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"Point-making" rider hits back at Jeremy Clarkson

TV presenter lambasts rider for following advice of training bodies, IAM, TfL etc

What do you do if you're a cyclist who Jeremy Clarkson has accused on Twitter of "point-making" because you took the lane to protect yourself from being passed dangerously? You take to the internet and set the record straight in great detail.

That’s what a user of the forums over on mountain bike site Singletrackworld did when Clarkson posted a snap of him behaving perfectly legally on Twitter last week.

Here's Clarkson's intitial post:

Unsurprisingly, a few cyclists responded that he was using a mobile phone to take a picture while in control of a vehicle and therefore possibly committing an offence himself.

Many also responded that the narrowness of the road meant the rider was doing exactly what Bikeability, the Institute of Advanced Motoring and even Transport for London recommend: taking the lane.

Clarkson implied that the rider was making a point because he'd sworn at drivers who tried to overtake him:

Your usual Twitterstorm ensued, with Clarkson's more petrolhead followers wishing death to anyone on two wheels while cyclists tried to point out that the rider was doing nothing wrong. As usual it got heated.

Discussion spread to the always-lively forums on Singletrackworld.com, where user Itsme posted this lengthy account of what happened:

Right then, from the horses mouth so to speak.......

I was riding home from work (this is one of my regular routes) down Sloane Avenue in Chelsea towards Sloane Square. As I approached this island at the junction of Ixworth Street, a Range Rover over took me, because he had to veer left to avoid hitting the island I got pushed owards the kerb.

Sloane Ave

There was no point to this pass as there was slow moving traffic a little bit further down the road.

Now I was pretty cheesed off with this and most of you will know a close pass starts pumping adrenaline. Sloane Ave is a nice flat road and it's really easy to keep up with the trafic and just past the island I was keeping pace with the Range Rover, the driver was looking in his N/S door mirror giving the 'stare'. I admit that I was fairly vocal at this point and shouted 'What? you f*****g c**k, f****** knobstick' not much of an insult but I was too riled up to think straight.

As we approached the junction with Cadogan Street the traffic started slowing so I moved to the middle of the road to overtake. As I passed the Range Rover the window started to come down and a few words were exchanged by both of us as I passed (I can't remember what, I don't think it was as bad as the first reaction though as I tend to calm down fairly quickly). I then kept up with the traffic for the rest of Sloane Ave, and then in to Draycott Place which is quite narrow for a two way road.

Draycott Place

Keeping up with the traffic in Draycott Place is easy as well, and as I approached the crossing at the end someone was waiting to cross so I stopped (I always do this, and stop at red lights as well believe it or not!), before it, and not on the crossing as some have suggested.

The junction

I was turning right at this junction to go down to Sloane Square, so as I moved off I was positioning myself for this.

At the junction I looked behind me and saw Jeremy Clarkson just pulling up behind me with his head and arm out of the window, holding his phone and shouting 'gotcha' and looking well smug with himself. He was driving, and there was nobody else in the car. I got off my bike and pushed it back to his car and pointed out that he was overtaking me going in to a hazard, and made me change course. He just kept shouting increduously 'you were four feet from the kerb, but you were four feet from the kerb, I'm a cyclist and you were four feet from the kerb!'.

After a couple of attempts to explain to him why I thought he was wrong I gave up as he just kept shouting, I then rode off. Throughout this exchange I stayed reasonably calm.

At no time did I abuse any other road user or pedestrian on my journey home.

What JC's pic on twitter doesn't show is how much traffic was about at the time. Before I stopped at the crossing the junction was busy, and the traffic was queing all the way down to Sloane Square. I was probably well on my way to Parliament Square by the time JC got through Sloane Square. The ambulance wasn't parked either, it was moving.

Thanks for your patience reading my longest ever post!

Among the many who responded to Clarkson was Radio Two presenter Jeremy Vine, who pointed out: "He has every right - you muppet". 

This morning the Daily Mail posted an essay by Vine on the dangers of cycling on London's roads, and the Twitterstorm he online argument he and Clarkson sparked. The permanently angry attitude of many drivers is a very real problem, he says.

Vine writes: "On Twitter such a spat is entertaining. But take that hostility on to the road — put that angry mind in charge of a metal hulk on four wheels or even 12 — and it becomes a threat to the life of any cyclists."

