The Problem’s Not Cars, It’s A**holes! | GCN Show Ep. 525

[@gcn]

What’s your take on this week’s main talking point? 👀

[@paulm9079]

There's something to be said for taking the high road and de-escalating a situation. I'm certainly not perfect - as a driver or cyclist. I think a little bit of empathy both ways helps. Honestly there are aggressive drivers that are difficult to share a road with when you're in a car too, for which my young daughter had the idea to set off their airbags remotely and give them a good slap. Proud dad moment hahaha.

[@markrskinner]

"Hit by a car" is cobblers. It's "Hit by a driver using a car"

[@karlInSanDiego]

Great topic. We're all struggling, and one interesting facet you've spoken about before but didn't mention here is the distinction between cycling for sport/rec and for transportation. Whilst this shouldn't make people react differently, it does. Respecting the vulnerability of all other road users is a motorist's responsibility in all situations. Adopting Dutch mentality of understanding that in cars vs. bike/ped the motorist is responsible for injury will make the greatest difference. We've coddled drivers for too long here in the USA by expressing vehicular violence as accidents. As Jessie Singer writes in her book, "There are No Accidents". In addition to safe separated infrastructure that won't come soon enough, we need to shift the culture of car dominance and motorists' sense of privilege. As Carlton Reid says in his book, "Roads weren't built for cars". BTW, these are books are both good topics for future GCN content.

[@oioioioioioioioi-k3w]

Driving in traffic turns people into assholes. Car based infra alienates people from other people, creating a hostile populace.

[@EndUser-yu7gg]

Stay the heck out of the main road as much as possible... you're a mobile target for these inattentive drivers more interested at yacking on their cell or vloging about OMG the person at the coffee place like umm ... totally messed up my order... gosh I spent many 'thousands' of dollars there and this is the last straw ... and they have the gull to ask for a tip... ...when I bike into work I am on the road as little as possible and booking as quickly as possible to the bike paths its better and I know a few fellow cyclists who also honestly ride like A*Oz ... and just love to gripe about how they were almost hit *facepalm*

[@Nick-un1em]

Canadian here. It's really an issue because drivers DO NOT realize they are operating a vehicle that can kill others (cyclist, pedestrians etc.). I find most drivers operate somewhere between total unawareness and minimal attention. Driving penalties should be much higher (a whole other issue in North America where drivers aren't really reprimanded).

[@hbp2m]

Can kill others? No, does kill others. Approx 1.3 million every year. And destroys the planet. And ruins pretty much everything by being noisy, smelly and taking up vast amounts of space.

[@johnandrews3568]

I'm in Toronto and I agree. Completely lacking situational awareness, too busy with their satnav, talking or texting (which is very illegal here but I see at least a dozen ppl doing this EVERY ride)... and have a sense of road entitlement that is unreal.

[@vittocrazi]

@@johnandrews3568 in my country i can see people Who forget to turn their lights almost daily.

[@rob-c.]

@@johnandrews3568 except it’s not just when they are distracted - they drive too fast, too close etc when completely focussed on driving.

[@ohne_speed]

I'm telling for years, cars are way too quiet inside and drivers have no realisation how deadly that 1.5+ tons at that speed. If you do the calculation, a 1.5ton vehichle at 90km/h has the same energy as a cannonball (5kg @ 1600km/h)!

[@jameswitte5676]

On the flip side of cyclists versus motorists I always give a big thank you wave to anyone who waves me ahead or waits behind until it’s safe to pass. 👋

[@rob-c.]

Same. I figure it’s like giving them a reward, in the idea that they’ll do the same again next time - in the same way that people train pigeons…

[@gcn]

Great to hear you're out on the road spreading some cheer! 🙌

[@johnmoore2342]

@@rob-c. Pavlov's motorists.

[@MichaelSnasdell]

Same, doesn't hurt to be courteous. I also let cyclists who act like arseholes know what I think too.

[@junkandcrapamen]

@@rob-c. lol they are such precious little snowflakes

[@andymoss]

“Passing on your left {or right as appropriate}” is the go to for me when attempting to alert a pedestrian (or slower moving cyclist). It doesn’t help however when 90+% of them are wearing headphones and are paying zero attention…

[@feralearthworm3044]

So slow down and pass carefully. We expect cars to do so, I don't think it's crazy to do the same thing those going slower.

[@dougedwards9772]

I know! I would call out " on your left" it sems like it frightened them by the time they got their wits together they had gone in a complete circle and ending up standing directly in front of me. no bike paths for me anymore all bike lane on blvds for me.

[@roybroomfield]

As a Brit who has lived in Canada for 25 years, damp weather can seem very cold. I remember visiting the UK one Christmas and I couldn’t believe how cold it felt after leaving -10 degrees in Canada. However when it gets really cold, here it’s a totally different experience as it hurts to be outside, exposed skin hurts, your nose freezes up and your lungs burn. Not things you experience in the UK. Love the channel guys!

[@gcn]

Sounds nasty! Should we send Si out for a winter in Canada? ❄

[@roybroomfield]

@@gcn yes please send Si out to experience a Canadian winter and not on the coast like his last trip to Vancouver, let him experience the Canadian interior and we can at least teach him to pronounce the Canadian Provinces correctly!

[@julianallen515]

@@roybroomfield Their pronounciation of ON-TAR-EO means me cringe every time!

[@tychoMX]

Yup. It's not like the people from Ontario/Quebec don't get to "enjoy" the wet weather hovering around zero. That's called spring, and that for sure can be a very challenging period to dress appropriately when it's around 0 and wet. But it won't make make you lose a digit or an ear. It's amazing how much different it is to manage riding at -15 C and below (we have some fat bike events that go from 20 to 200 km in February). It's almost not like riding anymore, it's more related to winter expedition management because messing up in those conditions can seriously hurt you very quickly, even kill you.

[@matthewlewis2072]

15:45 I came up behind two coppers on a towpath, said "excuse me, please" and one said "where's your bell?". So I said "ding, ding " Her colleague absolutely cracked up

[@timosirkka5597]

A bell on a bike in urban environment is a must. Pedestrians always give way and sometimes a smile too when they hear a friendly 'ding ding' that lets them know a bicycle is coming. I'd be pissed if I was strolling along a combined bike/pedestrian lane and a 40 km/h missile whizzed past me without warning.

[@gcn]

Bells can be so usefull! Saves the polite cough too 😂 Should more road bikes have bells on them? 👀

[@marick791]

Shared paths are a nightmare, walkers dont seem to have any idea of what is behind them, walking and texting or they have the dog on an extendable lead. Be careful how you ring that bell, as one walker said it was aggressive and they shouldnt have to move out of the way.

[@progrockUSA]

I always use my bell, I can't stand yelling "on your left" and I honestly think it drives everyone else nuts. But when people here my pretty "ding, ding", from my bell. They generally do as you say, smile and politely move over.

