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PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2007 13:19 
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This month C+ looks at those pesky annoying things like

1. Cycle lanes of dubious quality

He refers to Eddy Brain's case but very wisely he suggests this is a matter of judgement - and even COAST :wink:

Quote:

I suggest you ride with your own safety and convenience at the forefornt of your mind. If the cycle lane is full of parked cars - then it is certainly safer and more convenient to stay in the manin carriageway instead of a constant weave


:yesyes:


Trams and Level Crossings

Always cross these at 90 degreees. Keep to primary to prevent an unwise overtake Ensure you are aware of traffic behind and signal properly if your need to change road position. Keep an eye on the angle of the tram lines.. if they deviate from 90 degrees - you will have to adjust your position.

I agree with the CTC on this .. planning could be better :roll:


Potholes and humps

On approach and if you cannot avoid it.. I agree with the advice. Stand out of the saddle - take hands off the brakes and pull up the bars as the front wheel hits the obstacle and once the front wheel's over the obstacle - bring weigh forward so that the rear crosses the hump or pothole gently.

But COAST it as you ride. Plan based on observation techniques and use this observation to manouvre accordingly and safely :wink:

Slippery surfaces and cambers

Oil, leaves, wet after dry spell.. Be aware and reduce your speed just as the drivers should under such conditions.


If you are over or understeering because of cambers - RP suggests rightly to slow down andif you have to stop on a camber .. dismount before coming to a halt and try not to stop at teh steepest point. :wink:

Idiot dogs

Be aware of all dogs. Keep a steady pace .. pretend to ignore the dog but keep an eye on it all the same. If the dog chases you.. you have choices as RP points out. Either pedal away hard and out run it. Not wise with my dogs which are a large breed - but big softies really :lol: or you can confront it by talking to it gently.

If you are in real bother and the dog looks like biting you.. like RP .. I have a Doggy Dazer :twisted: This is that high pitch doo-dah which only doggy can hear and humans cannot. It really makes the dog cringe a lot and it does not normally attack at that point as it gets mesemerised and you can make a quick getwasy at that point :wink: Try the website

www.dogdazer.co.uk for details :wink:

Horses

Horses as Krissi found out once really do not like bicycles. :roll RP says the horse thinks the bike is some strange animal which they cannot fathom and suggests ringing bell or shouting if approaching from behind. Personally I prefer to use a calm loudish voiced "hello" as opposed to a bell which can cause the animal to "start" as they are more used to human voices than bells. This allows the rider to rein in firmly and just pass calmly and sedately slowly with plenty of room.

Nex month RP looks at more tips for urban riding. This is a seriously good series and C+ is worth buying for this series alone :bow:

_________________
Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!


Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.


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PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2007 13:35 
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Quote:
Keep to primary

Help me please. Does this mean nearer the crown of the road than the gutter for maximum visibility (and maximum capability of preventing motorists from passing while traffic is coming towards them)?


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PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2007 13:57 
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Roger wrote:
Quote:
Keep to primary

Help me please. Does this mean nearer the crown of the road than the gutter for maximum visibility (and maximum capability of preventing motorists from passing while traffic is coming towards them)?


It is defined as being in the centre of the leftmost moving traffic for the direction in which you wish to travel.

But this should per CycleCraft and Franklin - page 58

Quote:

The primary position should be your normal position when you can keep up with the traffic - and used when you need to emphasise your position to the traffic ahead or when you need to prevent a dangerous overtake for your own safety.



Secondary is closer to the left - about one and half feet from the kerb as rule of thumb. If we ride too far to the left .. we are not as easily spotted and can be a SMIDSY if the junction has a huge bollard or something blocking the view and the driver inches out to see better.

But one thing you should do is assist an overtake just like the car drivers as this is considerate riding practice in any case and in keeping with the Highway Code rule 144-145 :wink:

_________________
Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!


Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.


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PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2007 14:14 
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Yup - all makes sense, thanks.


