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Do lower speed limits make you feel safer?; Cycling Mikey claims texting motorist assaulted him; Plant with the Pidcocks; Dowsett's new deal; Wacky bike sculptures; Westminster weirdness; Memorial for Devon’s ‘Mr Cycling’ + more on the live blog

It’s Thursday on the live blog! And after Dan’s storming lead-out yesterday, Ryan Mallon will be hoping he doesn’t get boxed in during the final sprints of the week…

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13 January 2022, 18:15
Mars-Flandria
Throwback Thursday (is that still a thing?) - I need a Mars bar...

That’s it for today folks – I’ll see you all tomorrow for the last blog of the week (hurrah!).

While we’ve had our fill today of useless speed limits, angry texting drivers, and pointless parliamentarians, here’s something light to kick off your Thursday evening.

Following yesterday’s news that Prendas Ciclismo will restock its retro jersey collection, I decided to take a look back at our ‘Full Kit Ranker’, a poll held by road.cc in 2020 to decide the greatest pro cycling kit of all time.

I was shocked – shocked I tell you – to discover that this little beauty (worn with distinction and style by Roger de Vlaeminck and in replica form by yours truly, with ever so slightly less distinction and style) wasn’t even included on the final shortlist of 16 kits, robbing us of an Undertones reference or two in the process.

Roger de Vlaeminck

The 2004 US Postal kit did, however, make the cut. Postal, really? A travesty. Now who can I have a word with?

13 January 2022, 16:53
More nonsense at Westminster

There have been plenty of serious, potent questions asked this week in the House of Commons. This query from the Conservative MP for Bosworth Luke Evans, however, is not one of them:

Needless to say, Evans’ question has went down on Twitter about as well as a Downing Street “work meeting” at the height of lockdown:

And finally, this cracker from road.cc's own Simon MacMichael: 

Replying to Dr Evans’ question, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Transport Wendy Norton said:

“Rule 59 of The Highway Code already says that cyclists should wear a cycle helmet which conforms to current regulations, is the correct size and securely fastened. It also recommends they should wear light-coloured or fluorescent clothing to help other road users see them in daylight and poor light, as well as reflective clothing and/or accessories in the dark. Rule 66 says that cyclists should use their bell when necessary to signal to other road users that they are nearby.

“Changes to The Highway Code are due to come into effect later this month which will clarify and strengthen this advice. 

“The Department has established a working group of key organisations to ensure that these changes are disseminated as widely as possible and understood by all road users. Our well-established THINK! campaign will ensure that as many road users as possible are aware when the changes come into effect, and will also highlight the importance of cyclists following the strengthened advice.”

Maybe they should just stick to organising more work meetings…

13 January 2022, 15:51
Ken Robertson funeral (via Devon Live)
Over 200 cyclists gather to honour the memory of Devon’s ‘Mr Cycling’

Over 200 cyclists from all over the south of England descended on the Torbay Velopark in Paignton yesterday to pay their respects to one of Devon’s most-beloved cycling figures, Ken Robertson.

Members of Mid-Devon CC rode behind his hearse as it completed two laps of the velopark, the creation of which owed much to Ken’s life-long passion for the sport.

Ken suffered a heart attack while on a ride with clubmates just before Christmas. He was 85.

Involved in the sport for over 70 years, Ken organised Mid-Devon’s Dartmoor Classic sportive since its foundation in 2007. He was also the tenth longest-serving member of the national committee of the Road Time Trials Council, a position he held between 1981 and 2001. Fittingly, a time trial in Ken’s memory was held on 27 December.

Ken continued to clock big miles on his bike well into his eighties, riding over 200 miles a week, and to celebrate his 84th birthday last year he rode 84 miles for charity.  

His funeral service was reserved for family and close friends only, but was broadcast live for those gathered at the Queens Hotel in Paignton.

