It's the same every time - until the last time I guess.
I hear the engine noise fast approaching from behind, I see a car coming the other direction, I listen for the acceleration at my back to stop but it doesn't.
My body tenses, I steer a little closer to the edge, even though the road surface is less stable there, more likely to unsettle, even unseat me, and I grip a little tighter on the handlebars. Then a car speeds past me, I feel the rush of air, and watch as an oncoming vehicle is forced to almost do an emergency stop and veer to the very edge of the road or beyond to avoid a collision.
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No matter - at least the person who just overtook me shaved, what, 10 seconds or so off their journey time - an absolutely critical time saving I'm sure.
I say 'the last time' in the intro to this article, because in the back of my mind, is the thought that, at some point, I might not see the car race off into the distance, or the oncoming vehicle forced wide, because I'll be unconscious, injured or even dead, somewhere near the edge of the road - struck by that car whose driver really couldn't spare the time to just wait a moment until it was safe to overtake.
The thought is in the back of my mind, because that's where I have to tuck it, or I'd probably never ride my bicycle on a public road ever again.
But the sad fact is that it's an ever present threat.
Between 2015 and 2020 an average of two cyclists died and 83 were seriously injured every single week on UK roads. Almost half (46%) of pedal cycle fatalities in two-vehicle accidents involved a car.
Around 56% of these deaths took place on rural roads - where traffic speeds can be far higher than in town and city centres.
Of course, not all these incidents can be blamed on the driver, cyclists can also be at fault on occasion. Either way, two deaths a week is a shocking statistic and not one that will help encourage more people to take up such an otherwise healthy activity as cycling.
I can already hear the cries of some drivers, however. 'It would help if you didn't ride in the middle of the bl**dy road', 'I pay road tax, you don't', 'it's really difficult to get by sometimes', 'why can't you stay on cycle lanes or pavements'... the list goes on.
All these arguments are irrelevant - the fact is, cyclists are allowed to ride on the roads and both cyclist and driver should be courteous and respectful of one another.
This is not always the case.
If you want to read about all the things cyclists do wrong, then you'll have to look elsewhere - I can't speak for them, as one cyclist who always endeavours to be respectful and courteous to drivers. Unfortunately, I all too frequently get a rather less than courteous and respectful attitude in reply.
And some drivers are worse than others.
After riding thousands of miles of Welsh hills I've spotted quite a few trends when it comes to the types of motorists I've found are the least patient and respectful of cyclists, along with the types of vehicles they drive.
This is by no means a scientific evaluation and other cyclists may have had different experiences. I also apologise in advance to anyone who drives any of the vehicles below or fits into any of the categories mentioned who always goes out of their way to drive safely around cyclists - this most definitely is not aimed at you if that's the case and I'm sorry if you feel unfairly tarred with the same brush.
I'd also like to give heartfelt thanks on behalf of myself and all cyclists to that majority of drivers of all shapes, types and sizes of vehicles who are patient, and do give us room, some of whom are probably on two wheels themselves when they aren't on four. I drive a car myself and know it can be tricky sometimes to negotiate cyclists, and you do have to be patient when you're stuck behind one on a narrow, snaking hill, for example, where it's difficult to overtake.
But, in my limited and very statistically insignificant experience, these are the drivers and vehicles I feel I have to watch out for.
Audi drivers
Just to reaffirm what I said before, apologies in advance if you're an Audi driver who always goes out of their way to drive safely around cyclists. I'm sure there are far more of you out there than the ones I am talking about here. But, sadly, when I glance up after being almost blown off my bike by the rush of very close air, all too often it's the four circles I see on the back of the vehicle accelerating off into the distance. I say 'accelerating' - even though it would seem rather unnecessary to still be accelerating when that's all I could hear them doing as they approached my bike from behind. Perhaps Audi drivers are always late and can spare no time, even to wait for the car coming the other way to go past before they overtake me, which they rarely opt for. Apparently everyone should get out of their way - they quite clearly own the road.
Seat, Ford and Vauxhall drivers
They vary of course, but it's the ones in the sportier versions of those vehicles who tend to be the worst.
The bad Seat drivers mostly all seem to think they're actually driving sports cars - perhaps it's the fiery Spanish blood that runs through their vehicles. I've had quite a few of those scare the wits out of me.
The Fords and Vauxhalls that pass me in a less than respectful way either seem to be packed full of nuclear families rushing to or from a day out and oblivious to any obstacles, or young lads late for work or heading round their mates' or girlfriend's or wherever. They have a tendency to pull in the moment they think they're past me - a few have almost had the rubber of my front tyre smeared over their rear bumpers - as they cut in so quickly. Don't get me started on the bigger, more powerful Ford and Vauxhall drivers - they probably just really want to own Audis and drive accordingly.