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PostPosted: Sun May 27, 2007 13:01 
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Worth buying to keep for reference for the pictures.

This month he is talking about urban cycling and whilst he does not actually use the acronym COAST in the piece - it's still within the body of his advice :wink:


Actually - posted this myself back in Oct 05 -ish when Paul opened this forum dedicated to cycling issues.


Richard Peace writes almost identically :wink:

Richard Peace in C+ wrote:

You should alwasy be alert and always have your thumbs hooked over the bars and covering the brakes. Opening dorrs is always a particular hazard so the primary position is often the most useful. , but don't neglect looking inside the vehicle to anticipate someone getting out. Try to predict what the cars will do next - for examply a stationary car may not have its indicators on - but exhaust fumes could tell you that it may pull out and the driver may not have seen you approaching.



Of cycling in bus lanes - the piece points out the obvious: check that you are allowed to ride in them and watch out for passengers. As with cycle lanes - danger arises when re-joining the streams of faster traffic - and again he stresses the need to look for a gap to move inot and to indicate intentions to the other road users

This article reminds cyclists that they are still a vehicle on the road: so the normal rules appley to them as to any other vehicle on the road :bow:
:clap: By gum - that's a brave man and a braver editor than the last one to publish this :clap: (I think the new editor is making his mark - way to fella! :bighand: )


Quote:

The general principles of overtaking apply, Alwasy overtake oin the right, check behind before you pull out, indicate intent, make sure you have adequate space to pull into aftter the overtake ahead and take care not to cause a danger to other traffic during this manoeuvre



A cyclist can undertake in slow moving traffic. But Richard does rightly remind that drivers are more used to overtakes on their right and may not expect something to their left. He suggests undertakes are fine if using the cycle lane or riding up to the ASL lines.

If the cyclist does cycle in secondary and undertakes (I prefer to call it - er "filtering" Richard :popcorn: if you lurk on 'ere and I think they do given the uproar on their own forum at times :popcorn: to see what all the fuss is about :popcorn: ) - then this article very correctly reminds all cyclists to be aware of anything which may be turning left into a side street and may not be expecting something to whizz past on their nearside.

I disagree with "

Quote:
a car might suddenly decide to turn left into these side roads


Most folk - believe it or not - do actually use their indicators after all. So be on the look out for amber flashing lights as these do give a clue as to what the driver wants to do and adjust speed accordingly in good time so that you the cyclist can "stop safely and without skidding and going over the bars in the distance you can see to be clear " :wink:

Richard very rightly advises

Quote:

Never be tempted to undertake HGVs and buses because their length and high sides mean they really cannot see you - tehy may set off and move left whilst you are passing with disastrous outcomes. CTC have lanched a campaign highlighting how HGVs are involved in most serious cycling accidents for this very reason


He reminds all cyclists that whether overtaking or undertaking - they must be hyper-aware of all possibilities and re-inforces the need to glance inside the car to anticipate what the occupants might do, to be aware of the pedestrian who emerges from between the parked cars :roll:

Very importantly this pieces says

:listenup:

Quote:

If in doubt do not proceed You do not have an automatic right to pass stationary traffic, so only do so if you have sufficient space. Always be aware as you pass these cars that one might just set off and if in a traffic jam - be aware that this traffic can disperse as quickly as it jammed up Keep any eye on what is happening up at your limit point and be ready to move with assertive smoothness into the flow of traffic when it speeds up



The article concludes with advice as to how to avoid "getting cut up"

This occurs when traffic changes lanes or wants to turn left or even right.

You have three options:

1. Emergency stop (and on two wheels you lose traction and grip on the road - and can come off the bike with some force and gravel rash. :yikes:

2. acelerate out of danger :wink:

3. Change direction.

Well of the first one - Richard reminds us that a bike's brakes are not as good as that of the car's but accepts that this would be a learned response arising from car driving :wink: ( He would appear then to agree that a driver's natural reaction to a hazard is always to slow the car down :wink:)

For an emergency stop on a bike - you have to make sure your weight is low down and as far back as possible to aid balance and back wheel traction - You pull both brakes firmly - but not so hard on the front one as you want to avoid a wheel lock. :roll: As with any wheel lock should this occur - take the pressure off the brakes and re-apply to avoid a skid.

