Time to Rant - Episode 1

Hi Everyone,

Apologies for the slightly longer time gaps appearing between blog posts, I am all over the place at the moment, and haven't had time to sit down and write anything recently. 

As the title suggests, the time has come for me to have a little rant about a few things that I have come across and also had to deal with whilst training for this cycle ride. Don't get me wrong, I am loving the training, but sometimes it can be either frustrating or down right dangerous having to so some of it in London.

This is the first installment of an ongoing series, so be warned, if you aren't lovely to me then you might find yourself a subject of one!

• Drivers

I guess it was the obvious one to start with, but probably the worst thing about cycling on the roads in London is that you have to share them with some of the most aggressive and inconsiderate drivers in the country. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have nearly been knocked down by drivers who choose not to see me. It's like my bright yellow clothes, luminous yellow bag and my super bright cycle lights actually make me less visible!

I was hit by a white van man in December, and although I escaped unharmed it has made me very wary of ever being hit again. I'm not one of those crazy risk taking cyclists - I know how fragile and exposed  I am and it's not worth taking a crazy chance and ending up with a serious injury, if not worse.

Drivers also seem to be unaware that a big bold blue line painted on the road and has bikes on it, is actually a cycle lane. Poor lane discipline is dangerous when cars drift into your cycle lane, and then seem shocked that you were cycling there once they have nearly hit you. I would love to know where they expect me to be.

Cycle lanes in this country are a bit of a joke though and it's pretty stupid to let cars park in them, as you are forced into constantly sweeping out into the road. In Paris (so Andrew Castle mentioned in his commentary of the French Open the other week) there is an actual physical barrier between the cyclists and the motorists. Someone would have to be pretty determined to hit you on a cycle lane in Paris!

So please motorists, have awareness as to what is going on around you. I pay my road tax, I have every right to be there, I spent alot of money on things to help you see me and I don't really deserve to be shouted at by boy racers who might have to wait a couple of seconds before overtaking me.
Please allow me to train in relative safety.


Remember, I am going through all of this to benefit the British Heart Foundation. Please donate if you can - it really makes a huge difference.

www.justgiving.com/justgottarideit

Speak to you soon x