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DreamingIsBelieving

DreamingIsBelieving

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13 December 2012
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Yorkshire, but my heart lies in Scotland!
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Is it just me or does anyone else notice that most cyclists seem to think that the 'please pass wide and slow' rule doesn't apply to them? I went on a hack today and a cyclist sped past me, madly peddling, clearly not making any effort to slow down whatsoever. Another week I was hacking on a long straight part of the road, which gave vehicles plenty of time to notice me and slow down before passing, and two cyclists sped past me side by side having a very loud, shouty conversation with each other. These are only two examples of the numerous occations where I've been very thankful to be riding a bombproof horse:mad:! I appriciate that it can be dangerous for a cylist to break suddenly from a high speed, but surely there is no excuse when the stretch of road allows more than enough time to slowly decrease the speed? It really gets on my nerves! Anyone else have this problem?
 
I had one wiz past me on the road today and I was on my Arab and his terrified of them, luckily I was behind another horse and he was very good considering, I often shout out and ask them to slow down, I have a hi viz that says cyclists please pass wide and slow with a picture of a bike on it cant remember where I got it.
 
I find it highly unlikely anyone on a bike was speeding. And I don't expect cyclists to slow down for me either. Only time I would expect it is if the rider was having obvious difficulties. And the more noise a cyclist makes, the better. It's the silent ones who suddenly appear alongside that take the horses by suprise. I think it sounds rather selfish to expect cyclists to slow down & cease their conversation to pass you on a straight road.
 
Not so much on the roads but yes on bridlepaths - numerous times have ended up with my mare galloping off at a million miles an hour having spooked at a cyclist coming up fast behind her, luckily she doesnt go far before we can stop.

But then the cyclists are too afraid to go past her after her outburst. Even when I have her stood nicely under control. She has seen them then so its fine its the flying up behind her taking her by surprise she spooks at.

Shocks me a bit as well as I cant hear them coming a lot of the time.
 
I find that cyclists are generally pretty good - I think that they are aware that they are more vulnerable. The few times I've the silent cyclist attack moment the horse generally starts tensing and when I look over my shoulder to see if he's being a prat there they are! If possible, I do explain to them why they need to shout ahead if behind a horse as silent things worry them more...

My housemate does a lot of road racing and I have asked him to pass the message on to be considerate around horses as they can be spooked fairly easily :)

To be honest I have many more problems in the car with cyclists...
 
I've found that cyclists are pretty good around here, I can't think that I've ever had one passing me at speed, and most will call or ring a bell to let me know. My horse doesn't mind them at all, luckily. We had a group of about 8 pass us on a very steep hill after a bend and they were going fairly fast. It would have been more dangerous for all of us if they had tried to break, instead their warning was enough.
 
They should slow down, same as i'd slow down on a horse when passing pedestrians etc. I think most are good but you do get the odd A hole. My baby in her pram was nearly crashed into by one who was swerving between pedestrians adament he wasnt going to slow down.
 
Never had a problem with cyclists. We once had a bit of a 'situation' when about 30 passed us but that was the big wuss's behaviour not the cyclists! LOL. They always pass with courtesy. Not all shout their presence when passing from behind, which I wish they would so we do try to ask them to in the future if they don't, but it's not a big deal. We had a lovely couple pass us today shouted their presence, passed slowly and when we thanked them the gent said it was fine and they knew that the horses didn't react so long as we all knew they were there :)
 
One cyclist I used to spot was lovely, shouted out the first time and every time from then on rang his bell. I used to tell him when it was safe to pass (v. bendy roads), so a somewhat mutual respect :)

Competitive cyclists however :mad: seem to ride in packs and silently! They train on the roads here and are forever sweeping round said bends at full speed into ponio's backside :mad: he was usually v. well behaved but occasionally it would all get too much and he would be spooked - never did blame the poor sod!
 
Admittedly on a straight downhill stretch bikes pick up a fair bit of speed, but surely if a horse can't cope with the speed the average cyclist goes on the flat its not going to cope with a car? I'd hazard a guess the average cyclist travels at less than 30mph, therefore unlikely to be speeding. Tbh, if my horse galloped off down bridleways whenever a cyclist came up behind, I'd not be on the bridleway, for fear of causing an accident to another innocent user. Yes, cyclists should give way on bridleways, however as riders we have a duty not to endanger other users.
 
I would be banned if I drove a car like these lawless turds cycle!! why is they put lycra on and instantly they look and ride like idiots or BMW drivers???? about time these millitant muppets abided by the hiway code ...
 
The_angel_littlelegs said:
if a horse can't cope with the speed the average cyclist goes on the flat its not going to cope with a car?
Click to expand...

