[Closed] Roadies - how/why do you do it?!

Because it's still better than driving to and from work every day plus I can eat anything I want without gaining weight.

I know it’s not for ‘fun’ as they don’t do fun,

I enjoy riding on the road, it is fun. You may need to check your prejudices about a group of people.

Note that I'm not meaning commuting as that's also why I'm on the road (if I'm out on the mtb or gravel bike for fun I don't do main roads) - if you commute by bicycle you generally have to use some road - it's people who choose to ride on these roads for 'pleasure'...

It does depend where you live and which roads you ride, some roads are fine, others not. Once you know the bad ones you work out routes to avoid them.

As @kerley says, it is fun.

The amount of potholes around would scare me off of a roadbike not the roads themselves.

I do wonder this at times.

Sometimes it cant be helped, as its the only route, but a lot of the time there will be safer, quieter roads to ride on, albeit with a distance penalty.

Recently near me a cyclist was tragically killed. He was riding on a dual carriageway (driver error caused the collision and subsequent death). There is a cycle route, with cycle lane, that runs on a road that is parallel to the dual carriage way, but that is slightly longer. I wonder why someone would choose the dual carriageway over the other route, when the risks are much higher.

I am threatening to ride to work. Sussex council have an online route planner which takes you along cycle lanes and diverts you to the quieter roads away from the main roads, which is the route I will take.

It could be argued that quieter roads are equally risky, as people may be less aware of cyclists etc, but I suspect someone reversing out of their drive into you at 15mph would be a sight better than being rear ended at 70.....

On a different note, nothing boils my urine more than cyclist on the road when there is a fully functioning cycle lane right next to it...… grrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaahhhhhhyooouuuidiotz

I can ride for hours on B roads around here and barely see a single person. I wouldn’t ride the main roads for fun.

Until you go exploring, you can be so near to pleasant, low traffic roads and be completely oblivious to it.

I've lived within a few miles of Southampton City centre since September 1992, using a bike to get around, but I very rarely did recreational rides because the roads I knew were often quite hostile. Little did I know until April 2017, that Hortons Heath was literally a few miles away and an effective gateway to loads of quiet roads and lanes on the West side of the South Downs.

Back at Southampton uni in 92, I knew folks who seemed quite keen cyclists, but I never knew where they went. If any of them were regularly heading off to the likes of Old Winchester Hill, I so wish they had told me and dragged me along, it would have got me into recreational road cycling at a far more suitable age!

But even now, I'm still very wary of heading out or getting back around rush hours and school run times, because my preferred route involves crossing two busy roads close to home.

Different roads for different purposes.

My commute involves some time on the kind of roads you describe, it's not ideal but it either that or add 50% to the mileage. I actually quite enjoy some of it, particularly the urban stuff, as it's a bit of a battle of skills and wits against other traffic.

But when riding for pleasure then quiet lanes and b-roads are the way forward, I can pretty much ride for as far as I want and not touch a major road. The pleasure then comes from being outside in the country side, from going fast and from the effort being put in.

After 21 years of mud and wet and the huge rate of attrition to kit I lost my mountain biking mojo and started road cycling when I was given a bike. From where I live I can head south into the conurbation of the Lancashire mill towns where the roads and traffic are horrible, so I never go there, but if I head north I'm in the lovely Ribble Valley or the Bowland Fells, which are a joy to ride. What I really enjoy is the feeling of being able to travel on the bike and cover lots of ground with very little effort.

Last time I had a road bike, I hated it, I was scared of the hills (no granny ring!) so I kept heading out to Cheshire on busy roads.

Now I have accidentally bought a CX, I am heading out towards The Peak more and have found lots of quiet B roads. I can sometimes go out for a couple of hours without seeing a car.

I only had time for a quick ride last night so popped out on the MTB. Straight down a disused railway, stopping every couple of minutes to avoid loose dogs or dog owners with 300m extended leads (it was peak dog walking time). Then through the woods to get covered with mud. Arrived home, bike and me filthy after just an hours easy ride.

Don't get me wrong, I love getting out on the MTB for long rides in The Peak but when I just want a quick one from the house, I'm finding that the CX is winning.

Mick

On a different note, nothing boils my urine more than cyclist on the road when there is a fully functioning cycle lane right next to it…… grrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaahhhhhhyooouuuidiotz

Are you sure it's fully functioning, or (more likely) is it a poorly designed bit of paint not suitable for travelling over 10 mph?

I’m highly selective about the roads I ride, always avoiding A roads and some of the busier Bs. I’m lucky that’s possible where I live. On some of the lanes a gravel bike is more appropriate. I agree that the driving and volume of traffic on many roads is terrifying today.

