Support vehicle rant

[sucramuk]

Today on my ride today back home through the southern burbs. I came across a procession of traffic being held up by a bakkie with their hazards flashing. 

Once I got to the bakkie it was apparent they were riding behind a group of cyclists.  I questioned the driver whilst passing why and that all their doing is annoying motorists further and giving cyclists a bad name, he just told me to be quiet! 

So I'm just ranting why do this! I'm an avid cyclist who rides 200km plus a week so I know riding on the road has it dangers! 

 

Rant over! 

 

[Dicky DQ]

I agree, the support vehicle should nor be following closely, especially on busy narrow roads. Cyclists single file and accommodating motorists for the win. To be honest, cycling in the Sothern suburbs is a pleasure for me as, yes there is no hard shoulder, but the motorists are most accommodating if you are a considerate cyclist.

Support vehicles should be nowhere near the riders on narrow roads. Well that is according to me.

[Thomo]

It's important to have a support driver who actually understands cycling.

[Shebeen]

1 hour ago, sucramuk said:

Today on my ride today back home through the southern burbs. I came across a procession of traffic being held up by a bakkie with their hazards flashing. 

Once I got to the bakkie it was apparent they were riding behind a group of cyclists.  I questioned the driver whilst passing why and that all their doing is annoying motorists further and giving cyclists a bad name, he just told me to be quiet! 

So I'm just ranting why do this! I'm an avid cyclist who rides 200km plus a week so I know riding on the road has it dangers! 

 

Rant over! 

 

Southern suburbs cape town?

What actual road, never seen this before!

[sucramuk]

Newlands Road, 

[cadenceblur]

Was this a club move or some people that are new to the sport and have safety concerns?

Either way not a smart move, probably the latter

[Pandatron]

Have been seen the cycle lab support vehicle in jozi help a few riders and some not even part of the cycle lab group. 

[love2fly]

More and more riders are using support/follow vehicles where I ride in the Cradle. It's so unnecessary and my view is that if you need help out there get your wife/loved one/ lackey (yes there is a group of wealthy riders that employ backup) get them to park somewhere and come when called....it just adds to the traffic and pi$$es motorists off.

[Jewbacca]

So, @Frosty and other ACTUAL gurus on cycling events etc

How many people does it take to turn an informal ride into 'an event' by definition?

Once that threshold is crossed, permits and all sorts of other things need to be adhered to.

I'm pretty sure some of these huge groups are legally in breach of this technicality.

I also have no idea where to look though.

I have no issue passing groups of up to 7, but the ones that are 30 plus cause unnecessary issues on the road for all users.

I have always wondered if those groups are technically 'street legal' 

[Spookie]

4 hours ago, Dicky DQ said:

I agree, the support vehicle should nor be following closely, especially on busy narrow roads. Cyclists single file and accommodating motorists for the win. To be honest, cycling in the Sothern suburbs is a pleasure for me as, yes there is no hard shoulder, but the motorists are most accommodating if you are a considerate cyclist.

Support vehicles should be nowhere near the riders on narrow roads. Well that is according to me.

To be honest, even if the road isn’t narrow it’s a hazard. I’ve seen a “support car” (husband/wife) following up Black Hill once or twice, the problem is often if the rider isn’t that strong, then other cyclists need to go right into the middle of the road to pass, which is not just unnecessarily inconvenient for cyclists and motorists, it’s just plain dangerous (especially when cyclists are relatively slow uphill and will take a while to pass the car and rider, where the other traffic is traveling at close to 90km/h). Just some sort of etiquette would be appreciated 

[sucramuk]

4 minutes ago, Spookie said:

To be honest, even if the road isn’t narrow it’s a hazard. I’ve seen a “support car” (husband/wife) following up Black Hill once or twice, the problem is often if the rider isn’t that strong, then other cyclists need to go right into the middle of the road to pass, which is not just unnecessarily inconvenient for cyclists and motorists, it’s just plain dangerous (especially when cyclists are relatively slow uphill and will take a while to pass the car and rider, where the other traffic is traveling at close to 90km/h). Just some sort of etiquette would be appreciated 

 

[sucramuk]

Ok I can see by the comments that the common consensus is don't do it! 

If your reading this thread whoever it was take notice! 

[Theunissa]

1 hour ago, sucramuk said:

Ok I can see by the comments that the common consensus is don't do it! 

If your reading this thread whoever it was take notice! 

You can't take 9 people's opinion and assume that that's the general. Rule. The biggest Idiot drivers I come across are ones with bikes on the back. I live in a rural area. I ride behind my kids and neighbors kid every morning. 3ks is along very narrow tar. I drive behind the m with my Hazzards. People tend to pass you very closely. I don't see anything wrong with a vehicle behind a cyclist, I do agree though cyclists should ride single file and consider cars. But cars should Consider bikes. Also pedestrians need to be considered. Group riders are an irritation to me because they take over the road. Even in races they will scream at you to "MOVE LEFT" But I cannot fault the vehicle. It's there for safety. If you pass a cyclist at 90km/h and he falls what happens?

[wolver]

1 hour ago, Theunissa said:

You can't take 9 people's opinion and assume that that's the general. Rule. The biggest Idiot drivers I come across are ones with bikes on the back. I live in a rural area. I ride behind my kids and neighbors kid every morning. 3ks is along very narrow tar. I drive behind the m with my Hazzards. People tend to pass you very closely. I don't see anything wrong with a vehicle behind a cyclist, I do agree though cyclists should ride single file and consider cars. But cars should Consider bikes. Also pedestrians need to be considered. Group riders are an irritation to me because they take over the road. Even in races they will scream at you to "MOVE LEFT" But I cannot fault the vehicle. It's there for safety. If you pass a cyclist at 90km/h and he falls what happens?

What's the difference between a car following a cyclist/s and a bunch of cyclists not riding single file? Seems like the same thing to a motorist.... cyclists causing an obstruction.

 

[love2fly]

5 hours ago, Pandatron said:

Have been seen the cycle lab support vehicle in jozi help a few riders and some not even part of the cycle lab group. 

As an aside, trying to drive past the Cyclelab bunches isn't the easiest but I've never had an issue passing any of their vehicles.

[betaboy]

I remember when only the pro riders rode with backup, then no one would say jack… if they did… you’d get a bottle full of “Game” Boet! Naartjie! 😂😂👀