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Cycling incident yesterday – cycling group nearly takes me out!
Been a while since I posted, but I thought I’d share this which happened yesterday (07/10/18, around 09:45).
Pulling out of Ashwell, just past the church, onto the Hinxworth Rd, I saw a tightly-packed group a short distance ahead. They weren’t wearing the Ashwell CC livery. My closing speed was 1-2 mph, which as you’ll know on a road like that with short straights and tight bends, isn’t enough for safe overtaking – and I was just out for a casual Sunday run so not inclined to push hard. Hence I dropped back to a safe distance and matched speed, dropping further back when any cars approached. I followed the group all through Hinxworth, through Newham and then left towards the A1, and then left again over the A1 bridge. The group began to split up on the slope; I rode parallel with the ‘tail-end Charlie”, who confirmed they weren’t Ashwell, and mentioned something ending in “chin” (my assumption then was that the group were Hitchin). As the group was now separated, and the leaders had slowed to allow the others to close up, I bid him farewell, made my move, safety overtook, and headed on the gentle gradient downwards to Langford.
This obviously annoyed the leaders, who made a move on me halfway down the road – thanks to the angle of the sun, I saw they were coming comfortably beforehand from their shadows - was not in the mood to play ‘Lewis Hamilton willy-waving’ - and let them go. What I didn’t see was the next pair who overtook me; the inside cyclist (blue top, black lycra leggings) close enough to make contact; I nearly lost it, wobbled – fortunately, I was cycling on flats and could use my legs to spread my body-mass and re-stabilise. I yelled out angrily – we all make mistakes, a simple “sorry mate” would have sufficed – but he didn’t even bother acknowledging me.
I then found myself bunched tightly into a group at well over 20mph – unable to accelerate away, turn away (a cyclist was tight to my right), and daren’t brake onto the verge. I was wearing a bright yellow top, bright yellow helmet, yellow socks (experience has taught me that these things make you more visible than lights during daylight), and ordinary grey running shorts. From my gear, it would have been pretty obvious to anyone in the group I wasn’t one of them.
It wasn’t until into Langford, over the railway crossing, where the group turned right at the mini-roundabout and I turned left that I could get away.
I’m a firm-believer in the highway code ‘two-second rule’ – this isn’t the Tour de France, slipstreaming might make you a bit quicker, but it doesn’t improve your strength or fitness. Had I come off I would have been hurt, and wiped out anyone who was tailgating me to boot.
Thoughts?? – am I overreacting? I’ve messaged Hitchin (who don’t seem to have a forum), so awaiting their response.
Pulling out of Ashwell, just past the church, onto the Hinxworth Rd, I saw a tightly-packed group a short distance ahead. They weren’t wearing the Ashwell CC livery. My closing speed was 1-2 mph, which as you’ll know on a road like that with short straights and tight bends, isn’t enough for safe overtaking – and I was just out for a casual Sunday run so not inclined to push hard. Hence I dropped back to a safe distance and matched speed, dropping further back when any cars approached. I followed the group all through Hinxworth, through Newham and then left towards the A1, and then left again over the A1 bridge. The group began to split up on the slope; I rode parallel with the ‘tail-end Charlie”, who confirmed they weren’t Ashwell, and mentioned something ending in “chin” (my assumption then was that the group were Hitchin). As the group was now separated, and the leaders had slowed to allow the others to close up, I bid him farewell, made my move, safety overtook, and headed on the gentle gradient downwards to Langford.
This obviously annoyed the leaders, who made a move on me halfway down the road – thanks to the angle of the sun, I saw they were coming comfortably beforehand from their shadows - was not in the mood to play ‘Lewis Hamilton willy-waving’ - and let them go. What I didn’t see was the next pair who overtook me; the inside cyclist (blue top, black lycra leggings) close enough to make contact; I nearly lost it, wobbled – fortunately, I was cycling on flats and could use my legs to spread my body-mass and re-stabilise. I yelled out angrily – we all make mistakes, a simple “sorry mate” would have sufficed – but he didn’t even bother acknowledging me.
I then found myself bunched tightly into a group at well over 20mph – unable to accelerate away, turn away (a cyclist was tight to my right), and daren’t brake onto the verge. I was wearing a bright yellow top, bright yellow helmet, yellow socks (experience has taught me that these things make you more visible than lights during daylight), and ordinary grey running shorts. From my gear, it would have been pretty obvious to anyone in the group I wasn’t one of them.
It wasn’t until into Langford, over the railway crossing, where the group turned right at the mini-roundabout and I turned left that I could get away.
