I think I'm too self conscious while cycling

Oymyakon

Hi all, long time reader/lurker here, just wanted to vent a little. I was out on some narrow roads of north county Dublin to and from Skerries today with 3 friends.

I couldn't get over the paranoia of feeling unsafe on the road and holding up drivers. I've been an avid road cyclist for around a year now, and it's never usually a problem as I go up to Howth a lot and commute to work by bike.

I really don't want to let this paranoia affect my cycling, particularly as I am depressed and it's the only activity I really enjoy. Am I just being too self-conscious about holding up drivers? Or do cyclists usually pick wider, safer roads to cycle on?

Hide behind the post

Forget about what's going on behind you ...

Once you are cycling with due regard for others ie. To the left you need not worry about anything else.

If you are anxious about smaller roads and traffic coming behind .... Yes it's a risk.... But try to put it out of your head.

As regards holding up traffic, cars are well capable of passing out.

Enjoy your cycling

Beasty

Any particular road? I cycle around Skerries quite a lot (as do a lot of other regulars around here) and certainly don't feel unsafe, paranoid or intimidated. There is very little traffic on the narrower roads around here and plenty of passing room on the main roads.

koutoubia

As a fellow cyclist of North County Dublin and all its little roads I never ever get hung up on whether I or the group hold up motorists. You,me and every one else have a right to be on the roads.
Enjoy cycling some of the nicest roads around and if your around come and enjoy The Ras coming to Skerries next Sunday.

doolox

Fair play to you, most cyclists don't give a toss about cars and other road users and will happily go through red lights etc without a second thought.

I have seen a cyclist holding up at least 30 cars on the Straffan road approaching Maynooth, not really the cyclists fault but a car driver being overly cautious and timid holding up all the cars behind it because it was not able to overtake the cyclist. If the cyclist was any good he could have pulled in and let all the cars go by but no....he was totally unaware even of the existence of the long queue of 20 kph misery and frustration behind him on an 80 kph road.

Other times I have witnessed cyclists slowing down traffic approaching a green light for the light to turn red and stop all the slowed down cars but for the cyclist to sail on through the red with complete impunity.

On other roads I have seen cyclists riding on the road with a cycle lane spurned and unused two feet to his left....I've been told this is perfectly legal.

When I was cycling in France I was impressed by the way traffic and cyclists worked well together and adopted the habit of stopping every so often if I noticed a queue of cars building up behind me, just being civil and considerate, something a lot, but by no means all Irish cyclists are not.

Beasty

doolox wrote: »

Fair play to you, most cyclists don't give a toss about cars and other road users and will happily go through red lights etc without a second thought.

Do not turn this into an anti-cyclist rant

Any questions PM me - do not respond to this warning in-thread

Oymyakon

Beasty wrote: »

Any particular road?

Had a look at my strava there, the R127 from Swords to Lusk comes to mind, and the R127 coming back out of Skerries. Lots of winding roads with blind bends so there seemed to be not a lot of opportunities for cars to overtake.

2RockMountain

Oymyakon wrote: »

Hi all, long time reader/lurker here, just wanted to vent a little. I was out on some narrow roads of north county Dublin to and from Skerries today with 3 friends.

I couldn't get over the paranoia of feeling unsafe on the road and holding up drivers. I've been an avid road cyclist for around a year now, and it's never usually a problem as I go up to Howth a lot and commute to work by bike.

Think of it as payback for all those times on your commute that you get stuck behind lines of cars crawling in traffic.

doolox wrote: »

I have seen a cyclist holding up at least 30 cars on the Straffan road approaching Maynooth, not really the cyclists fault but a car driver being overly cautious and timid holding up all the cars behind it because it was not able to overtake the cyclist. If the cyclist was any good he could have pulled in and let all the cars go by but no....he was totally unaware even of the existence of the long queue of 20 kph misery and frustration behind him on an 80 kph road.

I'd really love to know how you managed to count 30 cars ahead of you on that particular road, knowing that it was a cyclist in front. If you were at the back of the queue, you wouldn't have been able to see what was at the front. And if you were near enough to the front to see the cyclist, how did you manage to count 25 cars to the rear?

But as you say, it wasn't really the cyclist's fault at all - just a poor driver who didn't have the skill or confidence to find the right moment to overtake.

doolox wrote: »

On other roads I have seen cyclists riding on the road with a cycle lane spurned and unused two feet to his left....I've been told this is perfectly legal.

http://cyclingfallacies.com/en/10/cyclists-dont-use-the-facilities-that-are-there

Beasty

Blakes Cross to Lusk is the first bit of road. A few of us join up to commute in the other direction and we go single file along that stretch. There is an alternative involving heading further up the Old N1 and turning towards Lusk at Round Towers petrol station. The Old N1 becomes a lot quitter anyway as most vehicles turn at Blakes Cross towards Lusk.

