ROBIN GRIFFIN, of Weymouth Park, Hope Cove, writes:

As a lifelong cyclist, I am very concerned about the recent spate of tragedies involving bike riders.

While I do not believe many drivers set out to harass cyclists nor that cyclists habitually ride dangerously, I do experience and accept that our lovely lanes can be seriously hazardous, even for the cars and increasingly lorries which use them.

The situation poses an even greater danger to walkers, children and cyclists, as they have no armour.

This ever more frantic travel era demands care, foresight and a high degree of alertness from all road users.

I feel that even touring cyclists travel very much faster on the superb modern carbon bikes and only too frequently vehicles misread our speed and the sharp changes of direction common nowadays.

A century ago cyclists were instructed to wear black and race in the early hours of Sunday morning after some horses threw their riders en route to church when startled by group of cyclists.

Then came the bright cycledelic era, when even shorts were multicoloured.

In recent years, the dominance of Sky Cycling has changed the fashion: black is the new black.

Under the canopy of rural hedges, riders in black are almost invisible until virtually on the car bonnet, while hats or earphones cover the ears against the autumn chill and the sound of engines.

The most recent fellow rider I lost was struck in the head by a silage trailer near Exeter. The tractor driver on an up slope pulled in against the face of on coming traffic. Against a high hedge, he didn't see her.

We cyclists need all our senses to survive between November and March, so we should avoid wearing items that block hearing, reduce our vision or our visibilty to other road users.

High visability jackets are naff fashion – true – but are really cheap from equipment hire shops and the like and easily slipped off.

I really hope, as they whizz through our wonderful lanes, cyclists will lighten up and look on the bright side.