Cyclists on the Road....

[Number5]

This could stir a few comments !!! :fuelfire:

I was going to reply to Lux's thread today requesting on information regarding new bikes and getting the cycling bug, but I feared I'd Hi-jack his thread, so I've started a new one !

Cyclists... Bain of my life here in Bristol where we have a cycling mad Mayor who's trying to promote cycling at all costs and usually that of the Tax paying Motorist.!

If you're relatively new or starting out in cycling and have the Middle Aged Mans bug, I have a few tips for you...

:!: Don't go and buy all/mostly black Licra gear (like most of them) and then moan when somebody says "Sorry Mate , I didn't see you "

:headbang: Dont just cycle through red traffic lights and then expect road courtesy 100 yards further down the road when somebody doesn't give you 10m clearance when they pass. if you use the road, Obey the rules.

:x Dont cycle on the road when there's a purpose built cycle path running parallel to it, only 2m away on the verge.

:wink: Dont ride in groups of 10+ all together, so drivers cant pass you in small groups, bit by bit.

:evil: Remember it is an offence to pass anyone on their inside UNLESS they are signalling to turn right.
(Cyclist seem happy to come through a 2ft gap on your inside at 30mph but complain when you pass them with 2ft to spare, 2 minutes later !)

:thumbsdown: Dont cycle to the front of a queue at Red lights, then hog the middle of the road when the lights change.
(You move off slower than a car, which then holds everyone up and you get less traffic through each green light)
...I've never seen a cyclist brave enough pull up at the front of an F1 Grid and fancy their chances. so why do it in rush hour every morning ?

....Breach any of these common sense rules and you have to accept that you're just fair game, OR IS IT JUST ME ?? :evil:

 

[Wyldie85]

Here, Here!

 

[DumfriesDik]

They are known as MAMIL's - Middle Aged men In Lycra

I am not a cyclist, and when I was younger I would agree with you a lot more. But as I mellow (get older) I find I have more time for cyclists. The main thing is, when it goes wrong for them, the result is often quite terrible.

I have to say though you highlight some things that I don't like, in particular when they do not use cycle paths when they are there, never understood that one. And when they are on cycle paths, use the bell to let people know the are approaching from behind. Some fly past me and its a good job the dog has its nose in some good smells or it could be nasty.

I saw a documentary on Ferguson and he is radical. I am surprised a motorist has not taken him out on purpose!

 

[Machine monkey]

I fully agree. And i cycle well i used to a lot. Not so much anymore.

Living in Oxford the home of the bike!! It really annoys me bikes jumping red lights!!

Same for the black Lycra i was flowing a guy in said Lycra on a black bike. The gentleman in question had a very dark skin tone. No lights he had removed the reflectors (aerodynamic advantage no doubt :headbang: ) And it was at dusk i could hardly see him!!

As for the bike path thing I dont agree. Many of them are terrible and in Oxford anyway have bus stops and driveways on them and are bloody dangerous to use. And its not law for a bike to use them.

 

[dr_john]

Well done OP, I think you have captured the issue This comes up on this forum every so often and can get rather heated.

 

[Nelly Welly]

Two nights ago, a cyclist and his partner both in black with black bikes came flying across a roundabout in front of me. I braked hard enough to skid and got tirade of abuse about travelling to fast. No lights no signals and pitch black........ Where are the laws that compel cyclists to have lights obey tarffic laws and have insurance ? :evil: :evil: :evil:

 

[lux]

Thanks for thinking of me and starting a new thread :wink: I did think that I would get a few 'fuc#ing cyclists I hate them' replies.
I don't do any of the things on your list (but I know others do) I ride mainly down country lanes.
As for the Lycra, it's very very comfy, in fact when my missus asked what I was going to wear on the plane to go on holiday they were my first thought :lol: but didn't want to look like this guy (I know I've posted this pic before, but always worth a repost!!! :rofl: )

...although you would see him coming (literally) in that colour!! :rofl:

 

[lux]

Oops duplicated.

 

[TitanTim]

Cyclists tend to be a certain type of person, not stereotyping or anything I don't mind them so long as they don't get in my way on the road which unfortunately most of them do unless they're hugging the curb. You tend to find cyclists who belong to road clubs actively and purposely cycle along side one another to slow traffic down which I would imagine simply pisses most motorists off

As far as I'm concerned theyre much safer to themselves and other road users if they stick to cycling across fields

I wouldn't even invisage cycling on busy roads as don't really wish to die.

Tim.

 

[Number5]

I'm not against cyclist at all if they obey the rules of the road. I followed one yesterday who sat in his place in the traffic, signalled well and was in reasonably bright clothing. He behaved is if in a car or low powered motorcyle and I thought fair play. I then gave him the space and respect he was giving other road users.

My problem is that they pay no road tax, have no insurance and then demand their right to the road. ( Often whilst the cycle track sits empty). Then when one comes up your inside in a stationary queue, surprises you and clips your wing mirror, they just ride off in to the sunset, leaving you to pick up the pieces (literally!) You cant catch them and you cant identify them.