He reckons "accelerating away from the danger is probably the teh most useful tactic when avoiding a side impact on - say - a roundabout or side road junction,.

A change of direction to steer away from the pothole or to make a quick left to stay on he inside of the vehicle cutting you up from the left. Requires sharp reactions though

Quote:
to momentarily turn the bars right but lean your weight to the left and then turn the bars left to follow your bodyweight.


:bighand: :clap: and well done to C+ for this very useful series.

The mag is worth buying for this piece and the useful information on the TOUR events along the London-Canterbury route.

_________________
Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!


Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.


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PostPosted: Mon May 28, 2007 14:40 
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In Gear wrote:
Slippery surfaces and cambers

Oil, leaves, wet after dry spell.. Be aware and reduce your speed just as the drivers should under such conditions.


But be hyper-aware of drivers behind you that may not have observed the road condition, possibly due to looking ahead/in mirrors for overtaking opertunity, last thing you want is for them to react by braking on the slippery surface itself...

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PostPosted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 13:22 
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This month - "TRAFFIC LIGHTS and ASL"

Which is rather strange given the piece on the Highway Code :wink:

In this month's "Ride Right" article Richard rightly says

Quote:

Traffic lights ae amongst the most cycle friendly junction
Cyclists like the predictability of the lights


:shock: :? :shock: :?


:scratchchin: Er .. Richard - not being funny here but have you read the a :censored: s on a certain cycliing forum since netty time began :roll:


:wink:


But as for ASL - he says we have to know how to use them.

He explains why they are there in the first place: namely that tehy give an advanced start to cyclists and ensure they are visible to the traffic waiting behind them. They allow cyclists to set off without jostling for position with the traffic

He mentions the obvious dangers. You may be too fat back to waeave your way to the front and the lights may change whilst you are doing so - thus making life just a bit more :yikes: as a result.

Again he stresses not to undertake to reach them - especially a long vehicle.

He does also remind that

Richard Peace in C+ wrote:


If no ASLs: It is illegal for cyclsits to cross the solid white line at the head of the queue unless the signal is on green


Advice which I think should be noted :wink: We do prosecute/give a verbal riot act reading (as appropriate :wink: ) for all such offences here whether committed by a driver or a cyclist. Be warned: we may not have forests of speed cams but that does not mean we are at all "soft". We do use professional judgement and discretion though :wink:

He reminds cyclists that they cannot go through pelicans on a flashing amber if a pedestrian happens to be crossing. He does say that by counting the red/green man changes you can judge if they will stop.

:nono: depends on setting :wink: My rule of thumb? I COAST ahead and if I see someone at the crossing - I will assume they have pressed the button and I plan accordingly :wink:

If you are at lights and they are on red and zero traffic :hehe:

Richard tells me to lay my bike on the electro-magenetic strips to trig them to change :wink:

Failing that - dismount and wheel it nonchalantly across the road hoping none of your mates see you :lol:


As for approach - Richard usefully reminds us of the stopping distances per Cycle Craft

Quote:

10 mph = 8m 20 ft
15 mph = 11m/36 ft braking distance

20 mph = 17m 56 ft

25 mph = 24m/79 ft

Dependent like cars on type/model/brakes/tyres/rider weight and road conditions :wink:



and advises to approach lights at a speed at which you can stop safely without sliding :wink: or wobbling :wink:

He advises 10 mph on approach to lights by the way :wink:

He also advises to listen to the engine as to what's behind you and if it's slowing down or not. This can influence your decision as to whether or not to increase cadence and go for it with the flow :popcorn:

But if you do plan to accelerate - do gear up!

If you can learn to trackstand - do so. Makes a difference on "pull away" quicky :wink:

_________________
Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!


Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.


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