Road cycling – Big Groups

Can’t these threads just be closed as trolling/repeats?

^ 😀 Bravo travo, bit of something in that wee rant for everyone. Why you so angry?

travo, need a hug? you’ve got some anger going on there.

Can’t these threads just be closed as trolling/repeats?

…because the forum would be mostly:

travo just cheered my day up no end

When I drove tractors I always pulled in eventually….

While I wasn’t there so cannot comment on the actual situation the description in the post sounds more like you were a bit impatient. I wonder what the real actual time you lost being stuck behind the riders who were “3 abreast”. My experience of such events are usually the bikes aren’t actually doing anything wrong and only really holding people up for a minute or two. In fact, I get fed up with reading about cyclists “holding me up” when they’re just out on the road.

Whenever I commute into the city I am held up by cars who really are taking up the whole road (both sides) and causing real danger to others.

So the groups of 4 were ok, but any more was annoying you? This really does sound like a “some of my best friends are cyclists” type of post.

Just thought I’d share.

Tractors in Wiltshire pulled over for nobody irrespective if you’re on foot, bike or car! They OWN the road and they’re working, not like you lot. 😀

Can’t these threads just be closed as trolling/repeats?

Sorry I havent previously read this type of thread on here before, I do work (ocassionaly, I am one of those useless management types in the NHS), oh shit I’ve done it now.

So if this thread has been done a number of times before, then surely that DOES mean that some riders are arrogant tozers, or it wouldnt keep being repeated. 🙄

or obvious trolls have limited imagination

Doesn’t sound like a traditional run organised by an established road club to me. Sounds more like an informal group, with some more experienced riders than others.

or obvious trolls have limited imagination

Nope it was real and it did happen.

and yes it was 5 minutes. One driver behind hooted me. One waved he his hand up and down in a fist type shape as he over took me (before having to create a gap in the cyclists)

I see your point smett72, but…

define long queue
define slow
define safe place to pull in

and if you’re in a group, even when riding together, you’re still individual riders and communication is not always possible/easy.

Like I said, our club, and most others, will do this, but it is actually quite tricky, and just because you see a layby doesn’t mean it is appropriate or possible to stop in.

I completely agree that it’s not always easy/appropriate/safe to stop. But in the interests of trying to be considerate and not antagonizing other road users I would like to see people try.

…because the forum would be mostly:

Might not be a bad thing.

I know I can choose not to read it, but why let the forum become a vehicle (pun intended) for ignorant views like these? There’s plenty of other places on the internet where they can thrive.

everyday, i get held up by slow-moving cars because the drivers have decided to gather in such large numbers that the (already generous) dedicated infrastructure cannot cope.

i get over it.

maybe i’ve got super-human resources of patience?

Agree with the OP.
A tractor or artic would be expected to pull in.

But as there is no actual need to ride in a “peleton” then several small groups would be better for everyone; easy to overtake, and probably no need to pull over.

It’s just more fuel for the “it’s cyclist’s own fault that drivers try to mow them down” fires. Posting it here is bound to piss people off which is presumably your intention.

Big groups of roadies being disorganised and not making it easy to pass them might be slightly annoying for the impatient bellend. Or very annoying for the self-important driving **** who think they own the road. Which are you OP?

It’s just more fuel for the “it’s cyclist’s own fault that drivers try to mow them down” fires. Posting it here is bound to piss people off which is presumably your intention.

Big groups of roadies being disorganised and not making it easy to pass them might be slightly annoying for the impatient bellend. Or very annoying for the self-important driving **** who think they own the road. Which are you OP?

Ah. I see Sir is using petrol to put out that fire.

I don’t recall starting this particular bun fight 🙂

everyday, i get held up by slow-moving cars because the drivers have decided to gather in such large numbers that the (already generous) dedicated infrastructure cannot cope.

I approve of this comment

I don’t recall starting this particular bun fight

That didn’t stop you from lobbing in your own dough based grenades 8)

Indeed not, I confess to getting cranky. Being considered “an obstruction” rather than “a person” tends to have that effect.

So wait.. I’m a **** for wanting to drive my caravan around at 50mph, but the cyclists can hold up drivers at 10mph and that’s okay?

Big groups should split, as Crazy-legs said 12 is enough in one group, with a leader for each sub-group who knows the route and arranged stopping points. Just common sense really.

To add to the above:

I was leading a ride on Sunday, 10 of us, all well behaved and competent. Behind us was a car that just HAD to get past. He tried for about 30 seconds even in places where not even a motorbike could have safely overtaken.

Eventually he got passed, roared off and…
The road ahead was closed for a Remembrance Day service in the village. Whole village closed off completely, streets outside the church full of people all singing a hymn.
We walked our bikes round the edge. He had to do a 7 point turn, he was well pissed off. 😀

Tractor drivers are too busy looking at their phones to notice any queues of traffic behind them

cloudnine – Member

Tractor drivers are too busy looking at their phones skinning up to notice any queues of traffic behind them

edited to more accurately reflect my experience of reality.

Yeah but without you holding him up crazy-legs he’d have been able to turn around at least 43 seconds sooner, you bastead!

It sounds like they were sportive riders rather than proper roadies 😆

I’m a **** for wanting to drive my caravan around at 50mph

(emphasis added)

Yes. 😉

everyday, i get held up by slow-moving cars because the drivers have decided to gather in such large numbers that the (already generous) dedicated infrastructure cannot cope.

Another +1 vote for this, very well put

Could have deleted “at 50mph” as well, BD. 😉

I agree with op to, some large groups of cyclists and i’m talking twenty plus which happens around where i live most saturdays and sundays on winding minor roads cause major safety issues for everyone using that road.
Going back to when i was in a road club we used to have three groups, the fast, the medium and the slow group so you ended up with ten riders per group. It was a lot safer for everyone. I guess most well run club runs still do this.
Considerate use of the roads applies to everyone, it literally is a two way street 😆

here’s a ‘winding minor road’

it’s difficult to pass 1 cyclist, never mind 10, or more.

surely these large groups of roadies are doing everyone a favour? – they’ve got together so that there’s only one slow ‘vehicle’ (instead of 10, or etc.)

OP

Next time you see a big group,just imagine it’s one of these in front.

It sounds like they were sportive riders rather than proper roadies

There is only one way to be sure…

*MrSmith to the thread*

And as usual, we’ve ended up digging into our respective row of trenches and started lobbing self righteous hand grenades st each other, instead of accepting that every situation is different and every road user should be considerate of others, regardless of their mode of transport.

Rather than putting the same amount of energy into campaigning for better driver and rider training, better infrastructure etc.

Forgive me if you’ve heard me say this before…..

winding minor roads cause major safety issues

Have you considered using the main roads, just thinking if you’re really in a hurry they’re probably faster.

You don’t know that the group of cyclists involved hadn’t already pulled over several times that day. How often should they do this? Every 5 minutes? 3 minutes? 1 minute? As soon as there is one following vehicle? If I’m cycling on a narrow road I will occasionally pull in to let other traffic past but I have a right to “make progress” too.

here’s a ‘winding minor road’

That looks EXACTLY like a bit of road I ride often! On the way in to the Wallops.