Cycling on Road with National Speed Limit?

Hi,
Part of my journey takes me along a 2/3rd mile stretch of unrestricted
single carriageway so the cars fairly hack along it. It's a good width
though so even if a driver does misjudge an overtake with me the cyclist
there is room for three, not that I want that mind.
Now I could cycle along a shared cycle/footpath BUT it has the usual
liberal sprinkling of broken glass and it's such a rough bumpy surface
it's not particularly comfortable to ride.
Also after reading an interesting thread on here a couple of days ago
about positioning I realised I'm riding too close to the kerb so I'm
riding more like a metre out from the end of my handlebars or in the left
hand wheel rut and this seems to work better than being close to the kerb
where it entices drivers to try and squeeze 3 abreast.
So I'm riding along tonight along this stretch which is the final leg of
my journey home feeling happy as you do riding along when the sun's out
when some tosser comes past me at a slow pace with the passenger window
wound down shouting incoherently at me. I do manage to get the gist of
what he's saying as I picked out the words cycle path amongst what was
most likely obscenities. I've caused him to slow from his 50 - 60 mph for
probably 10 seconds before he's gone past, I know legally I have every
right to ride this stretch of Road but would you stick to the Road or
should I take my chances with the cycle path or maybe pick another route?
The experience leaves me really annoyed at just one idiots ignorance.

Regards
Wayne.

On Thu, 09 Jun 2005 19:26:37 GMT,
wayne wrote:
So I'm riding along tonight along this stretch which is the final leg of
my journey home feeling happy as you do riding along when the sun's out
when some tosser comes past me at a slow pace with the passenger window
wound down shouting incoherently at me. I do manage to get the gist of
what he's saying as I picked out the words cycle path amongst what was
most likely obscenities. I've caused him to slow from his 50 - 60 mph for
probably 10 seconds before he's gone past, I know legally I have every
right to ride this stretch of Road but would you stick to the Road or
should I take my chances with the cycle path or maybe pick another route?
The experience leaves me really annoyed at just one idiots ignorance.

You always get ******s like this - ignore them. Even when I am walking
along the pavement I sometimes get yobs half-hanging out the passenger
window shouting stuff I barely hear at me. The frequency of these things
happening depends on where you live. At least I've never had stuff thrown
at me, or people trying to make physical contact with me like some have
on this newsgroup.

--
Andy Leighton =
"The Lord is my shepherd, but we still lost the sheep dog trials"
- Robert Rankin, _They Came And Ate Us_

"wayne" wrote in message
newsan.2005.06.09.19.26.13.991567@blackholeofcal cutta.org...

So I'm riding along tonight along this stretch which is the final leg of
my journey home feeling happy as you do riding along when the sun's out
when some tosser comes past me at a slow pace with the passenger window
wound down shouting incoherently at me. I do manage to get the gist of
what he's saying as I picked out the words cycle path amongst what was
most likely obscenities. I've caused him to slow from his 50 - 60 mph for
probably 10 seconds before he's gone past, I know legally I have every
right to ride this stretch of Road but would you stick to the Road or
should I take my chances with the cycle path or maybe pick another route?
The experience leaves me really annoyed at just one idiots ignorance.

Regards
Wayne.


The vast majority of roads I cycle on a national speed limit. ******* are
*******, no matter what the speed limit of the road they happen to be on.
Bear in mind that the tosser who yelled at you may well have *not* slowed
down had you been cycling in the gutter and there is the real risk he would
have gone by so closely said tosser could have hit you. By riding further
out you took a positive step to help ensure your safety from such *******.
Where possible, ignore *******. If possible, get their registration number
and report them to plod. You do not have to use the cycle path - as your
description of the one you might have used, it certainly would not be safe
due to broken glass & surface condition.

Cheers, helen s

On Thu, 09 Jun 2005 19:45:16 +0000, Andy Leighton wrote:

On Thu, 09 Jun 2005 19:26:37 GMT,
wayne wrote:
So I'm riding along tonight along this stretch which is the final leg of
my journey home feeling happy as you do riding along when the sun's out
when some tosser comes past me at a slow pace with the passenger window
wound down shouting incoherently at me. I do manage to get the gist of
what he's saying as I picked out the words cycle path amongst what was
most likely obscenities. I've caused him to slow from his 50 - 60 mph for
probably 10 seconds before he's gone past, I know legally I have every
right to ride this stretch of Road but would you stick to the Road or
should I take my chances with the cycle path or maybe pick another route?
The experience leaves me really annoyed at just one idiots ignorance.

You always get ******s like this - ignore them. Even when I am walking
along the pavement I sometimes get yobs half-hanging out the passenger
window shouting stuff I barely hear at me. The frequency of these things
happening depends on where you live. At least I've never had stuff thrown
at me, or people trying to make physical contact with me like some have
on this newsgroup.

