More bicycling goodness!

[Clarabel]

I finally got my bike repaired (new brake cable) and back from the shop, so I've been whooshing downhill in the local park and struggling uphill Yay!

It's been great fun, although I'm a little bit unsteady since it's been about 15 years since I last rode a bike. I also got a basket and decent lights put on her so she'll be useful and safe if I ever need to carry stuff home/ride in the dusk (not at night cos I'm a big scaredy cat).

At some point I need to learn how to cycle on the roads, since I never learnt that the first time round (silly over protective parents not wanting me battling cars - surely it's better to *know* what your doing eh?)

Woohoo!

Clarabel

[Andy Hamilton]

If you drive already it should be easy enough as you already know the laws of the road.

The difference is you have to get into the headspace that all drivers are stupid, I mean that as a safety tip and not a slur on drivers. The worst time to cycle is during the school run in the pouring rain, people will reverse into you, cut you up on corners and other such wonderful things. You will be quite safe as long as you keep your hands on the breaks whenever you see a car or approach a junction just in case.

I don't mean to put you off as 89% of the time drivers will give you room and respect.

[Clarabel]

See the trouble is I don't drive. Having lived in cities most of my life you just don't need too as you can walk/use public transport to get anywhere you need to go for less cost, less hassle and frequently quicker! It's also less stinky, I have to say I've never seen the point of having a car unless your out in the sticks!

There also seems to be far less provision for cyclists in Scotland and particuarly Glasgow. I've noticed in edinburgh and perth that there are more cyclists and more cycle lanes that are better maintained and thoughtfully laid out. In the west of scotland cycle lanes just sometimes stop for no reason, my partner said he once almost ended up on a massively busy dual carriageway due to a cycle lane stopping and the road just leading into it with no warning!

Still, I figure if I perservere and maintain some of that skepticism towards car drivers (again no offence intended, I know plenty of drivers and none of them are inconsiderate) eventually I might be confident enough to try it. Sadly working in the city centre means it'll be a long long time before I try and cycle to work, if ever!

However, on the bright side, the canals are being rejunvenated near me. New locks are being installed and they are trying to connect up to the Forth Union so I think I'll be able to get to Falkirk (and the Falkirk Wheel) or to Dumbarton/Balloch without going anywhere near a road. Not sure if after Falkirk you can carry on up to Edinburgh on the canals, but I'm certainly not fit enough for it yet!

Also if you head North from me you can get to the campsies and I reakon we can try and plan a route that mostly avoids roads; certainly busy ones!

Clarabel

[den_the_cat]

never trust cars :)

I always try and be considerate to bikes but everyone has bad days and its easy to miss seeing a bike if its partly behind something or in a blind spot or there's a load of other stuff going on. I've thankfully never hit a cyclist but I've often realised I didn't see them the first time when I double check. Helmets and bright yellow jackets are definately worth getting!

[Chickpea]

The difference is you have to get into the headspace that all drivers are stupid, I mean that as a safety tip and not a slur on drivers.

Nah, you have to get into the headspace that all drivers are homicidal maniacs who want to kill you.

Then when you get back in your car you need to get into the headspace that all cyclists are clinically depressed maniacs who want to die.

Then you'll be a safe cyclist and a safe driver.

Either that or a neurotic wreck who never leaves the house.

Either way, the roads will be safer.

[circlecross]

I've had to accept that i may have to stop cycling for a while, as I am now 23 weeks pregnant and live at the top of a hill, and did a mischief to my legs the other day heaving myself and two yr old up the hill. I have found that as a cyclist, even with child seat on the back (glow in the dark!) drivers still cut me up, but I got great satisfaction cycling past yelling "That is a bad driver" instructively to my son. When a driver I try to respect cyclists. However, cyclists should also respect the laws of the road by
a) having lights in darkening conditions
b) obeying lights and crossings(they are road users too)

but you'll always get bad drivers and bad cyclists, and it's only a bit sticky and jam coloured when the two meet!
Susan

[the.fee.fairy]

Have an ask about at the local school/police station, they might run a cycling proficiency course. I did one when i was 11, it was ok, and mainly focussed on teaching you to signal.

Other than that, get a copy of the highway code and read it, then you'll know what all the signs mean, and about getting into lanes and stuff. I don't drive either, but i read the highway code so that i'd know about lane riding, and roundabouts and other procedures.

Oh, and when you want to turn right, you have to make your way close to the white lines in the middle of the road. I hate turning right!!

[Merry]

I don`t cycle any more - scaredy cat aren`t I? When I had to turn right I would pull into the side and cross the road on foot as a pedestrian, then get on me bike and carry on. I stick to walking and public transport now.

[Stonehead]

Well, the Wee 'Un and I were going to cycle into town on the OH's bike today (given that I have no transport now). However, after being run off the road by a tractor with muck spreader, then a logging truck and then a courier van before we even got to the first bend, I decided to return home.

The road is too narrow and the drivers are clearly determined to keep the whole road to themselves. It's bad enough in the Land Rover, but I'm not trying it on a bike with the boy on the back!

It's far worse than when we lived in London, Bicester or Skipton and used to cycle everywhere. I was only cut up by traffic or run off the road five or six times in 10 years. Here, it's three times in five minutes...

[Shirley]

Well, the Wee 'Un and I were going to cycle into town on the OH's bike today (given that I have no transport now). However, after being run off the road by a tractor with muck spreader, then a logging truck and then a courier van before we even got to the first bend, I decided to return home.

That's a disgrace - don't suppose you got reg numbers or anything?! It worries me so much that our kids DO go out on these roads - it's the same on our road here.. the other day a big tanker almost collided with a car outside our kitchen... and then a few days later a big truck almost went hit the car that my son was travelling in...

I used to cycle on the roads up here but it's definitely got worse and I wouldn't do it now.

[Merry]

Last year my son was biking home from work, going round a roundabout and a car pulled on to it (bike invisible of course! ).
Son got head injury and bike a write off. Car driver tried to say that son had collided with HIM so it was his own fault. Witness told us that car driver was shaking son, shouting, "Get up! Stop messing about! You`re all right!"
Thank goodness for helmet!
Just concussion but . . .

[PurpleDragon]

It's far worse than when we lived in London, Bicester or Skipton

I used to live near Bicester!

[Ranter]

I've just bought my first ever bike (I'm 35) & am learning to ride.

I do have a car but am trying to use it less (can't get rid, I have elderly parents that live 57miles away & the trains are useless for this trip). Not riding a bike was a big gap in my green credibility (according to the boyfriend) & I do want to cycle, but it's a bit scary.

[the.fee.fairy]

Good Luck!!

I remember my dad teaching me to ride a bike - expect a few skinned knees!! Dad had to write to the school explaining that i was learning to ride a bike to explain the bruises...

[Clarabel]

Stick with it, although I find it scary at times too, scary in a fun way though ;-)