Has it come to this?

Funny int it,not long ago I had a close one and said in the Forum that any serious cyclist that rode wearing ear phones was a pratt,and got vilified by those I wont name,but they know who they are.You need your wits about you when riding anywhere,especially on the roads,if I hear a vehicle coming from behind I turn my head to the right,so that if the driver is concentrating he/she will know that I have heard them coming,I also use my rear KNOG boomer at all times,and especially when time trialing.57 yrs of cycling,and had a few near ones,just make sure that you are a member of British Cycling,or CTC,or have some other insurance.

I don't think it does the perception of cyclists much good if we all go around filming car drivers and then shaming them on YouTube.

I find people who tend to do this a bit self righteous and antagonistic, they may even cause more confrontation than they prevent..

But if they're used sensibly, I guess it could be a good idea in certain situations

then again I might be more pro-camera if I'd been a victim of a hit and run or something though!

Unfortunately, I'm thinking of one too. After looking around, I'm thinking of the Contour Roam 2. Seems like a good blend of functionality, weatherproof, cost and doesn't give me the appearance of a tellytubby when mounted on the helmet (ahem - Gopro - ahem).

I do figure that in the event of an incident, the driver will have their version of events, possibly backed up a biased passenger, and I will have video footage and GPS data.

Oddly I find riding in the city safer than in the countryside. In town, you're more or less the same speed as other traffic. In the country people blaze past and perhaps don't expect to see you (no excuse, of course).

Quote:

On almost every ride of 20+ miles you can expect a near death experience, or a cataclysmic moment of mental madness from someone in a vehicle.

Agreed, I generally feel that it's been a successful ride when I haven't had a serious moment and that the worst that has happened has been a large number of cars passing me too closely.

I figure its just a matter of time before I'm taken out - depressing but geniunely think that given the number of near misses (just this week had a driver pull out of a side turning without seeing my forcing me onto the other side of the road).

I accept the risk but its frustrating that the driver will likely get away with it if there are no witnesses so I've also been thinking of getting one of these.

However the crash I fear is the 'big one' when I won't be able to turn off the camera so won't it just carry on recording and overwrite whats on there?

Hey Comm88, thanks for the total 'women driver' sterotype... next you'll be saying all cyclists run red lights and ride on the pavements. Hug and girly kisses... I'm off to do my hair and blog about my period.

Didn't a guy on a bike get hit by a train on an unprotected crossing because he had headphones on and didn't hear it coming?

Afraid I disagree on headphones. On several occasions I have been overtaken after looking, signalling and manoeuvring for a right turn . Being able to hear rising revs early is probably the reason I am still here.

Headphones is perfectly safe, it's a complete myth otherwise, why people keep saying that it isn't god only knows.

Nope. Not over reacting. It is decidedly more dangerous out there and when you are being targeted by space heads in silver BMWs and totally idiotic young girls in cars it often takes courage to even get out on yer bike!!

For me, there has been an inexorable rise in the "couldn't care less for any other road user" and "fk you, you're a cyclist" mentality of so many motorists - certainly over the past 5 years or so. You're cut up, overtaken on blind bends, passed way too close, shouted and sworn at more than I've experienced before and I've been riding seriously for almost 40 years.

On almost every ride of 20+ miles you can expect a near death experience, or a cataclysmic moment of mental madness from someone in a vehicle. You have to stay extra alert - even when you're very tired - and listen hard to what the traffic is doing behind you and on every blind bend. Or you're dead.

And the very worst offenders? Invariably, BMW drivers and women!!!!

Stay safe and ride smart. That means no headphones, no cellphones and no music that can distract you, or stop you hearing what's going on around you.