CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

I'll admit.... I enjoy the aggro...

(24 posts)
  • Started 14 years ago by Wilmington's Cow
  • Latest reply from Smudge

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  1. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    At least, if I can see it coming I enjoy it....

    For example, this morning heading towards some lights which are turning from green to red, so I ease off. There's a motorbike a little distance ahead who has to stop for them. A girl in a battered Polo behind is clearly fixated on me (well, y'know...), swings out, foot down, roar past (as roaringly as a battered Polo can manage), realises lights are red. I swear the instant she has pulled to a full halt I am passing her rear three-quarters and slotting in in front of her beside the motorbike (the motorbike should have been the clue that even without me there she wouldn't have got any further).

    And yes, I enjoy these little moments. I can see them happening in advance; can plan; and proact, all with a little smile on my face (which may be taken for smugness, I couldn't possibly comment, I have cute dimples...).

    On my regular routes I know the places where things may happen - one is a downhill stretch of road in a 20 zone with speed bumps and two road narrowings. I see cars coming the other way and I'm almost willing them to try and get through the gap as I'm approaching so that I may reproach their action.

    The best at the moment, however, is heading home through the Meadows in the cycle lane. This time of year there are always cars parked in the lane. I'm scanning well ahead as I don't want to have to swerve out, and whenever there's a big gap in traffic I get myself out (sometimes 70-80 yards in advance). You can almost feel the drivers behind wondering why I'm suddenly in the middle of their lane. I've had a couple accelerate aggressively right up behind (whereas the gap had been big enough that I would have gone past the parked car and pulled back in before they'd reached me if they hadn't speeded up into illegal +30mph). And I pass the parked car. Which they notice for the first time because they've been (once again) fixated on me. I give the parked car a stern look, I hear the engine note behind drop slightly, and then (every single time I get passed patiently and with LOADS of room by the car behind, that until that point had seen me as an obstruction.

    Ah. Aren't the roads great once the schools are back?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  2. Dave
    Member

    This morning I had a comedy time with a van driver who seemed to take exception to me being in front of him in the ASL, he roared away behind me, tried to squeeze through against the oncoming traffic, thought better of it, then went past once we were through the junction with engine howling (maybe he just had either terrible clutch control or a knackered van, mind you!)

    This was just by the observatory. I pretty much paced that queue the whole way, finally passing him just before the union canal, leaving him in the dust.

    There is nothing, nothing so sweet as "overtaking revenge". Especially after such a long section of road!

    Posted 14 years ago #

  3. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    I try to give people like that a little wave as I exact that overtaking revenge... >:)

    Posted 14 years ago #

  4. Min
    Member

    That must be nice. I wish I did. My recent road rage experience had made me even less keen on aggro than I was before. I had a nice ride today though as I tried out my new route that misses the Picardy Place roundabout so I don't have to feel sick with fear every morning.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  5. Kim
    Member

    When I was commuting out to the Bush Estate, on the way home I used to take great delight at sprinting away from the lights on Liberton Gardens. Knowing full well that some driver was liable to take this as a challenge and try to show that they go faster then me, when watch as they slammed the brakes on when they saw the Speed Camera and realised that I was capable of cycling at 30 mph, oddly they seldom tried to overtake again, once we started down Liberton Brae...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  6. wee folding bike
    Member

    I'm glad it's not just me. That's one of the reasons I enjoy riding the two speed superlight Brompton S2L-X. The bottom gear is something like 54" so it's not so nippy away from the lights but the flying start acceleration is great, wee wheels, no big derailleur cluster or hub gear to rotate,

    Don't tell the memsahib.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  7. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    @Min :(

    You need an enforcer to ride with you. I know what you mean though - the couple of times I've had deliberate and dangerous aggro (having a car swerved into me was the worst) I'd have a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach every time I had to ride past that spot again.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  8. Dave
    Member

    @min - which exits do you take around Picardy Place that gives you so much trouble? I don't have any issues there at all (and I ride a bike which is *literally* invisibile).

    I guess if you have a good alternative it doesn't matter, but if you ever wanted to ride around it in some sort of vaguely embarrasing joint experiment I could certainly come in early one day and meet up.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  9. Min
    Member

    That is rather gallant of you Dave, thanks for the offer!

    In fact I hardly ever have any problems there (Picardy Place to Leith Street) although sometimes impatient drivers from Leith Walk try to drive forward when I am exiting and trying to move to the left and I have to swerve about looking at the over my shoulder until they back off a bit. I don't enjoy this either.

    I think Leith Street is far worse, when I have to go straight on and either get drivers in the right hand lane cutting me up to go down Carlton Lane, drivers in the left hand lane cutting me up to go straight on or taxi drivers driving as close and as fast as possible to teach me a lesson for riding in the middle in an attempt to prevent drivers in the same lane cutting me up to go down Carlton Hill.. I guess you don't have problems here since traffic looks too thick to move much on the way home?