Haven't ridden since Xmas when I started running, but I do miss it (and MTB). I've always loved big days out on both road and trail*, but midweek the road is the easiest option to get solid training in.

* Road, for a long ride with a club or mates, and MTB for disappearing into the hills getting lost on my own for hours.

As mentioned depends on your area. I'd say that in my immediate area the road cycling is better. Loads of quite roads some fantastic descents and climbs. I find the cycling to places quite satisfying, and cycling a century say also gives a level of satisfaction. I do see your point of view though, there are places that I wouldn't consider road cycling, often they are like what you mention.

I wonder why someone would choose the dual carriageway over the other route, when the risks are much higher.

Without knowing the road I can’t tell, but there are many possible reasons. The cycle route alternatives are often poorly maintained, overgrown, full of litter, moss/slime can make them very slippery. They are often obstructed by signposts, lamp posts, bus stops. They often stop without giving you a good route on, or go far out of the way, or disappear right where there is least space and where protection from cars is most needed, only to reappear after the danger spot. They are often shared use, putting you in potential conflict with pedestrians with very different needs & speeds.

It may be that none of these apply, and the lane is adequate. Or maybe even good. Often this isn’t the case. If it was a good, safe reasonalby direct alternative I’d probably use it. But....

On a different note, nothing boils my urine more than cyclist on the road when there is a fully functioning cycle lane right next to it……

You need to review your selfish attitude. They are another perfectly legal road user. A more vulnerable one at that. They have the right to use the road no matter what you think, and you have a legal responsibility to act so that you do not endanger them. Even if they are acting in a way you don’t like.

You have a legal responsibility not to endanger them.

And a moral one. The fact there is a cycle path alternative doesn’t change that.

There are roads, and there are roads. I wouldn't cycle for enjoyment on the roads I commute along, but if I go in the other direction (away from town) I can get some amazing scenery, with lovely roads and no traffic.

If you are the kind of MTBer that gets any enjoyment from the pain / pleasure of beating your mates up a climb, then road riding is like that x10. I think I'll always prefer riding my MTB but road riding is ace too!

On a different note, nothing boils my urine more than cyclist on the road when there is a fully functioning cycle lane right next to it……

You mean a separate, smoothly finished, unobstructed, going all the way to the destination, unshared cycle path yeah? If you mean most of the ones round here, where the surface is unfinished, they go past drop kerb house entrances, are shared with pedestrians and their dogs, have junctions every 100metres with "cyclist dismount" signs, then you need to **** off and find another forum where all your fellow bigoted car drivers hang out.

On a different note, nothing boils my urine more than cyclist on the road when there is a fully functioning cycle lane right next to it…… grrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaahhhhhhyooouuuidiotz

Please post your driving license back to the DVLA and never get into the driver's seat of a car ever again. Many thanks.

OP is a strange one. He should be on a car forum as he seems to hate cyclists. On you go pal go and have some banter with your petrolhead mates and keep away from the cycling forums.

1 - 1.5 hour drive to the nearest trail kills it when time poor. As 2 hours out the door road cycling is far more convenient. Choice of route is important, as normal commute route can be a battle, but quiet country roads still mean you are often on your guard, but can be fun for the majority of the time.

Other roads are available. Find better routes for training. I have a nice 100 km loop that takes 3-3.5 hours, covers lanes, and the odd A road, has a few sets of lights and is generally rather pleasant. I ride it both directions.

Don't ride A roads! Or busy roads in general! No fun in that for anyone.

I love road cycling, on those lovely quiet back country lanes. We just head out of town on the quickest route poss to get away from the traffic. Once into the countryside, road cycling is really amazing. Smooth and fast. Cover large distances, taking in lovely villages and scenery. Really really love it

For me its a bit like using tarmac roads to connect up off road trails when I'm on my mountainbike, they're a necessary evil to get to where I want to be. My 'road' commute (25 miles) is 90% back roads, 5% bridleway and 5% main road. I have to use the main road bits to connect up the route, other than developing the ability to fly I have no choice 🙂
There is a statistic somewhere about the majority of road traffic deaths are actually on back roads..

I cover 3-4000 miles a year on road, anywhere between 50-100 miles a week, commuting, club rides, just for fun. I maybe get 1 bad pass/pull out a month.

I don't ever feel so intimidated by bad driving that I want to quit road riding. Maybe it's how I ride, where I ride, maybe my threshold of what is shit driving has adjusted, maybe I'm too damn stubborn to quit.

But you won't see me riding a proper red route at a trail centre, my skill and experience level don't give me that confidence. Maybe it's just what we get used to.