I’m a firm-believer in the highway code ‘two-second rule’ – this isn’t the Tour de France, slipstreaming might make you a bit quicker, but it doesn’t improve your strength or fitness. Had I come off I would have been hurt, and wiped out anyone who was tailgating me to boot.
Thoughts?? – am I overreacting? I’ve messaged Hitchin (who don’t seem to have a forum), so awaiting their response.
Comments
I am a member of Hitchin CC and CCA and was present on the ride and have a different perspective on the issue. Its not to take anything away from your account – it’s just how I saw it at the time. I was not the ‘tail end Charlie’ you spoke to but was at the back of the group, and behind you, along the Langford road from the water tower.
I first noticed you when you overtook us as we broke formation going up the hill over the A1 & those ahead were ‘soft pedalling’ to re-group. You overtook our group without issue. As we re-grouped in pairs (as per the highway code) & gradually picked up speed we caught up with you & started to overtake you as you were cycling considerably slower. I assure you no one was ‘willy waving’ and as a med/fast group we would typically ride that road quite fast.
There was oncoming traffic & I could see the group filtering past you in single file & re-pairing up after they passed you. About 8 had passed you & as the next went past you seemed to lose your right-hand pedal (which I could see was non-SPD & flat) & you veered violently outwards into the overtaking rider causing him to veer away from you towards the oncoming vehicles.
On seeing this, myself & the rider next to me dropped back for safety.
Rather than allow yourself to be overtaken, by a group that had closed on you & were going faster, you then seemed to accelerate & tag on to the passing group.
I was quite concerned as my perception was that you had almost taken a ‘rider out’ by your violent ‘veer’ and I, and the rider next to me, dropped right back & followed you & the group towards the railway bridge.
Over the railway bridge we turned right & you went straight on & you shouted what I assume was verbal abuse at our group – I was too far behind to catch what you actually said. No one seemed to catch what you said & I couldn’t, at the time, see what the issue was.
On receiving a formal complaint I submitted my account of the incident as I saw it. The overtaking rider, who I believe you actually came into contact with, admitted, in retrospect that he had probably not given you enough room when passing you as you veered into him. He volunteered to meet you in person & apologise but by then a formal apology had already been issued to you by the club.
We do tend to ride 2 abreast, when safe to do so, as per the Highway code which I do with Hitchin CC and CC Ashwell alike. When overtaking another cyclist, or group, we would assess the situation & ensure we do it in a safe manner. The 2 second rule you mention – I believe refers to the distance between vehicles & not cyclists in a group or overtaking other cyclists.
Again, I can only apologise for our group for making you feel ‘uncomfortable’ and add that this was only my perception of the incident. I appreciate yours may be completely different.
I shan’t make any further comment on this matter & hope that next time we meet on the road it can be without issue.
Regards – John
Glad I was mistaken – you are right, I don’t like cycling in groups, it just scares me what would happen if I was to hit a pothole for example, and then lose position, hence why I haven’t cycled with Ashwell (or any group) since. I’m ok two abreast (not that gets to happen much nowadays, given my schedule).
Def not 8 had passed before though – the two leaders, nice and cleanly, no problem there, I saw them coming way before from the shadows, it was the next pair where the inside guy collided (no. 3 of 4). I only lost balance after that collision that I recall. As for speeding up, I was going faster than the average group (hence how I could follow from Ashwell, though Hinxworth etc – marking time) so I didn’t hammer it down the Langford road once I was clear, assuming the leaders would be holding back to match their slowest charges (clearly, assumption being the mother of all **** ups - Steven Segal, Under Siege 2). Once I was tight packed in, I didn’t dare turn my head to see if anyone was tight behind me, because then I would have crashed, so I felt I really had no choice but to slipstream (which is probably why you saw me accelerating). It just would have been nice if the guy in blue/black had at least acknowledged me after the collision (stop me seeing the red mist).
Still, no harm done. Lesson learned for me – once clear overtaking, absolutely hammer it to make sure there’s a nice big gap, or don’t bother overtaking in the first place.
Wave out if you see me (I always wave to other cyclists, sadly not many seem to bother nowadays – too busy time-trialling I guess).
Rgds
You’d be surprised how infrequently accidents happen in groups, its very rare that anybody comes acropper on the club runs with Ashwell and the Nomads, it sounds like you’re a strong cyclist and you might enjoy the club runs once you get used to riding in a group. It’s a great skill to have as a cyclist and gives you loads of confidence on the road. The club put on a wide variety of club runs on Saturday and Sunday mornings leaving from The Tuns in Ashwell. It’s always good to practise things like looking over your shoulder on the road, even when you’re riding on your own it’s an important skill.
Hopefully see you on the road at some point!
Will