Im still fuming..Is it just me or are rodies a breed apart…arrogant??

Hmmm…

Well covering very windy bits of road round me, I judge it on my speed, the road, my knowledge of any upcoming passing places etc and make a judgement accordingly.

If there’s a passing place I’ll pull in and drop some speed. If i know there isn’t a passing please then I might up my speed. I might pull close to the edge of the road if I think there’s a passing opportunity in the road ahead.

In a big group we have in the past split our selves to allow a car to pass some of us, and then the rest.

depending on the width of the road number a abreast can make the difference, but its a balancing act between balancing width and length.

Certainly some roadies can behave in a more dominant we’re special way… but not all. were they perchance, all wearing matching clothing?

Wasnt aware a ‘4 page spread’ was something to covert.

Just wanted other peoples views. Which is what I have got.
Dont agree with all of them but thats part of life.

I try hard not to pigeon hole cyclist ‘Roadie’ ‘MTB’ ‘Singlespeeders’ etc. I dont do road riding which is why I couldnt understand their actions. Some here have made some good points and I know more now than I did.

Fair play, you sound pretty reasonable all round, you just picked a contentious subject for a monday morning on this place 🙂
Even wearing team kit and going hard, roadies are no quicker than a moped. They are slow moving vehicles.

ill upload a vid on youtube next time i have someone to record. can wheelie at 10mph for easy 500m

YES, YOU ARE AWSUM. not sure you’ll keep up with a roadie at 10mph mind.

as others have said, little bit of give and take goes a long way.

‘I try hard…’

Really? The evidence would suggest otherwise…

I’d say a few car drivers will simply not overtake even little old me when I’m riding solo unless they can use the full width of the road i.e. they’ve got ~500m visibility ahead and can see there is no on-coming traffic, they will then use the whole of the opposite carriage way to creep past…

I’d say the majority of drivers actually manage to judge the width of their cars/the road/me a bit better and give me a comfortable ~half of the carriageway, pass quickly and efficiently, and hold back if they can’t be sure of doing so…

A few however will always chance the narrow pass rather than accept a minor delay…

The Narrow passers would not chance it though with a large doubled up group IMO, they might get irate, beep their horn and pull over for a shout at you further down the road.
But what they won’t manage to do is stuff half your group into a wall with their tin box, thus where the road layout, course and conditions dictates I’d say doubling up a group (especially a large one) can be the safer option, as it pre-empts any driver twattery…

Despite the ongoing debate, I’m sure we can all agree that the only real losers are those that wear pro team kit on their Sunday pootle. What do they think they look like? the knobs.

Something just occourred to me…
Its the first time I have ever witnessed this kind of behaviour. I ride on roads on my MTB as we all do from time to time. We pull over or get out of the way of cars and I thought everybody did the same, its not something we have all agreed to do, we just do it.
Mainly out of courtesy I suppose, but self preservation plays a part too.

Fair play, you sound pretty reasonable all round, you just picked a contentious subject for a monday morning on this place

+1

I’d say doubling up a group (especially a large one) can be the safer option, as it pre-empts any driver twattery…

Not always…

We pull over or get out of the way of cars and I thought everybody did the same, its not something we have all agreed to do, we just do it.
Mainly out of courtesy I suppose, but self preservation plays a part too.

But sometimes self-preservation means taking the road, not skulking at the kerb.

I’d say the majority of drivers actually manage to judge the width of their cars/the road/me a bit better and give me a comfortable ~half of the carriageway, pass quickly and efficiently, and hold back if they can’t be sure of doing so…

There are a few die hards (I think you can guess who I am refering to!) around these parts who would have you hung drawn and quartered for considering this reasonable and a trator to your two wheel brethrin for considering it so. They will drag out “that” photo to show you why you are so wrong. I’m not one of them. I’ll have to find the quote – it was quite emotional!

They would suggest that your option 1 (full road) is the only acceptable way to pass a cycle and will use this as evidence as to why singling up is never a reasonable option. FWIW singling up if there only up to say 4 of you makes a lot of sense to me but when it is a group of 10 or more your are a long train to overtake and probably no easier than a doubled up group. Best then if in an area where you know its going to be an issue to split the group up for a few miles with enough space for each group to be overtaken seperately as a seperate entity.

Am I missing something here?

The road is not wide enough for two cars plus a bike. So how would the cyclists riding in-line change anything? The road is STILL not wide enough. Moving to single file merely invites the car into a dangerous place.