It's perfectly legal to ride in the road next to a cycle path, much in the same way it is legal to walk down the middle of a main road rather than down the pavement next to it, being legal doesn't make it any less ****tish. What it says is that they value a few seconds of their time more highly than minutes of dozens or hundreds of other peoples time stuck behind them for no reason. Utter selfishness in other words.

There is a prime example of this on my way home from work, a big wide clear marked cycle path right next to the carriageway of an extremely busy NSL road which most of the cyclists use but a few of the more angry faced lycra warriors insist on riding in the road with giant queues of traffic behind trying to squeeze past.

I'm entirely pro cycling over car use wherever possible but that sort of needlessly knobbish behavior contributes to the conflict and negative attitudes between road users and hence indirectly endangers all cyclists.

Back to the case in point though, I agree that riding on fast busy roads is miserable but quiet country lanes are very enjoyable.

I'm glad someone is on the same page as me @chrisbirrell . I am pro-cycling, hence saying I am considering cycling to work, outside of my love for mountain bikes.

Clearly not all cycles lanes are perfect, but the ones around me, from what I can tell are perfectly usable by all, as shown by the number of people using them. Obviously people choose not to and obviously I drive past them with the same care as I do when passing any cyclist in any other situation. So my driving licence will be staying with me, despite the silly comments.

it just puzzles me why some folk choose not to use them and rather risk a busy road. As some folk do get equally annoyed, but don't have the respect that some of us do and will pass close, make a dangerous move etc.

I guess you make your choice, roll the dice and play the game....

Not answering the question but riding in traffic is a particular skill that not many people have. Even many people who do lots of road miles. It's different to driving. I used to have loads of issues like you discibe but although I still get issues they are much less frequent.

As for ride riding for pleasure it's about exploring imo, but that's why I only like remote road riding.

t’s perfectly legal to ride in the road next to a cycle path, much in the same way it is legal to walk down the middle of a main road rather than down the pavement next to it, being legal doesn’t make it any less ****. What it says is that they value a few seconds of their time more highly than minutes of dozens or hundreds of other peoples time stuck behind them for no reason. Utter selfishness in other words.

Really, you reckon in rush hour this is the effect? If it's that busy that people are going to lose minutes, I can't believe they wouldn't actually be stuck in traffic anyway.

Also, until you try some of these "fully functioning" cycle paths, you don't realise how shit they can be. For instance the "national cycle network" route I took which started nice tarmac, with the odd lump from roots, but perfectly acceptable. Then a couple of miles in deteriorated to, variously, potholed gravel land rover track, muddy farm track, and at one point singletrack! This was far busier than many of the minor roads I cycled on that day, so I really can't see the justification for sending cyclists down it without putting an adequate surface on it, unless the whole exercise is merely to pat one's self on the back, then feel blameless when cyclists continue to be killed on main roads. I saw one pair of cyclists repairing a puncture, undoubtedly caused by the poor surface.

Painted on lanes are obviously worst, especially when people are allowed to park in them (I fail to see the point). I've been beeped at when the cycle lane is icy/snowy and I'm out in the clear road. ****ing self centered idiots in their tin boxes.

There's stuff you can do to encourage people not to do silly things, but a lot of them are counter-intuitive, and the culture in this country in general and shown even by other cyclists on this thread in particular is that cyclists are just "in the way" and some sort of second class citizen that can't use their right to be on the road, or be provided with a viable alternative.

What it says is that they value a few seconds of their time more highly than minutes of dozens or hundreds of other peoples time stuck behind them for no reason.

If you ever find a cyclist with *hundreds* of people stuck behind them and the cyclist is the sole cause, then post up some evidence and I’ll give you £5.

If you’re on the road in a car and you’re stuck behind others, you’re not stuck in traffic: you are traffic. You are part of the problem.

I doubt bikes actually delay folk, they simply get to the next queue a little later.

The actual issue is people in cars risking the safety of folk on bikes with shitty close passes for “a few seconds” of their time

It’s perfectly legal to ride in the road next to a cycle path, much in the same way it is legal to walk down the middle of a main road rather than down the pavement next to it, being legal doesn’t make it any less ****. What it says is that they value a few seconds of their time more highly than minutes of dozens or hundreds of other peoples time stuck behind them for no reason. Utter selfishness in other words.

Please post your driving license back to the DVLA and never get into the driver’s seat of a car ever again. Many thanks. I shouldn't have to share roads with utter ****s like you.

it just puzzles me why some folk choose not to use them and rather risk a busy road.

So either these people are completely irrational or have you considered that there might conceivably be a reason for them to do what they do?

What it says is that they value a few seconds of their time more highly than minutes of dozens or hundreds of other peoples time stuck behind them for no reason.