13 January 2022, 15:31
Omicron: more positive cases than an Italian Pro Conti team...
13 January 2022, 14:57
Do lower speed limits mean safer roads? Reader’s reaction

I asked earlier if lowering the speed limit on certain roads would make you feel safer on your bike. Here is a selection of your comments:

Lower speed limits won't help at all.  Drivers ignore existing ones.  Just the other day my daughter said that she had a man raise a middle finger to her to express his dissatisfaction that she had crossed the road too close in front of him.  He was doing 45-50mph according to her, and she misjudged his speed as it is a 30 limit.

She is 15 years old, crossing the road outside her village school.

People like him don't just need a ban, they need a punch in the face.

Do (most) motorists take any notice of lowered speed limits? Fairly recently the road through my (urban) village had the speed limit cut from 30 to 20. When I drive along it at 20 I am always tailgated; when I ride through at 20 or a little over, I am invariably (and, given the traffic lights, pointlessly) overtaken.  

The only situation I see people sticking to a reduced speed limit is on the motorway, in an average speed check roadworks section.

Possibly one of the biggest impacts of smart motorways could be the collisions prevented by the years of heavily enforced speed limits whilst they're being constructed!

We're confusing "ignore" with "obey". The majority of motorists won't obey a speed limit but they do take notice of it as one of the factors that decides their speed. Just as they might cruise at 80 on the motorway (when they think there are no cameras etc), so they'll drive at around 40 in an urban 30 limit – and around 30 in a 20 limit. They also take cues from other things, of course, one of the biggest of which is other drivers.

Speed limits by themselves aren’t really the determining factor that make you feel safer. I often feel safer on some (note not all) 60mph roads more than I would on a 30mph road, because it's about volume of traffic, traffic mix and how that traffic interacts with you.

Yep, what makes me feel safer are careful drivers. You can still have a scary pass at 40mph.

Reducing the speed limit moves the odds more towards serious injury rather than death. Beneficial, but hardly encouraging.

13 January 2022, 14:43
“Wait to be escorted”… eh?

The only time I’ve ever seen anyone escorted with their bikes was outside the pub after the annual Christmas club run…

13 January 2022, 14:23
Julian Alaphilippe wins Fleche Wallonne (Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Alaphilippe to start season at Tour de la Provence

Australian national championships, new kits, riders announcing their schedules… the 2022 road season is nearly here folks! All we need is a quick blast of ‘Wheels in Motion’ and we’re good to go (controversial opinion klaxon – that theme tune is probably the thing I’ve missed most about the Tour Down Under’s Covid-forced hiatus… ducks for cover).

It seems that Julian Alaphilippe is nearly ready for the new season as well. The world champion announced today that he would begin his second year in the rainbow stripes at the Tour de la Provence, which kicks off on 10 February.

The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider also debuted at the four-day stage race last year, and was his usual frisky, flamboyant self on the way to second place behind Colombian Iván Sosa, then riding for Ineos.

Alaphilippe will then head to Italy to race Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-Sanremo, before tackling April’s Ardennes classics, where he will be hoping to finally break his duck at Liège–Bastogne–Liège. The world champion has finished in the top five of La Doyenne four times in his career so far, and will be hoping to improve on last year’s runners up spot behind Tadej Pogačar.

“Liège–Bastogne–Liège will be the biggest goal in the first part of the year”, said the French fan favourite. “It is a race I love and hopefully I will be up there again, fighting for victory.”

13 January 2022, 12:55
Chichester to Emsworth proposed cycling and walking lane (Image - National Highways)
More active travel routes on the way

Good news! Councillors in Caerphilly and Chichester have backed plans for new active travel routes in their respective areas.

In Caerphilly, there are plans to install 135 miles of walking and cycling routes throughout the county borough. The proposals will be funded by the Welsh government and followed in-depth consultations with local schools, charities and community groups.

A six-mile walking and cycling path along the A259 between Chichester and Emsworth has also been approved by Chichester District Council.

While a majority of those consulted supported the proposals, local cycling groups worried that the new shared-use paths – which will be segregated from traffic on part of the route only – will not help reduce speeds on the road or encourage people to ride their bikes.

13 January 2022, 12:04
Camden bike sculpture (via Direct Line)
Old bike parts = art?

A new sculpture, crafted with reclaimed bike parts, has been installed outside Camden Town Station.