[@Eldermonkey25]

I have problems every day on multi use paths. On the Milton Keynes redways there's a rule of walk on the right and cycle on the left. It's not respected in anyway. People are totally unaware they're on a multi use path used by pedestrians, electric scooters and bicycles and will literally take up the entire path and then act so surprised when they hear a ding and I have to come to a complete stop to get past. There's been a time when I was behind another cyclist. We both dinged our bell and the people literally refused to make space! The issue isn't the car or the walker, it's the person. Guns don't kill people but the person does! People forget they are sharing a space with others whether they are walking or in a metal box on a road going 50 miles an hr...

[@ZOB4]

I think a lot of the movement to off road riding is because other road users have become more aggressive and less considerate of the more-vulnerable road users like cyclists. I know for my part, I don't ride on the road often (I do gravel and mtb most of the time) specifically because I don't feel like it is safe to do so. Which really is a shame.

[@colinswan786]

I agree - I think that this is large part in the drive to more exploring cycling. Still getting your fix away for the main bodies of traffic. I certainly spend less time on road either training on Zwift or messing about off road.

[@gcn]

This is something mentioned by some of the staff here at GCN MegaBase too

[@progrockUSA]

I tend to do the same. I do ride on the road near my house, but I do it at very specific times when traffic is at its lowest. Otherwise I only ride on greenways. It really sucks because this area is really beautiful and I'd love to ride my bike all over the surrounding area, but I don't want to die because some dick hole has to check their text while speeding down the road at 50 mph.

[@guih3438]

I do the same, I tend to cycle more off road for the fun part but also from a safety perspective.

[@LouieBaLLz]

Even MvP is upset at the Strava price hike that he's not posting on it anymore. 😝🤪

[@joelterwilliger9901]

I was going to say the same thing.

[@jonthorne16]

£45 to £55.. naughty

[@pnoimarker]

Sagan is a legend. He inspired not only myself but I'm sure, countless people to go out and ride a bike and to not take things too seriously. Peak Peter was undeniably a maestro on a bike and I commend Conor for noting that covid really hindered his performance. I'm not sure if we'll ever see a character like him in the pro peloton ever again. I'm forever grateful for all the years he motivated me and he will go down as a gem of the sport. Cheers to a legendary career and I'm excited to see what he does in the future!

[@gcn]

He's had a pretty epic career! What current pro do you think is most like Sagan? 👀

[@christill]

I agree that staying as calm as possible is the best idea. There are some people you really don’t want to get into a confrontation with. And it definitely gives you a better chance of educating that person and making the whole situation better for the future. But I think there is an us vs them scenario in countries like the UK because so many drivers don’t cycle, and don’t understand at all how their driving makes you feel. In the Netherlands for example, it’s totally different. Almost every driver also cycles and even if they don’t, there’s a built up strong respect for people on bikes.

[@23centrifuge]

When I added a camera to my light system, it actually really brought my temperature down because not only is the camera watching for things others might do but me as well. That extra awareness really helped me not act like a jerk in response.

[@gcn]

Interesting point! Super cool to hear that you think having accountability has helped to improve your own riding! Do you think more people should invest in riding cameras? 👀

[@23centrifuge]

@@gcn For commuters… 100%

[@tybekg]

May I ask what camera did you buy? I planning to buy one and still haven't decided yet.

[@88pooney]

It's massively coming to a head in the UK - the friction between drivers and cyclists is ever increasing. Whilst not perfect, I've been lucky enough to ride a lot and live in North America, Europe, Asia and Australasia and there isn't the fire burning hatred of cyclists from, albeit a minority of drivers. 1. Government must step in. Why can't they run a hard hitting advert campaign regarding cyclist safety? They did it in the early 90s in the UK for drink driving with Mungo Jerry's "In The Summertime". Cyclists should be humanised. I've read that over half of UK drivers view cyclists as less than human! 2. Enforce the 1.5m passing rule. If this is broken, drivers should lose points on their licence. It must be communicated by the government just how serious this is. It can result in cyclists (especially inexperienced ones) panicking and swerving violently. 3. Cyclists must also respect road rules/laws - it infuriates drivers to see cyclists disobey rules, yet insist on being treated with respect!

[@mshelthomas]

I would like to see continuing education each time there is a drivers license renewal.

[@gcn]

Nice idea! Do you think there is not enough education about these issues? 🤔

[@Pionirish]

I think there's not enough competence (in the UK at least) and passing a test once doesn't mean you'll keep driving to that standard. Regular retesting every 5 years would be a good start. The track safety test needed to work on the railways involves some rather harrowing examples of people being killed through basic errors of judgement, and really wake you up to the dangers. Something similar for drivers would probably help.

[@Alvio64]

100% agree. I can't think of anything else where you can operate a big heavy machine without having to complete ongoing training and/or assessment. Pilots, train drivers, crane operators, working with a chainsaw, but not car drivers. It blows my mind.

[@veganpotterthevegan]

Education is rarely the issue. Not paying attention is. The most informed person isn't necessarily going to be equally alert. Outside of terrible people purposefully screwing with cyclists, most incidents are actual accidents where education wouldn't prototected the cyclist. The driver is either knowingly driving tired, using their phone, in a rush, or they just have bad reaction time. Education won't keep them from doing those things. They know they should be focused but they just aren't.

[@brannmacfinnchad9056]

@@gcn Definitely not. The DMV test guide for my state essentially says nothing about cyclists and how the right-away works (i.e., cycle lane/multi-use path is considered another lane of traffic. If you are turning across it, cyclist/pedestrian has the right-away). It also doesn't even touch on hand signals.

[@Patrik6606]

Regarding the bike button in the car, they should install a "Ride on"-button as well 😁

[@CommaCam]

My motto around cars is to stay calm and not let anything bother me. It's hard sometimes, but especially in cities it's better to stay focused on what you're doing than dwell on something that already happened.

[@gcn]

Great to hear you are finding your inner zen! Do you think that dwelling in every issue makes you a less focused cyclist?

[@SuperFunSuperLiz1]

Si, regarding bike bells...we run a bike shop and hear about problems people have with shouting the right thing at the right volume to not startle pedestrians. It's a constant issue. Most people don't know what On Your Left means, or even what to do when someone shouts Excuse Me from behind. With a bell, even the dogs know someone is coming up behind them, and the goal is to pass them safely. So even if they jump, as long as they move over, mission accomplished. Besides, they know they're on a path with bikes, no need to get startled. 😊

[@williamcovey9703]

OK. But try to get the attention of the types that are wearing earphones/headphones! A bell just won't do!

