


I've found it very reassuring and validating to read the responses of some obviously experienced riders.



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Postby feral grasshopper » Mon Feb 25, 2013 5:44 pm
Postby ldrcycles » Mon Feb 25, 2013 5:52 pm
Postby clackers » Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:28 pm
william wrote:Eventually I braved the main lane and watched my mirror like an eagle. I was quite surprised that just about every vehicle, including busses, would judge their timing to pass me. Occasionally I would move left if a big truck was coming as long as it was ok on the side. .
Postby RonK » Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:40 pm
clackers wrote:I'll also slow down and move over to the extreme left when there are double lines with cars approaching from both directions on 100kmh stretches. Just being practical, even though I know I've got just as much right to be there, etc etc.
Postby clackers » Tue Feb 26, 2013 8:52 am
RonK wrote:
I couldn't come up with a name - Murphy's law of traffic improbabilities perhaps...![]()
![]()
Postby il padrone » Tue Feb 26, 2013 9:07 am
Postby Christine Tham » Tue Feb 26, 2013 4:01 pm
Postby Summernight » Tue Feb 26, 2013 4:16 pm
Christine Tham wrote:
Postby Christine Tham » Tue Feb 26, 2013 4:31 pm
Summernight wrote:Love the cyclist riding on the wrong side of the road at 15s.
Postby Snagdog » Tue Feb 26, 2013 5:23 pm
Postby casual_cyclist » Tue Feb 26, 2013 6:52 pm
Postby wombatK » Tue Feb 26, 2013 7:56 pm
Christine Tham wrote:There's some really good advice given by posters here.
In order to illustrate il padrone's point about playing the "cork in the bottle" on crests or bends, here's a short segment from my ride to work today, taken around Manly. Apologies for the dark video - this was before dawn.
Postby Christine Tham » Tue Feb 26, 2013 8:47 pm
wombatK wrote:First couple of minutes was a 40km/hr zone, so knowing your pedaling prowess, I'd expect everyone of those
vehicles overtaking you would have been exceeding the speed limit.![]()
Postby wombatK » Tue Feb 26, 2013 10:08 pm
Christine Tham wrote:According to Strava, my speed around that section was only around 30 km/h so there's still a potential 10 km/h headroom.
Christine Tham wrote:Not quite sure what your point is
Postby Christine Tham » Wed Feb 27, 2013 5:17 am
wombatK wrote:Driver behavior is more moderate in a 40 kph zone, possibly for several reasons.
Postby am50em » Wed Feb 27, 2013 8:03 am
Christine Tham wrote:...
I have seen examples of bad driver behaviour (honking, swearing, aggressive cutting in after overtaking). Funnily enough almost all these examples are on multi lane highways, outside peak hour where there wasn't a lot of traffic and therefore no issues with the driver overtaking in a different lane, so there would have been no 'justification' for the aggression.
My theory is that drivers are more likely to be aggressive when they think no one is watching them, rather than the speed limit.
...
Postby il padrone » Wed Feb 27, 2013 8:49 am
am50em wrote:Christine Tham wrote:...
I have seen examples of bad driver behaviour (honking, swearing, aggressive cutting in after overtaking). Funnily enough almost all these examples are on multi lane highways, outside peak hour where there wasn't a lot of traffic and therefore no issues with the driver overtaking in a different lane, so there would have been no 'justification' for the aggression.
My theory is that drivers are more likely to be aggressive when they think no one is watching them, rather than the speed limit.
...
I would second this. My alternate theory is that they have more time and can afford to use some of it on abusing cyclists without worrying about losing position in traffic.
am50em wrote:Actually on my commute these days (same route for 3 years) the traffic is in general well behaved.....
....Taking the lane and having motorist get familiar with cyclists on the road does appear to improve the situation.
Postby rdp_au » Wed Feb 27, 2013 9:27 am
Christine Tham wrote:wombatK wrote:
When taking the whole lane on a road with only one lane each way with double lines, it is important to communicate intention to vehicles behind. I do this in a variety of subtle and not so subtle ways. For example, in the segment above, I signal just before moving out to the centre of the lane (for example, I did that after the white ute has overtaken me after I relinquished the lane) so that the driver behind me understands. Sometimes, I point the reason I am taking the lane (obstruction, parked cars, pothole) and if a driver looks impatient I will actually use the wait signal.
I also try and look the driver in the eye just before they overtake - I find this helps in them giving me enough clearance.
I find the combination of signals (hand out just before taking the lane, the wait signal around blind corners or when car approaching, the "please overtake" flick just after I move to the left when conditions are safe - all help establish good relationship with drivers. I often get waves when drivers overtake me.
Postby Xplora » Wed Feb 27, 2013 12:43 pm
Postby russell.bathard » Wed Feb 27, 2013 5:34 pm
Postby am50em » Wed Feb 27, 2013 6:25 pm
Postby casual_cyclist » Wed Feb 27, 2013 6:52 pm
Postby RonK » Wed Feb 27, 2013 7:09 pm
casual_cyclist wrote:Either way he gave us a buffer and sat back until the road widened out to three lanes. Personally I thought the driver behind did the right thing in response to cyclists weaving into traffic (although I did signal)... letting us know there is a car behind and to take care!
Postby il padrone » Wed Feb 27, 2013 7:21 pm
Postby AndrewBurns » Wed Feb 27, 2013 7:25 pm
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