I find it's not the speed that's the issue, it's the sound (or lack of).
A stretch of bridleway near me passes alongside a railway line, but my horse was always happy enough to pass a train because he could hear them coming. Same with cars.
He's always been funny with cycles, I thought it was because they were silent, but now I'm wondering if he just thought the cyclists looked horrendous in lycra :p
 
I've ridden many horses who have been momentarily startled by silent cyclists suddenly appearing alongside, its not unusual at all. However, I think the rider should still be able to ensure they remain in control. And lol at the lycra comment winkles, probability says they probably did look horrendous in lycra!
 
A horse running away from a cyclist appearing at full speed silently behind them is hardly endangering the cyclist!!!

We all need to respect each other on bridleways. So because a horse may spook at something they didnt know was coming, as is natural behaviour, means you cant use a bridleway?????????????? What rubbish.
 
I had one try to pass me slowly and quietly so as not to scare my horse and then almost have a heart attack when my horse spooked and took off with me - we didn't go far granted as he quickly realised what it was and stopped but the poor cyclist was white. He thought he was doing the right thing by being quiet and passing slowly - I had to explain to him that the best thing he could do was shout that he was passing and give a horse plenty of room
 
We have a club near us and when they come up behind us they call hello cyclist approaching and give us a wide slow berth, unless racing then it's a call and space but not slower which doesn't happen often and they sign post the area in advance.
 
there are a couple round here who cause me grief by passing with no warning whatsoever and making my mare wet her pants as they wizz past out of nowhere!! Ive also been stuck behind them on single track roads and they seem to get angry I wont squeeze past them and wave aggressively at me to do so. Why cant they pull in to a passing place to let me pass?? Im not prepared to risk squeezing past a bike on a narrow road in a big truck!
 
The ones who pissed me off the most are the ones who tried to hold the side of my horsebox to get a tow up the hill!!:eek: This was after I had, had to grind to a halt as they were all across the road, weaving as they didn't have the legs to make the hill. To top it off at the top on the flat one pillock was cycling along not holding the handle bars, so having sat behind for a while as didn't want to pass on narrow country lane, when he didn't look very stable, I tooted (assuming he didn't know I was there), he gave me the V's :mad: (but had to hold the handle bars to turn and do so), so I took the opportunity to nip by the ******.:D

The off roaders who do speed trails down bridleways with total disregard to who or what is round the corner are also thoughtless *****. Especially on steep downhill sections, when they have no chance of stopping. Like the one who missed me by inches a few years ago.........such a same the pothole he hit buckled his wheel............hope he had a LONG walk home to consider his actions.:rolleyes:

There should be room for all and I don't want to ruin anyones fun, but just as I slow to a walk to pass other users on a bridleway, is it unreasonable to expect the same respect?:confused:
 
I really don't mind them. My welsh cob followed my OH on his bike for years before he got a horse. My only problem with them is that muffin (welsh cob) starts trotting after them :rolleyes:
 
I don't have any issue with a horse spooking at a cyclist coming silently behind them on a bridleway. But if you know full well that will result in your horse galloping off, then no, you shouldn't be on a bridleway. While your horse may well not be any danger to the cyclist behind it, it is very much a danger to any third parties who happen to be in its path as it charges along.
 
You must ride the only horse that never spooks at anything then, as you are clearly saying that any horse that spooks is unfit to be on a bridleway.

She doesnt gallop off for miles on end running through anyone in her path!!

Ridiculous.

Its like saying any horse the spooks at anything isnt fit to be ridden anywhere where there may be another person / horse / cyclist etc etc.

Which is completely unreasonable.

In fact how about horses shouldnt be ridden on bridleways for fear of there being an accident and someone getting hurt?
 
I have massive problems with the cyclists around us, the point at which my youngster and I go plunging sideways across a verge/field/pavement is the point at which I realise there a cyclist!! I wish they'd realise all they have to do is shout that theyre there :(
 
Could you direct me to where I stated horses that spook shouldn't be on bridleways? Only I'm pretty certain I said nothing of the sort. I said horses that gallop off when a cyclist comes up behind shouldn't be on bridleways. Which from your own post is an expected occurrence. I assume you know that spooking, and galloping off are two separate things?
 
She spooks at the cyclist her spok is to run away from it - difference being??

If it were at the side of it she would jump sideways.

These are all spooks.

Nowhere did I say she ran off for miles like a racehorse not giving two hoots what was in her path!!! Nor did I say I cant stop her or control her - in fact I said I made her stand while they went past. But clearly this means she musnt be ridden anywhere where she may spook.
 
The majority of the cyclists where I live let you know they are approaching and are always polite. We had a youngster out the other day and asked them to talk (random anything!) As they all went past which they did :) only ever had he odd one or two who were complete ar**s ;)
 
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