The massive artwork, named ‘Bi-High-Cycle’ for some reason, was designed by Bristol-based mechanical sculpture expert Jason Lane and launched by insurance firm Direct Line to highlight the 1,100 bike thefts which take place across the UK every day.

The installation includes broken parts from 45 different bikes, which incidentally is the same number of bikes stolen on average every hour across the country.

I quite like it. Not sure I would have it in my living room, but it’s better than most of the stuff you see on Etsy…

13 January 2022, 11:36
Alex Dowsett agrees new long-term deal...

Congrats Alex and Chanel! 

13 January 2022, 11:21
30mph sign (licensed CC BY 2.0 on Flickr by Michael Coghlan)
Do lower speed limits make you feel safer on the roads?

Last month Shetland Islands Council initiated a trial lowering the speed limits of roads south of the island’s only town Lerwick by 10mph.

The aim of the trial, which is to last 18 months and will see a number of roads reduced from a 60mph limit to 50mph, is to assess the impact lower speed limits have on the use of active travel.

The council’s environment and transport committee chairman Ryan Thompson said that “only then will be see if these reductions have made any significant difference.

“Shetland has seen a substantial increase in active travel during the Covid pandemic, so it would be wrong not to do everything we can to encourage this.”

However, Lerwick Community Council chairman Jim Anderson told a meeting this week that he was not convinced that lowering the speed limit would encourage people to walk or cycle more.

Anderson also said that new cycling infrastructure was impractical unless “a lot of money was stumped up”, a stance which was criticised by a fellow councillor as “depressingly unambitious.”

What do you think? Do lower speed limits actually make you feel safer when cycling on the roads?

13 January 2022, 10:43
Plant with the Pidcocks

 He may be used to pulling up trees when he’s racing, but off the bike Tom Pidcock has pledged to plant them.

Way back in October 2019 (remember then? That’s about four lifetimes ago…), Pidcock raised £4,000 by selling off his old kit.

He planned to use the money to plant as many trees as possible in a bid to offset his carbon emissions accrued during the racing season.

In December 2019 his mum and girlfriend planted 250 trees at the cyclo-park in Gravesend. Tom was told by his coach, however, that he couldn’t help out with the planting due to the threat of injury. Typical cyclists, eh? Maybe some of you could use that excuse when you’re asked to bring the tree down from the attic next Christmas…

Anyway, Pidcock announced yesterday that his family would be planting 500 more trees at the cyclo-park this Sunday, and called for volunteers to help out. So if you’re near Gravesend and free at the weekend, you can do your bit to nudge pro cycling’s environmental impact in the right direction.

Unfortunately Tom won’t be there – he has the small matter of an Ineos training camp on this week. Anything to get out of some work…

13 January 2022, 09:31
Cycling Mikey claims he was assaulted by texting motorist

Mike van Erp, better known by his online alter ego Cycling Mikey, has established himself over the past few years as the king of London’s helmet camera users.

Motivated by his experience as a teenager when his father was killed by a drunk driver, he has reported close to 1,000 law-breaking motorists to the police since 2006 and has proven a particular thorn in the side of those intent on using their phone while driving.

Mikey’s camera has even picked up a few famous scalps along the way, including ex-boxer Chris Eubank, film maker Guy Ritchie and footballer Frank Lampard (coming to a court near you soon).

However, last night it seems one driver – filmed while sending a WhatsApp behind the wheel – took exception to the two-wheeled videographer’s methods:

Luckily no damage was done to Mike’s camera, so hopefully the enraged driver will have his day in court. 

13 January 2022, 09:35
Is it Friday yet?

Anyone else’s Thursday morning feel like this? Just me?

Irish cyclo-cross championships (image credit - INPHO)

This particular photo, taken at last week’s Irish cyclo-cross championships, in many ways encapsulates the beautiful brutality of existence – that harsh, relentless but ultimately evocative give-and-take between man, machine and nature.

