Riding in London

[Mark_h]

I've been riding for a while now, but mainly in the leafy bits of the south. I'm about to take my IAM test around Heathrow which will be a bit of a laugh so thought I'd take the opportunity to ride into work to get a bit of nasty town traffic riding experience. I'll be riding up the M3, A316 then some mystical route into Waterloo.

Apart from masking off the mirrors and most of my visor and just looking at a tiny strip right in front of me that way saving myself from being scared og the mayhem around me, I'm basically looking for any tips for rush hour London driving.

And would sticking a "Be nice to me" sticker on the back of my top-box cut any slack with the loony couriers out there or can I always expect to have one trying to get up my end can?

Thanks in advance,
Mark

Originally Posted by Mark_h

I've been riding for a while now, but mainly in the leafy bits of the south. I'm about to take my IAM test around Heathrow which will be a bit of a laugh so thought I'd take the opportunity to ride into work to get a bit of nasty town traffic riding experience. I'll be riding up the M3, A316 then some mystical route into Waterloo.

Apart from masking off the mirrors and most of my visor and just looking at a tiny strip right in front of me that way saving myself from being scared og the mayhem around me, I'm basically looking for any tips for rush hour London driving.

And would sticking a "Be nice to me" sticker on the back of my top-box cut any slack with the loony couriers out there or can I always expect to have one trying to get up my end can?

Thanks in advance,
Mark

We aren't all loonys!! Most of us are but some can be nice!!
Just watch your mirrors for fast approaching bikes and if they are faster than you do the right thing and let them through! Non moving slowers riders are such a p*** off especially the one who don't use their mirrors . Just relax and treat it as any other ride and you will be fine!

[jambo]

As Jester says, move over to the left to let faster filtering traffic through and you'll be fine, just use a healthy dose of paranioa and you'll be ok.

[Red ones]

So I guess the 'h' doesn't stand for Horridge!

[Spiderman]

riding in town can be exhilarating if you do it right

Make your presence felt in your lane and dont get bullied out by cars/vans/buses.
As the others have said above, you wont make friends with other bikers if you block a gap they can filter thru and many times its a good way to find if you'd fit thru it too. Let someone who looks very capable in the traffic be your lead and just kinda follow them thru the mess of cages and boxes that are blocking your way.

Watch out for idiots on phones...lots of them in London.

Lastly, enjoy

Originally Posted by Red ones

So I guess the 'h' doesn't stand for Horridge!

No that’s the "other" or Original Mark.

London is fun, play defensively and don’t give an inch to cars and trucks trying to push you out the way. Your get use to it.

Dan

[Mark_h]

I'm just an interloper from the Guildford end of the world, but need access to the Soho turf.

[Red ones]

I am just getting ready to face the London traffic again - worth looking forward to it. If you think a gap is a little narrow, let someone else tackle it - if they can fit, then follow, only occasionally do you get stuck behind a numpty who couldnt get a bike through a bus sized hole!

Originally Posted by Sudoxe

No that’s the "other" or Original Mark.

London is fun, play defensively and don’t give an inch to cars and trucks trying to push you out the way. Your get use to it.

Dan

Theres being intimidated and not getting anywhere and theres knowing when youre going to lose and its going to hurt. Its a judgement call. I cant explain but generally if you plan accordingly it all seems to work out - my encounter with van man was the rarity tbh.

[Sid Squid]

Riding in town:

1) Go for it.
2) Filter everywhere at every possible opportunity - in the annoying event that it looks like it won't be possible just push harder.
3) Cars aren't really traffic, just a sort of irritating mineral fog, once you've passed them your forward vision is restored.
4) Watch out for pedestrians, they're harder than they look, and boy do they whine.
5) If you've seen a gap it is big enough if you have faith. This works by magic I think.
6) Never, ever, play chicken with a bus.
7) If you see me refer to rule one in the highway code: I always go first.

HTH