Is it just me or are rodies a breed apart…arrogant??

They look harmless enough to me.

[/url]
southside[/url] by pten2106[/url], on Flickr

I still think they could have let me past safely
How?

Easy you split the group in two so it’s actually like overtaking one car each time. And when there is an interval you slow down a bit to make overtaking easier.

However full team kit carbon exotica roadies are scums. Everyday commuter gets my upmost respect and road consideration. The former not so much.

juan – Well congrats on a sweeping generalisation of a post. Typical Frenchman eh? 🙄

In a little defense of the OP, I did a charity ride yesterday, Manchester to Chester. There were some groups on the ride spreading themselves over a single width lane, not even having the decency to let faster riders passed until asked.

It seems on all sides roadies MTB’ers drivers some peopls are either not aware of what is around them or plain dont care, safety is one thing ignorance of others is another…..

Simple, they should have allowed you to pass by going single file – if nothing else then simply going back to 2 abreast when traffic conditions allow.

The amount of time I see this it drives me crazy.

Common courtesy costs nothing, helps others than yourself, makes the passing and general road safer and like I said….

COSTS NOTHING.

bunch of lycra-clad mincing whinging retard **** the lot of em.

m1xmag – Member – Block User – Quote
Simple, they should have allowed you to pass by going single file – if nothing else then simply going back to 2 abreast when traffic conditions allow.

The OP says that the road wasn’t wide enough to pass even a single file queue of bikes.

Simple, they should have allowed you to pass by going single file

Did you read any of the rest of the thread? How would going single file help if, as the OP states, the road is “wide enough for two cars to pass but not two cars and a bike”

Instead of having to make say a 10 metre pass in the opposite lane he now has to make a 20 metre pass in the opposite lane.

bunch of lycra-clad mincing whinging retard **** the lot of em.

This place makes me sad sometimes.

crawps calm down people, let me update my comment…

Simple, they should have allowed you to pass by going single file

where/when/if it was appropriate.

If not then judging the impact they may have been having on other users and if necessary taking appropriate action.

The OP says that the road wasn’t wide enough to pass even a single file queue of bikes.

No the OP said the road was wide enough for 2 cars so by going into single file he could not only have more space but more visibility before overtaking.

So, Im driving along a country lane near home, its wide enough for two cars to pass but not two cars and a bike.

the OP said the road was wide enough for 2 cars

so riding 2 abreast made them easier to overtake…

druidh – Member
I don’t know where you’re getting this “us and them” thing from.

MBUK circa 1997.

I think the biggest problem here is you imposing an attitude on them that they don’t have. This is whats left you “fuming”.

OP you need to go out on a few road rides to understand how it feels cycling in traffic. At times it feels like open season on cyclists – close passing, abuse, sometimes psychotic behaviour. I had a guy nearly crash on a country lane – he was so busy giving me the finger after he close overtook me, that he stopped looking where he was going.
Is someone like that psychologically fit to be driving? I don’t think so… but my life is in their hands and I don’t like that…

So this kind of experience becoming too often the norm, we learn to ride defensively so we don’t get killed or injured. Not just for our own convenience or selfishness but also because my friends and family would be in pieces standing around at my funeral and I don’t want to do that to them.

So to avoid that appalling scenario, on a narrow country road where I feel tucking into the gutter would invite a driver to make a dangerous overtake, I take primary position – as taught by Bikeability – ie: in the middle of my side of the road. It’s safer for me, safer for anyone trying to overtake, safer for the car driver coming the other way. Sadly this is often interpreted as selfish cycling…

Driver education is what is needed here so they can understand why we ride defensively and to respect our desire to stay alive. Cyclists have been group riding since before today’s drivers were born. My club was formed in 1938… cars don’t have a magic priority.

As for the ‘it makes drivers angry’ if they can’t get past. An individual’s response to a situation is entirely their choice. If they choose to get angry because they can’t get past a cyclist or group of cyclists I suggest they need to see a therapist. It’s probably the most unhelpful mental state to be in when driving 1 tonne + of metal.

Try some road riding – it’ll help you understand how to drive more safely around cyclists, and hopefully help you to understand being angry isn’t a terribly helpful response for you or anyone. I do however give you full credit for the fact that, unlike many drivers, you did have the patience and maturity to sit behind them for 4 miles. When that happens to me, I always give a thank you wave. Win win for everyone!

well put

This has parallels with the Critical Mass issue. Why, as a motorist, do you think you have a greater right to be on the roads than cyclists? Why is it such an issue that you have to drive slowly for a while? How would you feel if it were a tractor, or funeral cortege you were following? Would you still be as impatient?

