Sir – Congratulations to your correspondent George Armstrong (Letters, August 11) for his ability to demonstrate such ignorance towards cyclists in a few short sentences. Permit me to enlighten him.

Cyclists will use the cycle lanes when they are usable. Many are shared with pedestrians and dog walkers, strewn with litter (broken glass, and discarded drinks cans) jettisoned in many cases by motorists, cross residential driveways with no obvious priority, and are often occupied by parked cars or delivery vehicles, in some cases displaying their hazard lights; the all-encompassing excuse for inconsiderate parking. Personally I find our potholed highways the safer option in the majority of cases. As for using A roads, sometimes it is the only option when commuting, or getting away from urban areas to enjoy the magnificent countryside. Is Mr Armstrong’s time so valuable that he is not able to wait until it is safe to overtake? In my experience most groups of cyclists will revert to proceed in single file to facilitate overtaking.

I would remind Mr Armstrong of the Beijing Olympics where cycling was our most successful sport. Granted, all bar Nicole Cooke’s Olympic Gold Road Race medal came from the track. But does he think Sir Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins, and Victoria Pendleton honed their skills and speed solely on the track? They did not. Their strength and stamina is developed from many thousands of miles cycling on the road over a variety of terrain.

This is not an attack on motorists. I am a RoSPA Gold Standard driver, with a lifelong passion for both motoring and cycling.

So come on Mr Armstrong live and let live otherwise I sincerely hope with your current attitude that I do not encounter you behind the wheel, either in my car or on my bike!

David Hanson, Ramsden