    Yeah, think I'll just stick to my new route through the New Town even though it means an even steeper hill and lots of cobbles setts!

    "I'd have a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach every time I had to ride past that spot again. "

    That is difficult to try and get rid of. In this case I have just given up! Not necessarily the best option but what the heck. I'm tired of fighting it.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  10. kaputnik
    Moderator

    No it's not just you anth, the highlight of my day is showing cars in traffic "who's boss".

    Catching and passing the impatient 4-wheelers on the Glasgow Road who were so impatient to get past me at Haymarket leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

    When a car has crept into the ASL box, I make a point of a rather theatrical entry to swerve infront of them to position myself slap-bang infront of them so they aren't too tempted to try and squeeze past when the lights change. The noise of the frustrated revving of the engine (apparently traffic lights are sensitive to this particular noise and will change faster if you keep it up) is sweet music to my ears.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  11. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Ah yes! The ASL entry when a car is already taking most (if not all) of it up - I indulge in that as well (if I know the sequence).

    Posted 14 years ago #

  12. PS
    Member

    (if I know the sequence)

    This is key, and gives endless pleasure. I had a blinding run back up the Bridges (from S to N) last night which was further enhanced by being able to run down the empty left turn lane on North Bridge at the Balmoral, past the usual stationary line of cars waiting for the right filter to come on, slowing down a wee bit as I approached the lights until the left filter ended, then scooting past at speed as the right filter went green.

    The lights for going down Leith Street change after a slight delay, so you cruise round that left hander at a decent lick, executing a very satisfying S-bend. Last night I had the added fun of overtkaing a stationary taxi van at the stop line, who hadn't noticed the lights had changed.

    That's all a bit OT, as I suffered no aggro at all last night. In fact, from the Chambers Street lights to North Birdge I was followed at a respectful distance by a driver that did not seem to feel the need to overtake me simply because I was on a bike. It's always nice to get one of those.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  13. kaputnik
    Moderator

    It's a words-free way of saying "check my sweaty, lycra-clad a*se"

    Posted 14 years ago #

  14. Dave
    Member

    "I think Leith Street is far worse, when I have to go straight on and either get drivers in the right hand lane cutting me up to go down Carlton Lane, drivers in the left hand lane cutting me up to go straight on or taxi drivers driving as close and as fast as possible to teach me a lesson for riding in the middle in an attempt to prevent drivers in the same lane cutting me up to go down Carlton Hill.. I guess you don't have problems here since traffic looks too thick to move much on the way home?"

    Yes, this is a very regrettable bit of road "design", isn't it?

    I just ride in the very centre of the lane and generally speaking I don't have any problems, the folk wanting to go down Carlton Hill turn left from behind me (i.e. undertake not overtake). But, it could be different at the other end of the day!

    One thing you can sometimes try in these situations is to give a right signal even though you are going straight on. Justified in the sense that you are turning right out of the notional traffic stream to Calton Hill, generally I find drivers seem a bit more relaxed behind a signalling rider than one who is just aimlessly holding them up (they think).

    Don't tell me you go across the Mound instead, I can't stand the jostling there at all! :Z

    Posted 14 years ago #

  15. ARobComp
    Member

    Today was a bad day for it. Along forrest road I had : 2 taxi's attempting lane changing manoeuvres without signalling luckily I managed to spot this before it happened. I reckon I have a 6th sense for this now.

    Also had a bus decide I would be better crushed against a parked car. Luckily a bit of a turn of speed got me out the way. Still thats how people die!

    Posted 14 years ago #

  16. Min
    Member

    Indeed. Very dangerous. Was it a First?

    "Don't tell me you go across the Mound instead, I can't stand the jostling there at all! :Z "

    No I considered the Mound very briefly then dismissed it. I just went for Princes Street then North Bridge as normal. I'll be coming back the original way since that is not a problem.

    The right hand signal is a good one and I have often considered just using the right hand lane here but unfortunately drivers use this briefly before swerving in to the bus lane (and almost in to me half the time). It is just a really foul bit of road as you say. I was stunned not to see it featured in the collision map posted recently TBH.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  17. LaidBack
    Member

    ARobCompAlong forrest road I had : 2 taxi's attempting lane changing manoeuvres without signalling luckily I managed to spot this before it happened. I reckon I have a 6th sense for this now.

    This is a 'category A' risk area on a popular commute route and a real test. I had a taxi trouble there yesterday. Took exception to the rapid acceleration of my bike (a Trek Valencia E-bike on loan from Electric Bike Co - so I was 'cheating').

