir up hostility towards the demographic whose members were rude to you. If another motorist had behaved badly I don't think you'd be on here writing "fucking car drivers" or "fucking lorry drivers".

PauliesWalnuts · 03/04/2023 16:36

You don't sound like a very confident driver - I'm not surprised they want you out from behind their back wheel. You might want to try refresher driving lessons, or an advanced driving course.

Finalstar · 03/04/2023 16:37

I spend a lot of time driving in rural Yorkshire. It's entirely possible to not be able to safely overtake for 10 minutes (or more). Quite often there are limited places where you can safely overtake anyway, and sod's law dictates there is oncoming traffic when you reach these spots. Many of the lanes are very narrow and twisty with lots of hairpin turns and blind corners. Add in high hedges or trees where you cannot see over the tops to view oncoming traffic from further round the bend, and you get the picture!

UWhatNow · 03/04/2023 16:37

YANBU - I feel the same op about ‘leisure’ cyclists - usually male - holding up all the traffic on rural roads just because they want a day out. Arrogant twats.

On the other hand, I have endless patience for those clearly cycling for work purposes. That’s entirely different.

Perfect28 · 03/04/2023 16:37

Yep, can't stand when they instruct you to overtake. That's my call as the driver thanks...

farnhamgal · 03/04/2023 16:38

Ktime · 03/04/2023 16:20

YANBU, keep trailing them, don’t be bullied into unsafe driving. Get a dashcam.

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.

Original poster
SpanielSprint · 03/04/2023 16:38

farnhamgal · 03/04/2023 16:32

This. If you left a significant gap then presumably they could see round the corners and we're letting you know it's safe.

Was there really no opportunity to overtake in ten minutes??

Show quote history

I’m not interested if they think it is safe or not. Only I can judge that. If I overtake at their command and then smash into another car or whatever will the cyclist take the blame and pay the repair bill?

OP posts:
Ktime · 03/04/2023 16:38

farnhamgal · 03/04/2023 16:32

This. If you left a significant gap then presumably they could see round the corners and we're letting you know it's safe.

Was there really no opportunity to overtake in ten minutes??

Show quote history

Again, this is terrible advice. You should never rely on anyone else’s judgement when overtaking. If OP gets into a smash, that will be completely her fault, the cyclist won’t be injured or liable for the accident.

Lockheart · 03/04/2023 16:38

UWhatNow · 03/04/2023 16:37

YANBU - I feel the same op about ‘leisure’ cyclists - usually male - holding up all the traffic on rural roads just because they want a day out. Arrogant twats.

On the other hand, I have endless patience for those clearly cycling for work purposes. That’s entirely different.

You've clearly never been to Cornwall or Dorset in the summer. The roads are totally clogged with leisure drivers wanting a day out.

stbrandonsboat · 03/04/2023 16:40

You're the driver and it's your judgement call as to whether you overtake. Don't take any notice of cyclist's attitude or gesticulations, just treat them as a potential hazard and give them plenty of room when overtaking. The cyclist can't see the road as you see it because you're, in effect, in the middle of the road and they're near the kerb.

Ktime · 03/04/2023 16:40

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.

Show quote history

It is bullying behaviour to scream ‘fucking twat’ at someone. Next they’ll be banging on OP’s window and you’ll justify that too.

Finalstar · 03/04/2023 16:40

PauliesWalnuts · 03/04/2023 16:36

You don't sound like a very confident driver - I'm not surprised they want you out from behind their back wheel. You might want to try refresher driving lessons, or an advanced driving course.

I'm struggling to think of a reputable driving instructor who would recommend overtaking on a blind corner or when there is oncoming traffic. Or one who would recommend that you ignore the Highway Code direction to only proceed when you are satisfied it's safe to do so.

Mumski45 · 03/04/2023 16:40

@UWhatNow why on earth should a commuter cyclist have more consideration than a leisure cyclist. They all have a right to be one the road whatever the purpose of their journey.

Do you feel the same about leisure drivers. Ie people clogging up the roads because they are on their way to have fun rather than go to work?

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

midgemadgemodge · 03/04/2023 16:40

I would guess it means you are driving uncomfortably close or the cyclist can see further than you can

Probably both

blobby10 · 03/04/2023 16:41

@Cornwallintherain your post is the best so far simply for your use of the words 'swinky swonky' 😂😂😂😂😂

PinkFootstool · 03/04/2023 16:41

Yep, fucking nightmare.

I'm not long back from Lanzarote. We hired a car and drove up into the volcanic region. Several hairpin bends, very dodgy. On one hairpin bend, I was driving up the steep hill, hugging the cliff face and doing about 20kph. Two cyclists came careening around the corner on the wrong fucking side of the road, right in front of me. If I'd been going any quicker they'd be dead and I'd be in big trouble. As it was I came to an emergency stop and they screamed past me at high speed as they coasted down the hill.

The island is absolutely saturated with MAMIL types, clipped onto the damn pedals and trying to do the next Ironman etc. All very well, but many of them are incredibly dangerous riders with fuck all consideration for the safety of themselves or anyone else.

Ktime · 03/04/2023 16:43

midgemadgemodge · 03/04/2023 16:40

I would guess it means you are driving uncomfortably close or the cyclist can see further than you can

Probably both

Some of you really need driving lessons again.

Did your instructor never teach you to ignore being instructed by others and to use your own judgement?

unclebuck · 03/04/2023 16:43

I live in a very similar location and it is horrendous. I was spat at by a male cyclist yesterday for absolutely no reason other than I was 'in his way' at the side of the road closing a gate.

farnhamgal · 03/04/2023 16:43

I’m not interested if they think it is safe or not. Only I can judge that. If I overtake at their command and then smash into another car or whatever will the cyclist take the blame and pay the repair bill?

@SpanielSprint

I wasn't saying do as they say and overtake. I know you should never overtake on someone else's instruction. I was coming at an angle if that's probably what they are thinking, and instead of being twats, they (wrongly) probably thought they were being helpful.

I'm not saying what they did was right at all.

OneTC · 03/04/2023 16:44

I've had the experience of cyclists getting irate when I wouldn't overtake because I knew the road and knew that overtaking anywhere along it is a percentages game I'm not willing to play. so now if I know the road well and that passing will basically be impossible I tend to sit back a distance that's difficult for them to communicate over so they don't bother.

SoupDragon · 03/04/2023 16:44

I sincerely hope the people suggesting you should ignore your own judgement overtake when you can't see ahead aren't drivers. Totally stupid thing to do.