Amusingly, I allowed some pictures of myself to be put on some publications with my bicycle. My expectation was that I would get a rush of admiring comments about my incredible resemblance to Brad Pitt (okay my resemblance to an overweight Jan Molby).

The comments – to my surprise – came from elsewhere! I was met with a large response from the modern cyclist who chastised me for my lack of lube on my bike cables and the muddy appearance of bike; so much for me being a cycling enthusiast!

Cyclists seem to have changed over recent years. Rather than being an unusual minority bunch of tech obsessed peddlers now they seem to be any ever growing hoard of increasingly vocal tech obsessed people. Whether, like me you are a “unfit lad at the back” or are in the latest Sky Team kit, all cyclists want to have the same sort of experience, namely to be able to use the roads reasonably and in relative safety with due consideration being given for other road users.

One of the debates I frequently hear is about cyclists cycling in pelotons, whether that is a peloton of two side by side or a bunch of twenty cyclists. (Defined: In a road bicycle race, the peloton is the main group or pack of riders.)

Should those cyclists ride in line or on mass? I am biased (I admit).

I think it is far better for cyclists to bunch up; it makes them a lot more visible and ensures that drivers overtaking will have to make a definitive decision to do so. When they do overtake, they have to ensure that they do it in safe way i.e. they have to overtake a bunch of cyclist over a short space and therefore if they do pull out, they are only pulling out for a very short distance.

I often hear people saying that cyclists should ride in a long string. I think personally that presents far more of a danger than safely overtaking one group of cyclists. The reason I say that is because firstly, as a line, cyclists are less visible. Secondly, when presented with a line, car drivers (I admit I drive a car too) are more likely simply to edge out slightly to try and pass the cyclist. This can lead to assumptions and mistakes being made. I think also if a car is overtaking a long string of cyclists then the risk is magnified.

Riding in bunches is far safer, both for the cyclist and for the car driver. So the next time you overtake me on the roads of Wirral toot me for looking like Brad Pitt but please do not toot me for riding one or two abreast. I am trying to be safe; car drivers should not consider the road their sole domain.

Tim Ryan
Partner, Irvings Law