What's the answer here though? Other than wait patiently for a gap to open between the cyclists to pass one by one? There's no perfect solution when it comes to the Beacon.
Yep….see my post immediately above yours.
What's the answer here though? Other than wait patiently for a gap to open between the cyclists to pass one by one? There's no perfect solution when it comes to the Beacon.
Why not close it to motorists every Sunday? Create a dead end top and bottom for cars so they can still park up, or use Underhill along the bottom and still get to the Beacon car park at the top.
Motor vehicles have no issue using the A23 / A27 to get around to the bits Ditchling Rd leads to.
As for cycling clothing - I don't really care but I do use back pockets in the rear of a cycling shirt for various bits and pieces, and can't do any more than 10miles without a decent seat pad in my shorts!!
Ironically, on the descent it's cars that hold me up!!
Underhill isn’t much better - too narrow…….!
If it’s going to be closed to motorists on Sundays, do we then ban cyclists the rest of the week ?
The whole area (Plumpton, Lewes, Offham and all the other surrounding villages) just needs people (drivers and others) to take a bit of care, particularly at weekends. The number of cyclists, horses, walkers and runners around can be enormous.
Underhill isn’t much better - too narrow…….!
If it’s going to be closed to motorists on Sundays, do we then ban cyclists the rest of the week ?
The whole area (Plumpton, Lewes, Offham and all the other surrounding villages) just needs people (drivers and others) to take a bit of care, particularly at weekends. The number of cyclists, horses, walkers and runners around can be enormous.
Groups (or even pairs) riding in single file are more of a pain……had exactly this a couple of days ago at Ditchling. They were spaced too close for me to safely pull in between, but too far apart to overtake both at the same time.
Ditching Beacon has the “ challenge “ appeal but Bostal Hill near Steyning is a bit shorter but much steeper and a lot quieter for cars etc. Quite a good Spring challenge for me just to check my ticker will hold out each year.
Left Haywards Heath last weekend, and drove behind a group of approx 15 cyclists heading towards the beacon. All perfectly spaced, so couldn’t pull in between, but too far apart to overtake safely, so only 3 cars passed them by the time we left Ditchling. Might as well been on a bike myself. Couldn’t see the end of the tail of cars behind me, as they went too far.
I'm pretty sure they don't do it to annoy you. As stated by a few people, it's much safer for all concerned. If they rode in single file you would be exposed to oncoming traffic for much longer and would be more tempted to not give enough room when overtaking.
I will leave as much room as possible when overtaking in my lorry, and I don't mind keeping my distance when behind them, when the road is wide it's not a problem, but I do find on a narrow road a few cyclists are content with riding side by side and do not move over and these seem to be the the serious cyclist who have all the gear and expensive bikes. Maybe it's just me.
I will leave as much room as possible when overtaking in my lorry, and I don't mind keeping my distance when behind them, when the road is wide it's not a problem, but I do find on a narrow road a few cyclists are content with riding side by side and do not move over and these seem to be the the serious cyclist who have all the gear and expensive bikes. Maybe it's just me.
Does she like to welcome cyclists one at a time?
A true pedant would not have put an apostrophe in his surname.
Having 'all the gear' in any sport, hobby, pursuit is no guarantee of any standard of behaviour. I've played golf with people with £1000s worth of kit who think it's fine to unzip their bag to find a tee just as you're teeing off. Anyway, I also have no doubt you've come across other lorry drivers who equally don't observe the same etiquette you might.
All the cycling clubs / groups I've been out with have a defacto leader who will shout 'singles' in the situation you have described, or we will stay doubles. 10 of us are a lot easier to overtake as a tight group of 5 pairs than a strung out 10.
Single file is harder to pass. Why don’t these anti-cyclist freaks realise that? (I’m not a Lycra clad cyclist)
The title of this thread is deffo a potential Half Man Half Biscuit lyric or song title
I will leave as much room as possible when overtaking in my lorry, and I don't mind keeping my distance when behind them, when the road is wide it's not a problem, but I do find on a narrow road a few cyclists are content with riding side by side and do not move over and these seem to be the the serious cyclist who have all the gear and expensive bikes. Maybe it's just me.