The road does not exist for your exclusive unhindered enjoyment. Perhaps you would be wise to consider this.

During theTour de France in central London a few years ago, I witnessed a small number of extremely irate car drivers angry that their route had been blocked to hold a huge sporting event enjoyed by millions. I just thought their behaviour was extremely selfish. Perhaps such people shoud not drive cars, if they get so angry if others impede their progress.

To be fair brooess, it sounds (from him) like the OP behaved quite reasonably.

Actually that’s a point OP, you say the road was 2 cars wide only, and twisting; had they gotten into singlefile do you think you could have stuck the pass on the whole group at once or would you have then needed them to break into convieniently smaller groups still?
i.e. 5 at a time, 3, maybe 2?
What exactly were you expecting by way of ‘courtesy’ from a group of group of 10 roadies to yourself and the other road users?

You are clearly concerned about the huge inconvienience to you, but you want them to break their group down (and in doing so probably drop their speed even further) so you can play leap frog over the course of what a couple of miles? all so you can sit in a queue at some lights 30 seconds sooner… you’d have wound up sat for a mile and a half unable to pass the last 3 riders due to blind corners with 7 more up your chuff giving you evils for being impatient.

However much time you think they cost you, it won’t have been anything like that much, pulling in to start an argument probably did…

Thats the other thing, arguably the ‘Worst’ thing you can ever do in any altercation on the road is stop and get out of the car to take it further…

You might well be after a polite debate on the highway code, but I reckon most people would tend to interpret pulling over, getting out and walking up to someone who’s use of the road you object to, as being a bit aggressive. Common practise these days is a beep/shout/finger on the way past to register displeasure, then off you pootle on your merry way, taking the time to approach other road users after the fact normally indicates a bit of a self control/road rage issue…

TBH, Ten of them, One of you, getting told to ‘Eff off’ was about the best outcome you could have hoped for…

The more I think about it, the less in control of yourself (and by extension your car) you seem OP…

To be fair brooes, it sounds (from him) like the OP behaved quite reasonably.

I’ve edited with exactly that point. Not enough people on this thread recognising that and giving the OP due credit

There are some world class knuckle dragging forkwit comments in this thread, and I’m mainly referring to the “roadies other type of cyclists are scum” comments.

You should be collectively ashamed.

Moving on, I’m stunned that the OP couldn’t get past a group of cyclists over a 4 mile stretch. Apparently Southern England has the busiest roads in the country but I can not think of a single time or place where I / a group of riders would hold up traffic for this amount of distance. – I can only presume this happened in some remote area of the UK?

Now we don’t have all the facts but I think the road riding group could have shown more consideration in holding traffic up. Be that a simple ‘sorry for the delay’ type wave or once they pulled in, being polite and reasonable.

The OP’s comments at the garage suggest a reasonable effort to engage them so the F O was childish in the extreme. – I can see the other side of the argument but if I was approached by someone who appeared to be a fellow cyclist and wasn’t venting steam, I wouldn’t immediately get all stroppy.

To the posters who referenced them all riding in the same (club) kit, you will generally find club riders are responsible human beings and very likely have been riding for many years.

A couple of additional comments.

I did the BHF London – Brighton night ride back in May and this was my first charity ride. Even being at the front of the ride I saw some really crap cycling on the Queen’s highways. Charity rides are on the whole a good thing but they don’t half bring out all sorts of people riding bikes*

Whenever I get a vehicle behind me for a period of time, I will whereever possible, indicate and pull in to let them past. – I don’t want X tonnes of van/bus/truck helping me down the road any more than they want to be stuck behind some bludy cyclist. 99% of the time I will get a toot or flash of thanks. – A tiny bit of courtesy goes along way as does a wave from me for folk who’ve waitied.

* = people riding bikes are not necessarily cyclists.

Riding two abreast is in the same bag as running a red light and riding on a pavement – it’s not right but people do it. Annoys me and try not to do it but get caught out sometimes as no-one is perfect but I pull in asap.