When I used to commute through Edinburgh it was the cars holding up the cyclists. Selfish bastards!

Glad to see the thread has swung and my post is bang on trend, if a bit more angry than most.

I feel safer on my motorbike at 70mph than on my bicycle at 20mph on a main road.

the statistics suggest you're 'feelings' shouldn't be trusted. Not that theres any excuses for close passes and all sorts of smidsy behaviour but you're largely talking about things that you're frightened of, but haven't actually happened. You've ridden those roads, in that traffic, and apart from a few surprises you're still alive.

Perhaps cyclists who cycle on busy roads regularly have learned not to be frightened about this stuff

[url= https://i.ibb.co/wzSPKZt/graph.pn g" target="_blank">https://i.ibb.co/wzSPKZt/graph.pn g"/> [/img][/url]

Possibly the scariest thing about this thread is that so many people think that others will use their 'tin boxes' as a lethal weapon.

Whilst I personally made the comment about getting annoyed at people not using cycles lanes (when as mentioned are fully functioning I.E. in good condition and suitable for the bike they are on), at no point in my life has it ticked me off so much that I would try and pass dangerously, cause harm or even roll down the window and share my opinion.

If this is the first thought that comes into your mind when reading my comments, I feel sorry for the world you live in. It must be miserable.

And just for the record, I also think smoking fags and drinking energy drinks is a poor life choice, but I would never mount the kerb and mow someone down to share my views on life. Get a grip......

“What I really enjoy is the feeling of being able to travel on the bike and cover lots of ground with very little effort.”

Is this an ebike thread?

What it says is that they value a few seconds of their time more highly than minutes of dozens or hundreds of other peoples time stuck behind them for no reason. Utter selfishness in other words.

Possibly the scariest thing about this thread is that so many people think that others will use their ‘tin boxes’ as a lethal weapon.

Whilst I personally made the comment about getting annoyed at people not using cycles lanes (when as mentioned are fully functioning I.E. in good condition and suitable for the bike they are on), at no point in my life has it ticked me off so much that I would try and pass dangerously, cause harm or even roll down the window and share my opinion.

If this is the first thought that comes into your mind when reading my comments, I feel sorry for the world you live in. It must be miserable

Well, the chap who used his car to physically push me out of the lane I was in earlier this year was happy to. After all he wanted to overtake, and there was no room. What was he to do? Wait? Of course he didn’t. When faced with a choice of stopping or hitting me, he chose not to stop...
He knew I was there, after all he just tried to overtake.
Reported to the police, but no witnesses so no prosecution.

Anyway, I’m sure most don’t intend to actually use their vehicle as a weapon, but they seem happy to take the risk that they might do it by mistake.

Roads are handy. I use them to get to more offroad/join offroad bits up.

Each to their own. I find road riding a boring pastime but sometimes do it if the local trails are clagged up.
No fun AFAIC.

OP is a strange one. He should be on a car forum as he seems to hate cyclists. On you go pal go and have some banter with your petrolhead mates and keep away from the cycling forums.

Confused.

I'm the cyclist here, being cut up and close passed and pulled out on while commuting to work, on my bicycle.

Wires crossed?

Anyway, unfortunately on my commute, of the 10 miles, 3 miles have to be done on the road as the 'cyclepath' option is basically a shared footpath with no adaption for cyclists.

Yet in those 3 miles, most days I'll count at least 5 close passes and today, one dangerous pull out (he saw me as he beeped as I shouted and displayed my disgust at his driving) 😂

Going an alternative route via side roads would double the time it takes to cover that distance.

On recreational road riding:

https://singletrackmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/bez-receding-hare-lines/

OP - Most cycle paths are fine for fat tyres but are generally crap for road bikes, equivalent to providing a farm track & expecting that as an acceptable surface for normal cars to barrel along, that's before you even get into the issue of extra junctions to negotiate, crossing driveways, overgrowth etc etc

I can also see that road riding on B roads with little traffic can be OK, here in Kent they're few and far between though. I still occasionally see a cyclist on a 60mph A road and think 'you must be be crazy, why are you choosing to cycle on this road' whilst artics pass them at 50mph, a few feet from the cyclist.

Basically, a few miles of riding on busy roads every few days is enough to last me a lifetime.

Commuting to work in a busy city isn't really road riding / being a roadie, it's just commuting. I can do 100 miles at the WE on quiet roads with pretty minimal car hassle (if any) - that's what I call being a roadie. As for cars in rush hour, some are dicks but you knew that before you set of.

Strangely enough, the A roads tend to be the ones that are the most direct, so it makes a lot of sense to use them if you are travelling under your own steam.