Or maybe it just tells us that cyclo-cross is really hard…

After obtaining a PhD, lecturing, and hosting a history podcast at Queen’s University Belfast, Ryan joined road.cc in December 2021 and since then has kept the site’s readers and listeners informed and enthralled (well at least occasionally) on news, the live blog, and the road.cc Podcast. After boarding a wrong bus at the world championships and ruining a good pair of jeans at the cyclocross, he now serves as road.cc’s senior news writer. Before his foray into cycling journalism, he wallowed in the equally pitiless world of academia, where he wrote a book about Victorian politics and droned on about cycling and bikes to classes of bored students (while taking every chance he could get to talk about cycling in print or on the radio). He can be found riding his bike very slowly around the narrow, scenic country lanes of Co. Down.

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103 comments

Avatar
joe9090 replied to TriTaxMan | 2 years ago
0 likes

Garage at Large always runs away when found out...

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TriTaxMan replied to joe9090 | 2 years ago
3 likes

joe9090 wrote:

Garage at Large always runs away when found out...

Yes indeed.  He repeatedly gets caught out making things up and as soon as you challenge him on it he will not respond.  He will then move on to his next fabrication/controversial point to try and deflect away from the fact that he is little more than a deluded serial liar.

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brooksby replied to TriTaxMan | 2 years ago
3 likes

TriTaxMan wrote:

joe9090 wrote:

Garage at Large always runs away when found out...

Yes indeed.  He repeatedly gets caught out making things up and as soon as you challenge him on it he will not respond.  He will then move on to his next fabrication/controversial point to try and deflect away from the fact that he is little more than a deluded serial liar.

Well, I suppose it works for our prime minister...

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SimoninSpalding replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
7 likes

At last, another one of your entertaining comedy monologues, I have been missing them!

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Sniffer replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
12 likes

Garage at Large wrote:

The end.

If only.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to TriTaxMan | 2 years ago
8 likes

Tri, he is baiting you, follow your own advice from earlier. I find type out your reply, then cancel it helps. 

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xcleigh1247 replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
4 likes

Garage at Large wrote:

It's such a shame that Mikey - who sports a Zimbabwe and Dutch flag on his Twitter profile - chose to behave in that way to one of our best-loved sportsmen.

Amongst your many flaws the inability to make points pertinent to the conversation can be added. So please elucidate on this point. And as a bonus if you reply I might even deign to look at it and engage.

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Wingguy replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
7 likes

Garage at Large wrote:

Additionally Mr Eubank's reputation preceeds him: as always with "Simply the Best", Chris was every ounce the well-spoken and attired gentleman who the British public know and love.

The Chris Eubank who once killed a man because he liked to drive his car too fast? The Chris Eubank who once stole and crashed a lorry because he didn't like where it was parked? Yes, he sounds like just the kinda guy who knows how to stay in control of his emotions.

Quote:

It's such a shame that Mikey - who sports a Zimbabwe and Dutch flag on his Twitter profile - chose to behave in that way to one of our best-loved sportsmen.

It's a shame that your man crush couldn't follow the law. Again.

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giff77 replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
2 likes

Best loved sportsmen is a bit of stretch! Eccentric-yes. Flamboyant - yes. I wouldn't drop him in best loved. If he was that loved he would have picked up SPOTY but he hasn't.

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Wingguy replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
7 likes

Garage at Large wrote:

What I would like clarification on is the allegation that a "huge bloke" caused this incident. As far as I'm aware, Mikey has never targetted "huge blokes" in the past, preferring other demographics to drive traffic to his YouTube channel. Why the sudden change of target (with pretty obvious consequences)?

Lol, what the hell? Of all the lies you post this has to be one of the strangest, given that you know very well that people he's 'targeted' in the past include a world champion boxer.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Wingguy | 2 years ago
6 likes

I'm not going to repeat some of the vile claims Boo has made about Cycling Mikey in the past, but it is related to those. 

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PRSboy | 2 years ago
14 likes

Lower speed limits won't help at all.  Drivers ignore existing ones.  Just the other day my daughter said that she had a man raise a middle finger to her to express his disatisfaction that she had crossed the road too close in front of him.  He was doing 45-50mph according to her, and she misjudged his speed as it is a 30 limit.

She is 15 years old, crossing the road outside her village school.

