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The antidote
I went to work on my bike yesterday. In the evening I rode out to visit my
mother. This made 16 miles altogether. I didn't wear a helmet. I didn't ride on the pavement. I stopped at traffic lights I used lights and hiviz in the dark No driver killed me I didn't kill any pedestrians Gosh how uneventful. But it was enjoyable, as expected. I don't see the outside world where I work so I was surprised to be told it had rained heavily. Although there was a slight touch of drizzle before I left in the morning and the roads were damp it didn't develop during my journey. In the evening the sky was clear, the traffic was light and the lights on the buildings near the canal reflected in the still water. I made good time to my mother (the 5 miles only takes 5 minutes longer than by car). The evening was warmer than expected but I carried fresh clothes. Coming back, the traffic was lighter, the air fresher and I didn't rush. I like crossing town on the bike at night - I feel like a ghost, travelling quietly and anonymously; and even the buildings that are less aesthetic in daylight can take on a different perspective when under the cover of lights and darkness. |
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The antidote
"DavidR" wrote in message ... I went to work on my bike yesterday. In the evening I rode out to visit my mother. This made 16 miles altogether. Gosh how uneventful. I think that this is the case for the 'silent majority' of cyclists :-) I'm so glad that I don't live in any of the 'war zones' that are regularly reported upon..... |
#3
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The antidote
On 11 Oct, 06:55, "vernon" wrote:
"DavidR" wrote in message ... I went to work on my bike yesterday. In the evening I rode out to visit my mother. This made 16 miles altogether. Gosh how uneventful. I think that this is the case for the 'silent majority' of cyclists :-) I'm so glad that I don't live in any of the 'war zones' that are regularly reported upon..... I had to cycle across Norwich with loppers, shears and four heavy bags of coffee in my panniers. WVM behind revved at the lights and hugged my back wheel as I ploughed uphill. It wasn't safe for him to overtake and he didn't, so at the summit I turned in the saddle and showed him a hand, then a thumb up and got the same back. He realised I was thanking him although I hadn't acknowledged him the whole climb. Pass it on, too many people want to DEHUMANISE cyclists, thanking considerate drivers HUMANISES us. Sorry for shouting. |
#4
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The antidote
In message .com
spindrift wrote: It wasn't safe for him to overtake and he didn't, so at the summit I turned in the saddle and showed him a hand, then a thumb up and got the same back. Good ; I try not to do it sarcastically, and mostly succeed. Well said! -- Charles Brompton P6R-Plus; CarryFreedom -YL, in Motspur Park LCC; CTC. |
#5
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The antidote
spindrift wrote:
Pass it on, too many people want to DEHUMANISE cyclists, thanking considerate drivers HUMANISES us. Yup, consideration breeds consideration IME, whatever vehicle you're controlling. Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/ |
#6
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The antidote
"DavidR" wrote in message
... I went to work on my bike yesterday. In the evening I rode out to visit my mother. This made 16 miles altogether. I didn't wear a helmet. I didn't ride on the pavement. I stopped at traffic lights I used lights and hiviz in the dark No driver killed me I didn't kill any pedestrians Gosh how uneventful. But it was enjoyable, as expected. I don't see the outside world where I work so I was surprised to be told it had rained heavily. Although there was a slight touch of drizzle before I left in the morning and the roads were damp it didn't develop during my journey. In the evening the sky was clear, the traffic was light and the lights on the buildings near the canal reflected in the still water. I made good time to my mother (the 5 miles only takes 5 minutes longer than by car). The evening was warmer than expected but I carried fresh clothes. Coming back, the traffic was lighter, the air fresher and I didn't rush. I like crossing town on the bike at night - I feel like a ghost, travelling quietly and anonymously; and even the buildings that are less aesthetic in daylight can take on a different perspective when under the cover of lights and darkness. Well said that man. I am a car driver and have been known to do over 40,000 miles a year on business. It's down to about 20,000 at the moment. I got back onto a bike 6 months ago, for health and recreational purposes, after well over a twenty year gap. I've slowly built up to an average of 60-65 miles over a week, which is probably peanuts to some of you, but it's plenty enough for me! My usual ride takes me on local roads, suburban roads, country roads and the first red route outside of London. I do wear a helmet, but only because the wife nagged me into it and I do like a quiet life; I don't ride on the pavement, probably because I'm of the age when coppers told you off for doing it; I stop at traffic lights and pedestrian crossings, manoeuvring myself safely into the middle of the lane as I do; I don't zip up on the nearside (or offside) of