When I had a brief stop on the roadside on the mtb yesterday I got passed by a group of riders, some said hello which is rare! There was a queue of traffic behind them. A few places to pass but there was a long line of cyclists so overtaking was difficult. I ended up overtaking on a corner to talk to the guys at the back who were no longer so polite. He said he doesn’t have to ride single file on a road! Laughed in their faces and rode off. Car behind then managed to overtake, beeped like mad giving a universal hand sign and then proceeded to slowed without letting them pass. Childish but funny

+1 for Yunki + Junkyard

I don’t get why people have to be such c**t* these days – cyclists, motorists etc etc People just seem to like being awkward and claiming it is their right.

I always assist cars get past. My friends and I ride 2 abreast when no cars are around and immediately filter in line to ensure cars can pass with a decent gap between groups of 2/3 and minimising how far they go over the white line. I also help guide them through if I can see further ahead it is safe to overtake. I make a point of making eye contact with other road users so they know I am aware of them and likewise they are aware of me. It is kind of in my own best interests to avoid any kind of incident – whether I have right of way etc I don’t care – right of way/law on my side is not much use if I am dead!

I remember driving back from Afan during the Wiggle dragon ride to pick up a mate who was taking part and we had been mountainbiking.

I had to overtake small clusters who where all very courteous despite being in a race. True I felt a bit like a support car at the TDF but they way I drive around cyclists they know I know what I am doing as I stay back off their wheels, make sure I have a good view, make eye contact and give them plenty of room and notice I am passing.

There was a few times when I was stuck behind a group so waited and saw faster cyclists coming up behind so I made sure I backed off, gave them room and waved them past. Later on the same courtesy was returned.

I do similar for motorbikes who are riding sensibly – I make sure they have enough room to pass safely and give them a chance to – it doesnt cost me any time to do so and makes sure they are safe.

Some cyclists need to understand they are not doing the TDF and they need to break up the group and bit and stop chatting and give room for people to pass them occasionally. But sadly a lot are just arrogant tossers – they probably are in other aspects of their lives too. Just like there are a lot more who don’t ride bikes. Human race: too many self centred arses.

It is difficult to escape the conclusion that a lot of people on here only “ride” by putting their bike in their car and driving to the trail centre, or wherever they off-road.

Anyone that thinks cyclists should hug the gutter on the road either lacks experience or is an idiot.

OP – next time, just observe the actions of this guy… seemed to work for him.

NB. I believe he did end up in a mental asylum though.

Riding two abreast is in the same bag as running a red light and riding on a pavement – it’s not right but people do it.

Except that riding two abreast is entirely legal whereas jumping red lights and riding on the pavement isn’t??

You’ve got 2 arguments here based around consideration for others:
1. Car drivers should be more considerate to cyclists, ease up and sit behind until there’s space
2. Cyclists should be more considerate to car drivers and get out of the way if they’re holding things up

I agree in part with both arguments, and the Highway Code can support both too. I suspect that, depending on the scenario, both behaviours can be most appropriate.

Which is the nub of the issue. No-one argues against greater consideration for others. But which action delivers that consideration? Depends entirely on the circumstances…

We need clearer law and clearer priorities. As it’s impossible for car driver and cyclist to communicate their points of view and needs whilst both travelling along a country lane, confusion and conflict will continue…

Oh and riding in the gutter suggests that cyclists are somehow secondary citizens and as cycling numbers increase, this is likely to lead to more injuries and deaths (cyclists and drivers), not fewer

* = people riding bikes are not necessarily cyclists.

I can see your POV and, as a cyclist, I agree with it. The problem is that, to a non cyclist (general member of the public/a lot of drivers), ANYONE riding a bike is a cyclist regardless of it it’s someone on a Boris bike, a commuter on a Brompton, a kid on a BMX, a lycra clad roadie or an armoured up DHer. To the general public they’re one and the same. That’s why certain comments on this thread about “roadie scum” vs MTBers are so depressing to read.

You’re right about charity rides, Sportives etc, they really do bring out some spectacularly shit riding and in that respect, cyclists do themselves no favours whatsoever. I hate riding in groups of more than about 6 for that very reason. For all the comments about rubbish drivers, stupid overtakes etc (which I agree with), there can be similar comments aimed at groups of cyclists who (often unthinkingly) do some unbelievably stupid things.

I really hope Taff is a troll.

What exactly is wrong with riding two abreast if the road is not wide enough for two cars plus a bike? If a safe overtake is already going to involve the car using the other carriageway, then what’s the problem with riding two abreast?