As for riding on roads, well personally, I’d much rather be on the road, cycle paths (or pavements – most cycle paths are really nothing more than pavement with a bit of white paint and a few signs) are horrible to ride on (I’m talking about roadside paths etc. not routes on old railway tracks/woods etc. which are really just for leisure use, unless you happen to live right next to one), poor ‘design’, poor sight lines, lack of right of way at junctions, lots of drives and gateways for cars or pedestrians to appear out of etc. I actually found it easier and felt safer with SB on the road in front of me. and it’s not that busy a road, just enough really to make it a useful experience.

The situation with the driver wasn’t really problem for SB – or for me, just one of those annoyingly thoughtless things drivers do .

I don’t think she even really noticed, she was concentrating on where she was going. I suspect she just wasn’t concentrating properly and was being thoughtless as too how much space she would need to pass us – and of course holding a mobile to your ear doesn’t really leave any hands free for changing down gear – carried on towards the parked cars and the realized I was in her way so would have to stop. I’d already clocked her likely behavior by then and had already got myself suitably positioned.

It’s cars coming up behind that would much more concern me, as they are more likely to pass too close, and could take SB by surprise, but with me behind and positioned outboard of SB cars overtaking have to give her plenty of space, and I can give her warning.

SB seems pretty sensible and careful on the road, probably helped by picking things up from traveling around on the back of the tandem.

For people who feel less confident doing this, two adults, one fore and aft works well , as then the one in front can control whats happening easily