I'm done with road riding because I no longer feel safe. Witnessing a van hit a fellow cyclist was the tipping point for me.
I was one of the first to arrive on the scene, did what I could for the rider, and waited for the ambulance and police to arrive. It was horrible and shook me up.
I rode the rest of the way home in a state of high alert, flinching and hitting the brakes any time I felt things might go wrong.
Seeing the crash, the injured rider and the devastated driver has made me re-evaluate how I spend time on the bike.
Don't get me wrong, my time on the tarmac these past 14 years has been amazing, but it’s just getting too risky.
I’m still a fan of road riding, I’m just not going to be doing it any more than I have to.
With everyone in such a hurry – I’m not talking only about drivers, but cyclists, too – the roads have never felt so dangerous and unwelcoming.
Each time I commute by bike, I get a little more fearful, hesitant and feel more on edge. And sadder, too.
There are only so many close calls I can have, only so many times I can be shouted at because I’m a cyclist and only so many potholes I can bounce through until my confidence is in tatters.
Maybe it’s time I hang up my skinny wheels and stick to the trails.
The never-ending rush
I started road riding while I was recovering from yet another shoulder separation back in 2011. Warren Rossiter kindly sorted me out with my first road bike and I got pedalling.
Getting out on the road felt amazing and was a massive contrast to all the off-road riding I’d been doing. It was more convenient, too, and far less hassle.
The ease of speed, efficient feel of the bike and ability to tick off far more kilometres on tarmac than I could when off-road brought with it a different appreciation of cycling that I grew to love.
It also enabled me to ditch the car or train and ride the 20km to work, while getting fitter in the process.
On top of that, it’s been great getting out on social rides with old mates, taking in the café and pub stops and having a laugh along the way.
But over the last few years, things feel as if they’ve changed.
People seem to be in more of a rush than ever, the roads are more beaten up, all these promises of better cycle lanes seem to have fizzled out and cars are getting bigger.
None of these things help to build confidence or create a safe environment for those of us who choose to be on two wheels.
And I wouldn’t be properly British if I didn’t mention the weather. Riding in the depths of a really wet and cold winter day is grim, and very much the icing on top of a soggy, grit-covered, partially chewed cake that’s been ejected from a passing car. By a kid. With snot dripping down their face.
Breaking point
Up until recently, I’d managed to put most of my worries about road riding to the back of my mind.
I even shrugged off being hit by a van that decided to turn abruptly across a cycle lane, leaving me nowhere to go except into the side of it. The driver sped off, knowing he was in the wrong, but thankfully I was fine.
Judging by what I see on my regular rides to the office, I’m surprised there aren’t more accidents.
The number of drivers glued to their phones depresses me. It’s terrifying, in fact.
The race to fill a gap in a line of traffic or skip a couple of cars to make a turn and save a few seconds here and there is just as dangerous. It all feels so unnecessary, but it happens. Constantly.
It isn’t only car drivers at fault here, though.
I’m sure most of you reading this will have seen other cyclists speeding through red lights, ignoring all the rules of the road as though none of them apply. Or weaving through traffic on the wrong side of the road, looking as if they’re on the edge of control.
Witnessing these things in person has dented my confidence on the road. Things just don’t feel safe anymore.
It doesn’t matter how good a bike handler you may be, some aspects of road riding are outside of your control and, sadly, can have major consequences.
Sticking strictly to the trail
As a result of my recent experiences, I’ve decided to take some time away from the tarmac.
I’m still keen to head out with mates on quiet lanes when I can, but riding through towns and cities has lost its appeal for me.
That means I’ll be sticking to off-road riding as much as I can. Even though road riding is more convenient than mountain biking, I’m keen to give the roads and everything on them a swerve for the time being, even if it means spending more time cleaning my kit and bike.
I’m hoping things will change and eventually the UK will have cycle lanes and paths as safe as those in places such as the Netherlands. However, until it does, I’m going to limit my time on skinny tyres.