People like him don't just need a ban, they need a punch in the face.

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brooksby replied to PRSboy | 2 years ago
3 likes

I got tailgated by my neighbour in her SUV this morning as I left for work, before she managed to overtake me at speed on a zebra crossing...

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chrisonabike replied to PRSboy | 2 years ago
3 likes

If you ask Garage-san he might be able to pass you the contact details of a suitable "hit" man he's suggested employing before. Although confusingly his latest post suggests he doesn't see said fist-artist as a menacing figure at all but more a put-upon entertainer or sleb...

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brooksby | 2 years ago
4 likes

Ah, those wacky EVs...

https://usa.streetsblog.org/2022/01/12/why-tesla-can-program-its-cars-to...

Quote:

In an October 2021 update its deceptively named “Full Self Driving Mode” beta software, the controversial Texas automaker introduced a new feature that allows drivers to pick one of three custom driving “profiles” — “chill,” “average,” and “assertive” — which moderates how aggressively the vehicle applies many of its automated safety features on U.S. roads.

The rollout went largely unnoticed by street safety advocates until a Jan. 9 article in The Verge, when journalist Emma Roth revealed that putting a Tesla in “assertive” mode will effectively direct the car to tailgate other motorists, perform unsafe passing maneuvers, and roll through certain stops (“average” mode isn’t much safer). All those behaviors are illegal in most U.S. states, and experts say there’s no reason why Tesla shouldn’t be required to program its vehicles to follow the local rules of the road, even when drivers travel between jurisdictions with varying safety standards.

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SimoninSpalding replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
3 likes

This is appalling. In the video testing the "assertive mode" it passes a cyclist at 50mph, with another cyclist oncoming thus achieving two NMOTD-worthy incidents at one attempt.

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Steve K | 2 years ago
11 likes

Do (most) motorists take any notice of lowered speed limits.  Fairly recently the road through my (urban) village had the speed limit cut from 30 to 20.  When I drive along it at 20 I am always tailgated; when I ride through at 20 or a little over, I am invariably (and, given the traffic lights, pointlessly) overtaken.  

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HoarseMann replied to Steve K | 2 years ago
8 likes

The only situation I see people sticking to a reduced speed limit is on the motorway, in an average speed check roadworks section.

Possibly one of the biggest impacts of smart motorways could be the collisions prevented by the years of heavily enforced speed limits whilst they're being constructed!

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vthejk replied to HoarseMann | 2 years ago
0 likes

HoarseMann wrote:

The only situation I see people sticking to a reduced speed limit is on the motorway, in an average speed check roadworks section.

Possibly one of the biggest impacts of smart motorways could be the collisions prevented by the years of heavily enforced speed limits whilst they're being constructed!

True! But I've noticed that average limits with cameras on non-motorway roads get flouted so often. Do the cameras even work, I often wonder? Most of the roads leading out from Coventry city centre are changing from 40mph to 30mph limited with cameras but it always seems that people on the left lane stick to the limit, while people on the right lane proceed on at 10-15mph above.

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TriTaxMan replied to Steve K | 2 years ago
12 likes

Steve K wrote:

Do (most) motorists take any notice of lowered speed limits.  Fairly recently the road through my (urban) village had the speed limit cut from 30 to 20.  When I drive along it at 20 I am always tailgated; when I ride through at 20 or a little over, I am invariably (and, given the traffic lights, pointlessly) overtaken.  

This is and always has been the issue with 20 mph roads, that the vast majority of drivers will consistently ignore the speed limit.

But it always surprises me the fact that, as you said, a motorist will (for the most part) not overtake another motorist who is travelling at 20 in a 20 zone, but won't hesitate to overtake a cyclist who is doing the same or greater speed.

The single most annoying part is that for the most part the 20mph speed limits aroudn where I live have a mix of severity of speed bumps, so inevitably when I am cycling I get overtaken by the cars over some speed bumps.... but 50 yards down the road when they come to the black rubber tank traps.... the same car slows down to 5 - 10 mph for every speed bump holding me up.... but MGIF

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IanMK replied to TriTaxMan | 2 years ago
13 likes

Had a "conversation" with a driver last week because he objected to me riding in primary and then shaking my head when he overtook me on a speed bump. I advised him about Rule 153 and its lack of ambiguity, to which he replied "rule 153 of what?". 

