Pedalling Through the Dead Spot

You're talking about where Saddlecombe Road meets that little wiggly lane out of Poynings aren't you Jo? Here's to many years of defiant peddling through it.

Everyday coming down from Islington or going up it from Clerkenwell. The traffic parks up all over the place and people doing silly buggers, but it's a stretch you can also open up on and really let fly.

On the way down the lights will usually catch you, but sometimes you get a free run, though there's a box junction which is just waiting for a 'didn't see you moment' to happen.

On my way home the lights at Theobalds and Grey's in road is where it kicks off most days with most cyclists not really understanding the concept of lane discipline and parking themselves in the left hand lane when they need to be in the right. If you don't get a good start, or come late to the party the do-ce-do can be a little fraught with cyclists trying to get right, taxis left and mopeds everywhere.

Junction between Higher Lane and Macclesfield Road on the way to Kettleshulme. Google Streetview shows exactly the type of situation I'm talking about. The quick witted *may* be able to divert left into Higher Lane at the last minute... Or so I like to kid myself.

You just need to be careful and aware.

If you come over Ranmore from Westhumble and then turn left to descend into Dorking, there's a council "recycling centre" about 3/4 of the way down. Prime place for people to turn in and out of when you're at 45mph+.

I scared the crap out of myself last Sunday descending Coldharbour Lane when an unexpected patch of wet mud caused my back wheel to let go (I was trying to slow gently). My son was behind and swears my back wheel slid out over a foot. Managed to stay up though. That was self-inflicted.

Kirkstone pass heading towards Ullswater. Fast, flowing, and deadly if you miscalculate or hesitate for a millisecond.

But on any given day I can't help myself.

There is also Roger Ground towards Hawkshead.

Great piece once again.

For me there are two stand outs.
1) the road dropping into Lochwinnoch from Kilmacolm. A brilliant drag that guarantees 40/50 min. Half way down or thereabouts a road joins from the left where some muppet will pull out not realising that you are hurtling towards them quite rapidly. The look of shock on their faces as you sail past taking a moment to glare at them through your mirrored shades and mouthing some obscenity before you tuck in in front of them knowing that they are stuck until you hit the village. Fortunately to date have not had to deal with anyone turning right out of this road or turning into it while coming out of the village.

2). A mini roundabout that most drivers try and squeeze you out when exiting the first exit. Have learnt the hard way to hit the roundabout dead centre of the lane and deal with the abuse 100 yards up the road.

I may have just made that coffee to strong, but I'm a bit jittery right now. I've already used 2 lives on my spot. Once when I shipped a too loose chain riding fixed. The second when my wedding ring unexpectedly pinged off a chilly and shrunken finger and I watched it bounce across the road stopping just shy of the drain. That's not counting the traffic.

Mine's a 35-40mph downhill with a choice of attack spots... 1. Traffic joining from the left (halfway down, maximum velocity) that thinks it can just nip out 2. Traffic turning across you heading to the same junction - appears from nowhere behind the bend. You can sometimes get warning by peering over the hedge at the top, depends how trim it is.

Cover the brakes, look ahead, enjoy the rush. Take your pick.

A great piece, but a bit extreme isn't it? Going downhill fast is my favourite part of riding a bike, and I'm not averse to playing the percentages on a quick but tight stretch of road, but if I'm certain I'm going to come a cropper at some point on a given section, I'll just go another way or knock the speed right off. I love cycling, but there's no need to die for it...

Great piece, but I do hope this isn't a prophetic forecasting of your premature demise...

Where Old Bath Road meets Charlton Lane, that's where...

Aye, all a bit over enunciated, but I agree.
There is a particular stretch of road which has proved to be the equivalent of riding through a safari park with lion food tucked up my shorts.
It's a big open road, descending gently into a town, with nice cycle lanes on either side of the road and the local residents are all, without exception, blind zombie loonies. I've discovered that the best approach is the full 'I'm chasing down the break now Mr Lefevre' sitting up in the middle of the road doing my finest TV Tommy Voeckler maximum visibility thing.