[@SuperFunSuperLiz1]

@@williamcovey9703 Well in that case neither will saying Excuse Me, etc. So we either set our front lights to flashing mode (if it won't blind oncoming people) or we just stay to the left and hope that person remembers that they are on a public path and will be overtaken frequently. 🤷‍♀

[@edgarfernandez8737]

I also get that uncomfortable 'get out of my way' feeling if using a cycle bell when overtaking pedestrians. Best and most friendly way I have found to overtake other path users is to whistle a song from the distance as you approach or even sing something. You get noticed but in a very friendly way and you show that you are happy, respectful and approachable on your ride.

[@gcn]

That sounds very friendly! What's your go to whistling tune? 🎶

[@ereky2991]

Depending on the situation. Sometimes yelling is called for. Other times it's a simple mistake no harm no foul. (If a life gets endangered then yelling is acceptable in my opinion) Stupidity is not an excuse.

[@gcn]

Great point! When it's a life threatening situation it is understandable to get more angry Do you make a conscious effort to review the situation and adjust your response? This can be very hard to do in the heat of the moment. 🤔

[@jonathanvera1699]

#captioncontest Fabio Jakobsen takes Face Timing to a whole nother level.

[@gmarjerrison]

Caption: : You have to love Fabio's sprint effort; he never phones it in.

[@terryballard8551]

Caption competition: It’s a smart phone, unlike its owner.

[@leanneearle3652]

Being a cyclist has definitely made me a safer and more conscientious driver. I also make sure to wave or say thank you to any driver actually following the rules of the road. At the end of the day, I can do as much as I can to keep myself safe, but it comes down to that one person not paying attention to their driving (I don't want to die, so please don't kill me)

[@gemshiddenhistories6575]

"On your left, please" is how we overtake someone riding or walking here in the States. Seems to work well and not piss people off.

[@DEAR7340]

People just have to accept mixed use trails for what they are; live and let live. It's not unusual for a pair of pedestrians, upon hearing "On your left, please," will split in opposite sides of the trail.

[@johnandrews3568]

and most ppl move left.

[@gemshiddenhistories6575]

@@johnandrews3568 Not my experience. Sorry it work that way for you.

[@ericrichardson7575]

I use "on your left" and expect them to go either way, or not respond. I've been surprised from behind myself and brain cramped, so I'm not critical. At least they know I'm coming.

[@marick791]

@@DEAR7340 I have had the same so now I just say morning, or afternoon, or hello and then let them go which way they are going to go and cycle around them!

[@TheEpieikeia]

13:50 "Most of it [road rage] is actually a media construct that undermines our perception of safety when [out] cycling". Absolute pearler, Richardson! Your critical thinking never disappoints!

[@nelsonguerrero2099]

Hey guys thanks for bringing attention to this all important matter of road rage. My riding buddy and I use the three Ahole rule each time we ride. Each time we go riding we allow for three Aholes before allowing ourselves to get angry. I find this approach very effective as in most instances we only come across 1 or 2 Aholes.

[@birdergirlrs]

Hi, Simon. The reason a bell is better than one's voice is that it can be heard from farther away. Waiting until you're on top of that pedestrian (who most likely has earbuds in any way) to announce your presence could result in them jumping, possibly right into your path. I also pass many early morning dog-walkers and want to make sure their pet stays securely out of the way as I pass. While we're at it, I can't count how many times I've been snuck up on and surprised by other cyclists on paths and trails who didn't make any noise at all and startled the crap out of me as they went by without a word. Unfortunately, bikes don't bestow courtesy. It takes a little effort but makes us all safer.

[@dougnorth]

So I've been hit by a car and my initial reaction was to get super pissed and want to yell, but when I saw the faces of the people in the car and how worried they were for me, all I could do was ask if they were ok! Fortunately everyone (and the bike) was fine. Also had many people heckle me. I've reacted by flipping the bird and also by just waving and smiling. All of this has led me to believe that it's usually best to just try and be nice to the drivers regardless of what they're doing. Always remind myself that they're in a car and I'm on a little bike with just a helmet to protect me.

[@mathewjames4137]

I like the wave idea. I take it a bit further blowing kisses to these idiots. I like to think its much more annoying than shouting and swearing at them.

[@gcn]

That shows some amazing control to stay so level headed! Do you also drive? 🤔

[@dougnorth]

@@gcn yep I drive too

[@mq3868]

+2 and rainy versus -30C (before windchill). Yeah, +2 and wet anytime please. A dry cold is fine for activity until the temp drops below -20C. Anything below that is cold AF and it chills you to the bone while risking frost bite on your feet. Such conditions are best described by most sane people as hellish, or as we call it in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, late January.

[@MeFreeBee]

Bells are brilliant when used correctly in the right context. I often use the Thames towpath, both as a cyclist and pedestrian. Ding your bell early just to help people be aware you are approaching and give them time to be able to decide how they want to let you pass. If you wait until you're right up behind them it can be interpreted as "Get out my way!!!" when on a shared use path pedestrians should have priority.

[@cumpootuhruser9355]

I try to use my bell as sparingly as possible. If possible, I safely pass without using my bell at all, and only use it when I'm unable to find a way through (such as when there's a group walking side-by-side). I'm not sure whether this seems more like I just want pedestrians out of my way, but in my mind it's out of respect for pedestrians and not wanting to require them to move if it's not strictly necessary.

[@thepsychobilly88]

I've had a recurring nightmare, where a slick looking man in a yellow dress chases me amidst some old ruins. Just when I think that I've managed to loose him, he materializes in front of me, from a cloud of sickly yellow smoke. I wake up in sweat...the man in yellow caught me again. I finally realized where that dream has drawn it's inspiration. It's Hank from the GCN show intro.... I had I good laugh when I figured it out, I hope you have too. EDIT: 0:33 is the exact spot in the video.

[@gcn]

Wow... lots to unpack here! What do we think that means? 🤯

[@MrBrowndog46]

Connor with his absolutely amazing comparison on cold/wet weather and sausage roll but I totally understood. I was literally crying laughing at 0730, it set me up for the day. You may need get one for next week's show though as I aren't sure if they are a global delicacy or just UK.

[@MB-il4ii]

As a cyclist, I believe you have to drive a car to understand the driver‘s perspective (distances, speed, breaking, view), and vice versa!

[@klarkolofsson]

Fully agree. Driving makes you a better urban cyclist and as you say - vice versa.

[@morosis82]

Not sure about this one, some people ride a bike specifically because they know they're not good drivers and want to avoid it as much as possible. Personally I agree more with Si. Gov awareness programs similar to road safety programs for drivers around things like DUI and speeding. Add run on social media to illustrate how to be a good bike or scooter rider in a world where we need to deal with all forms of transportation would be good.

[@hbp2m]

No, distances, speed, braking, view is irrelevant. Car drivers should just not kill and harm so many people, car drivers should just stop polluting so much, car drivers should just stop ruining the cities and the countryside with their smelly noisy cars.

[@joerenner8334]

Agreed. And you also have to use multipaths by walking as well. This alerts you to how many assholes fly by way too close and way too fast on their bikes

[@Schradermusic]

@Mathew Bishop Do you know what "vice versa" means?