    Posted 14 years ago #

  18. gembo
    Member

    I overtook a guy on a MTB with skinny tyres going down kingsknowe hill this morning. No big deal, my bike is slightly faster than his. The lights at Slateford taking ages to change so he comes into the ASL box, takes swig of bottle just as lights change so I go first, come round to chesser I join the static straight ahead queue, he tanks round in the left lane (the one where you turn left) and then accelerates straight on. I pootle along observing him jumping every red light, even the one on the pedestrian where the child and parent are waiting to cross. Finally at Armillan (at diggers pub - 4 way junction) he jumps an amber light turning red, he did have the sense to look down to the left as he crossed the junction, in case he bumped into a like minded soul coming the other way.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  19. Dave
    Member

    "The right hand signal is a good one and I have often considered just using the right hand lane here but unfortunately drivers use this briefly before swerving in to the bus lane (and almost in to me half the time). It is just a really foul bit of road as you say. I was stunned not to see it featured in the collision map posted recently TBH."

    Fairly often I wait for the traffic to start backing up in the bus lane, then I go into the right hand lane and ride up it to the ASL, or as far as practical (and then reinsert myself into the left hand lane when I find a likely gap).

    It's likely that I get away lightly through the junction (and on the roundabout) because I'm riding an invisible bike. The main problem with this sort of conflicting traffic movement (IMO) is simply that people look everywhere for other cars, and don't bother paying attention to 'mere' bikes (especially if you look "pro" with high-viz and armour, i.e. you can take care of yourself without them worrying).

    The invisible bike is so invisible that the sheer absence of anything on the road seems to make drivers think about what they're doing ahead of time, which is why it's so much less stressful.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  20. Min
    Member

    "Fairly often I wait for the traffic to start backing up in the bus lane, then I go into the right hand lane and ride up it to the ASL, or as far as practical (and then reinsert myself into the left hand lane when I find a likely gap)."

    This is my aim but half the time as soon as I even think about moving to the right lane I find myself being pinned against the kerb by a nose to tail stream of cars. Pfft. The strong anti-gravitational field produced by your invisibility obviously repels them.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  21. LaidBack
    Member

    Dave The invisible bike is so invisible that the sheer absence of anything on the road seems to make drivers think about what they're doing ahead of time, which is why it's so much less stressful.

    You mean by staying invisible they don't make any inappropriate moves with regards to you? Think I know what you mean though tricky to explain to a wider audience.

    I look at most traffic as 'mobile street furniture'* . When I'm not leading others of course.

    *© Laid Back Bikes 2010

    Min I find myself being pinned against the kerb by a nose to tail stream of cars.
    I do find that it often takes concerted looking over shoulder and a signal followed by thumbs up when someone relents. Of course more time looking back can result in danger ahead.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  22. Dave
    Member

    "The strong anti-gravitational field produced by your invisibility obviously repels them. "

    Unfortunately doesn't work so well for other cyclists and peds who want to give out safety "advice" (I use the word "advice" in a Friends-of-the-Meadows stylee).

    Last night I rode up the mound through the horrendous Tattoo jam, down past Potterrow and thence towards KB in vague proximity to a chap on a mountain bike who kept having issues finding gaps to pull out around parked cars (every time we got to a junction he'd pass me again in the queue, then I'd pass him again with the traffic).

    We had a good bit of chat but he spoiled it by telling me I should get a flag to be more visible. I always find it hard to be articulate at these moments, but have settled for the relatively satisfying "in real life, it's fine". I mean, *I* wasn't the one having issues with the following traffic - he was. But his conclusion wasn't "I should get a lower bike" but "you should get a flag". Sigh!

    Posted 14 years ago #

  23. Rabid Hamster
    Member

    No aggro really today as I was was on a borrowed brand new steed! LB buses well behaved today and waiting patiently to move off after I pass (thank you). So anyway, courtesy of Laid Back/ Elec Bicycle Company, I chugged in to work 'electrically assisted' on usual road commute from Sherrifhall P+R to StMary's St following the Dalkeith Rd Gambit (Pass ERI, do not collect plastercast!). For the record was carrying a laptop and bike charger and tool/gubbins bag (say 11kgs luggage) and managed it in 22 minutes with an average between 15 to 18mph (usual on Cuillin Pro with slicks is 24/25). To ride one of these ElecBC Trek Valencia+ things you have to modify your usual 'p!ss down the hills and puff up the grades' technique into a 'constant velocity' style whilst pressing buttons on the dashboard many times to change from 'Assist' to 'Generate' whilst also selecting one of the appropriate 27 gears; this may involve a rear end collision with the miriads of 'mobile street furniture' on the route; oh and don't forget stopping for the lights! So no prangs today! But much fun 'Assisted' easily passing a cyclist snorting up Dalkeith Rd only to be overtaken again whilst 'Generating' along down the Pleasance gradient! I did arrive at work less sweaty as well, amazing really! 'Generating' mode feels like you are dragging a full North Sea catch of cod in a net behind you downhill, very peculiar! Much potential for those now less able to grind the tar as they get older/wheezier! Must watch Metropolis again! Salut.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  24. Smudge
    Member

    Sounds fascinating, fancy writing a full review in a fresh thread?

    Posted 14 years ago #

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