Defensive Riding

hey guys, grandad here

thought this might be a productive thread as haven't seen one like it on any of the other fixed forums. i'm 41, been riding a fixed on my central london commute for a few months now. my main thing is mountain bikes (cross-country) and made cash as a courier when i was a student. with hindsight i was an aggressive rider on the road and, with the naivety of youth, borderline suicidal at times lol!

i live in spitalfields and everywhere you look there's kids on fixed with no brakes etc. and i'd bet there's no way they've got the skills to ride them without, at some point, getting into a a spot of bother.

anyway, it's been interesting because i also drive a car in the city for video shoots and whatnot and from a safety point of view i think it's worth thinking about things from drivers perspective. as a driver i'm super-conscious of riders but at the end of the day there's so much going on (and you've only got three fucking shaving mirrors to see what's happening behind you) that it takes a split second to take someone out without even clocking it.

obviously the main issue are 'professional' drivers. as much as we hate them, they spend all day every day trying to make deadlines and cash. as a result they're pretty much switched-off half the time. so as opposed to seeing these fuckers as a bunch of psychotics out to kill us, i reckon it's about getting a bit of zen and figuring out how to negotiate them.

so maybe this thread could be about the experienced and the pros sharing some insights about what to look for, what to avoid, blackspots, stopping techniques, mind-sets, whatever.... a little knowledge goes a long way.

public service over - i'm off for a pint!

clive dunn - i've just had a proustian moment...

Grimpeur?

Read Cyclecraft by Franklin if you wanna get heavy into the theory of city riding. It causes debate.

There's more theory in City Cycling by Ballentine, or you could go the whole hog and try to get a copy of the CTUK cycle training instructors manual.

Find a copy of 'Let That Be A Lesson To You', by JoAnne Good.

or a copy of "Fuck the Lot of 'Em" by mother Theresa

1. whenever I can see that driver is unaware that I'm on his left and he's pushing me to the side - I just knock on the window / bang on the side. normally it works and they move aside.
   
2. if you're scared - you'll get run over
   
3. it's like a chess game - you must think first, before you move
   

Never ever ever ever fuck with hgv's

Is it my turn? Never ever fuck with HGV's what?

I'm all for defensive cycling but you don't stand a chance against 'i'm the centre of the universe fat ugly gold-digger in a fat motor'. These versions of people are a bigger waste of space than any that I can think of, and they'll try to kill you without thinking twice about it to boot.

^^Never ever fuck with HGV's vaginas.

or the cunts that drive them

Read Cyclecraft by Franklin if you wanna get heavy into the theory of city riding. It causes debate.

There's more theory in City Cycling by Ballentine, or you could go the whole hog and try to get a copy of the CTUK cycle training instructors manual.

Google tip. That's Ballantine (Richard).

Ok so what Fester hasn't mentioned is that he was knocked off by a left turning HGV today and had a lucky escape. Hope you're feeling calmer now, take it easy etc.

Google tip. That's Ballantine (Richard).

Correct. 1/1. Gold Star. Top of the Class. Nice bum pic.

If you haven't already, go and do a motorcycle CBT course. Better still a proper riding course. If there's one thing they drum into you on those, it's road sense. you'll also learn about the physics of bike riding.

Also, buy and devour motorcycle roadcraft - the police riders training manual. Everything in there is gold dust, and applies pretty much equally to pedal bikes as motorbikes.

Don't ride in the gutter, anticipate everything and never assume you've been seen. Know how fast you can accelerate and stop. Never start a move unless you know for a fact that you can finish it safely. Overtaking, for example is not a percentage game. If you're not sure you can overtake safely, don't. Don't ride in the kerb. Typically drivers give you as much room as you give yourself, so take room. Never be pressured into a manoeuvre by another road user - if you can pull in safely to let someone pass, then fine, but if not, keep him behind you. But if some speed merchant really must get past, let him go and have his accident as far away from you as possible. (where's that MX5 thread?)

Observe everything. Ride along giving yourself a commentary on what's going on on the road - e.g. That pedestrian has a iPod and a guide book - they are going to step out into the road. That truck is pulling out to the right - he may be turning left. The car there is very slow and erratic - he's either lost or looking for a road, so he may change direction very suddenly. That cab is empty - He's probably looking for a fare rather than at the road, and chances are he may dart to the kerb or do a U-Turn if he spots one. One of the beauties about riding fixed is that you don't need to waste brain power remembering how to make the bike work - what gear you're in, whether the suspension is locked out, any of that crap - so you have more mental resources available to the ride.