[@janwillemkuilenburg7561]

A loud bell on my single speed saved my life several times in Rotterdam, Netherlands. If the bell is not heard I usually shout so loud that people will never forget to pay attention in traffic.

[@edwardsihler]

I suspect somewhere at GCN mega-base there is a box with the following label, " If you take Hank out of the box you are responsible for: care and feeding tell returned. Please be sure to launder and fold before returning Hank, Hank is to be returned in the same condition he was collected" with a scribbled note on the side, "Ensure Hank is dry prior to folding to avoid creases and mold"

[@gcn]

Hahahaha! We hope Ashleigh hasn't lost the note as we're sending him on to Christian Meier next!! 🤣

[@boronsniify]

You know, there probably is!

[@DaveCM]

The "toot" button on a car, I don't think is a horrible idea. Often times I don't hear cars coming up behind me and I like it when they give a short, friendly "toot" on their horn before they pass. I know what they are doing. My wife did buy me a Garmin Varia last Christmas and that thing is a game changer for me.

[@wrightwoodwork]

I personally think its better to get a toot than being hit. People need to stop getting upset with a toot

[@jonburnell532]

I don't mind a toot either. There is a massive difference between a quick toot and leaning on the horn as they pass.

[@vittocrazi]

@@wrightwoodwork a spook while riding can lead to an accident.

[@wrightwoodwork]

@@vittocrazi we are talking a toot from a distance just to let a rider know you're coming past. I guess you've never cycled in Spain where it is far more common for drivers to toot to let you know of there presence. We are not talking a blast of the horn. Stop being so touchy

[@ericrichardson7575]

I really appreciate a small toot and give a thumbs up to them. When driving though I almost never toot... there's seldom a need as I have room or wait.

[@nigellee2350]

Regarding the use of a bell. I prefer to verbally say 'ding ding' to alert pedestrians and follow that with 'I am hoping to get a bell for my birthday'. Always gets a smile 😁

[@BixbyConsequence]

I like a bell because it carries further than a soft voice, and a loud voice seems rude (and is sometimes not even manageable if your throat is dry, for example). And for most people around here a bell is instantly recognizable as coming from an approaching cyclist.

[@nigellee2350]

@@BixbyConsequence I guess that at my low speed I don't need to shout. If I were going quicker then I would need a bell to give more warning.

[@homerunhomeshow7201]

YES! Peter Sagan tilts the "one of the greats" scale Simon. My opinion is how got shorted on TDP stage opportunities when he got DQ'd vs Cavendish, and the crash with Ewan. Both were early stages and cut his Tour stage potentials.

[@ltrtg13]

Si could always use a air horn. The Air Zound is a good horn. It's also better for the environment as you can connect an pump and re-inflate when you used it to let others know your somewhere near by.

[@michaeljoseph6515]

I love the AirZound. It often made an inattentive driver stop and pay attention when about to pull in front of you. They were looking for a huge truck not a bike with a loud horn.

[@EricCycles]

Instead of bells and shouting at pedestrians, I just rely on my loud free hubs. Cool sound + no extra grams + safety feature = happy cyclist

[@bcschafer]

I don’t know if this is done all over the USA or just where I live but in my town on the mixed use trail when cycling up behind a walker we say “on your left” to let them know you are there and passing them on the left. It usually generates a quick wave or nod of acknowledgment but occasionally does cause a leap off the trail and a frustrated look.

[@cumpootuhruser9355]

I've had occasions where I say "on your left" and the person thinks I'm asking them to move to the left so I can pass them on their right. Bells make the situation much less awkward.

[@gcn]

This does get used in the UK and can be a great way to let please know where you are. Do you ever find that people end up jumping to the left when you shout left? 😂

[@bcschafer]

@@gcn That does happen sometimes. I try to say it far enough back so I have time to react if they get it wrong. That whole right/left thing can be tricky.

[@cumpootuhruser9355]

@@gcn People do that pretty frequently around here. In my personal experience, people are almost more likely to move to their left than they are to move to the right. Plus, there are plenty of people who just get confused and don't know how to react, so they just sorta stay where they are. I've pretty much given up on the whole "on your left" thing and just use a bell.

[@coreyreeder3549]

I actually crashed over my Frenemy, Jake, while attempting this. He changed sides three times without looking. Haha. I went over my bars and we both ended up in the woods off the bike path. It’s actually funny now.

[@simonrichardson7808]

Caption: "Hello Opi, Hello Omi, no I can't really talk right now"

[@amo1850]

Frustrating part where I live is the police & courts never hold drivers accountable when a cyclist gets hurt or even dies. All the driver has to say is "I never saw them" & no charges are filled. In my town 3 cyclist I know have died & that's the excuse. No charges...nothing other than another white bicycle memorial that the city DOT later removes to mow the grass.

[@jakecollins6097]

My grandmother once said to me that the secret to a happy life was not to get into arguments in with idiots, they're not worth it. So, I tend not to react although I did once put a big dent in the driver's side front wing of a BMW when the driver deliberately tried to run me off the road whilst laughing at me... Shame he got stuck at the lights 500 yards down the road!! I'm normally super chilled so it was really scary to think about what could of happened if he had got out of the car as requested.

[@JeffRElliott]

I try to control my reactions because I don't want to get upset every time I ride the bike. It's what I do for fun and stress relief and if I got upset every time someone put me at risk I would never be able to relax. Basically every time I ride someone passes me dangerously so it's imperative that I let it go.

[@gcn]

It's frustrating isn't it! It's great to hear that you have found ways of dealing with it, do yo also plot routes that avoid busy areas? 👀

[@cumpootuhruser9355]

@@gcn I've gotten so used to flipping off motorists that sometimes I barely realize I'm doing it. Honestly it's a lot less stressful when it's happened so many times you lose track of all the bad drivers. But it's still worth riding a bike, because as a former motorist I know even with the stressors of riding a bike, the fact that I am riding a bike can be a method of reducing stress. Motorists don't have that benefit. So for me riding a bike is in itself one of the ways I cope with the stress of riding a bike. That, and watching urbanist KZbin videos, which helps because it gives me a clearer idea of the problem and a concrete solution. Even if we don't have the infrastructure today, advocating for bike-friendly infrastructure is a good way for me to feel less powerless in regards to bike safety. We all know the angry cyclist stereotype... Where's the angry motorist stereotype? Or does that just get bundled with the "everyone else sucks" mindset because motorists see themselves as the default and cyclists as the exception... Related: I am not a "Cyclist" (and most Dutch people aren't either) kzbin.info/www/bejne/rH7IlWSnmMp9lbM

[@gregvassilakos]

I ride with front and rear blinky lights, front and rear video cameras, and rear facing radar. The blinky lights help alert drivers. The radar helps alert me. The cameras are for evidence when the police find my broken bike and body in a ditch at the side of the road.

