[AndyIT]

Came across such a group today and wondered what people’s views were. Personally I think they should have split into 2,groups on busier roads.

Topic

[matthewn5]

Well I see groups of circa 15

Well I see groups of circa 15 drivists driving single file without leaving any gaps every day of the week. And none of them give a toss about blocking the road for the rest of us.

[Backladder]

AndyIT wrote:

AndyIT wrote:

2 groups would make it easier and safer to pass for all concerned; we have to share the roads, can’t see a them and us attitude helping

One group riding 2 abreast would be even easier to pass but most drivists would complain about having to cross the centre line. Riding 2 abreast would also make it easier to communicate up and down the group so the ride leader could make a decision about what best to do quicker.

[Simon E]

AndyIT wrote:

AndyIT wrote:

2 groups would make it easier and safer to pass for all concerned; we have to share the roads, can’t see a them and us attitude helping

I explained why I thought that it isn’t necessarily better.

And there’s no them-and-us, I also said that I am a driver and considered it from that PoV too.

If ‘groups’ of cars splitting up or pulling over to let you past while cycling then that’s great but I’ve not seen that happen. I get the odd driver who seems me in their mirror and moves across or leaves a gap to give me more space (which is always acknowledged) but that’s about it.

“Sharing the road” works ways. Since bikes are far smaller than cars I’m already using a much smaller proportion of it when cycling then when driving.

[Mungecrundle]

Just for clarity, this is not
Just for clarity, this is not particularly for convenience of motorists. If anything 2 small groups with a gap can be more difficult for a low ability driver to cope with than one larger group. It is more that we are not professional cyclists used to bunch riding beyond weekend club rides. Also not riding on closed roads, so groups of 8 is just easier for us to keep organised, keep together and ride neat and tidy.

[AndyIT]

Hirsute wrote:

Hirsute wrote:

Yes, did overtake a club once on a mass ride. They were in separate, large groups.

Which is normal practice I think.

[AndyIT]

check12 wrote:

check12 wrote:

my club try and stick to groups of 10 but sometimes it’s not possible, just be thankful we don’t roll out in a 35 cyclist peloton and flex our Highway Code heirachical position 

True but 35 would just encourage people to push for insurance/tax & registration.

[AndyIT]

It’s fairly rare, just
It’s fairly rare, just surprised a club didn’t follow what you have outlined.

[AndyIT]

Simon E wrote:

Simon E wrote:

Drivers sat in a queue of traffic don’t make it easy for me to filter past so why should a group of people cycling do anything special for impatient drivers?

Also, as a driver I’d find it more of an issue to overtake 2 groups than 1 if they aren’t far apart – no sooner would you accelerate past the first group than you’re braking again behind the second.

Not sure splitting up groups helps in reality, though it might appease the aggressive drivers with ‘road ownership’ issues who can’t even cope with 2-abreast riding.

2 groups would make it easier and safer to pass for all concerned; we have to share the roads, can’t see a them and us attitude helping

[Simon E]

Drivers sat in a queue of

Drivers sat in a queue of traffic don’t make it easy for me to filter past so why should a group of people cycling do anything special for impatient drivers?

Also, as a driver I’d find it more of an issue to overtake 2 groups than 1 if they aren’t far apart – no sooner would you accelerate past the first group than you’re braking again behind the second.

Not sure splitting up groups helps in reality, though it might appease the aggressive drivers with ‘road ownership’ issues who can’t even cope with 2-abreast riding.

[Mungecrundle]

In almost 40 years of driving
In almost 40 years of driving, I reckon I can add up all the time I have lost to cyclists in terms of minutes. Traffic on motorways alone must equate to several days.

Not sure I can recall being significantly delayed behind a very large group of cyclists, abreast or single file, ever.

As a loose rule, club rides tend to split into groups of 8 or less. Easier for the group to keep together at junctions and to communicate.

[check12]

my club try and stick to

my club try and stick to groups of 10 but sometimes it’s not possible, just be thankful we don’t roll out in a 35 cyclist peloton and flex our Highway Code heirachical position 

[Hirsute]

Yes, did overtake a club once
Yes, did overtake a club once on a mass ride. They were in separate, large groups.

[AndyIT]

HoarseMann wrote:

HoarseMann wrote:

Well, it depends. If the road is wide enough so that a safe pass can be made within the lane (like here), then that’s no problem at all.

If you would need to occupy the oncoming lane to make a safe pass, then they should ideally be two abreast to reduce the overtaking distance. Sticking as one group is better on roads with long straight sections, splitting into two groups might be better on roads with shorter straight sections.

If the road is busy, then sometimes two groups might be better, but if they’re only on that road for a short while, then it might be better to stay as one group to dissuade pointless overtaking.

There are no hard and fast rules about this. As a driver, you just have to deal with what you have in front of you. Sometimes that’s a long line of 15 cyclists (pretty rare I would think, I don’t recall ever encountering such a situation in over 30 years of driving), sometimes it’s a slow lorry or a tractor, or just simply a traffic jam.

No chance of over taking safely. Yes it is rare.

[AndyIT]

Sriracha wrote:

Sriracha wrote:

As a motorist, I’ve never come across that situation. As a cyclist, I come across the converse all the time.

Surprisingly they were from a club, yes its very rare, but I would expect club cyclists to be a bit more aware.

[Hirsute]

I have seen largeish groups.
I have seen largeish groups.
Did get “held up,” by 6 or so once who wouldn’t group.
Saw about 10 coming the other way once.
Despaired because they would have been safer as 2 or 3 abreast.
Most bizarre was about 30 led by someone in a Santa costume ( again coming the other way). Utterly clueless about how to cycle as a group (NSL as well !!)

[Author]

Replies