The road from Skerries to Lusk should not be intimidating though - there's plenty of room to overtake unless the cyclist is perhaps going against rush hour traffic. There are one or two bends but visibility along that stretch (for cyclists and drivers) is always good. I've seen large club groups uses that road (mainly in the other direction) without issue, and out commuting group uses it most days again without issue.

Beasty

2RockMountain wrote: »

I'd really love to know how you managed to count 30 cars ahead of you on that particular road, knowing that it was a cyclist in front. If you were at the back of the queue, you wouldn't have been able to see what was at the front. And if you were near enough to the front to see the cyclist, how did you manage to count 25 cars to the rear?

But as you say, it wasn't really the cyclist's fault at all - just a poor driver who didn't have the skill or confidence to find the right moment to overtake.


http://cyclingfallacies.com/en/10/cyclists-dont-use-the-facilities-that-are-there

I have dealt with that post

Now leave it there

Thanks

Oymyakon

Beasty wrote: »

Blakes Cross to Lusk is the first bit of road. A few of us join up to commute in the other direction and we go single file along that stretch. There is an alternative involving heading further up the Old N1 and turning towards Lusk at Round Towers petrol station. The Old N1 becomes a lot quitter anyway as most vehicles turn at Blakes Cross towards Lusk.

The road from Skerries to Lusk should not be intimidating though - there's plenty of room to overtake unless the cyclist is perhaps going against rush hour traffic. There are one or two bends but visibility along that stretch (for cyclists and drivers) is always good. I've seen large club groups uses that road (mainly in the other direction) without issue, and out commuting group uses it most days again without issue.

I just remember thinking a lot of the time we were on bendy roads without many overtaking opportunities, which lead me to think that maybe some roads are just no-go areas for cyclists, despite everyone being entitle to use those roads. Just wanted to see what other cyclists thought.

Beasty

Oymyakon wrote: »

I just remember thinking a lot of the time we were on bendy roads without many overtaking opportunities, which lead me to think that maybe some roads are just no-go areas for cyclists, despite everyone being entitle to use those roads. Just wanted to see what other cyclists thought.

The particular roads you mention are frequented by cyclists. In fact whenever I drive along them I will typically see a few oncoming cyclists and will also overtake one or two. The road between Skerries and Lusk has plenty of overtaking opportunities. The only area where motorists may get held up is on the slight incline just before the cricket club where there is a bend with limited visibility ahead due to trees.

Unknown Soldier

Oymyakon wrote: »

Hi all, long time reader/lurker here, just wanted to vent a little. I was out on some narrow roads of north county Dublin to and from Skerries today with 3 friends.

I couldn't get over the paranoia of feeling unsafe on the road and holding up drivers. I've been an avid road cyclist for around a year now, and it's never usually a problem as I go up to Howth a lot and commute to work by bike.

I really don't want to let this paranoia affect my cycling, particularly as I am depressed and it's the only activity I really enjoy. Am I just being too self-conscious about holding up drivers? Or do cyclists usually pick wider, safer roads to cycle on?

Oymyakon wrote: »

I just remember thinking a lot of the time we were on bendy roads without many overtaking opportunities, which lead me to think that maybe some roads are just no-go areas for cyclists, despite everyone being entitle to use those roads. Just wanted to see what other cyclists thought.

If it helps, no, you are not alone in your thoughts.

I too am not comfortable with holding up traffic when out and about in the "country", which is more or less why I have gone back to doing 99% of my cycling BNM style.

I was never comfortable doing it either when I used to drive a tractor and various other heavy machinery.

You're not doing anything wrong though. Just the way you "are", you probably have high levels of empathy, which is therefor causing you the stressful feelings.

You just have to make judgement calls based on facts at the time. That helps!

JBokeh

Id be the same as you mate, I always feel a bit guilty about holding up people on a country road, and I don't cycle in a club for that very reason. My I live on a fairly popular cycling route up in the middle of nowhere, and it gets a bit tiresome trying to drive anywhere, and it's appreciated when someone pulls in, so I do the same. Feels better to cycle at your own pace and not having to worry about having a car behind you

Wishbone Ash

Oymyakon wrote: »

Had a look at my strava there, the R127 from Swords to Lusk comes to mind, and the R127 coming back out of Skerries. Lots of winding roads with blind bends so there seemed to be not a lot of opportunities for cars to overtake.

I cycle that route regularly and, as others have said, it is frequented regularly by cyclists. In my experience, I don't ever recall any incidents with motorists on the R127 section from Lusk to Skerries/Skerries to Lusk. Occasional incidents on the R127 section from Lusk to Blake's Cross/Blake's Cross to Lusk but, relative to the mileage I do, they are rare.

triggermortis

I cycle those roads most days I'm off and have had no problems with car being held up. This time of year there's lots of farm machinery on the roads going slowly anyway!

omri

As a driver I dont mind slowing down and waiting for a clear stretch of road to overtake the cyclist which happen quite often on a road I drive to maynooth from lucan village.