[@robt8042]

Sagan definitely one of the greatest!

[@alinapopescu872]

Cars ARE the problem. Normally mild, polite individuals turn into raging beasts once they get behind the wheel and on four wheels. Somebody once told me that she had felt much better since giving up driving. A problem only compounded by the sky-high level of aggression and thoughtlessness in all city dwellers these days. The world begins and ends with each of them, the rest may burn in hell if they don't like it.

[@FuchsHorst]

This!

[@BreakawayB]

😅Let’s just all be a little nicer to each other. If you’re driving a car, give us some room. If you’re riding a bike, be predictable and don’t ride in the center of the road.

[@gcn]

Well said! We can all play our part 🙌

[@markrskinner]

ALWAYS ride primary. Never in the gutter

[@BixbyConsequence]

There are circumstances when the safest course of action is to take the entire lane, and the law where I live supports the right of cyclists to do so when appropriate. This can upset motorists who don't understand the situation and so I agree with GCN that govt has a role to play by incorporating bike/car interactions in driver education.

[@rangersmith4652]

It's situational; sometimes "taking the lane" is the safest tactic. A debris-filled, sewer grate perforated gutter IS NOT safe.

[@SuperFunSuperLiz1]

I agree with you except that we "claim the lane" around here frequently. The Ohio Revised Code says that bikes only have to ride to the right "as far as is practicable." That way we aren't forced to ride in debris, and worse, when we're to the right and cars try to pass us while there's oncoming traffic, it's too tight and not safe for anyone. Cars simply need to pass us like we're the fellow traffic we are, and cyclist simply need to follow the rules of the road. 😊

[@johndarendra1927]

Love your videos on all topics. 69yr old Aussie here, regular cyclist and happy owners of 8 various bicycles. The tooting of horns seems to be an aggressive act in many western countries, whereas in Indonesia where I've cycled both in Bali and Central Java, it's simply a polite way of motorists letting you know that they're behind you and intending to overtake ( in a non-threatening way ). I find it quite refreshing and appreciate the warning. Never have drivers or motorcycle riders 'buzzed' or done 'punishment passes'. I feel so much safer cycling in Indonesia, compared to Australia 👍👍🚴

[@apriljohnson6191]

In a separate note, is GCN going to cover Bike Across Iowa event called RAGBRAI? It’s the 50th year of the even and it’s supposed to be really, really big. Is GCN up to riding across the entire state? I would love to hear about it if you are in a future show. ❤

[@gcn]

That would be really cool!

[@Jackrabbit49er]

Love this idea #sionragbrai

[@apriljohnson6191]

Simon, come to America! We’ll protect you from the cows! ;-)

[@WhitneyOpfar]

I think a big part of bad driving is them not understanding what it is like to be a cyclists or a pedestrian. So a punishment for road rage or negligence should be forcing them to commute as a cyclist and see what it feels like.

[@paulallan1032]

For me, the bike bell has always meant "heads up" not "get out of my way"... I often call, "passing on the left", or "on your left" (we usually pass on the left here) I hate traffic, (I trust that all motor vehicle drivers want me dead) and avoid busier roads when I can. I always assume that I am the only one watching out for my safety, so I ride super defensively.

[@brannmacfinnchad9056]

I make the same assumption.

[@bartmullin8018]

Worst thing on bike paths is pedestrian groups not walking single-file or at least on one side of the lane if they're chatting and being completely oblivious to their surroundings. Groups of joggers are the worst offenders for clogging up bike-paths; obliviously chatting, focused too much on their running, and/or earbudded. Found hikers and trail-runners sometimes who are oblivious to their surroundings (earbuds usually the culprit) on single-track sections sometimes and i have a bell; hugely good p.r. device and i can ride without having to stop as much. Also, other non-mtb trail users will thank me at times for the consideration shown or be out of the way by the time I actually pass them. Most of the Enduro/trail f.s. or aggressive hard-tail bike crew do not have bells; clashes with their bike decor... Oddly enough, I've had Far less road-rage incidents on mountain two-laners (only once, motorist was lucky my fighting skills are rubbish or...). In the city/suburbia, every so often I get treated to a driver or passenger road-raging; the latter raging, why?? They usually get informed about the entities their mothers had congress with or the fact they should engage in autoerotic congress frequently & often.

[@jimlingmusicchannel]

I live in Markham, Toronto for 5 years now and I cycle everyday even during winter. I find that most drivers are respectful to cyclists, although there're always exceptions, I just try to anticipate any possible accident. It's better to be safe than sorry.:)

[@curtvaughan2836]

BTW, I thought Peter Sagan's win of Paris - Roubaix was one of the most exciting one day races I ever witnessed.

[@gcn]

It was a great race! Paris - Roubaix never disappoints though 🙌

[@MisterAndyS]

On one very large cycling Facebook group I'm on, within a one week period we had two rants posted. In a less-ranty format: 1. Why do cyclists ring their bells or call "on your left?" It startles me. Just ride past and don't annoy me with noise. 2. Why don't cyclists have the courtesy to ring a bell or call out before passing me? It startles me when they suddenly ride past. My suggestion is if you care a lot about it, wear a sign on your back saying either "Please warn before passing" or "Please do NOT warn before passing." Absolutely impossible to please everyone.

[@pacificbeachbumb]

It’s not the answer but having the varia does help with the anxiety of sharing the road. It just gives me a heads up. Doesn’t solve for arseholes though

[@gcn]

Thats great to hear! How do you find it on quiet roads?

[@pacificbeachbumb]

@@gcn I think it works best, actually, on quiet rural roads, especially if going downhill and the wind covers any noise of cars. Also, many cars are relatively quiet now, such as Teslas and hybrids.

[@PredatorDK]

Easy way to understand why "wet cold" is worse than "dry cold" (below 0°C): Next time you take something hot out of the oven, try using a damp mitt/towel... The heat transfer is much grater when the insulating layer is rendered basically useless by moisture.

[@you_down_with_pjc]

If everyone left five minutes earlier, road rage would disappear

[@gcn]

Everyone does always seem to be in a rush!

[@KieranJR26]

I got rear ended on Monday by a car joining the roundabout. As I was surfing on his bonnet it absolutely crossed my mind that once I stop and I'm ok I will floor the driver. Once everything had stopped I took a moment to assess the situation and we ended up having a very civil conversation, today (two days later) my replacement parts have arrived and I have been heavily compensated by the driver. I think if I'd resorted to hitting the guy it would've been a worse outcome for both of us. Thankful that he stopped and I know he is thankful for the way I wanted to deal with the outcome. Only a folded rear wheel and disk, no damage to me, a good bit of damage to the car. I will say all road users seem to be paying less attention to their surroundings than they used to, I've covered 500 miles this month and each time I was out I've seen mistakes made by every road user, including pedestrians!

