Heading out near rush hour is shocking sometimes. I can’t believe a) how many cars there are on the road, b) how people seem to be just fine with sitting in traffic, and c) how terrible some people are at driving.
Genuinely believe you shouldn’t be allowed to drive anywhere in a built up area if your journey is less than 3 miles if you’re able to walk, cycle, or take public transport. Fuck cars. So much.
I’d say most places in the country are worse for it than London. At least you have a bit of infrastructure there, and drivers who are at least aware of bikes. Most towns have deliveroo riders and nothing else knocking about post 7pm.
Horrid thinking about the consequences and that one of the major factors stopping me from going on my bike again, and that I’d probably take up MTB again when I do
Weirdly enough I probably feel safer on central london streets than I do on some of the roads as you get further out, perhaps that’s just because I’m much more familiar with them.
Sure, and that’s probably what I was driving at. Not too sure where you are, except it’s probably London somewhere. But if I take here in Winchester where I am, there is no provision for cyclists, narrow roads all around town with barely any calming measures, rat runs everywhere and inadequate street lighting. Plus the only cyclists you’d see after the evening rush hour are delivery riders, so the local drivers are not expecting to see a bike rider.
Probably doesn’t help that since I became a dad, my outlook on things has changed. If I were still riding, it probably wouldn’t phase me, but having had 3+yrs off my bike, the idea of riding on the road now actually frightens me.
Yeah I’m happy enough riding round Brighton, it’s cars on 60 limit roads that shit me up. I don’t know if the driving is getting worse or I’m just more sensitive to it these days but I’m doing less and less road riding these days.
Hello, I’m cautiously thinking about dipping my toe into getting a bike (haven’t ridden one since I was a teenager…) and I have a few questions:
Does anyone have any recommendations for a road bike that’s around the £200 mark?
I’m a bit freaked by riding it around London for now, given it’s been so long since I even sat on one, so was primarily going to keep it at my parents house and use it whenever I visit them because it’s much more rural. But… is it that bad? Are there any tips or even courses?
£200 is going to land you something second hand. What sort of riding to you anticipate doing? (Do you need something to take you off roads?)
Before I started riding, Lewisham Council sent an awesome cycle instructor out to me to show me how to ride around urban areas in traffic. It was the most valuable hour I have ever had on a bike. Not sure if local councils are doing this sort of thing at the moment but if they are, you should take advantage of it. It’s largely about confidence. If you’re south of the river I am more than happy to go out with you locally to give you some confidence after Christmas if that helps?
It would just be for standard 30 minute commutes from A to B (mainly to get south of the river, which I really miss since moving to Hackney).
Assumed a second hand one might be the best bet at that price point, but saw some entry level ones on Halfords around that which I thought might just do the job for what I want