As a cyclist I allow drivers to make the decission when to overtake. Its entirely in their hands, however in certain situations when I feel it might be unsafe for them to overtake especially if there is a traffic coming from the other side you can position yourself more in the middle of youre lane. I never had any issues with the drivers in these situations.

You will always meet drivers who are reckless and dont understand that wr share the road, as there are cyclists who dont respect all the rules. But its beyond your control and it should not stop you from cycling.

If in some degree you relate these fears to the depresion why dont you talk it over with the therapist and maybe joining your local cycling club would help you further develop skills and confidence on the bike.

ezra_

If you can, try heading out for a few road spins with a local group.

You'll learn how to cycle and manage traffic better, and personally I find the few hours a week when I'm out with some people really relaxing. No thoughts about work or anything, just the road and the banter.

magicbastarder

Oymyakon wrote: »

I couldn't get over the paranoia of feeling unsafe on the road and holding up drivers. I've been an avid road cyclist for around a year now, and it's never usually a problem as I go up to Howth a lot and commute to work by bike.

are you a driver? in my limited experience, people who are already drivers tend to be more confident on the road than people who are startign cycling and don't drive; maybe just a familiarity with how drivers behave from being one?

Oymyakon

magicbastarder wrote: »

are you a driver? in my limited experience, people who are already drivers tend to be more confident on the road than people who are startign cycling and don't drive; maybe just a familiarity with how drivers behave from being one?

Yes, I'm a driver. And I know most drivers are patient enough and it's extremely rare that I encounter someone who does something dangerous, it's just that I'm very self conscious and hate doing anything that hassles another person.

I think I'm answering my own questions :P

gaffmaster

I have days when I'm more confident on the road and others where I'm less confident.

My situation is slightly different though. I currently live in South West London, where I rarely go a day without being beeped or shouted at despite doing absolutely nothing wrong [Most recent two examples: Midweek, shouted at from a car for not using a cycle lane (that's still under construction and hasn't opened yet) And today; blasted by a boy racer for being on the same road as him]. Whether the beeping bothers me or not depends on my bike-confidence on that given day.

The driver culture here is massively different to back home in Dublin. When cycling back home recently, I was amazed at how much space and courtesy Irish drivers gave me on the bike.

I guess my point is that most people don't really mind sitting behind you for a little while. You're not that big an inconvenience. And if you were, they'd let you know about it.

The most important thing is that you continue to cycle. Cycling probably isn't causing your self consciousness/paranoia, but it might help it go away. As you said yourself OP, you don't always feel this way. We all have good days and bad days.

Bloggsie

Oymyakon wrote: »

Hi all, long time reader/lurker here, just wanted to vent a little. I was out on some narrow roads of north county Dublin to and from Skerries today with 3 friends.

I couldn't get over the paranoia of feeling unsafe on the road and holding up drivers. I've been an avid road cyclist for around a year now, and it's never usually a problem as I go up to Howth a lot and commute to work by bike.

I really don't want to let this paranoia affect my cycling, particularly as I am depressed and it's the only activity I really enjoy. Am I just being too self-conscious about holding up drivers? Or do cyclists usually pick wider, safer roads to cycle on?

Morning Oymyakon, I took up cycling a couple of years ago as a tool to help me get over the loss of a child, the head space solo cycling gives me I find I cant get any place else with work and family commitments. While I am considerate of other road users I would very rarely be in the position of holding up cars, normally on my commute they will just hold off and then pass me by when it is safe for them to do so.
If you enjoy cycling, please dont stop just beacause you are concerned by what some others think of you, cycle because you enjoy it.
The only things I think off when looking at cyclists is "thats a nice bike or they flew past me, I wonder what its like to be fit?"

Keep on pedalling.

Eponymous

OP, I'm back on the road a few weeks now. Last time I was cyclist of any sort of standard I wasn't able to drive and was always a nervous wreck on the roads, particularly if they were new roads.

I have to say now I'm a lot more confident and have a better understanding of what it's like for motorists behind or alongside me. While I haven't done a whole lot of KMs yet, most have been on roads around where I live so narrow, twisty and pretty crap. What I've learned is that locals (myself included) make allowances for cyclists, knowing at weekends in particular there will be a lot of them about and give plenty of room. The only sort of bad behaviour I've encountered so far was a white van man on the way into Roundwood and that was nothing to do with my position on the road or anything else. Just him being a dick.

Get out on your bike and enjoy it. Ride responsibly and you've nothing to feel self-conscious about!

jive

You've as much a right as anyone to use the road. Cycle slightly to the left of middle, doesn't matter what is behind you once you are cycling in a relatively straight line and predictable manner; up to the driver to overtake safely.