[@richardharris8538]

When I first moved to Ottawa, Ontario, I was driving home from work on a two-lane road with good bike lanes when I noticed something strange. Ahead of me I noticed cars were pulling out into the middle of the road, then back in. It was like watching machinery, 100% compliance. When the car pulling out was just a few ahead of me, I spotted a cyclist in the bike lane. (He was riding in a straight line.) This level of courtesy is common here, nevertheless, I've still had some close passes that've put me off from riding on the road.

[@gcn]

Great to hear that you have some good experiences in your area! Do you think that is down the road user culture or is that due to improved infrastructure? 👀

[@richardharris8538]

Those two options aren't independent of one another. UK roads are narrower and more congested than those over here. There are few traffic jams here, (Don Valley Parking Lot excepted - although it was fine when I last drove on it), so Canadian drivers typically aren't as desperate as British drivers to get ahead of other road users. Cyclists here benefit from this. And, of course, Canadians are famously polite.

[@dropkickthedead]

I cycled for 7 years in London, road bikes and singlespeeds (for commuting). After a while, I felt it was the only way to get around that made sense (I couldn't afford taxis, pubic transport was really difficult at rush hour, and frustrating), but it destroyed me emotionally after a while. Rediscovering bikes was a massive sense of liberation in London, and then the reality of day-to-day commuting, the misery slowly crowded in. I got home every evening, angry and scared by the behaviour of drivers. I ended up cycling almost exclusively on backroads, parks and cycle lanes when I could, but I frequently had to go down Bethnal Green Road and Old Street, and it was terrifying and exhausting. It took such an emotional effort to get out on my road bike to go anywhere. Some of the drivers were fucking awful (as were some of the other cyclists). It left me with the conclusion that every professional driver (taxi, lorry, etc.) should have to spend a few hours on roads a year. It also made me think that all local politicians should be expected to cycle, as well. But, what you GCN presenters don't mention is the sheer amount of traffic. Having been in the UK recently, the endless amount of cars is mad. And I feel that's part of the problem that creates arseholes - just the sheer amount of cars. I now live in Helsinki and am looking at spending stupid money on a fancy gravel bike because we have pretty good cycle lanes here, and amazing gravel paths. Fine, I can't go road cycling 3-4 months of the year, but when I can, I feel safe and secure for the most part, and I get home lifted by cycling, not defeated by fighting for every inch of space.

[@jimjim676]

A small minority of cyclists give the rest of us a bad name with them jumping red lights and undercutting vehicles. Drivers then think ALL cyclists are the same and treat them accordingly, which to be honest as a driver, I can understand.

[@bruuhhhh]

Glad you touched on other cyclists being dodgy road users, I have as many times being frustrated at other cyclists as I do with cars

[@vydkeryx9524]

Car Drivers & Cyclists are NOT comparable. One severly injures, the other only fustrates!

[@bruuhhhh]

@@vydkeryx9524 drivers are definitely more dangerous but I wouldn't underestimate the danger of a cyclist because they can cause cars to swerve or suddenly brake, and a cyclist can also easily force you to swerve into a ditch so I wouldn't say they only frustrate

[@bruuhhhh]

@@vydkeryx9524 agree 100%

[@vydkeryx9524]

@@Bu-22 please provide data for bicycle caused car wrecks w serious injury to car driver. Most riders know the life v death of real roads and absolutely know they must be aggressive and protect themselves instead of passive & dead. Please chime in everyone - (until genuine safety is universal) bike riders are better off aggressive or dead in traffic?

[@aminebrahimi3948]

Urban bike commuter in Belgium (Brussels) here: For pedestrians on the bike lane, I usually say hello to them (I change my voice volume depending on the distance, and sometime I say it multiple time). It is enough for the pedestrians to notice me on the bike lane and clear the way. For car drivers; if I feel they putted me on danger, I am not shy to shout loud and angry on them. Sometimes I even stop them in the middle of the street and explain them the danger they were making for me. But I usually avoid offensive swear words.

[@robert_mn]

I use a loud bell simply because most of the people walking down the same path I'm riding are wearing headphones and won't hear you otherwise

[@cumpootuhruser9355]

I find that with a loud bell people often still don't notice it. Even people who aren't wearing headphones sometimes won't notice my bell until I ring it a second time. And I have a pretty loud bell. It's amazing what people can fail to notice due to inattentional blindness.

[@beyond8981]

#captioncompetition "I said video Fabio, not FaceTime him!"

[@billcodey1430]

This was the strangest GCN episode I have watched in the last 5 years.

[@blueyhills]

The worst episode.

[@Tazfiend]

On the subject of bells - I regularly get a thank you from pedestrians on my local bike path, for using a bell to warn them of my approach. Far better that than shouting at them or, even worse, coming up behind them silently and giving them a fright (regardless of how slowly).

[@wesleygibbs6499]

I've been cycling on my local Southern California roads for the better part of 20 years and cannot tell you how many times I have had close calls, I've been hit 3 times and bumped by moving cars who knows how many times, even had a wing mirror clip me once on a busy stretch of PCH. I've seen drivers get progressively more ill-willed towards cyclists as cities have attempted to make it safer. Drivers truly hate the share roads (where bikes may use the entire lane) and constantly feel the need to berate me or get unnecessarily close when I'm just following the law. There is a definite lack of education and lack of sign reading and I do echo that there needs to be continuing education on new road laws. Cyclists do have their place in creating a toxic atmosphere by running stop signs, red lights, cutting across traffic, using pedestrian crosswalks, etc. but the reality is that in the SUV vs. cyclist world, the SUV always wins and the cyclist dies. In that scenario, it is almost always avoidable and there need to be incredibly harsh sentences (real jail time and loss of license) for vehicle offenders in cyclist and pedestrian accidents.

[@princeandrew5430]

100%! Bike paths are the devil! They are designed stupidly. All of my accidents have happened on badly designed bike paths

[@tobyarcher7623]

+2 and damp is really unpleasant but -42 is just ridiculously cold. I lived a long time in Finland and never experienced temperatures much below -30 and that's rare. Even colder than -20 is pretty ferocious and you have to be careful about not getting frost nip, particular doing any speed sport like cycling, XC skiing or downhill skiing. In Finland at least those cold temperatures generally come with high pressure, so little wind, but cycle along at 25 kmph and of course you are creating a windchill which, while not actually making it colder, means you loose heat quicker - I always found keeping feet warm was the hardest. I used to cycle commute through the winter a few days a week, but after getting minor frost bite in my toes cycling home on a -17 day, I decided to put my lower limit for cycling at -15. Colder than that, get the bus!

