Kamakazee bikers
 

I just want to vent....Whats up with these cars that will follow you for blocks while you are already hugging the right side of the curb. They act as if we are kamakazee's and are going to dart out in front of them and create our own demise. :mad:

Tell me about it! My wife is a brand new cyclist and this really annoys her to no end. I normally just holler back over my shoulder that the driver is admiring her a$$ :)

Often when she tells me this is happening we'll reduce our speed to a point where the driver finally gets the message to go around us and they usually do. If the slowing down doesn't do the trick I'll wave them around us.

Zack

Even when your doing the right thing,they give you that look,you know like everything your doing is wrong and you shouldnt be here.Of course all this while they are trying to get around you so they can make a right turn and cut you off or roll past a stop sign in front of you or wait till you are all most to them while they wait at a stop sign and all of a sudden they go.Have i left anything out?Oh yea,waiting at a light and the guy next to you is making a right and the light goes green and of course you go first but before you go he takes of and goes right before you go across and cuts across your path.Who should be watching out for who?

The ones that get me are the ones that see you coming and then try to 'help' by staying put and getting in the way instead of just going through the intersection or out of the driveway or whatever. I couldn't begin to count the number of drivers who thought they were doing me a favor by waiting around long enough to get in my way and be a problem instead of just going on ahead.

I just ride in front of them, they cant do anything then.

Hugging the curb is just asking for trouble. Its a well observed phenomenon that drivers will give you the same clearance that you give yourself . If you ride wide, they pass wide, if you ride close....
Riding wide discourages drivers from turing across your path, puts you in a better position to avoid glass, pedestrians, doors, potholes, and places you in a part of the road that drivers are observing.
"Effective Cycling" programs show how to place yourself safely in various circumstances.

Not here,hell they will give you a push to get past you.Here in the states,being on the road with a bike is like walking past a big pile of sh$t.

What gets me is when a car comes up behind you, then slams on the gas to zoom by, and 50 feet ahead, they put on the brakes and pull into their driveway. Like they couldn't wait 2 more seconds to get home.

Yesterday this lady in an SUV almost caused a head on. I was climbing a hill that has a blind curve on it, and right as I was going into the curve, she comes up behind me and tries to zip around, and she met a truck coming the other way. So she hits the gas even harder to get around. And probably I was the one getting cursed under their breath.

AND they do it MORE when the weather is BAD! :irritated

Last week, coming home from work, it was snowing (almost never happens here on the "wet coast") and this happened. I anticipated it and missed the slipping and crashing that would have happened to someone not expecting such a stupid move.:mad:

I will admit that as a motorist I will sometimes come up behind cyclists and pace them for a little bit. However I usually try and give them at least a car's length room in case they need to take the lane. If after about 10 seconds it looks like they're content with holding their line then I'll pass them at no more than 5MPH in excess. I will also confess to doing a little bit of following if the bike (or the rider) happens to err... catch my eye in a special way. ;) In either case, a little wave always seems to work at letting them know my IFF signature.

You have to start viewing the lane as if you belong. Therefore, you ride far enough from the curb, gravel and debris to provide yourself comfort and safety. Hold a straight line. Motorists will pass you more confidently and with a wider margin.

:)

I think that a lot of people that linger behind us just aren't sure what to do. When it is clear I wave them around and then give them a thank-you wave. That way they know I appreciate their caution and they are more likely to continue to respect us.