stopped traffic, but wait with it and find an alternative route asap; I've got more lights than Blackpool Illuminations for night riding (I've actually got two front lights, set up in a similar manner to dipped car headlights with one lighting in front and one lighting the kerb); I've got the biggest, yellowest jacket you ever did see; I haven't been killed by a driver yet, even though dare I say it an Audi driver tried last night - you should have seen the telling off his girlfriend / wife gave him when she looked out of the car window and saw how close he was to me; I haven't killed a pedestrian yet, although there's always time, I suppose! I did bike a lot as a kid, however, I'm actually riding more miles now than ever I used to and I'm loving nearly every minute of it. There have been some close calls at times, but they've been down to sheer stupidity (and, I'm not afraid to admit, sometimes on my part). I really don't understand the total vehemence and blinkered attitudes that have surfaced lately in this group from cyclists and drivers. Yes, there will always be a minority of idiots - that's a fact of life. Again, accidents can, and do happen. Mistakes can be made. We can all misjudge things at times. As ever, common sense should rule, Perhaps the amount of driving I do has given me a bit of roadcraft, because when I'm driving, I look and allow for cyclists and bikers and when I'm cycling, I consider drivers. Kevin the Lurker (first post since I've been here in UKRC!) |
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The antidote
spindrift wrote:
I had to cycle across Norwich with loppers, shears and four heavy bags of coffee in my panniers. WVM behind revved at the lights and hugged my back wheel as I ploughed uphill. It wasn't safe for him to overtake and he didn't, so at the summit I turned in the saddle and showed him a hand, then a thumb up and got the same back. He realised I was thanking him although I hadn't acknowledged him the whole climb. Pass it on, too many people want to DEHUMANISE cyclists, thanking considerate drivers HUMANISES us. Speaking as a driver, I have to say I don't expect thanks from cyclists, and would prefer you kept both hands on the handlebars except when signalling. |
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The antidote
On Oct 11, 6:55 am, "vernon" wrote:
"DavidR" wrote in message I went to work on my bike yesterday. In the evening I rode out to visit my mother. This made 16 miles altogether. Gosh how uneventful. I think that this is the case for the 'silent majority' of cyclists :-) I'm so glad that I don't live in any of the 'war zones' that are regularly reported upon..... Agreed. I've had some lovely commutes lately, across the hill tops in watery sunshine, looking at the mist in the valleys below, then descending into the mist for the last mile. I feel really lucky with my commute. Virtually no issues with drivers - although I've had three school buses come rather close in the past few months, one particularly badly. Rob |
#9
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On Oct 11, 8:40 am, spindrift wrote:
I had to cycle across Norwich with loppers, shears and four heavy bags of coffee in my panniers. WVM behind revved at the lights and hugged my back wheel as I ploughed uphill. It wasn't safe for him to overtake and he didn't, so at the summit I turned in the saddle and showed him a hand, then a thumb up and got the same back. He realised I was thanking him although I hadn't acknowledged him the whole climb. Pass it on, too many people want to DEHUMANISE cyclists, thanking considerate drivers HUMANISES us. I'd love to acknowledge/thank drivers who wait for a safe place to pass on my rural commute but don't really know how to do it. Typical situation is me doing 15-20 mph on a bend. The good drivers stay behind me until the straight, then go past fairly quickly. With the speeds involved and not knowing quite when they are going to come past, turning to make eye contact isn't really an option and a handwave seems too ambiguous. Any other ideas? Rob |
#10
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The antidote
On 11 Oct, 12:37, wrote:
On Oct 11, 8:40 am, spindrift wrote: I had to cycle across Norwich with loppers, shears and four heavy bags of coffee in my panniers. WVM behind revved at the lights and hugged my back wheel as I ploughed uphill. It wasn't safe for him to overtake and he didn't, so at the summit I turned in the saddle and showed him a hand, then a thumb up and got the same back. He realised I was thanking him although I hadn't acknowledged him the whole climb. Pass it on, too many people want to DEHUMANISE cyclists, thanking considerate drivers HUMANISES us. I'd love to acknowledge/thank drivers who wait for a safe place to pass on my rural commute but don't really know how to do it. Typical situation is me doing 15-20 mph on a bend. The good drivers stay behind me until the straight, then go past fairly quickly. With the speeds involved and not knowing quite when they are going to come past, turning to make eye contact isn't really an option and a handwave seems too ambiguous. Any other ideas? Rob I raise my offside hand off the bars, keeping the heel of my hand on the bar, usually they see it and it means I'm not made unsteady by frantically waving like some kind of mentalist. No offence Sir jeremy. |
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