Firstly, Cycling Proficiency hasn't been taught in schools for a number of years and was limited, in that it was only a playground-based activity, with no opportunity for children to be taught cycling skills on the road itself.

National Cycling Training is the current programme that is delivered, in some areas, to children and adults.

Secondly, students are taught to stay a safe distance away from the kerb to avoid drain covers, glass and the other detritus that accumulates in the gutter. This distance is generally half a metre minimum and is known as the secondary riding position. Furthermore, depending on road layout and the direction a cyclist needs to turn, he/she may ride in the primary riding position, which is towards the centre of the left hand lane.

Junctions

This position is especially useful at junctions, on narrow roads when there isn't enough room for those behind to overtake (even though they might feel tempted), and in busy, slow-moving traffic.

Whilst these terms 'primary' and 'secondary' aren't defined precisely in road traffic law, they are widely used in all recognised manuals. Thirdly, I agree that making a dangerous U-turn in front of oncoming traffic is not a manoeuvre that I would endorse.

Though I wasn't riding with that group the night you refer to, I have ridden with it in the past. Normally the group does ride two abreast, no more, with a fast line overtaking a slower inside line, working in rotation.

Whilst I believe that all road users should follow the rules of the road, I think that some parts of the letter help to promote and sustain misplaced negative stereotypes of cyclists.

Many drivers get in their cars believing that they have to get from A to B in the fastest time possible. Maybe you were frustrated because your journey was delayed by a minute or two?

The roads were made for all road users.

Conditions

Car drivers do not have a right to drive at the speed limit regardless of road conditions. The Highway Code Section 125 says: "The speed limit is the absolute maximum and does not mean it is safe to drive at that speed irrespective of conditions...You should always reduce your speed when...sharing the road with pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders."

Maybe the drivers who chose not to overtake were bearing this in mind and figured it would be safer to wait, rather than that they "were too worried to even bother overtaking."

Finally, the letter refers to "muscle, that looks coincidentally a lot like flab just covered in lovely tight lycra."

You'll find that riders who can ride at "only" 30mph will have a low body fat percentage and will have little, if any, flab.

In conclusion I say let us share the roads together in a safe and respectful way.

Patrick Douglas, Leeds