Pete Owens wrote:Go at the speed you judge to be safe - and if this is slower than the driver behind would choose then so be it.
Vantage wrote:Generally speaking, it is safer to keep up with the flow of traffic as usually, (among other reasons that I can't think of right now coz it's midnight and I'm falling asleep but which are covered in Richard Ballantines bike book) following drivers won't feel the need to overtake and a faster moving bike is usually more stable than a slower one.
I agree with both. I have no wish to outrun motor vehicles – my priority is to be safe on the road. There are occasions, however, when I do feel it necessary to keep pace with traffic on the described road. At busy times, cars can still be travelling in excess of 10mph in both directions, with little space between. In choosing not to keep up, I would be inviting regular close passes and cutting in front, compromising my safety. Parked cars line the sides so primary is a must. I don't do more than 20mph max, and only then if the road is completely clear. I'd normally be flattered to be equated with a race snake, but it's simply not the case – hence my username
Slightly off topic but, having read the recent thread on shared paths, there's a different take on cycling speed here:
I just wish drivers would appreciate that a cyclist wanting to do 20mph is perfectly reasonable, but does also mean they need to be on the road, as that sort of speed isn't suitable for shared use paths.