You know what boils my piss @v7fmp?

What boils my piss is nearly dying last week on my way to work when a car driver decided to overtake a lorry and missed me by inches head on at 50mph. The road was entering a small town in 300 metres so his 'gain' would have been non existent. My family's loss would have been irreplaceable.

What boils my piss is being shouted at from a transit van as it tries to squeeze past me on a single track road revving it's engine that people like me are effing up the roads and shouldnt be out at rush hour (whatever the **** that is) and despite the fact I was commuting to work.

But what really really really boils my piss is that I first nearly died on the roads 30 years ago and absolutely nothing has changed since then. In fact it's far worse now. That and people like you and the other idiot on this thread talking about what I should do to make your life easier.

what I should do to make your life easier

QFT

Normally the cycle lanes aren't very good round me, you're really in danger of being knocked off by people pulling out of their drives as they don't think to to stop until they reach the road, you have to stop and give way at every single minor road joining the 'main' road and the local yobs seem to think the cycle lane is for recycling glass.
So I stick to hi viz and LED lights and stay on the road.

But I still enjoy riding my bike on roads, obviously taking the quietest route reasonably possible.

And I really should get my cameras fitted...

It’s like taking drugs except with a higher probability of death

Just to boost some of the signals already:

- I haven't seen much actually useable cyclepath in the UK outside of London. Thinking about this made me sad.

- Riding one's bike on a nice quiet road (we have lots of them where I live, hooray) is one of life's finest pleasures. Doing it with a group of other like-minded individuals is excellent too. Just thinking about a good paceline makes me smile.

Also, until you try some of these “fully functioning” cycle paths, you don’t realise how shit they can be

This. Well surfaced, direct and safe cycle paths are a very rare beast.

– Riding one’s bike on a nice quiet road (we have lots of them where I live, hooray) is one of life’s finest pleasures. Doing it with a group of other like-minded individuals is excellent too. Just thinking about a good paceline makes me smile.

+1

Absolutely love going out with a good group and getting pushed really hard on a long ride.

I know it’s not for ‘fun’ as they don’t do fun,

Strange comment. Smacks of the rather odd us and them, MTB v roadie stuff. We all ride bikes, many of us on road and off road.

I too try to steer clear of A roads as far as possible and yes there are plenty of good, quiet roads available. Another thumbs up for gravel bikes - judicious use of unpaved lanes and bridleways assists in avoiding some horrible roads around here.

Also, whilst not being a dick about it, be assertive. Don't ride in the gutter as that encourages motorists to pass where perhaps they shouldn't, but conversely be prepared to make life easy for vehicles to overtake where it's safe. A little wave of thanks doesn't go amiss when a driver is courteous (and in all honesty I think most are).

Sticking with the title of the thread... I do a lot of it by extending commutes and because I enjoy all forms of cycling.

I'm still a MTB'er at heart and you can't beat it for thrills and endorphins, but I also enjoy touring, commuting and road cycling.

Despite not considering myself a roadie, I do a fair number of miles on the black stuff... albeit preferably when there's a strip of green moss down the middle. There are some fabulous roads out there that you can enjoy in all weathers and often from your doorstep. I personally recommend one of Jack Thurston's Lost Lanes series for some great routes and just general inspiration.

I think the main point is that the worst experiences and fears outlined in this thread so far are avoidable with a little planning - and that "road" riding can be a very accessible and lovely way to spend your time.

ROSPA recomend using the road over a fully functioning cycle path if you are travelling in excess of 10mph, and I am pretty sure the police do as well
As for queues of motorists , its amazing how car drivers will sit patiently in a queue for 3-4 minutes if being held up by other cars holding traffic hilst turning right, or a breakdown , roadworks etc.
The same queues of motorists fall into apoplectic rage if they have to wait 30 secinds behind a bike, then , once having cleared the bike, catch up with the next car in front 15 seconds later, and want to get all kinds of stabby , follow you home, throw things , sideswipe you
Bullys basically

Clearly not all cycles lanes are perfect, but the ones around me, from what I can tell are perfectly usable by all, as shown by the number of people using them.

Almost all are utter shit. The single biggest issue is give way as a bike on a cycle lane you often have to do it for cars emerging from left, cars coming from behind and turning left, cars coming from in front and turning right at the same time as avoiding a mother with a pram and a dog walker and the speed camera erected in the middle of the cycle lane.
Junctions are the most dangerous bit of cycling and cycle lanes increase the number and the complexity.

And thats before we consider the surface.

@winston, you appear to be another person who has mis-interpreted what I have said, or plain just cant read.