[@emanuelegiansanti8634]

I'm an Italian living in the UK, and I must say that over here drivers are generally much more patient or respectful (ie giving you space) than what I have experienced at home. That being said, there is always the occasional close pass or honk, and that is never fine

[@emanuelegiansanti8634]

A couple of years ago I was cycling in Italy over the Christmas holidays with my dad and a friend of his. We were on a mild climb, the road mostly empty olas we were in the countryside. My dad and his friend were cycling abreast, chatting, and I was following behind. A car zoomed past very close, honking and yelling some sort of insults from the window. My dad's friend gave them the finger as they passed. This caused the driver to pull over, and 2 men (a guy in his late 40s and his dad in his late 60s), come out the car and rushed towards us, screaming and insulting us. Me and my dad stopped, while my dad's friend went past them, and the younger man kicked his bike (thankfully just hit his back wheel) and he managed to stay upright, while the older man came up close to us just shouting and threatening. For a moment I seriously thought we were gonna get stabbed or assaulted in some way. Anyhow, we managed to talk them down (mainly nodding and saying "yes, you're right, we were invading the road, although not true), and after a short time they went back in the car and drove away aggressively. Moral of the story: from that day I never react back to any driving misbehaviour, as the only thing I would accomplish is an escalation, even though I'd be fully in the right. On the other hand, I always make sure to thank any time that a driver waits for me/gives me plenty of space!

[@michaelsrealm9365]

Here in Amerika! Where guns are prolific and stupid people have access to them, getting into a confrontation can become deadly. So, getting a license plate number and police if you are injured is the way to go.

[@csaba675]

I lived in Copenhagen for a while and cycled everywhere. Had one single close call with a car, the driver pulled over immediately and apologized for ten minutes straight. At the end I felt sorry for him :)

[@gcn]

Wow that sounds amazing! Let's make Copenhagen the city we should all strive for! 🙌

[@cumpootuhruser9355]

@@gcn I think of Copenhagen as a sort of Amsterdam lite. It's not the end goal, but a vision that people in currently-car-dominated areas can envision as actually achievable. - Copenhagen is Great ... but it's not Amsterdam kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpvdq4lodtCsmtU - How to (Quickly) Build a Cycling City - Paris kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXqQYoyEdtKKos0

[@markhagen7777]

One of the greatest ironies and probably possibly one of the cornerstone points of conversation about furthering a positive relationship between drivers and cyclist would be the fact that most all cyclists drive and a fair portion of the driving population rides bikes.

[@andrewkingdon9032]

There is a small minority of drivers who are actively dangerous and need to be removed from driving for the sake of all road users (and need licence point bans enforced). There's a bigger proportion of motorists who are careless and need educating. A small minority of very aggressive cyclists who's behaviour gives the rest of as a bad name.

[@toddgiffing4465]

(At 16:25) here in the U.S. we say “on your left” before passing another cyclist. Ride on the right, pass on the left when possible.

[@PeterHolmes-ub3gb]

As a regular bike commuter into London, I've had my fair share of interesting incidents - 2 stand out. After taking extreme evasive action in response to a car jamming into reverse to grab a parking space, the van driver behind me lost it completely, declaring he was 'going to teach the driver a lesson for risking my life', I cycled off as the van driver approached the car driver with fists raised.. And my closet call was being cut up by a met police van as he approached red traffic signals. His response, endorsed by much laughter from his colleagues was that my safety wasn't his problem, and that they were near the end of their shift and tea beckoned back at the station...

[@mxkstfmk]

I think most of us know: A mild answer turns away rage, But a harsh word stirs up anger.- Proverbs 15:1. Even though it's the tough thing to do the result is always the best.

[@ericb8985]

Having had a near death experience with a pensioner turning left onto my right of way, I can totally relate to anger and frustration. He must have seen me (clear view on large and empty country road) but probably didn't expect me to be that quick and didn't accelerate properly. His lousy attempt in trying to get onto the road ahead of me saved him a maximum of ten seconds to wait me and overtake me later on but it put my life at risk (I went 80 kph downhill and despite all breaking had to squeeze past his car on the edge of the road and some gravel). I was in shock and absolutely furious when this guy didn't even look at me as if he hadn't noticed. I screamed at the top of my lungs (no swearwords, I promise) as he just accelerated off... I understand mistakes happening, but when you don't register anything around you, you really shouldn't be driving a murder tool weighing tons at 100kph or more. I wish this incident shocked him enough to give up his driving license...

[@jakecalderburby]

3 Step recipe for dealing with bad drivers: 1: Deep breath to slow your heart rate. 2. Shake of the head to let out stress and “brush” their stupidity out of your mind. 3. A smile and a laugh at their driving stupidity. After this, the anger seems to somewhat deflate.

[@markclevedon81]

An interesting discussion re. road rage and safety. My attitude has indeed changed over the years and despite a potentially catastrophic crash into a car exiting a junction in my mid 20s, I am more inclined to be considerate and to give way. The problem is attitude, entitlement and ignorance but let's face it I rarely encounter problems during my 80-100 miles a week cycling. I suspect that social media and the proliferation of KZbin videos (GCN not included!) send out the wrong message of careless and selfish cyclists in city centres who don't follow rules and inflict injuries. This leads to the assumption that we are all the same and of course justifies dangerous "punishment" driving and rage but with a refusal to acknowledge our vulnerability. The message has been firmly and justifiably hammered home in respect of horse riders or risks outside of schools but now it is the turn of cycling. Let's get that message out there.

[@lizziegutteridge8267]

Another vote in favour of bells on bikes here. It's a lot more recognisable as a bike coming than just calling out hello. It does help if you use it early, slow down enough that people have time to react and say thank you as you pass.

[@Kim_Miller]

The track pump mod would have been more effective had the guy made an extension that fixes to the handle and raises it. That way his feet would still be at floor level and he wouldn't have to bend over too much.

[@drkneesandtoes6312]

It's not just city streets - rural A-roads are the most dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. I live in west Cumbria where there is only ONE road between where I live and where I work (otherwise it's dirt farm tracks). It's the A595 and takes all the traffic between Barrow and Workington. Around 7.30-8am on a morning, the driving is bonkers. There's one bit of my commute that is a 14% uphill on a blind bend. It's supposed to be a 40 mph but I'm probably the only vehicle under that, so I'm in a position where cars speed around the corner, come up behind me at 60mph and then find there's a car doing 60mph down the hill so they can't just swing out. There's no footpath - just walls and thick hedges. About once a week there'd be an incident where a driver had to do an emergency brake to avoid hitting me, or majorly piss off the oncoming driver by pulling out and causing them to brake. Sooner or later I'm going to get hit - possibly a bit later as I don't go into the office 5 days a weeks nowadays. But it's either a very wet and muddy offroad ride even in the summer (best part of 2 metres of rainfall per year) or the car for 5 miles.

[@wotexpat9367]

So many drivers say “You don’t pay road tax”. Well, most cyclists also own cars and this DO pay car tax, so it’s a moot point. Also, it strikes me as weird that drivers complain about cyclists - since that means one more car off the road and thus congestion is a little less. If anything drivers would want more cyclists on the road rather than fewer.

