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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
SoupDragon · 03/04/2023 18:37

nomoremerlot · 03/04/2023 18:34

@SoupDragon I think you'll find including the OP there are at least 3.

Maybe take the time to read the posts, otherwise you'll remain in the wrong.

I called her a bad driver, because I think she is!

You think not overtaking when you can't see whether the road is clear makes you a bad driver? Hanging back from cyclists makes you a bad driver?

unbelievable.

nomoremerlot · 03/04/2023 18:37

@SoupDragon hint read all the posts .....

They're very enlightening!

nomoremerlot · 03/04/2023 18:38

@SoupDragon getting angry makes her a bad driver!

Have we moved on from all the posts you couldn't see now?

SoupDragon · 03/04/2023 18:38

nomoremerlot · 03/04/2023 18:36

@SoupDragon I quoted "fucking cyclists" which is fairly generic and very hateful.

One poster said she despised all cyclists

Another they hated all cyclists.

It's all there to read......

It's not that long a thread.

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.

From the first post. it's not that long a post.

SoupDragon · 03/04/2023 18:39

nomoremerlot · 03/04/2023 18:38

@SoupDragon getting angry makes her a bad driver!

Have we moved on from all the posts you couldn't see now?

She didn't.

the cyclist was the one who got angry. or are we ignoring that?

InSpainTheRain · 03/04/2023 18:40

I agree OP - that sort of behaviour is so annoying. I also had the same scenario just this weekend when I was stuck behind 7 cyclist riding 3 abreast with one at the rear. The guy at the back kept waving me on, I wasn't close to them, I didn't really it was safe to pass so had to stay where I was. When we got to the end of the road there was massive abuse because I didn't overtake but it wasn't safe to overtake. I thought about trying to explain but in reality didn't because it was obvious they weren't up for a reasonable conversation.

SoupDragon · 03/04/2023 18:40

nomoremerlot · 03/04/2023 18:37

@SoupDragon hint read all the posts .....

They're very enlightening!

🙄

nomoremerlot · 03/04/2023 18:40

@SoupDragon just stating "fucking cyclists" as her first two words is vile!

Have you managed to catch up the other cyclist haters on the thread?

Can't you reschedule those posts?

nomoremerlot · 03/04/2023 18:41

nomoremerlot · 03/04/2023 18:40

@SoupDragon just stating "fucking cyclists" as her first two words is vile!

Have you managed to catch up the other cyclist haters on the thread?

Can't you reschedule those posts?

Read, not reschedule

ifIwerenotanandroid · 03/04/2023 18:41

Mumski45 · 03/04/2023 16:27

To be totally honest it is unlikely that a cyclist would encourage you to pass if it's not safe as they are by far the more vulnerable road user. Are you sure you aren't being a bit too cautious and sitting behind them too close. It can be intimidating to have someone stick behind you when you are trying to give them time and space to overtake and if you have slowed down to allow an overtake it's even more frustrating if the driver doesn't take the opportunity.

Most drivers who don't like cyclists would complain that the cyclists never let them pass so this does sound unusual.

Poor cyclists can't do right these days, hated by pedestrians if on the pavement (even shared use ones) hated by drivers when slowing traffic on the road and now for trying to let someone pass.

But they're not 'trying to let someone pass'. If they were, they'd throw themselves into the hedge to get off the road. They're just waving motorists into oncoming traffic.

ChrissyShenkle · 03/04/2023 18:42

I read this as cystitis and was all ready with my remedies..

rampagingrobot · 03/04/2023 18:43

The thing is, if a cyclist gets angry at a car driver, the driver might go and moan on the internet. If a car driver gets angry at a cyclist, the cyclist might die.

That's the fundamental reason cyclists get angry at poor driving. And the OP following someone for 10min when there were chances to overtake could easily been seen as threatening.

Dreamysaurus · 03/04/2023 18:43

ChrissyShenkle · 03/04/2023 18:42

I read this as cystitis and was all ready with my remedies..

😂😂😂

nomoremerlot · 03/04/2023 18:44

ChrissyShenkle · 03/04/2023 18:42

I read this as cystitis and was all ready with my remedies..

I've got loads of remedies for that Grin

Dreamysaurus · 03/04/2023 18:44

@ChrissyShenkle the last time I had a bike ride my flaps hurt SO much. In the end it was stinging to wee.

Had to get a new saddle after that!

It was awful!! I needed a cystitis sachet to neutralise my stingy wee. It did work!

