picture by Dee Railer
Overtaking isn’t solely a city cycling issue, but the fact is that it occurs more in a city context than it does in any other comparable context. Knowing how to overtake correctly will save you a lot of energy and embarrassment, and make life easier for everyone involved. Most of the advice in this article refers to the overtaking of one bicycle by another, but if you’re up to the task then it can be applied to the overtaking of motor cars as well.
Treating overtaking like a vehicular manoeuvre
It is important to approach overtaking on a bike in much the same way as you would in a car. You need to have regard to all of the happenings around you – other vehicles approaching from behind and in front, relative speeds, and bends, crossings and so on. Taking overtaking lightly is an easy-fire way to failure.
Choosing your targets (bikes and cars)
The rules are simple here. Pick easy targets. This is a good general rule for life too, so learn it well. A slow cyclist on an old, rusty mountain bike with no mudguards, no helmet and plenty of squeaks is a safe enough bet most of the time. Be careful though – if you’ve seen them before on the same route at the same time, they may be a seasoned commuter with plenty of power in their legs.
Beware also (personal experience coming in here!) of road bikes. For example, there may indeed be a bike that looks sturdy, stable and perhaps a little heavy, with 40mm aluminium mudguards and a middle-aged man in waterproofs just ahead of you. Maybe he’s not going especially fast. Maybe you’ve just come into the possession of what you think is quite a fast bike. And just maybe you think you’ll overtake him on his daily commuting route.
The chances are that you will squeeze past him at maximum effort at 30mph while he’s doing an easy 25, just as you approach a bit of a rise in the road. You’ll soon tire, and realise that there’s a few things you neglected to notice about the other character.
So by way of example, don’t forget to check the following. Tyres, not mudguards – chunky mudguards can hide narrow racing tyres. Gators and other specialist cyclo-commuting equipment – sure signs of a regular cyclist. A tough grey beard – hardcore commuter alert. Steady 20mph+ speeds on the flat and uphill – serious legpower.
And there may be other things. Above all, do not underestimate. If you’re not sure about the cyclist in front, and they’re not going that much slower than you, then scale down and settle in for a slightly longer ride. The last thing you want to do is rashly overtake a much more proficient and able cyclist and have him chase you for the next 2 miles shouting
“Come on! Speed up! You’ve slowed right down!”.
That, dear reader, is a schoolboy error.
Choosing your moments
Timing is key in overtaking. Ensure there is nothing overtaking you from behind, nor approaching in an overtaking position from in front. Check that the cyclist is not about to pull out into an outside lane or to turn right. A weaving cyclist should be left ahead of you at a suitable distance until you can power past at speed with wide clearance. Do not overtake uphill, as you may find it harder to sustain than the slow-and-steady rider you’ve just passed.
Techniques
There isn’t much to say about overtaking technique. Swift and smooth is good. Try to leave yourself more than enough time for the manoeuvre, to cater for the unforeseen. Never pull in too sharply in front of another cyclist, as they may turn out be a champion kick-boxer when they catch you up at the next set of lights. As a consideration of etiquette, give a quick ring of your bell as you pull out. Bear in mind that this has two results: 1) it alerts the other cyclist to your presence, and 2) it usually causes them to look over their right shoulder to see who’s there, resulting in a rightward swerve. Always leave sufficient space for this.
Consolidating the lead
Once you’re past the cyclist, remember that s/he will expect you to maintain your overtaking speed. They may even speed up to match you, considering you as a helpful pace-setter. If you are unable to keep up your speed, the novelty will soon wear off and you will not be a popular cyclist. Try to maintain your speed for a significant distance, including if possible for a couple of junctions. This will give you some breathing room should you want to throttle back a bit.
Etiquette
Remember, finger gestures and exclamations of
“Eat my dust”
will not be met with a good-natured smile. You may have to converse with this cyclist at your next stop. Again, try not to cut in sharply and avoid overtaking at junctions and other awkward spots which indicate impatience. Above all else, breathe only through your nose as you pass, so as to give the impression of ease.