[@AndrewJOliver]

To change behaviour you have to change how people think, changing the law comes second (if at all). People calling for more regulation or tougher sentencing have the wrong take, authoritarianism never works. The bad behaviour is stirred up by low quality media, Clarkson et al. Anger and division sell papers and drives clicks.

[@spencerlemon2679]

I really do think it is cars. As an american who drives out of necessity often and drove sports cars as a teen... they're just clunky and awkward in city environments. They force your brain to divorce itself from the speeds you're going (remember, the fastest man alive tops out at 30mph, which does not feel fast in a car). But I think the biggest thing is how they facilitate the breakdown in communication. When someone is driving you can't read them (especially if they don't signal or signal late). I can read a pedestrian or cyclist's body language. Further, I can't talk to someone in a car without forcing them to make a stop or yelling at them loud enough for them to hear through closed windows; situations that force the interaction to start off with a potential to escalate. And because you were wondering (I know. You weren't.) I am a hs geography and psychology teacher (and a bike commuter in the US) so yes I think about this wayy too much...

[@vermilionink]

You’re 100% correct that being an a*hole is the main factor of being a good or bad road user. But the difference between driving, cycling, and going on foot is that there is an enormous disparity in the amount of harm you can cause. A selfish pedestrian or even a cyclist isn’t going cause anything close to massive physical damage the way a selfish driver in a multi-ton vehicle can, and it’s the responsibility of the driver to be mindful of that when sharing the road with others.

[@jani724]

Thr new gcn rain cape in silver is 🔥🔥

[@kuri8015]

UK Road Rage; I visited the UK last summer and rode around 2,000km over three weeks. I didn't have any incidents of 'road rage' , but I noticed that UK drivers seem to drive way too fast, especially along country roads. Looking on the bright side, I kept thinking that if any of the cars that had suddenly appeared hurtling around corers had hit me I would have been instantly killed rather than maimed for life, which is my wife's worst nightmare. As she says, "Better dead than a burden for me."

[@rob-c.]

Yeah, we have a major issue here called the ‘National Speed Limit’. It might have been fine when it was brought in, when cars were fewer, slower etc, but the idea of driving upwards of 60mph on any of those narrow country lanes roads is plainly ridiculous. We know that speed limit are a limit, not a target, but that’s not how most drivers treat it.

[@judosteffer]

We always give people that close pass us a cheery wave. This usually confuses the hell out of them, and I think they often wonder if they knew who the cyclist was or if they know them, hopefully making them think about it for weeks afterwards and worry that they might have close passed a neighbour/friend etc, and hopefully they will take more care next time. Try it out and you'll see what I mean how confused the drivers get.

[@AmvC]

Road rage ie. reacting to aggressive car-drivers: it's all about breaking their "i'm invulnerable in my cage" mentalitly. After having been cut off by thousands of "drivers" in the past two years: a nice, hard pound - followed by 3-10 even harder pounds - on the Driver(ette)'s window at the following traffic light helps immensely. But then, i am 1,92 and weigh 110kg. Which led to some curious situations where drivers startet to get out of their car and then immediatly climbed back once i stepped a few meters closer 😂 they are apelettes, after all. "whooops, he's bigger and stronger than i am, won't risk it, let me get back in my s-hole". My tip would be then: gain weight, gain strengh, aero is not "everything".

[@AmvC]

remember: all [no exceptions] car drivers are weak, timid creatures. Mostly, they are just afraid of being honked at or being overtaken & then cut off themselves. So they chose you, the unarmored traffic participant, to suffer. The only fruitful solution would be to get rid of all the sad individuals that behave pro-aggressively, forcing others to react accordingly. They should start with car manufactures having to stop promoting BE ES 🐝 like empty cities and/or aggressive driving. Sociopathic behavior is their KSP [seen in ads by vw-audi-porsche, bmw, mercedes, ford, kia/hyundai, ... [insert more car manufacturers here], ... ].

[@vermilionink]

In my experience drivers don't tend to feel ashamed of their bad behavior when cyclists yell at them, they just get angrier and more opposed to "entitled" bikes being allowed on "their" roads. I could yell all day, but satisfy myself with a frustrated gesture. I don't want to take the chance of an angry driver pursuing me and using their car to run me down deliberately (which is unfortunately far too real a possibility and happened just a few blocks from my office only yesterday).

[@brannmacfinnchad9056]

I've had that happen with my "frustrated gesture". Close pass on ice roads, *gesture*, follows me threatening to kick my @ss.

[@vermilionink]

@@brannmacfinnchad9056 That's for sure. I even try to keep my gestures very...nonspecific? for exactly that reason.

[@duaner3817]

Damp cold… agree too. Ex Brit now in Australia. Dry heat at 40-50°c is common in summer but much more preferable and not as bad as 20s-30s° sometimes here but often in uk.

[@ojtibi9906]

I disagree with Si's 'secret police network' description, especially in places where local law enforcement does not, for a lack of a better word, actively enforce. These cycle cams keep drivers in check; what good is a license if you're only a good driver when somebody's looking? On top of that, on-bike video footage works pretty much like a dashcam and can be used as evidence against intentionally malicious driving. In my part of the world, intentionally bad and even categorically aggressive driving is such a pain and footage captured during these incidents are quite essential and are tactically useful; if the authorities - like police, for example - won't hear you out, you can still post to social media. From what I also understand, even in the UK these things happen (thanks, RoadCC 'Near Miss Of The Day'), and only with public clamor will the police re-evaluate the submissions. Also, it would be fun to see Connor and Marcel on a ride (date?) on my island before Valentines!

[@andreaonyoutube9560]

RE SAUSAGE ROLL: Correct analogy is a cold sausage roll vs a frozen solid sausage roll (hard like a rock). Remember disc brakes stop working around -20 when the mineral oil gets too cold! Have experienced that before. Btw, the other nuance with Canada is some parts are cold and dry, and others are cold (below zero celsius) and humid. Most often when it's minus 10 or above it's damp and that chills to your bone. Fine for a short commute but that's Zwift weather 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@k.b.6498]

This is one of the main reasons I am starting gravel riding. I tend to speak my mind so when someone says something because I am riding in the street (like we are supposed to), I tend to mouth off. I realize that I am at a disadvantage physically because car vs bike, the car wins every time.

[@kevin._.farren]

Road rage: I avoid roads that put me at odds with vehicles. If it lacks a good shoulder, I stay clear of the road. It’s nice to have such options.

[@gcn]

Route planning is a great way to avoid the hot spots! Do you also do lots of indoor cycling? 👀

[@SonjaTheDork]

My area of the US has next to no infrastructure outside the main downtown area, taking those poor roads with no shoulder is a requirement to get anywhere. I envy places that actually care about cyclists lol

[@kevin._.farren]

@@gcn in winter, absolutely. If it’s less than 60 F I can be found on the trainer. True fair weather cyclists here.