This reminds me of my Brother who was cycling in Dorking one day, a car
drives past and the passenger is firing staples at him! Luckily he's
wearing sunglasses otherwise they could of had an eye out. He gave chase
and because he was in town found the car parked outside a newsagent. Him
and his friend waited outside for them to reappear and when they did he
confronted them, a risky strategy if you ask me. Anyway they denied it and
after a few choice words they went on their way. Still they might think
twice before doing it again.

Wayne.

On Thu, 09 Jun 2005 20:49:19 +0100, wafflycat wrote:


"wayne" wrote in message
newsan.2005.06.09.19.26.13.991567@blackholeofcal cutta.org...

So I'm riding along tonight along this stretch which is the final leg of
my journey home feeling happy as you do riding along when the sun's out
when some tosser comes past me at a slow pace with the passenger window
wound down shouting incoherently at me. I do manage to get the gist of
what he's saying as I picked out the words cycle path amongst what was
most likely obscenities. I've caused him to slow from his 50 - 60 mph for
probably 10 seconds before he's gone past, I know legally I have every
right to ride this stretch of Road but would you stick to the Road or
should I take my chances with the cycle path or maybe pick another route?
The experience leaves me really annoyed at just one idiots ignorance.

Regards
Wayne.


The vast majority of roads I cycle on a national speed limit. ******* are
*******, no matter what the speed limit of the road they happen to be on.
Bear in mind that the tosser who yelled at you may well have *not* slowed
down had you been cycling in the gutter and there is the real risk he would
have gone by so closely said tosser could have hit you. By riding further
out you took a positive step to help ensure your safety from such *******.
Where possible, ignore *******. If possible, get their registration number
and report them to plod. You do not have to use the cycle path - as your
description of the one you might have used, it certainly would not be safe
due to broken glass & surface condition.

Cheers, helen s

Yes your probably right, at least he slowed down. I don't envy you riding
so many fast roads. I was too slow thinking about the
number plate, next time it happens I shall definitely try and get it.
The cycle paths around my way are so littered with glass you can almost
guarantee a puncture, especially in the wet.
I like to ride at a reasonable pace too and find paths just don't really
work for the most part.

Regards
Wayne.

"wayne" wrote in message
newsan.2005.06.09.20.07.13.14232@blackholeofcalc utta.org...


Yes your probably right, at least he slowed down. I don't envy you riding
so many fast roads. I was too slow thinking about the
number plate, next time it happens I shall definitely try and get it.
The cycle paths around my way are so littered with glass you can almost
guarantee a puncture, especially in the wet.
I like to ride at a reasonable pace too and find paths just don't really
work for the most part.

Regards
Wayne.

There's the rub. They shouldn't be 'fast roads' as the vast majority are
narrow rural lanes with many a bend and reduced visibility due to
hedges/trees etc., along the verge. The national speed limit still applies
though. And too many drivers think that because the speed limit is 60, it's
duty bound on them to try to drive at or above that spee at all times :-(
The other problem with such roads is that as they are used primarily by
'locals' who 'know the road' they can't possibly be a
cyclist/pedestrian/person on horse/deer etc., etc. just round that bend...

On the plus side - the drivers who are out to get you are in the minority
:-)

Cheers, helen s

"wayne" wrote in message
newsan.2005.06.09.19.26.13.991567@blackholeofcal cutta.org...
Hi,
Part of my journey takes me along a 2/3rd mile stretch of unrestricted
single carriageway so the cars fairly hack along it. It's a good width
though so even if a driver does misjudge an overtake with me the cyclist
there is room for three, not that I want that mind.
Now I could cycle along a shared cycle/footpath BUT it has the usual
liberal sprinkling of broken glass and it's such a rough bumpy surface
it's not particularly comfortable to ride.
Also after reading an interesting thread on here a couple of days ago
about positioning I realised I'm riding too close to the kerb so I'm
riding more like a metre out from the end of my handlebars or in the left
hand wheel rut and this seems to work better than being close to the kerb
where it entices drivers to try and squeeze 3 abreast.
So I'm riding along tonight along this stretch which is the final leg of
my journey home feeling happy as you do riding along when the sun's out
when some tosser comes past me at a slow pace with the passenger window
wound down shouting incoherently at me. I do manage to get the gist of
what he's saying as I picked out the words cycle path amongst what was
most likely obscenities. I've caused him to slow from his 50 - 60 mph for
probably 10 seconds before he's gone past, I know legally I have every
right to ride this stretch of Road but would you stick to the Road or
should I take my chances with the cycle path or maybe pick another route?
The experience leaves me really annoyed at just one idiots ignorance.

Regards
Wayne.