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brooksby replied to IanMK | 2 years ago
4 likes

IanMK wrote:

Had a "conversation" with a driver last week because he objected to me riding in primary and then shaking my head when he overtook me on a speed bump. I advised him about Rule 153 and its lack of ambigity, to which he replied "rule 153 of what?". 

I'll admit to my ignorance of that one.

I get overtaken on the traffic cushion things on the Clifton side of the Suspension Bridge every single morningsurprise

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IanMK replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
12 likes

For the record "Traffic-calming measures. On some roads there are features such as road humps, chicanes and narrowings which are intended to slow you down. When you approach these features reduce your speed. Allow cyclists and motorcyclists room to pass through them. Maintain a reduced speed along the whole of the stretch of road within the calming measures. Give way to oncoming road users if directed to do so by signs. You should not overtake other moving road users while in these areas."

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brooksby replied to IanMK | 2 years ago
2 likes

Thanks, Ian (tbh I googled it after you referenced it)  1

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IanMK replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
7 likes

I assumed you had Brooksby, but I thought I might as well share for the benefit of the thread.

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brooksby replied to IanMK | 2 years ago
1 like

yes

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Clem Fandango replied to IanMK | 2 years ago
12 likes

IanMK wrote:

Had a "conversation" with a driver last week because he objected to me riding in primary and then shaking my head when he overtook me on a speed bump. I advised him about Rule 153 and its lack of ambiguity, to which he replied "rule 153 of what?". 

 

Might be the same guy I had a "discourse" with the other week.  Tried to pass me into a (very) blind bend but was thwarted by a vehicle coming the other way just as he got his bonnet alongside me.  Then immediately afterwards tried to overtake again around a more gentle bend, though this time one liberally sprinkled with parked cars thereby making the manoeuvre just as foolhardy, ultimately similarly abandoned due to traaaactor coming the other way.  

I didn't react to the first one (was trying to remain zen you see) just called him a &%£~!!!#  £%£^$er in my head.  However, at the second attempt I glanced across then gave a little shake of my head (to myself more than anything, not a massive gesticulation at any event) - but still didn't say a word.  Anyway, once the road was clear he came alongside, slowed down & opened the passenger window - he was absolutely apoplectic (red faced, bug eyed & veins popping) with my crime.  "How DARE you shake your head at me you f******* little ****  You shouldn't be on the road, blah blah, in the middle of the road blah blah, holding me up blah blah road tax, blah blah run you over next time".

Motorists People are f*cking idiots. At least the proportion that go from normal human being to reckless deranged entitled lunatic the moment they get behind the wheel.

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brooksby replied to Clem Fandango | 2 years ago
3 likes

Clem Fandango wrote:

However, at the second attempt I glanced across then gave a little shake of my head (to myself more than anything, not a massive gesticulation at any event) - but still didn't say a word.  Anyway, once the road was clear he came alongside, slowed down & opened the passenger window - he was absolutely apoplectic (red faced, bug eyed & veins popping) with my crime.  "How DARE you shake your head at me you f******* little ****  You shouldn't be on the road, blah blah, in the middle of the road blah blah, holding me up blah blah road tax, blah blah run you over next time".

Clearly that motorist has been reading about the butterfly effect, and was concerned that your shaking your head might cause a typhoon to destroy the Philippines - they were clearly just being a caring human being  3

Avatar
Clem Fandango replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
2 likes

To be fair, a tree had fallen down across one of my favourite local MTB trails the next day.......coincidence?   I'll be more careful next time. 

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to IanMK | 2 years ago
4 likes

I didn't have a conversation as such but had similar riding primary concerns with a driver on Sunday at these lights (now with extra road works narrowing them and the road across the way further). It consisted of him beeping at me for being stopped at there when lights changed as he approached to him still beeping even though I was up to 22mph and me being almost to the bumper of the car in front. 

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