John has been writing about bikes and cycling for over 30 years since discovering that people were mug enough to pay him for it rather than expecting him to do an honest day's work.

He was heavily involved in the mountain bike boom of the late 1980s as a racer, team manager and race promoter, and that led to writing for Mountain Biking UK magazine shortly after its inception. He got the gig by phoning up the editor and telling him the magazine was rubbish and he could do better. Rather than telling him to get lost, MBUK editor Tym Manley called John’s bluff and the rest is history.

Since then he has worked on MTB Pro magazine and was editor of Maximum Mountain Bike and Australian Mountain Bike magazines, before switching to the web in 2000 to work for CyclingNews.com. Along with road.cc founder Tony Farrelly, John was on the launch team for BikeRadar.com and subsequently became editor in chief of Future Publishing’s group of cycling magazines and websites, including Cycling Plus, MBUK, What Mountain Bike and Procycling.

John has also written for Cyclist magazine, edited the BikeMagic website and was founding editor of TotalWomensCycling.com before handing over to someone far more representative of the site's main audience.

He joined road.cc in 2013. He lives in Cambridge where the lack of hills is more than made up for by the headwinds.

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66 comments

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Fireworkboy | 10 years ago
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Here's why drivers are so angry with cyclists http://bit.ly/1afpA79

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SevenHills | 10 years ago
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Oh and Clarkson is a massive Cock!

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lushmiester | 10 years ago
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Mr Clarkson can be amusing.... but amusing in the same way as a chimp at a tea party!

Perhaps cycling commuters should post pics (with registration number) of every car driver making a highway code violation with a hashtag #amdoingaClarkson. After all there no such as bad publicity is there.

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WolfieSmith | 10 years ago
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Clarkskn's reached that point in middle age where the jeans are getting tight and smoking's taking it's toll. He knows full well that running isn't an option anymore but cycling...Hmmm. Maybe he can be turned to the path of the right?

I hold a balanced view about Clarkson on the whole. He's a clever man and makes some good documentaries - he just needs to engage his brain and his fame for good for a change - instead of chummying up to the likes of Cameron and pretending that the bicycle for city transport shouldn't take priority over cars.

Clarkson can be a cock but let's never forget that this is the man who punched Piers Morgan in the face. For that I, for one, will be ever gratefull.

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Bikeylikey | 10 years ago
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Cyclists are bound to be more angry than car drivers because they are far, far more vulnerable. It's not an equal situation. An arrogant tosser protected by a couple of tons of metal with a massive powerful engine v a man with no protection at all on two flimsy wheels, it's hardly surprising the cyclist gets angry when so threatened.

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skippy | 10 years ago
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ADDED my say on Twitter & Tourdafarce.blogspot.com

Singletrackforum was entertaining until someone mentioned Media interest , then the peanuts joined in with crap on p.7 !

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Matt eaton | 10 years ago
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Based only on JC's picture (and leaving asside the prior altercation) the dude seems perfectly positioned; I think that this is where I would have been in the same situation.

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SevenHills replied to Fireworkboy | 10 years ago
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Fireworkboy wrote:

Here's why drivers are so angry with cyclists http://bit.ly/1afpA79

Great article, articulate, intelligent and well thought out. Some posters on here should take note.  41

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big mick replied to SevenHills | 10 years ago
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SevenHills wrote:

Oh and Clarkson is a massive Cock!

Well no I think that is his problem he has a very small Cock  21

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hood | 10 years ago
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i think cycllists become more aggressive the longer they ride in london. after all, if you get your life threatened on a dailiy (or every other day) basis your gunna start fighting back and snapping at people more quickly. enough is enough. one day, through no fault of your own you might be dead. so why not take the lane and get a few beeps while you are at it, at least u aint dead!

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Guyz2010 | 10 years ago
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Opinions opinions opinions. Course riding on Dartmoor isn't like London. Did I ever say it was. Step outside the box for minute....I'm saying as a cyclist some cyclists are overtly aggressive. Bit like the road raging big mouth who shot off at Clarkson.

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arfa replied to Guyz2010 | 10 years ago
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Guyz2010 wrote:

Opinions opinions opinions.

What else are you expecting to get on an internet forum ?!
I think you'll find a greater frequency of aggressive encounters in London than on Dartmoor, predominantly caused by impatient road users and volume of traffic.

