Seeker_UK
Feelin' nearly faded as my jeans
They don't do it now, but ISTR that in the 90s road races were held on the 'old' A1 between Peterborough and St Neots seemingly every other weekend. Lunacy and lucky no-one was hurt, really.
“That cyclist” who hit the horse.
- Thread starter Tony Lockhart
- Start date
They don't do it now, but ISTR that in the 90s road races were held on the 'old' A1 between Peterborough and St Neots seemingly every other weekend. Lunacy and lucky no-one was hurt, really.
Tony Lockhart
Avoiding Stress, at Every Opportunity
Were they races or time trials?
Seeker_UK
Feelin' nearly faded as my jeans
Time trials probably. Still meant a stream of cyclists on the A1 for a few hours.
Tony Lockhart
Avoiding Stress, at Every Opportunity
They do time trials on major roads because their visibility to other road users is far better. Imagine that many cycles on a country road in summer, with national speed limit.
I really don’t see a problem with time trials, but if I did, I’d follow up with chats with the clubs involved and MPs.
But hey, cycling predates driving cars.
I really don’t see a problem with time trials, but if I did, I’d follow up with chats with the clubs involved and MPs.
But hey, cycling predates driving cars.
richardg
Admonishtrator
Because fast bicycles are dangerous.
Because not all cyclists on racers remember that they are sharing the road. There are a number of MAMILS where I live (560km of bicycle paths in the city where I live, and they are busy lanes) that appear to be training, trying to keep their average speed up and would rather shout to tell me to get out the way on my bicycle than use their brakes. Because races and other events on public roads cause traffic jams, slowing blue light services down. Wait until you are cardiac arresting in an ambulance on a Sunday morning and the journey time to hospital is ten minutes longer because of the congestion caused by a bicycle event.
The whole sport, eventing and training, needs confining, as motorcycle sport is.
Tony Lockhart
Avoiding Stress, at Every Opportunity
Do you have data for how dangerous it is?
richardg
Admonishtrator
It is not necessary. We know that cyclists can hurt people. The faster the speed the greater the risk.
Tony Lockhart
Avoiding Stress, at Every Opportunity
NeilR
pfm Member
Now, now Rich. You live in France where cycling is regarded much more highly than in the UK. I suggest you show up at the local mairie for a boi of reprogramming.
richardg
Admonishtrator
I might. One shouted at me last summer because my kids were not cycling in a straight enough line for him along the Bruche canal path. We do a lot of cycling here. It is our primary form of transport. But the racers need to take it elsewhere.
drummerman
pfm Member
Not much respect here between different modes of transport.
An ageing road system/bad roads and a lot of traffic doesn't help. Add generally high stress levels due to long working hours (also partly due to the UK's lagging transport infrastructure) and you can see why things are as they are.
Luckily many councils are now cycling friendly so things will get better for these road users.
Motorists not so much.
May I add as a cyclist and ex-professional motorist that the most dangerous cyclists are imho the ones in dark clothing, no lights, all over the road, probably often opportunity thieves or p****d students.
Beware Uni towns.
An ageing road system/bad roads and a lot of traffic doesn't help. Add generally high stress levels due to long working hours (also partly due to the UK's lagging transport infrastructure) and you can see why things are as they are.
Luckily many councils are now cycling friendly so things will get better for these road users.
Motorists not so much.
May I add as a cyclist and ex-professional motorist that the most dangerous cyclists are imho the ones in dark clothing, no lights, all over the road, probably often opportunity thieves or p****d students.
Beware Uni towns.
eternumviti
Insufficient privileges to reply.
In the 1950s and 1960s cycle clubs used to use decommissioned WW2 airfields for races and time trials.
The trouble is that they dug all the airfields up and used the concrete to make roads...
The trouble is that they dug all the airfields up and used the concrete to make roads...
awkwardbydesign
Officially Awesome
Mallory Park race circuit is used by local clubs for races, or TTs, I'm not sure of the differences. Often when I turn up early for a motorbike track day they are puffing around the track.
linnfomaniac83
I bet you can’t wheelie a unicycle!
I agree with all of this, totally mirrors my experience.
Joe
pfm Member
In this increasingly risk averse world we need more organ donors.... let them go faster.
SteveS1
I heard that, pardon?
In this increasingly risk averse world we need more organ donors.... let them go faster.
A doctor friend used to keep a supply of donor cards in his vehicle. Based at Guys, but needing to drive between London hospitals and clinics he often found motor cycle couriers tearing past only to catch them at the next traffic lights. As he pulled alongside he would smile before offering a card.
richardg
Admonishtrator
But here there are MAMILS on the cycle paths, keeping their average speed up.
Yes, they really are. Motorists, pedestrians, leisure cyclists and us commuter cyclists get on great. But some MAMILS spoil the harmony.
richardg
Admonishtrator
I live in a French uni town. Racing cyclists here are the primary menace. We are blessed with beautifully surfaced and marked cycle paths. Some MAMILS use them to go fast without risking being hit by cars.
Tony Lockhart
Avoiding Stress, at Every Opportunity
I’ve not had one coming together with a MAMIL, and cycling is very popular around here.