People carriers
Pilots of Picassos and other similar types of vehicle often seem determined to carry their cargo of screaming kids from A-B in as little time as possible. It's understandable I guess - we've all had journeys like that. But run me over and your journey will no doubt take a whole lot longer. At least behind bars, they might get some more peace and quiet.
White van people
Often white van drivers go out of their way to give me and the car coming the other way room. Not often enough though. Most of the time I might as well not be there - and the way some of them drive, I probably won't be for much longer. I hear them coming long before they arrive because they are normally bouncing around on the bumpy road with their long wheelbases. I do brace for impact on occasion, especially if there is an oncoming driver. Too close, too fast - same old story.
Volkswagens
I sometimes feel some of these are would-be Audi owners who can't afford the four rings. It doesn't stop some of them from thinking they are driving powerful versions of VW's more expensive cousin though. They tend to pull up behind me, then whizz round quickly when there isn't really time before the car coming the other way arrives. Or I hear them accelerating as they approach me, 100% convinced they can get by - often it's really 'only just'.
Boy (and girl) racers
You'd probably expect these to be on the list. Their faults often seem driven by a lack of experience behind the wheel as much as anything else. I'm not sure how much they tell learner drivers about cyclists - it's in the Highway Code of course - but they probably only gen up on that to pass the theory test, then forget most of it (as we all did), so I doubt they know about giving cyclists at least 1.5 metres clearance, or get much advice at all about how to approach and pass those on two-wheeled transport. But their faults are also probably fuelled by a desire to show off. Many of them swerve around me like I'm a mobile chicane there for that very reason - all very exciting for them behind the wheel and a hoot (an old-fashioned phrase probably equivalent to 'sick' in youth-speak) for their passengers.
The unsure and elderly drivers
I've been in the car with a young driver as she tried to overtake a clutch of cyclists strung out along the road. I tried to talk her through it but I realised I couldn't, because doing so safely is really just something you learn with experience. But when you're hesitant anyway, and a little scared of oncoming traffic, unsure how wide your own car is, and basically terrified of hitting anything or anyone - it is hard. Some of these drivers are so afraid of hitting you - they will often tend to panic and whizz by, then brake suddenly, or just sit alongside you, tensing their shoulders, closing their eyes, and gripping the wheel tightly. Sometimes, when you can tell someone is struggling, I find it's better just to pull over and let them past, as I do frequently, for everyone's sakes.
As for the the elderly. They often have plenty of experience behind the wheel and can be great and considerate drivers. But sometimes reactions aren't quite as quick - as I've certainly noticed in myself as my years creep on. They may also have spent their younger years driving on far quieter roads and struggle a little with how busy things are these days. I've had some older drivers slide by slowly, which is great, but, unfortunately, close enough to shave the hairs on my legs. I've glanced over (since I'm practically in the passenger seat anyway) and seen hands gripping the top of the steering wheel and eyes on stalks as they're so terrified of crossing the white line in the middle of the road when they overtake. But it's at junctions where some have caught my eye. They stare at me as I approach, making me think they've seen me and they're waiting for me to pass, then put their foot to the floor, smoking the tyres and shoot out like a budget Lewis Hamilton in front of me. Thankfully, I've learnt to spot the signs now and I'm often ready - but one day, I might not be.
Tractor drivers
It must be tough driving a tractor or other agricultural vehicle. You frustrate the drivers behind you with how slow you're going, then you come across someone going even slower still - me. There are few things more frightening then feeling the presence of a huge tractor behind me - I hear it coming, sense it looming over me - often with some jumbled assemblage of giant metal spikes at the front, ready to impale me in all manner of different ways and angles. It's almost a relief when they get past me. However, for some tractor drivers, it seems as if it's just too much of a relief for them. The ones trailing equally terrifying spiky objects behind them sometimes seem to forget they are longer than just a tractor, and I'm left squeezed almost on to the grass - or in the neighbouring hedge as the trailed monstrosity swings in towards me. A little more room please farmers.
The conclusions...
As I said at the start - this isn't meant to be definitive - Audi drivers are not all evil, very far from it! And those behind the wheels of other vehicles I haven't mentioned are definitely not all saints. And, of course, cyclists can be stubborn b*****s on occasion as well.
But we all want to get from A-B alive and to go home to our families, rather than a prison cell, charged by the police with causing death by dangerous driving.
So, can we make a deal? I'll try and be as considerate as I can when you're trying to get past me and I'd ask you to ask yourself that question - does it really matter if your journey takes you a few seconds, even minutes longer? Your world probably won't end as a result of a short delay, but trying to save those minutes, seconds - it could easily end mine.
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