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solkanofastera | 10 years ago
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hmmm, Jeremy seems to be in need of a publicity boost for some reason, suckered everyone into shouting his name again.

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OldRidgeback replied to solkanofastera | 10 years ago
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solkanofastera wrote:

hmmm, Jeremy seems to be in need of a publicity boost for some reason, suckered everyone into shouting his name again.

There's a football chant that's particularly appropriate to Jeremy Clarkson.

"You fat bastard, you fat bastard, you ate all the pies."

I know I'm not really contributing to the discussion this time, I just felt like saying it.

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Simon E replied to OldRidgeback | 10 years ago
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OldRidgeback wrote:

"You fat bastard, you fat bastard, you ate all the pies."

I know I'm not really contributing to the discussion this time, I just felt like saying it.

 4
And probably scoffed while driving... and tweeting... and goodness knows what else.

A complete and utter knob.

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Grubbythumb | 10 years ago
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Taking the lane has dangers where ever you ride and no matter how assertive you are (and after 30 years of motorcycle riding, I can 'do' assertive).

I live on a hill, in a seaside town in the South West of England. To get into my road I have to make a right turn from a busy 30 mph feeder road into a housing estate.

Despite 'taking the lane', and at times riding more or less on the white lines, due to parked cars on the left, I have lost count of the number of times I have been overtaken by cars, even when I have my right arm out to indicate my intention to turn right.

Too many drives in too much of a hurry and completely ignorant of what I am doing and why.

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Ush | 10 years ago
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Peter Walker in the Guardian has penned a fine analysis of the situation: it's about the safest position on the road for cyclists, not some numpty that happens to present a t.v. program:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2014/jan/13/jeremy-clar...

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giff77 | 10 years ago
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Ahhh, things must have been quiet for our Jezza. Posting a pic taken whilst driving, publicising it. Ohhh he must be relishing in all that free publicity and oxygen we've given him. The man is no fool. He has cleverly manipulated a situation to his own narcissistic ends.

When will we learn not to stoke his ego. I suggest a total media ban on all things Clarkson. That should sort him out.

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OldRidgeback | 10 years ago
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So the odious JC has committed a traffic offence, using a cellphone while driving, and publicised it. Umm, perhaps Stumpy or the Cycling Silk can let us know how this offence can be reported to the police.

I was overtaking another cyclist this evening and was overtaken by a prat in a van who then cut in, forcing me to swerve. I continued taking the lane and slowed to make a right turn, with the car driver behind me then beeping his horn. So I had two drivers in quick succession who had no idea of what they're supposed to do and why what I was doing was right. I'd have caught them both up at the next set of lights if I'd continued on the main road, because there was a long queu. That's the problem with so many dickheads inc ars, they don't see all they're doing is rushing to get to the same place in the end of the queue a bit quicker.

I ride a bicycle (well, 3 actually), I drive a car and I've got two motorbikes.

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LondonDynaslow | 10 years ago
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So Boris's network of quietways aren't so great.

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Guyz2010 | 10 years ago
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And to lambast other cyclists....passed a cyclist on Dartmoor stopped in the middle of the lane on the brow of a hill next to an off road parking area swigging a drink. So inconsiderate and foolish I couldn't believe it.
Same morning I struggle to pass two cyclists on their Sunday ride the first was ok but his mate on a level road, was more interested in chatting whilst careering over more than half the lane at about 5mph. He didn't appear to be considering any other road users.
Last night, cyclist dressed head to foot in black with poor lighting, no reflective trim at all, out for his road ride in the country. I could barely see him myself from my bike, from a car doing sixty he wouldn't stand a chance.
Come on folks we don't need to give motorist an excuse!

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arfa replied to Guyz2010 | 10 years ago
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Guyz2010 wrote:

And to lambast other cyclists....passed a cyclist on Dartmoor stopped in the middle of the lane on the brow of a hill next to an off road parking area swigging a drink. So inconsiderate and foolish I couldn't believe it.
Same morning I struggle to pass two cyclists on their Sunday ride the first was ok but his mate on a level road, was more interested in chatting whilst careering over more than half the lane at about 5mph. He didn't appear to be considering any other road users.
Last night, cyclist dressed head to foot in black with poor lighting, no reflective trim at all, out for his road ride in the country. I could barely see him myself from my bike, from a car doing sixty he wouldn't stand a chance.
Come on folks we don't need to give motorist an excuse!