I am sorry you have had a few near death experiences and it sounds like there was no cycle path option for you to use. Its good to hear that those experiences haven't stopped you from cycling/commuting.

As we are all well aware, no matter what the subject, this world is full of dicks. Be it those who drive like idiots, as you have experienced, or those who get boozed up on a Saturday night and start fights, or those who think its ok to drop litter etc etc. Not ideal, but a fact of life.

For some reason, you and one or two others seem to have grouped my in with the 'dicks'. Let me reiterate once again..... it does annoy me if there is a perfectly adequate cycle lane, that people don't use it. Not because it holds me up, but because they are putting their own lives at risk, due to the said 'dicks' in this world.

I have very little experience of cycle lanes, maybe this is why my opinion is slightly skewed, but the one I drive parallel to everyday (which is also the one I intend to use), is wide, smooth, free from crud and crosses 3 roads, with the appropriate junctions/crossing points etc in place. Again, hence why it annoys me when people don't use it.

And to reiterate AGAIN, I am a cyclist, I respect other cyclists when in my car and have never and will never endanger them to gain a few seconds, life is too short and that aint my jam.

But please feel free to continue as you see fit, tar me with the same brush as you do others, due to the bad experiences you have encountered.

I sometimes commute by bike and have found that the less you look like a ‘cyclist’ and the more unsuitable your bike is the more room you are given. Commute in bike gear, with helmet and on a drop bar bike and get loads of close passes. Commute in jeans, t-shirt, no helmet and on a Stooge with 820mm bars and it’s a relatively pleasant experience. Bizarre considering the fact the former involves traveling at a good clip and the latter is bimbling.

you appear to be another person who has mis-interpreted what I have said,

When pretty much everyone is mis-interpreting what you have said you may need to look at the common factor.
Comments such as "nothing boils my urine more than cyclist on the road when there is a fully functioning cycle lane right next to it…… grrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaahhhhhhyooouuuidiotz" don't make you sound rational nor a considerate driver hence the reaction to your posts.

@v7fmp

The reason you think you’ve been lumped in with “the dicks” is because of the words you used and the attitudes you displayed:

On a different note, nothing boils my urine more than cyclist on the road when there is a fully functioning cycle lane right next to it…… grrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaahhhhhhyooouuuidiotz

The other road users have a right to be there. It might not be the best choice for a cyclist to be on a busy road. But you’ve just admitted you don’t know much about cycle lanes. It *moght be a very wise safe choice.

They have a right to be there, and to obey the Highway Code - those on bikes should do that.

You have a legal and moral responsibility to make sure you don’t endanger them.

Saying you don’t think cyclists should be on *your* road and that it “boils your piss” is why people are treating your comments this way.

The (widely held) opinion that bikes don’t deserve to be in the roads is - in my opinion - at the root of the poor treatment of other squishy-bodied humans. I wish it would change, and I wish you’d alter your poor attitude. You are part of the problem with your boiling piss and the fact that you’re offended bothers me not one whit, TBF.

“Confused.

I’m the cyclist here, being cut up and close passed and pulled out on while commuting to work, on my bicycle.

Wires crossed?”

I like the HG Wells quote “Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race”.

Your classing yourself as a cyclist so why slag off other cyclists?

Not far out of Cardiff, I can be on roads that have hardly ever known car use, and there is *no more wonderful feeling on Earth.

That said, I think it is Sustrans that prints them, but there is a map of Cardiff that show the best roads to use for cyclists, based on minimal traffic, availability of proper bike lanes, and proximity to non-road-based paths. I tend to plot my rides (including my commute) accordingly.

So far, touch wood, all of my cycling accidents have been self-induced.

*YMMV

As we are all well aware, no matter what the subject, this world is full of dicks. Be it those who drive like idiots, as you have experienced, or those who get boozed up on a Saturday night and start fights … Not ideal, but a fact of life.

It does annoy me if there is a perfectly adequate cycle lane, that people don’t use it. Not because it holds me up, but because they are putting their own lives at risk, due to the said ‘dicks’ in this world.

It's interesting that you bring up drunkenly starting fights as an analogy.

I used to live in a large city, and I used to go out drinking and clubbing in the town centre at weekends, from my teenage years through to my late 20s. Every so often I'd nearly get caught up in a fight. I'd never get involved, would always walk away (hell, in my teenage years sometimes I'd run), but some people who are up for a fight don't like people walking away, especially when they're a nasty bit of work with small man syndrome and the big tall guy isn't interested.

I got fed up with it. It was a big factor in me not going out in town in the evenings any more. I felt that sooner or later I'd end up with a situation I'd be prevented from walking away from, and then what?

