Thanks, always interesting to read. The camera cost enough that I don't plan on getting a rear facing one just yet!
SafeSpeedv2 wrote:
My honest comments are :
I liked the circle back to ensure drivers had a good chance to observe you and see that you were going to rejoin.
More for my benefit than theirs, sometimes it only needs a quick over shoulder check to see it's clear.
SafeSpeedv2 wrote:
You keep nicely 'in', along the main road and 'off the pedals' for the junction although 24mph might have had me braking a bit, just in case the car pulled out. Appreciate perhaps that, that was unlikely, and perhaps with the downhill you didn't want to lose speed?
Kind of risk trade off really, eye contact & sensitivity to the road position & movement of the cars most likely implied there wasn't an issue here. Will have been covering the brakes and a maybe few bail out options in my head.
SafeSpeedv2 wrote:
Whilst you were 'in' for much of the road (and I cannot see what was coming up behind you), I don't know why you were 'out' coming up to the roundabout and then stay out in L1 (although I totally understand straightening your line), but what was behind you pls?
Main hazards for me on that section are: cars overtaking on the downhill section approaching the roundabout without forward planning, and then cutting in to their chosen lane, left turning cars pulling up alongside and side-swiping you & cars in the left hand lane going to 2nd exit not giving enough room either on the roundabout and/or straight lining the exit.
So I'm quite happy that the safest place for me to be across the junction is in the middle of the lane making my intentions clear & not leaving an opportunity to get squeezed by a car using the same lane.
On the way off the roundabout there's two lanes for a short way before they merge, there's a way around me and i'd rather i get that space than get squeezed as usual, position may have been different with denser traffic & cars behind, I don't recall. Never normally an issue there.
Interestingly that choice of position is based on speed & ability, I've cycled with more "leisure" cyclists and junctions like that are pretty scary as you really can't justify taking those positions/lines, take longer to get through the hazard & pinch points & feel
much more exposed & open to being squeezed.