I've no doubt you're a cyclist but trust me it is very different cycling in London to Dartmoor (yes I have done both). Clarkson has thrown fuel on the "us and them" divide which makes him more than a bit of a tool given his position of influence, which at the end of the day is tax payer subsidised, courtesy of the BBC.
I do sincerely hope he comes under a lot of pressure to do some cycle training in London and then perhaps he might not be such a sanctimonious twitter twat.

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Guyz2010 | 10 years ago
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Clear case of road rage by both parties. I genuinely think the cyclist, for the sake of all cyclists, needs to chill out on the bike and just let the faster cars go then pass them quietly when they get queued up. Defensive riding I agree with but aggressive riding has no place.
As for Clarkson, not quite a dickhead but amazing behaviour for a supposedly intelligent person.
I'm a cyclist by the way.

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Ush replied to Guyz2010 | 10 years ago
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Guyz2010 wrote:

I genuinely think the cyclist, for the sake of all cyclists, needs to chill out on the bike and just let the faster cars go then pass them quietly when they get queued up.

I genuinely think that you have got not even the beginnings of a clue. Nowhere in this story is there the suggestion that there were cars "queued up" behind the rider.

Guyz2010 wrote:

Defensive riding I agree with but aggressive riding has no place.

Placing yourself clearly in the primary position as this cyclist did in a narrow lane is not aggressive. It's defensive and assertive.

Guyz2010 wrote:

I'm a cyclist by the way.

LOL. That's apparently exactly what Clarkson said. Evidently he, like you, has never taken a Bikeability course or equivalent. You should try some training like that... seriously.

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agentvialli | 10 years ago
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Its not an argument about cyclists & car drivers, its about people. Some people are stupid & have no moral judgement or understanding of others safety or life. Some actually give a shít about you and have patience and understanding! Until we all understand this we'll never get along. And anyway, who's re-tweeted or forwarding JC's pictures and comments to the Met police? He's clearly committed an offence which should warrant a fine or points on his licence.....

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danhan900 | 10 years ago
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I wonder what would have happened if you were an off duty policeman - would plod be all over him by now? "Taxi driver who deliberately swerved into cycling policeman could face jail"

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Tony | 10 years ago
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Has anyone asked why Clarkson needed to use such a wide, lane hogging vehicle to transport just himself around London? If he'd been on something sensible for a single adult, like a bicycle for example, he would have had no problem. Its just his fixation on lugging three tonnes of metal and five empty seats around with him when he's on his own that is causing his problem.

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big mick replied to Tony | 10 years ago
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Tony wrote:

Has anyone asked why Clarkson needed to use such a wide, lane hogging vehicle to transport just himself around London? If he'd been on something sensible for a single adult, like a bicycle for example, he would have had no problem. Its just his fixation on lugging three tonnes of metal and five empty seats around with him when he's on his own that is causing his problem.

That goes for most drivers to be fair.He looks like he could use some exercise for sure.If he's mate Dave wins the next election Clarkson and he's super rich mates will be the only one's driving which should help.He is a complete Knob for sure but I come into contact with he's type on a daily basis.When fuel is £5 litre I'll have great fun dropping all these types when they have been priced off the road.  19

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AyBee replied to Tony | 10 years ago
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Tony wrote:

Has anyone asked why Clarkson needed to use such a wide, lane hogging vehicle to transport just himself around London? If he'd been on something sensible for a single adult, like a bicycle for example, he would have had no problem. Its just his fixation on lugging three tonnes of metal and five empty seats around with him when he's on his own that is causing his problem.

Please tell me you're joking?! We all love bikes here which is why we're on here, but JC lives in the Cotswolds, riding a bike into London is not practical from there. Think before you type stupid things!

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farrell replied to AyBee | 10 years ago
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AyBee wrote:

Please tell me you're joking?! We all love bikes here which is why we're on here, but JC lives in the Cotswolds, riding a bike into London is not practical from there.

What about his place on the Isle of Man? Does he not live there?

What about the penthouse he owns that he uses when he is in London for filming?

Or the flat he bought after he got caught cheating on his missus?

What about perhaps using one of his other vehicles?

AyBee wrote:

Think before you type stupid things!

Hmmm.

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