Whilst we're on the subject of cyclists.

I am one now, but they're still complete cunts. It took me half an hour
to do a ten minute journey last night, thanks to being stuck in a slow
moving queue of traffic caused by a handful of lycra-clad wankstains
riding two & three abreast on narrow country roads.

Unfortunately the car at the front of the queue just sat there rather
than leaning on the horn & forcing their way past. So they're a
wankstain **** too.

 

That was just like Nige was in the room.

 

No excuse for that - arseholes.

Timidity. Don't want to make a fuss and get shouted at.

 

The argument is that they do it for safety to prevent cars pushing past
when there's a vehicle coming the other way, but I don't buy it. Sure,
ride well away from the kerb, or in pairs, to make vehicle approaching
from behind slow down but once they've slowed there's no justification
for not moving in and letting them past. Anyone who doesn't is a ****.

 

Actually, they do it to shorten the length of road they take up to
make overtaking easier.

Imagine a club run of 60 odd riders. Which is easier to overtake

a) 60 riders all single-breast riding a metre from the kerb so
occupying about 2 metres of road space across and 100m in length.
b) 60 riders two-abreast riding 0.5 and 1.5 metres from the kerb, so
occupying about 2.5 metres of road space and 50m in length.

The most dangerous situation for all parties happens when someone goes
for the overtake and can't make it, meaning they need to push into the
body of riders. That generally leads to people getting hurt so clubs
deliberately shorten the length by riding two-abreast.

And, as you say, it also give them more power to control the traffic
around them to make sure everyone is safe.

 

But they do it in small groups too so the argument that it's for the
benefit of the overtaker is weak.

 

In small groups it's so they can have a conversation.

And frankly, if you haven't enough width of road to overtake two bikes
side-by-side, you shouldn't be overtaking one either. You should use
the same amount of room to overtake a pushbike as you would a car.
Unfortunately most drivers seem to forget this.

 

Thankfully.

 

So I should fold the wing mirrors back and filter between them?

 

I'm firmly in the camp of "nothing should slow me down. at all"

 

Maybe the inconsiderate cunts should ride in smaller groups.

 

What about paying road tax & insurance, sure it's been a while since
we did that.

 

No need for folding. They'll fold back nicely as the slap the arses of
the cyclists in question.

 

You'll soon change your mind the more you cycle. Trust me.

 

It's only a matter of time.

I should know better than to bite. But I had someone close enough
today for their side window to touch my elbow, when the other side of
the road was completely clear, so I'm not feeling particularly well
disposed to crap drivers.

All it takes is for the cyclist to wobble slightly, and you're on a
death by dangerous driving charge. Have a care and some respect for
other people (not you, boots, 'you' in general).

 

I understand your point but it mostly just isn't practical/acceptable for
most people to be slowed to 5 or 10 mph

 

That is exceedingly rare, and the next set of traffic lights will make
more of a difference to your journey time than a single cyclist.

 

Ben wibbled forthrightly:

Quite. Whenever I've been caught behind a cyclist, it's generally only
for a few seconds or so.

 

Yes. You'll stop and the cyclist won't.

 

Not a chance in hell. A large chunk of my evening cycling route is
single track road, & if a car comes along in either direction, I stop &
haul the bike onto the verge to let them through. I don't see why my
hobby should cost someone else time, & especially money as they waste
fuel having to slow down & then accelerate again. I'm not going to
start riding through red lights or on the pavement either.

I'm happy filtering past cars at speed on a motorbike with only a cm or
two to spare, so have no reason to complain if cars do the same to me
when I'm on a pushbike.