This is why cyclists annoy car drivers, but should we care? - GCN Show

It’s something we as cyclists have all found ourselves thinking: what is it about cyclists and bikes that angers car drivers quite so much?

This week’s GCN Show discussion all started with a morning coffee chat between Dan and Si and ended with a seven-point list of things that rub motorists the wrong way. While we sure don’t agree with all the points listed, we do believe it is good to discuss what we all can do as cyclists to represent ourselves as best as possible on the roads.

We won’t break down all the separate points here – you’ll have to watch the video for that – but a couple of the things Dan and Si raised bring up good questions.

• Read more: What causes road rage between cyclists and drivers? We asked a transport historian

The first point is also perhaps the most contentious: cycling two abreast. Cyclists love to marry social time with ride time and there is no better way to have a chat with a good friend than by riding side by side. Moreover, on many roads, it is no less safe to pass a single cyclist than two cyclists riding side by side while still giving the proper amount of passing room.

From the driver’s perspective this can be a challenging topic because on some roads, particularly in the United States, a car can pass a cyclist at the proper distance and stay in the lane. In this scenario, riding two abreast can reduce the ability to pass safely and is not the most courteous thing to do and the driver’s complaint may be valid.

This is just one of the seven elements discussed on the show so be sure to check out the video for the full breakdown and let us know in the comments what you think!

Elsewhere in the world of cycling, we had news that Colombia’s most popular cyclist, Rigoberto Urán will be retiring at the end of the season. The charismatic Colombian has made his presence felt both on and off the bike and will be missed.

Another story that caught Si and Dan’s attention from the pro cycling world was an article on our site from the stats master Cillian Kelly. Cillian looked at the health of cycling’s economic model and made a compelling case that things might not be as bad as some might say.

Away from racing news, we are following a couple of interesting conflicts between governments and cycling. In the UK, the traffic authorities have thwarted Brompton’s effort to create a factory without a parking lot, while in the Netherlands police are cracking down on illegal e-bikes.

Lastly, on the indoor training front, Zwift and Wahoo have joined forces in creating Wahoo Kickr Core Zwift One. This trainer essentially brings together two existing products, the Kickr Core and the Zwift Hub. Check out all the details in our story about the new indoor training option.

Hack/Bodge of the week

Time for your Hacks and Bodges that have been submitted over the past week. Don't forget to submit an entry via our uploader if you have something you would like to share, and please include as much detail as possible.

Using fences to mend fenders

julianallenphilippe was riding in British Columbia this winter when his fender bolt came loose and got lost. With fenders being crucial kit for the wet weather of western Canada, he went to a nearby building site and used some fencing wire to secure his fender and make it home.

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A quick fix but not one we would recommend keeping on the bike for long

A trackball to keep Zwift on track

thomas from Germany has found controlling Zwift while he rides can be difficult. With a sweaty hand, keyboards and computers are not always the easiest to use. So he has instead used velcro to fashion a mount for a trackball on his computer mount.

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Keeping the Zwift workouts on track with his trusty tackball

A stem mount turned into a rack mount

taylorlpreisler had no on-the-bike use for his Garmin stem mount so he instead used it as a neat fix to any computer storage issues. Plus, he will never forget to charge his unit again!

© GCN

Everything in one place, neat and tidy

A ruff solution to a cargo problem

snoutapple had a solution that may have been lifted from the movie ET with this elegant front-end carrying rack for their dog. We cannot vouch for its safety but we can say the craftsmanship looks rather neat.

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We cannot vouch for safety but we love the creativity

On the channel this week

Wednesday 14 February: How to bunny hop with Blake

Thursday 15 February: Can you train without data?

Friday 16 February: The trouble with high vis… it sucks.

Saturday 17 February: Weighted pro vs. heavy amateur

Sunday 18 February: Alex takes on RADL GRVL Adelaide