Cyclists on the Franschhoek pass

[Dirkitech]

Argh man just another en-titlist with a bee under his cycling bonnet.

Pass is legal to cycle so learn to drive safer and think ahead

but is cycling 2 abreast legal?

 

I would initiate the confrontation by opening my car boot to display to them my bike rack and all my spare wheels, tools and empty quarts of beer I'm going to return for a deposit someday to show them I'm coming from a friendly place -  and hope they'd see it that way

brilliant

[Mamil]

This is the point. And you can spot the dudes who you'll get it from right here on this thread.

 

It won't stop me poinging out poor riad use to fellow cyclists. If you roll through a red robot i will try and catch you (50/50 chance) and ask you as I gasp for oxygen how we can expect motorists to obey the laws that protect us if we don't obey them ourselves.

 

I don't drive a fortuner but only cos they too expensive for me. I'll do this not because I'm entitled or think I'm something special but because i believe we must hold one another accountable.

 

If I do something stupid or dangerous on the bike I expect someone else to point it out to me and politely invite me to stop doing it.

 

 

 

I once nearly ran over two cyclists while driving up Du Toits Kloof Pass. I was doing 100km/h (the legal limit on the pass) and came around a corner and there they were, chatting away in the middle of the road. This is the reason I understand the OP's views on this type of behaviour.

 

That day I didn't do a thing. I didn't hoot (not even friendly hoots). I didn't gesticulate. I didn't slow down or stop and politely ask them to consider their actions. That is because every time I have done this, I have been met with aggression, swearing and the middle finger.

 

***Every. Single. Time.

 

I completely understand why motorists think cyclists are wankers.

 

 

 

***Except that time I jokingly asked a paraplegic cyclist if he should be running red lights if he was already in a wheelchair...he took it surprisingly well

[bikebloke]

.

[Mamil]

I genuinely don't understand how pointing out that we have a responsibility to obey the law is interpreted as cyclist bashing.

[Titleist]

Lol at all the warriors.

 

If a simple post generated so much flames from forum member imagine how much flames the cyclists in question would have spewn to me if I took up the matter with them there and then.

 

If they don't read it, they are the ones who'll pay the price. Many others have read it and will think twice next time they are on the pass or any other narrow piece of road somewhere.

[BlinkFan]

Why would anybody not want to be safer while out riding?

 

If you are cycling two abreast and a car hits you, it doesn't matter who was right or wrong. It doesn't matter if the driver goes to jail for the rest of his/her life. It doesn't matter if you get that massive payout from Liberty Life. You are still paralysed for the rest of your life. Or worse.

[Patchelicious]

Instead of bashing the OP maybe we can take responsibility for OUR actions as cyclists and rather change our behavior.

 

The frequency of these complaints is indicative of the problem. Patience for cyclists is rapidly decreasing, perhaps people should take note of this and stoping being so nonchalant about it, more are going to get hurt.

[Patchelicious]

Lol at all the warriors.

 

If a simple post generated so much flames from forum member imagine how much flames the cyclists in question would have spewn to me if I took up the matter with them there and then.

 

If they don't read it, they are the ones who'll pay the price. Many others have read it and will think twice next time they are on the pass or any other narrow piece of road somewhere.

Exactly, the attitude shown towards you is the same FU attitude given to drivers.

[DieselnDust]

I have ridden this pass many times and there isn't many places where I could ride left of the yellow line once outside Villiers dorp. There is a nice long stretch just before the top.

But let's not forget that riding left of the yellow line is illegal since its a service lane and has to be kept clear.

 

And the double pace line could merely have been riders in a constant state of overtaking each other.

 

I'll bet the golfer didn't lift his foot off the accelerator and pass the cyclists in a safe manner.

 

Yet somehow goliath is the victim here .

Yes more cyclists are going to die because cyclists prefer victim blaming.

Soon we will blame fellow cyclists who are knocked down and claim its their own fault for choosing to cxcle.

[Spinnekop]

Amazing difference between biltongvreter, rugby lovers SAFFAS and the rest of the civilized world out there............

 

There's a steering wheel.

There's an indicator.

 

Please use it.

 

Wait 30 seconds.  Wait 10 minutes.

You won't die.

Pass them when it is safe.  

 

Try and relax when doing this.  You can still eat your biltong and WA while you drive behind them.  

[fanievb]

Lol at all the warriors.

 

If a simple post generated so much flames from forum member imagine how much flames the cyclists in question would have spewn to me if I took up the matter with them there and then.

 

If they don't read it, they are the ones who'll pay the price. Many others have read it and will think twice next time they are on the pass or any other narrow piece of road somewhere.

 

 

no one said what they did was right.

you coming on here bitching about it, is the problem, next time man up and have a chat with your fellow cyclists there and then, because coming on here helps nothing.

 

the only warrior here is you.

[Chris_]

Why would anybody not want to be safer while out riding?

 

.....

 

I love this question. Its so rhetorical and yet so difficult as it turns out to put into practice.

 

Its like asking - Why would anybody not want to be safer while out driving?

 

Its the same very very obvious question, and yet (I'm going to use the royal we..) we often drive like tjops. To probably even worse potential consequences.

 

We're strange beasts humans. If it suits our narrative, its all good and obvious for all to see. If its not our day - there's a plethora of excuses or simply blind eyes to turn.

 

Sorry, this has little to do with OP's specific issue.

[DJR]

Too many people here get their fists up for a fight with the OP before even considering listening to what he has to say.

 

He didn't ask us to put ourselves behind his steering wheel. He asked us to imagine ourselves on the saddle of a bike and in a dangerous place. He did not complain of inconvenience caused to him and he did not demean cyclists. His post was in very reasonable language and cannot be seen as a flaming rant. It is clear from his post count and last sentence that he cycles himself.

 

Then, consider the FIRST RULE of road cycling: STAY ALIVE!

 

Nothing else is as important! His message is a good one, for the sake of your own life, at least THINK about it whenever you ride a narrow twisty road, be it Franschoek Pass or Constantia Neck.

[BlinkFan]

...

 

Its like asking - Why would anybody not want to be safer while out driving?

 

....

 

Exactly.

 

In my opinion "cycling two abreast on a mountain pass" is the the cycling version of "passing on a blind rise" - at some point your luck is going to run out.

 

So I prefer not to cycle two abreast, and not to pass cars on a blind rise while driving. Does this guarantee I'll never be involved in an accident? No. However, it does reduce my change of being in an accident. And even if it reduced the odds by 1%, then I'll continue doing it. It's all about the maths :-) 

[Maaknplan]

I have been cycling for decades and have developed a healthy respect for staying in one piece.

Yes I have been hit by cars more than once.

If cyclists choose to cycle side by side on a narrow twisty road with blind corners and someone driving AT THE SPEED LIMIT comes round a blind corner and kills one of those cyclists.

Then I have no sympathy for the cyclist, only his family who will miss him.

 

Here lies the body of William Jay, Who died maintaining his right of way – He was right, dead right, as he sped along, But he’s just as dead as if he were wrong.

[Titleist]

no one said what they did was right.

you coming on here bitching about it, is the problem, next time man up and have a chat with your fellow cyclists there and then, because coming on here helps nothing.

 

the only warrior here is you.

 

 

Thanks Van Biljon, at least I know you'll cycle in single file next time. Be sure to drive over the pass next time you are in our area. You'll see that there isn't a lot of space to just park somewhere and have a chat.