Safety Tips for Noobs

Did the first ride in today, was good and didnt take very long at all.

One question: Is it illegal to fliter down the right hand side, so much so you are on the other side of the road? This seems an effective and safe way to go down most of High Holborn.

Thoughts?

I'm thinking: I go UP high holborn every day, on the wrong side of the road if there's backed up stationary traffic. And you say you're going down High Holborn. Do you mean up (westbound) or down (eastbound), in the sense that its a slope going down eastbound? I have NEVER seen traffic backed up there eastbound except some at the lights with Grays Inn Road.

Anyway, I think you're probably travelling the same way as me, westbound.

I would suggest that you need to be aware that a lot of people 'jaywalk' (horrible amercian term) between stationary traffic up there, so if you're going to do the filtering thing, do it slowwwwly, unless there's no oncoming traffic so you can go really wide towards the middle of the oncoming lane. USE a bell if you have one, or whistle loudly or call (nicely) out to peds as they're generally looking the wrong way when they do this. Expect them to be there, basically. Also watch out for the really bad surafcing all along the section with a junction at Chancery Lane. And PLEASE complain about it here, I have many times but nothing seems to be done about it.

Also, on a general level, you've had some good advice here^^ I would add weight to the ones that say: OWN the road (but don't dawdle) when you feel you need to, right in the middle of your lane. THANK drivers, peds and other cyclists for any consideration shown to your existance. It's karmically good for all of us out there, and good for your everyday mental health. DON'T get wound up about idiotic road users, or try to intervene unless you're cool, calm and to the point. And last, but not least** ALWAYS** indicate well and **ALWAYS **look over your shoulder A LOT.

And Smile and have fun. It's not meant to be torture.

See you on High Holborn, burning past me whilst I gently, serenely glide in to Soho.