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Post by fit4fifty on Sept 12, 2013 21:22:27 GMT
I would like to know good etiquette and safety as I plan to ride more to work. Even though I tumbled today. I want to be safe. Quick ish and avoid agitating drivers
Thanks
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2013 21:53:25 GMT
If you want to avoid agitating drivers there are a whole list of hoops you have to jump through lol
I think as long as you feel safe in what you are doing then you should be ok. So far I haven't cycled in much traffic so normally just wait in the queue as it is never more than 3 cars.
Just make sure you don't undertake any trucks in case they try and turn left on top of you
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Post by robertsims on Sept 12, 2013 22:03:35 GMT
I commute fair bit in traffic so for what it's worth heres my 2p worth. Sure some will agree and some disagree. Firstly assume nobody has seen you when it comes to pullung across you etc. In terms of stationery traffic I always overtake down middle as if I was a motorbike. I find I have more room and safer. However if not sure then many times I have just sat in the queue. Be careful overtaking clise to turning when someone ciuld pull across you. And NEVER go through red lights unless want car drivers to hate you and other cyclists. Personal bug bear. I don't give 2hoots if someone wants to risk their lufe jumping lights but does wind up drivers who may take it out on ne as 'another ruddy cyclist'
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2013 22:12:01 GMT
Agreed with the red lights, just adds to the drivers v cyclists argument. Avoid blind spots of larger vehicles, lorries, buses etc
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Post by ianmoss on Sept 12, 2013 22:24:57 GMT
I must say, I am pleased with drivers in my local area on today's commute. A guy in a dustbin wagon stopped to let me cross lanes to join traffic. He acknowledged I had taken a back road to avoid the need to go right at a 3 lane round-a-bout. Cars do hang back on an area of road where there are trafic islands which make a very narrow road.
As a rule I don't go quickly down the left of a queue of cars, I just go with the flow and progress a few cars at a time if I see plenty of room.
I never do what I did as a teenager and go down the right (overtake) a line of trafic on a single carriageway. I did once and a car turned right and I went right over the bonnet!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2013 22:34:06 GMT
Same reason why you're not meant to overtake in a car if there is a side road on a right as a car might turn into it not expecting you to come past on the wrong side of the road.
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Post by fit4fifty on Sept 13, 2013 8:06:05 GMT
I think more patience and awareness is the key reading your replies. I fell today due to a poor road surface. I am very aware of undertaking or overtaking moving traffic and avoid that. Its moving through stationary queues that I am cautious of. For those of you that negotiate town traffic regular do you find its better to ride unclipped? I uses Shim M520s and I beleive they do a flat pedal clip on for one side. I might try that. Also may use my time injured off bike to refurb the mountain bike that I used before. I dont want to scratch my Triban any more!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2013 8:44:26 GMT
I'll join the chorus of not jumping red lights and no overtaking near turnings. Where traffic is stationary I over take on the right in the middle of the road as long as I have visibility. If I can't see then I wait. It's nice to give the legs a rest sometimes.
Also assume you have not been seen on roundabouts. I've had quite a few occasions over the years where I've made eye contact with drivers and they still pull out. Thankfully this has only happened once in the last few months, I think the increase in cyclists is making average drivers much more aware.
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Post by ianmoss on Sept 13, 2013 12:14:53 GMT
Remember to nod / wave / lift a hand to courteous drivers as a thank you. (other drives will see this and remember that not everyone is a mad 'city fixie' rider)
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Post by robertsims on Sept 13, 2013 12:45:07 GMT
Agreed Ian - a thank you can go a LONG way to help with drivers. I must admit I very rarely have a bad experience with drivers I encounter, most are fine. Although was out with Radchenister the other week when group of young lads overtook us and gave Rad a good slap on the arse! Like to say I didn't laugh....
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2013 12:50:15 GMT
Remember to nod / wave / lift a hand to courteous drivers as a thank you. (other drives will see this and remember that not everyone is a mad 'city fixie' rider) Not much to add to what has already been said but this is good advice, keeps our image up a bit. Also on country roads where you have a car tailing you wave them round when it's safe for them to do so. This has got me into many driver's good books.
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Post by Radchenister on Sept 13, 2013 13:02:54 GMT
Agreed Ian - a thank you can go a LONG way to help with drivers. I must admit I very rarely have a bad experience with drivers I encounter, most are fine. Although was out with Radchenister the other week when group of young lads overtook us and gave Rad a good slap on the arse! Like to say I didn't laugh.... Thought we didn't do stupid car arse stories on here . I thought it was a wing mirror but later learnt it was a hand - the crunching plastic sound was in fact the sound of bone against my outward facing Park Tool tyre levers and TopEak mini tool; luckily padded my side against my 'lower back' via being taped to an inner tube ... hurt them more than me I suspect.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2013 14:36:03 GMT
Another tip to stay safe is don't always ride over to the left hand side. If there are any traffic islands, sharp bends, blind summits etc, it's usually safer to move into the middle of the lane to stop any daft overtaking maneuvers. If anyone tries it when they don't realise someone is coming the other way, they'll instinctively pull away from the other car straight into you. Usually if I've held up traffic doing this I'll also wave them past at the earliest opportunity to stop drivers getting too wound up
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Post by cosybike on Sept 14, 2013 10:58:17 GMT
Plan ahead. The Triban is fast enough it can be like riding a scooter. I find myself doing blindspot and lifesaver checks as taught in the CBT. www.cyclecraft.co.uk has great advice. Red Light Jumping ok after dark, when quiet and in places where personal safety take priority.
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Post by Rocket on Sept 14, 2013 11:29:26 GMT
Not sure I can agree with red light jumping just because we have no numberplate to identify us.
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