Use all the information provided by other road users, and road signs and markings as early as practical. Don't wait until the last minute to pass parked cars or move over to the right for a right-turn. Ignore cycle lanes if they do not help you (but equally use them if they are going to be convenient for you) If you see a motorcycle over to the left, with his left indicator on, he's turning left and physics mean that space inside him won't be there soon, so pass him on the right, wherever the bloody cycle lane is. If that cab has an orange light on, watch out for sudden moves. If you know the bus routes you can also anticipate when a bus is going to pull over 2 or 3 lanes of traffic for a right turn from the bus stop, rather than continuing ahead in the left lane.

Always look over your shoulder before any change of direction. Don't assume you can hear the traffic behind as well as the traffic in front. Use your road positioning and body language to give other road users as much of a clue as possible as to your intentions - e.g. angling the bike towards a turn when stopped at a junction. If you need to bust past the traffic lights to stay safe or to position for a right turn, then fair enough, but do not put yourself in danger by barrelling through them unless you know for certain that it is clear. And always give pedestrians the right of way. If someone is crossing, then stop. Finally indicate clearly if you or another road user will benefit from it, but don't bother if no-one will benefit - concentrate on your ride.

Finally, if someone pulls over to make room, or stops to let you out, thank them. You never know they may decide to make it a habit.

Never ever ever ever fuck with hgv's

I know, grammer fail, but there always ends up the inevitable confusion of "Whats an HGVS?"

Richard Ballantine's book about killing dogs is essential reading for the urban cyclist

My plan is usually that if I don't see them see me I assume they don't know I'm there. Then I decide whether that actually matters or not.

look agressive, have a mowhawk and act like a cunt, and people tend to avoid you

If you haven't already, go and do a motorcycle CBT course. Better still a proper riding course. If there's one thing they drum into you on those, it's road sense. you'll also learn about the physics of bike riding.

Also, buy and devour motorcycle roadcraft - the police riders training manual. Everything in there is gold dust, and applies pretty much equally to pedal bikes as motorbikes.

Don't ride in the gutter, anticipate everything and never assume you've been seen. Know how fast you can accelerate and stop. Never start a move unless you know for a fact that you can finish it safely. Overtaking, for example is not a percentage game. If you're not sure you can overtake safely, don't. Don't ride in the kerb. Typically drivers give you as much room as you give yourself, so take room. Never be pressured into a manoeuvre by another road user - if you can pull in safely to let someone pass, then fine, but if not, keep him behind you.

Observe everything. Ride along giving yourself a commentary on what's going on on the road - e.g. That pedestrian has a iPod and a guide book - they are going to step out into the road. That truck is pulling out to the right - he may be turning left. The car there is very slow and erratic - he's either lost or looking for a road, so he may change direction very suddenly. That cab is empty - He's probably looking for a fare rather than at the road, and chances are he may dart to the kerb or do a U-Turn if he spots one. One of the beauties about riding fixed is that you don't need to waste brain power remembering how to make the bike work - what gear you're in, whether the suspension is locked out, any of that crap - so you have more mental resources available to the ride.

Use all the information provided by other road users, and road signs and markings as early as practical. Don't wait until the last minute to pass parked cars or move over to the right for a right-turn. Ignore cycle lanes if they do not help you - If you see a motorcycle over to the left, with his left indicator on, he's turning left and physics mean that space inside him won't be there soon, so pass him on the right, wherever the bloody cycle lane is. If that cab has an orange light on, watch out for sudden moves, but equally use them if they are going to be convenient for you. If you know the bus routes you can also anticipate when a bus is going to pull over 2 or 3 lanes of traffic for a right turn from the bus stop, rather than continuing ahead in the left lane.

Always look over your shoulder before any change of direction. Don't assume you can hear the traffic behind as well as the traffic in front. Use your road positioning and body language to give other road users as much of a clue as possible as to your intentions - e.g. angling the bike towards a turn when stopped at a junction. If you need to bust past the traffic lights to stay safe or to position for a right turn, then fair enough, but do not put yourself in danger by barrelling through them unless you know for certain that it is clear. And always give pedestrians the right of way. If someone is crossing, then stop. Finally indicate clearly if you or another road user will benefit from it, but don't bother if no-one will benefit - concentrate on your ride.

Copied, pasted and saved in Notepad ;) these are all the things I try and remember to tell people but always forget some. NIce succint list.

Correct. 1/1. Gold Star. Top of the Class. Nice bum pic.

No need for the sarcasm. I presume that you made your original post with a view to helping people who wanted to find out more. Your typo (let's be generous) hampered that.
I put that right. What's your problem with that? I'd like to know.

look agressive, have a mowhawk and act like a cunt, and people tend to avoid you

I still think there should be legislation allowing cyclists to be allowed to ride around with a sawn off shotgun brandished in full view, should even the playing field a little.