AskMeMore · 03/04/2023 18:45

@Mumski45 The first rule of car driving is not to overtake unless you can see it is safe to do so. It does not matter if cyclists farther ahead think it is safe to do so. You need to be able to see that yourself as a car driver.
And frankly I do not care of a cyclist thinks I ma being too cautious by not overtaking on blind bends. I will overtake when I can see it is safe to overtake. Tough if you do not like a car behind you.

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 03/04/2023 18:46

ifIwerenotanandroid · 03/04/2023 18:34

OMG yes!

I also drive on a lot of country roads & I get exactly this: cyclists...

  • blocking the road (because it's narrow & twisting so lots of blind bends which makes overtaking impossible)
  • getting furious with me because I have the gall to use the road behind them
  • waving me past on potentially lethal blind bends

Anyone who denies this happens simply doesn't drive on this type of road. I see you're in Yorkshire, OP. I'm on the south coast & I get exactly the same thing. Cyclists (on MN anyway) seem proud of the fact that they hold up cars, so why do they get so angry when we're stuck behind them? At least it means I don't feel angry with them, because I know they're more put out by the situation than I am. It gives me a sort of grim satisfaction to sit there while they turn & glower at me every so often & I decline their invitation to drive headlong into oncoming traffic (which also convinces me that they're morons, giving me a warm feeling of superiority).

Why do they feel like this? The only explanation I can come up with is that they feel that if they cycle in the countryside, there should be no cars around at all, so they can arse around doing a Fotherington-Thomas ("Hello flowers, hello trees!") & pretending they're back in the 1950s. Well, tough luck.

I live in rural Norfolk. But also spend time in other rural areas of the country due to family. There are a lot of cyclists here.
I have never had this happen to me.
I don’t think I’ve even ever had a cyclist wave me on.
I’ve met far too many drivers who don’t know how to reverse to a passing place though.

StopStartStop · 03/04/2023 18:46

'Fucking cyclists' - Oh no, too skinny.
'Fucking cyclists' - 'There's a fucking cyclist out there' /'No, it's just a cyclist.'/'Nah, it's fucking cyclist.'

Don't drive near Otley. They know they own the road.

Original poster
SpanielSprint · 03/04/2023 18:47

nomoremerlot · 03/04/2023 18:34

@SoupDragon I think you'll find including the OP there are at least 3.

Maybe take the time to read the posts, otherwise you'll remain in the wrong.

I called her a bad driver, because I think she is!

Can you explain why you think I am a bad driver based on this thread? Is it because I refuse to overtake on blind corners?

OP posts:
Mumski45 · 03/04/2023 18:47

@AskMeMore where did I say someone should overtake if they can't see if it is safe to do so?

lljkk · 03/04/2023 18:47

yeah to be fair, I haven't been spat at by other drivers. I have seen drivers chase a cyclist off the road, cut drivers up, blur thru pedestrian crossings, splash pedestrians almighty, flash all sorts of lights aggressively, do dodgy overtaking undertaking everytaking, clamber onto pavements, brake hard provocatively, chase cars on the offramp, play tag in traffic, race others in heavy traffic. And shout tonnes of abuse. But not seen anyone manage to spit on others while driving. Not even sure I've seen a driver raise a middle finger (Police Squad movie excepted).

AskMeMore · 03/04/2023 18:48

@Mumski45 You suggested car drivers who refuse to overtake when they can't see it is safe to do so but are being waved on by cyclists are over cautious.

nomoremerlot · 03/04/2023 18:50

@SpanielSprint no it's your irate nature, just saying fucking cyclists, shows your anger.

Not a good combination.

Cymraescwtch · 03/04/2023 18:52

YABVU OP:

  • 'Fucking cyclists - thanks for stirring up more hatred, it puts us all at more risk (I drive and ride a bike)

  • If you were right on their tail (hard to tell from your OP), the police consider this unacceptable behaviour and will act on cyclecam footage which shows this.

YANBU if:

You weren't tailgating and waited for a safe place to pass, wide and at a safe speed. Absolutely right to make your own calculation as the driver.

You're still very, very wrong to encourage hatred against someone's mother, daughter, sister, brother, son etc - we're all human beings going about our lives.

Original poster
SpanielSprint · 03/04/2023 18:53

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 03/04/2023 18:46

I live in rural Norfolk. But also spend time in other rural areas of the country due to family. There are a lot of cyclists here.
I have never had this happen to me.
I don’t think I’ve even ever had a cyclist wave me on.
I’ve met far too many drivers who don’t know how to reverse to a passing place though.

Show quote history

I suspect you simply do not drive on these types of roads then, like a lot of posters on this thread. I was born and bred in what I considered to be a fairly rural part of east anglia and have also lived in several other parts of the countryside. But I moved to deepest darkest dales about 10 years ago and it really is something else.

OP posts: