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Live blog: Alex Dowsett's top tips for a rapid commute, three riders taking on Britain's 100 best climbs (and riding between them) in 29 days, driver 'forgets' he's not a bike + more Alex Dowsett in National Time Trial Championships 2015 (picture copyright Allan McKenzie, SWPix.com, Britishcycling.org_.uk).JPG

Live blog: Alex Dowsett's top tips for a rapid commute, three riders taking on Britain's 100 best climbs (and riding between them) in 29 days, driver 'forgets' he's not a bike + more

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by Jack Sexty
Wed, Jun 20, 2018 14:49
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Jack Sexty

Jack has been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of the website including tech, news and video, and also contributed to eBikeTips before being named Editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master's degree in print journalism and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it's a long story). 

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5 comments

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BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
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Alex Dowsett in not having a clue about safe cycling shocker.

Advising that cycling right behind someone in their slipstream and then shoot out quickly only to then count to three and simply pull back in front of them is a good idea is fucking bullshit. You don't know the person in front, slipstream if you are in a chaingang or you've asked for a tow and they've ok'd it, optherwise stay the fuck off someone elses back wheel, it's not wanted and it's dangerous.

Sorry but advice like that comes from a cretin with no idea whatsoever about safe cycling, stick to what you know because safe commuter cycling isn't one of them!

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morgoth985 | 6 years ago
2 likes

Burt, I don't disagree with any of that, and I'm conscious that I might just be lucky in having a slightly lower density of nutcases in my area than elsewhere.  I've still had enough close passes that I don't minimise the issue by any means.  I'm just saying that positive reinforcement of good behaviour is one tool among several that we can adopt to change attitudes.

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morgoth985 | 6 years ago
6 likes

To be fair the vast majority of the overtakes I get are of this variety.  I can definitely recommend the thumbs up and wave also.  If you commute or otherwise travel the same route at the same time a lot, over time you can help build the goodwill in the local area.  Also I think if there is a line of cars and the first overtakes well, some highly visible thanks can encourge those following to do the same.

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Dicklexic replied to morgoth985 | 6 years ago
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Morgoth985 wrote:

To be fair the vast majority of the overtakes I get are of this variety.  I can definitely recommend the thumbs up and wave also.  If you commute or otherwise travel the same route at the same time a lot, over time you can help build the goodwill in the local area.  Also I think if there is a line of cars and the first overtakes well, some highly visible thanks can encourge those following to do the same.

 

Completely agree!

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burtthebike replied to morgoth985 | 6 years ago
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Morgoth985 wrote:

To be fair the vast majority of the overtakes I get are of this variety.  I can definitely recommend the thumbs up and wave also.  If you commute or otherwise travel the same route at the same time a lot, over time you can help build the goodwill in the local area.  Also I think if there is a line of cars and the first overtakes well, some highly visible thanks can encourge those following to do the same.

This is true, and most overtakes are at least reasonable, but the problem is that it only takes one bad overtaker to kill you, and there are still a lot of them out there.  If you are a novice cyclist, and you get passed badly at least once every ride, you are likely to give up and go back to the car.

The reverse of what you say about good passing being copied by the following drivers is also true of bad passes.  I've lost count of the number of times the first driver in a convoy passes me dangerously close, to be followed by the other five.

While I take your point about most drivers being not too bad at passing, we need all of them to be good, so that cyclists don't feel their lives are threatened on every ride.

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