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[Misc] "Single file you lycra clad twats"







dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
55,530
Burgess Hill
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!! :D

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.
 


Bold Seagull

strong and stable with me, or...
Mar 18, 2010
30,458
Hove
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.

I was answering a post that said close it to cyclists other than once a month. :shrug:
 


Albion in the north

Well-known member
Jul 13, 2012
1,556
Ooop North
It must have been a slow "website traffic" day for [MENTION=6886]Bozza[/MENTION] to post this!
Im a cyclist and a van driver.
All these rules of the road are great but dont cushion the blow when you are knocked off your bike, regardless of who is to blame. But I suppose they allow you to feel a little more sanctimonious when you are in A&E
At traffic lights/roadworks I stay in my place in the queue. The drivers in front have already had to overtake me once.
I cycle with another guy, we always cycle single file in traffic. There is always going to be one car that tries to squeeze past when traffic is coming the other way so might as well give him a little more room. Its probably less than 0.5 seconds extra to overtake 2 of us than 1, although I see the point if there was a whole bunch of you.
 


CheeseRolls

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jan 27, 2009
6,230
Shoreham Beach
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.

This is starting to sound a little bit like Father Ted, explaining distance to Father Dougal.

Chaps on some roads in some conditions it is okay to drive at the speed limit and overtake, where there is space and good visibility. On other roads you might have to drive more slowly, proceed with caution and slow down for other road users. This includes people whose dress sense may offend you.
 






Lindfield by the Pond

Well-known member
Jan 10, 2009
1,929
Lindfield (near the pond)
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.

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.
 


Peteinblack

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jun 3, 2004
4,135
Bath, Somerset.
The title of this thread is deffo a potential Half Man Half Biscuit lyric or song title :lol:
 




ChickenBaltiPie

Well-known member
Jan 3, 2014
937
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.

Oh , it’s savage. I LOVE IT! My GPS turns off it’s so steep (thinks I’ve stopped) haha
 


Mr Putdown

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2004
2,901
Christchurch
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.

Did you have anything specific planned for the few minutes you were apparently delayed for? :)
 
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jessiejames

Never late in a V8
Jan 20, 2009
2,756
Brighton, United Kingdom
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.
 




Mr Putdown

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2004
2,901
Christchurch
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 really feel for lorry drivers overtaking cyclists on fast roads having seen such manoeuvres from both sides of the cab. As I passenger I commented on how close he was to the bike and, from the bunk I commented on how close he was to the oncoming traffic.

(Before anyone asks, I was up there on the 45, not the daily, not that I was there to either drive or get to a destination, long story)
 


Bold Seagull

strong and stable with me, or...
Mar 18, 2010
30,458
Hove
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.

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.
 








Mr Putdown

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2004
2,901
Christchurch
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.

I’d argue that, whatever the sport, one that has ‘all the gear’ but ‘no idea’ is pretty much guaranteed to be a complete ****.
 


Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patron
Oct 8, 2003
56,097
Faversham
Single file is harder to pass. Why don’t these anti-cyclist freaks realise that? (I’m not a Lycra clad cyclist)

Not when there are two of them. Chatting.
 


Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patron
Oct 8, 2003
56,097
Faversham






zefarelly

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 7, 2003
22,786
Sussex, by the sea
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 'm of the same opinion . . .a classic car, sporty, particularly with proper Italian carburettors makes a different and more noise than a modern turd . . .it seems to inspire a special reaction. . . Have come across a group before who actively 'packed' to stop me over taking.

As tempting as it was, I bided my time for ample space

Then ****ing nailed it! :lolol:
 


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