But I'm going to bet good money that even though you say what riles you about people cycling in the carriageway is what you perceive as their disregard for their own safety, you wouldn't be remotely riled by me carrying on drinking in the city centre. Not even if I was in front of you at the bar. Maybe if I was in front of you at the bar ordering a round for a group of 20 while you just wanted to get a pint of Stella…? Would you start to be concerned about my attitutes towards my own Saturday night safety then?

You see, personally, I just don't believe you. I don't believe that an altruistic care for others' welfare is the sole factor, or even a significant one, in your piss being boiled by the people whose decisions you fail to understand.

If it genuinely is (and if so I'd love to hear some anecdotes about times your piss was boiled by people going to high street bars for a drink) then I would seriously suggest taking a step back and asking how the one leads to the other, because it's not rational.

It's nice to know a lot of you have decent cycle lanes/safer options than I have for commuting!
There's not a chance in hell of me being able to get to work on a bike safely & confidently unless I made it into about a 25 miler (It's 15 to work). The roads are twisty with a lot of double white lines & unlit & I wouldn't use them ever, apart from a mile long stretch.
Very rarely see anyone on a bike on the way to work.

I must admit (as someone drives) I’ve never pissed steam because I saw a bicycle on the road* whether other path nearby or no.

*I have been in a van with a man who does. I live in some anxiety of encountering him (or others like him) when I’m cycling on the road.

Almost all are utter shit. The single biggest issue is give way as a bike on a cycle lane you often have to do it for cars emerging from left, cars coming from behind and turning left, cars coming from in front and turning right at the same time as avoiding a mother with a pram and a dog walker and the speed camera erected in the middle of the cycle lane.

+1

I never use them and just ride on the road.

On a different note, nothing boils my urine more than cyclist on the road when there is a fully functioning cycle lane right next to it…… grrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaahhhhhhyooouuuidiotz

It boils my urine seeing people driving on the road when there is a fully functioning cycle lane / footpath / bus / tram / train

It boils my urine seeing people driving parked up causing traffic jams on the road when there is a fully functioning cycle lane / footpath / bus / tram / train

Thats better 😉

I live in Kent and it's great for a road bike. There is a huge abundance of country lanes that I can link up to go virtually anywhere, and any distance I want. I only really cross A roads or use them for very short distances if I need to. If I want to go somewhere different then I just make a map on Ride with GPS, taking in as many random lanes as I can, and I get great rides, with great views, on quiet roads. Load onto my gps and follow.

Something I forgot to mention above about the fighting analogy…

A few years ago I was at an event where WMP received an award for their close pass initiative. I asked the officers who came up with it how they managed to get approval for it in the context of limited police resources.

They used pretty much the same analogy: just like gangs hanging out near shops and creating fear the elderly, or people looking for fights in town centres and creating fear for people out for a harmless night out, it was a matter of dealing with behaviour that effectively prevented people from doing things that they wanted to do and which they were perfectly entitled to do. If people don't feel safe to walk along pavements then that's a police matter.

In other words, in their role of applying the law in order to uphold civil rights, their piss was boiled by the people whose behaviour was denying other people the right to ride bicycles.

That's the polar opposite of getting angry about the fact that some people choose ride bicycles—despite that behaviour—where they have every right to do so.

I'm quite sure your piss wouldn't be boiled by an elderly lady having the audacity to walk to a corner shop surrounded by a group of hooded teenagers, even if there was a "fully functioning" supermarket in the opposite direction, but in law enforcement terms it's the same thing as someone riding a bike on a road surrounded by pillocks in cars.

You wouldn't argue that a gang of youths are a reason to say the lady should have to walk to Tesco, even if there's known knife crime in the area, so why argue that bad drivers are a reason to say people should have to ride bikes elsewhere?

You wouldn't even say that "it does annoy me if [elderly ladies] are putting their own lives at risk, due to the said ‘dicks’ in this world", because you'd hopefully recognise that it's not elderly shoppers putting themselves at risk by not shopping at Tesco, but other people putting them at risk.

To the OP I ride the roadbike mainly when I need to get fitter - nice routes, b roads and smaller, to get out with mates for other than beer and also to vaguely stay in touch with the local club, and also to commute on A roads you'd really not ride for fun, though used by a few chain gangs.

It's an 18-19 mile commute with an 150m+ draggy climb in the middle and just something you want to get done so it's over. It finishes with a large comedy cycyle lane/obstacle course. I mean it's got bus stops in the middle, zigzags, kerbs, pedestrian crossings you name it. It's safer for everyone if I simply hammer along with the traffic (excuse macho language).