I now deliberately queue close enough to the kerb ( without being in the gutter) , to prevent them squeezing through.

I think it's time that the Police started pulling a few for red light offences, no lights and flying up the inside of queuing traffic.

(PS. I hope you get the answers you were looking for in your original thread Lux )

 

[Logan]

I work in Central London and a few months ago the police there seemed to be having a purge on "poor cycling". At almost every junction I came to there was a cyclist being berated by a policeman presumably for:
running red lights :thumbsdown:
not keeping in their lane. :thumbsdown:
cycling down the road and up onto the pavement at junctions so they can cross with the pedestrians and join the road the other side of the junction. :thumbsdown:
cycling too fast so they are not able to stop if required. :thumbsdown:
failing to give hand signals when turning or changing lanes. :thumbsdown:
cycling too close to the back of vehicles. :thumbsdown:
cycling up the inside of vehicles stopped at lights. :thumbsdown:
Cycling two abreast and stopping traffic flow. :thumbsdown:
Cycling over pedestrian crossings without stoping for pedestrians. :thumbsdown:
Failing to have lights on a bike at night. :thumbsdown:
Carrying loads that make the bike in steerable and unsafe. :thumbsdown:
cycling down the footpath through the pedestrians because they couldn't be bothered to cycle around the roundabout. :thumbsdown:
Using their mobile phone while cycling. :thumbsdown:

 

[Number5]

I fully agree. And i cycle well i used to a lot. Not so much anymore.

As for the bike path thing I dont agree. Many of them are terrible and in Oxford anyway have bus stops and driveways on them and are bloody dangerous to use. And its not law for a bike to use them.

I'm not talking about broken up cycle paths against the kerb in the main flow . Where I live there is a two mile dedicated smooth tarmac cycle path parallel to the very same road and separated by 6ft of grass verge. ( Half footpath, Half Cycle lane) However, they would still rather mix with the traffic and squeeze through gaps at islands, than have the safe sanctuary of a purpose built cycle path. Why ? :headbang:

 

[srhutch]

I am a cylist but have to agree with the OP's first post. Probably not so bad where I live as there are no Cities.

But if you want to get me started horses on the road will do it. :evil:

 

[pvr]

What is with the Lyca by the way? I used to cycle 10k km a year whilst I lived in NL going to school every day as well for general transportation and fun. Just had normal clothes, never thought about getting go-faster stripes on my clothes as the difference is nothing for amateurs ...

 

[dans6490]

I wouldn't even invisage cycling on busy roads as don't really wish to die.

Tim.

Haha, I think exactly the same thing every time I see a cyclist particularly when a big HGV pass them. They must have a death wish as the roads are so dangerous, particularly in rush hour.

When I bought my z in April, one of my neighbours asked me if I was having a mid-life crisis. A week later he came past our house on a new racing bike in full Lycra and sunglasses. I couldn't bring myself to buy a full Lycra suit, let alone wear one.

 

[lux]

What is with the Lyca by the way? I used to cycle 10k km a year whilst I lived in NL going to school every day as well for general transportation and fun. Just had normal clothes, never thought about getting go-faster stripes on my clothes as the difference is nothing for amateurs ...

There's a massive difference in comfort. Depends if your just fannying around or putting some decent miles in I guess!
As far as danger goes, I don't live in a city and country lanes are mostly peaceful places, with the exception of some nob in a Porsche blasting about thinking its a racetrack

 

[TitanTim]

with the exception of some nob in a Porsche blasting about thinking its a racetrack

But just think, that nob will be enjoying their day an awful lot more than you puffing away on a pushbike with the obligatory chaffing :lol:

Tim.

 

[lux]

It's all about fitness and good health Tim.
I stopped playing football a few years back, can't stand gyms or most of the people who frequent them so cycling is a great way of keeping fit. You see loads more when cycling than you do when in a car and if you're in the right place (countryside) this can be lovely and peaceful.

 

[TitanTim]

It's all about fitness and good health Tim.
I stopped playing football a few years back, can't stand gyms or most of the people who frequent them so cycling is a great way of keeping fit. You see loads more when cycling than you do when in a car and if you're in the right place (countryside) this can be lovely and peaceful.

Same here, I used to play snooker but taken up darts now,

Luckily I live near to Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty so do alot of walking for my fitness, but if I was going to do cycling then it would be somewhere like that, the last time I took the mountain bike on road it simply wasn't a pleasant experience in all honesty. I can understand why people employ defensive cycling when on the road but just feel they're a menace and their luck will run out at some point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L2me3ZsSgo

Just to give you a confidence booster :driving:

Tim.

 

[Sae]

I think it's the few that spoil it for the others... Just 5mins before reading this, sat at front of red lights, green man for pedestrians, the cyclist next to me pedals through the cross roads - argghhh fecker!!! And yes he was a mamil - arse!

Honestly, the next time I see that, I'm going to switch the engine off and push the car through the lights, jump in and startup on the otherside