Hi Wayne,

I think many people have had just this sort of experience. I was sat on a
bench at the side of the road, and someone slowed, wound down the window,
and screamed 'freak' at me. I just stood up and waved as he roared off.

I was shook up, angry, wanted revenge, wondered whether to cycle there
again. This soon passed and I reasoned that I'd been riding since childhood,
and I've only had abuse three times. I just ended up making light of it
deciding he must be envious, or had a bike dropped on his head (not from
high enough though) when he was a kid, and was not worth the effort.

My experience of cycle paths is that they can be more of a hazard than the
road: lamp/sign posts, extendable dog leads, glass, thorns, gratings etc.
Some I'll use, some I won't - they're an alternative, not a requirement.

You cycle where you want, don't be dictated to by imbeciles just looking for
a buzz. I'm saying that not only as a fellow cyclist, but as a driver who
uses high speed single carriageways daily.

Regards

Nigel.

On Thu, 09 Jun 2005 21:14:58 +0100, wafflycat wrote:


There's the rub. They shouldn't be 'fast roads' as the vast majority are
narrow rural lanes with many a bend and reduced visibility due to
hedges/trees etc., along the verge. The national speed limit still applies
though. And too many drivers think that because the speed limit is 60, it's
duty bound on them to try to drive at or above that spee at all times :-(
The other problem with such roads is that as they are used primarily by
'locals' who 'know the road' they can't possibly be a
cyclist/pedestrian/person on horse/deer etc., etc. just round that bend...

On the plus side - the drivers who are out to get you are in the minority
:-)

Cheers, helen s

:-) Good odds then!

Do you have a mirror? I wonder if it's worth using one so you can bail out
into the verge if you have too :-)

Regards
Wayne.

Andy Leighton wrote:
On Thu, 09 Jun 2005 19:26:37 GMT,
wayne wrote:

So I'm riding along tonight along this stretch which is the final leg of
my journey home feeling happy as you do riding along when the sun's out
when some tosser comes past me at a slow pace with the passenger window
wound down shouting incoherently at me. I do manage to get the gist of
what he's saying as I picked out the words cycle path amongst what was
most likely obscenities. I've caused him to slow from his 50 - 60 mph for
probably 10 seconds before he's gone past, I know legally I have every
right to ride this stretch of Road but would you stick to the Road or
should I take my chances with the cycle path or maybe pick another route?
The experience leaves me really annoyed at just one idiots ignorance.


You always get ******s like this - ignore them. Even when I am walking
along the pavement I sometimes get yobs half-hanging out the passenger
window shouting stuff I barely hear at me. The frequency of these things
happening depends on where you live. At least I've never had stuff thrown
at me, or people trying to make physical contact with me like some have
on this newsgroup.

You're not a real hero of the road until you've been shot by a car
passenger, IME.

in message pan.2005.06.09.19.26.13.991567@blackholeofcalcutt a.org,
wayne ') wrote:

Hi,
Part of my journey takes me along a 2/3rd mile stretch of unrestricted
single carriageway so the cars fairly hack along it. It's a good width
though so even if a driver does misjudge an overtake with me the
cyclist there is room for three, not that I want that mind.
Now I could cycle along a shared cycle/footpath BUT it has the usual
liberal sprinkling of broken glass and it's such a rough bumpy surface
it's not particularly comfortable to ride.
Also after reading an interesting thread on here a couple of days ago
about positioning I realised I'm riding too close to the kerb so I'm
riding more like a metre out from the end of my handlebars or in the
left hand wheel rut and this seems to work better than being close to
the kerb where it entices drivers to try and squeeze 3 abreast.
So I'm riding along tonight along this stretch which is the final leg
of my journey home feeling happy as you do riding along when the sun's
out when some tosser comes past me at a slow pace with the passenger
window wound down shouting incoherently at me. I do manage to get the
gist of what he's saying as I picked out the words cycle path amongst
what was most likely obscenities. I've caused him to slow from his 50
- 60 mph for probably 10 seconds before he's gone past, I know legally
I have every right to ride this stretch of Road but would you stick to
the Road or should I take my chances with the cycle path or maybe pick
another route? The experience leaves me really annoyed at just one
idiots ignorance.

Stay out in the carriageway. It's your life that's at stake, not theirs.
Not only do you get seen and get cleaner road surface, you have
somewhere to go if some idiot does pass to close.

As to how you deal with the occasional ******, there are a number of
options. The safest is normally to ignore them. Next safest, I suspect,
ostentatiously photograph their number plate with mobile phone or
something which looks as if it might be a mobile phone - if you're
confident enough to do this while cycling on a busy road. Least safe,
do as I do and make obscene gestures back at them - one of these days
I'll get my come-uppance...

--
(Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
; ... of course nothing said here will be taken notice of by
; the W3C. The official place to be ignored is on www-style or
; www-html. -- George Lund