I assume this may annoy the odd driver. I can't say I particularly like having to keep an eye out for bikes when I drive in but whatever.

at no point in my life has it ticked me off so much that I would try and pass dangerously, cause harm or even roll down the window and share my opinion.

erm. Hooray.

If this is the first thought that comes into your mind when reading my comments, I feel sorry for the world you live in. It must be miserable.

I'll struggle along. Smiley. Unfortunately this is exactly what the even more occasional driver does do.

I never thought I'd enjoy road riding, but it turns out I do. But, right now I'm having a cappuccino in the sunshine outside a village cafe in the middle of Bowland. The birds are tweeting, I got miles of rolling country lanes ahead of me, there'll be cars... But not many.

However, the thought of riding on busy A roads, especially in the depths of winter seems like a bloody nightmare to me.

Swings and roundabouts innit, some road riding is great, some is horrendous.

@Bez I think I am just going to admit defeat on this one. I do not have the interest or energy to continue to discuss this further. I will always think someone is a fool to not use a cycle lane where available, and as mentioned many times, I will not use my frustration or annoyance in anyway to endanger or harm said cyclist. I follow the laws of the road and the highway code.

To be fair, now you have opened my eyes slightly, all things considered, I don't think I give a single toss. Everyone makes their choices in life, assess the risks and does their own thing.

much love to everyone.

Carry on...…….

I love cycling along country lanes to places I need to be, or places/things I find interesting, or sometimes just to hear the swish of tyres on the tarmac and feel the surge when you put the power down. It’s sometimes good to go far and fast. As a swimmer also, I can view MTB as ocean-swimming and road-riding as pool-laps. Touring? open-water 🧐

I also enjoy quiet urban backstreet rides and fast grocery-missions/loops by touring bike. Evening/night-riding on winter country lanes or quiet urban spots is an excellent keep-fit pursuit, which also relaxes the mind and busts depression and anxiety. In the dark there’s less traffic and you are never surprised because of lights and noises of cars are easy to detect compared to daytime. Badgers and bunnies are probably more of a collision risk than motor traffic. Night riding is safe IME especially if you yourself are well-lit and prepared to dismount/wait when fast traffic approaches on blind bends.

Hopefully tonight going to rescue a top-notch old touring bike to replace one I had to sell in recent years. If it works out then I’m very much looking forward to some misty mornings on the grey-top, hearing the gears go snicketysnick, out of the seat hauling on the hoods up The Wyche Rd, then deep in the drops swooshing down Mathon Bank and out to the miles of flat, quiet lanes. I’m not really into pelotons or lycra, but old style explorating and the joy of traditional cycling which I began doing as a kid originally as a way to get away, get out to see stuff, expand boundaries. Then the ‘love of steel bikes’ thing developed quite naturally 😋 All this jumpers and goalsignposts talk reminds me of that (great) video from British Sea Power

To be fair, now you have opened my eyes slightly, all things considered, I don’t think I give a single toss.

Splendid, that’s a big step up from boiled piss 🙂

I have a short section of cycle path on my commute where drivers who think like v7fmp (did?) have actually honked at me because I'm riding on "their" road - truth is I've [i]tried[/i] the cycle path a few times (I bet they haven't!) and not only is there no decent entrance onto it - you have to cut left halfway across a miniroundabout to a dropped kerb, but other bike riders going much slower than me, dog walkers, and pedestrians (kids) all occasionally occupy the same stretch of pathway. Not only that but it finishes! It ends, so I have had to stop and check for traffic to actually join the carriageway where I would be anywway, if I'd stayed on that road. I'm sure to those I'm inconveniencing enough for them to hoot their horn at me, it looks like a suitable and safe place for me to ride, but it just isn't. They never stop to discuss it anyway, the ****ers.

I’m not really into pelotons or lycra, but old style explorating and the joy of traditional cycling which I began doing as a kid originally as a way to get away

I really agree with @Malver Rider actually.

I've kind of "evolved" (or improved as a person), I've found a love for SOLO. It's fantastic.

I used to be quite an active part of my roadie club, even on the committee! And you speaking of a pelotons of Lycra makes me cringe a little now. I did join then recently, and mid ride just had to peel off.

Solo riding is fantastic. Being alone with my own thoughts, just being me. Stopping for a picture whenever. Stopping at a random village shop for a chunk of homemade cake. No strict plan of where I'm going. Going fast or as slow as I please (mostly, slower now tbh). Brilliant.

(Same goes for MTB too, I’ll either go with a small select group of mates, or totally happy going solo.)

Solo riding is fantastic.

I feel the same and have ridden solo for more than 20 years. More down to autism and not having friends or being able to mix with groups of people but I enjoy it anyway which is lucky.