Just wondering? …cos we have a Critical Mass group here in Hobart – as there are in other places around the world – who meet one Friday a month to cycle about in a circle and make noise.

The thing is, I kindof agree with what they are doing – in principle. But.

I think the way they go about it just seems entirely divisive. I also find the whole I-ride-a-bicycle-as-an-in-ya-face-shouty-sustainable-lifestyle-statement thing a bit of a turn off really. Being a keen advocate of cycling and all of its many benefits, I'd be keen to join in the fun every Friday though, were it not for the fact that their intent seems to be non-celebratory and entirely divisive in nature. I don’t think I’d fit in with my camelback and baggies either – the rest of them in day-glo reflective jackets and boots. You can't change the minds of the car driving masses by being conspicuously and self-righteously different. (But maybe, afterall, that is not their original intent?). Cycling is something that should be joyously celebrated and not piously suffered in an oh-look-at-me way for some worthy cause, whatever that may entail.

We were confronted by one of the Critical Mass lot on a bicycle a few months back, while we were out on a fun evening XC ride. He eyed us suspiciously as he cycled up the road and snidely said "I hope you didn't use an internal combustion engine to get up that hill, did you?". …just seemed to sum things up perfectly.

I don't think it's a great idea. Making people aware of cycling by getting right on their tits? Probably does the image of cycling more harm than good.

I'm of the opinion that cars and bikes shouldnt inhabit the same roads anyway (we deserve/need cycle lanes) so my opinion is somewhat skewed.

Keep an eye out for an article I wrote about Copenhagen for Australian Cyclist mag – in the Jan/Feb issue I think. A lot of the Danish bicycling advocates don't like Critical Mass for exactly those reasons. As one said "Is this selling cycling to drivers? No." I find it very misguided and counter-productive – and quite dispiriting. But each to their own.

Completely agree with you.
I went on one of the London rides last year. It was pretty cool riding around town with the police escort and everything, but the way they go about it does not do cyclists any favours with the general public. Would not go again.

They're a bunch of utter ****s!!! Full stop!!!

Hey… I've had a great idea. I'll promote the cause of cycling by dressing in my knotted organic yoghurt clothing and ride around the city streets really slowly in rush hour on a friday.

I'm sure all the people who have had a busy week at work and who just want to go home/to the pub, will be delighted that me and my moronic 2 wheeled friends have brought the traffic to a standstill.

I find it cringe-worthingly embaressing that people associate us with these twunts!

They'll grow out of it.

It used to be quite good back in the day (I'm talking 10 years ago here on the London one) but it seems to have been hijacked a bit by a) the fixie fashionista brigade and b) people out to deliberately cause trouble.

Done well and with a bit of common sense and courtesy it can be a very powerful message and actually the majority of motorists & pedestrians seemed to just accept it.
Done by a bunch of selfish smug pseudoanarchists bent on causing as much hassle as possible while still (just about) staying on the right side of the law it just annoys the hell out of everyone.

i agree with crazy-legs, it was a great event and delivered a good message in a nice way.

I think the reason its become more agressive and confrontational is because in real terms (certainly in the UK) practically nothing has actually been done for cyclists and cycling.

This pisses people off I think

Another vote for the above.I commute 12 months of the year,weather permitting.Where are these people when I am chewing my way through a North Sea gale every morning? Mind, I realise they are busy with G8 summits to riot at etc…

I tried riding along on a couple in Exeter, but what a wunch of bankers they were . As crazylegs put it

a bunch of selfish smug pseudoanarchists bent on causing as much hassle as possible while still (just about) staying on the right side of the law

In many cities, they are just fouling the nest for cyclists when there is a lot of money being spent on cycling already.

I find it cringe-worthingly embaressing that people associate us with these twunts!

I'm more embarassed by the twunts that 'rock-up' in a car park of a weekend, take twenty minutes or so to 'set up' their 'rigs' then go for a 'quick blast' round the 'sweet singletrack' – I'd be willing to bet that many bikes spend more annual mileage strapped to an infernal combustion machine than on the trails – a bike should be a political statement not a lifestyle accessory !!

reclaim the roads, kill the cars………………..

a bike should be a political statement not a lifestyle accessory !!

nah – it's a bit of sports equipment

LOL @hilldodger

I think you just caught your first troll there!

As to the point of 'enough being spent on cycling'? I'm afraid you are very wrong. Compared to the mainland of Europe we are waaaay behind.

Oh, and I'm with Crazy Legs on this one. Probably best it didn't happen, as it just divides motorists from cyclists and lessens the chances of them becoming one and probably makes them more aggressive/antagonistic towards cyclists.

I'm more embarassed by the twunts that 'rock-up' in a car park of a weekend, take twenty minutes or so to 'set up' their 'rigs' then go for a 'quick blast' round the 'sweet singletrack' – I'd be willing to bet that many bikes spend more annual mileage strapped to an infernal combustion machine than on the trails – a bike should be a political statement not a lifestyle accessory !!

Why should they not also be used as a recreational tool, for having fun rather than having a deep meanng political statement? or have i missed your irony?

when there is a lot of money being spent on cycling already.

??

relative other spending on roads it is all small beer – here (Sheffield) less than 2% of the councils spend on road programs and most of it goes on toucan crossing thattry to solve a problem that shouldn't exist the headline programs are Government funded

as to the OP counterproductive as doesn't change anyones attitudes or opinions except negatively

– a bike should be a political statement not a lifestyle accessory !!

That's the funniest thing I've read this morning.

agree with the message – but not the delivery. It's just a shame that the drivers never get the message!

perpetuates the idea that we have those that drive and those that ride and nowt in the middle.oh and the idea that we will never get along.
load of toss.

I am amazed that people find critical masses to do more harm than good, and then find perfectly normal to have 20-30 idiot in lycra taking all the road on a saturnday/sunday morning on their carbon exotica…

Double standard anyone?

It's been a long time since I went on one, but I've sat and watched huge, cheerful-looking ones full of young, clean happy people go by in London over this last summer. There are some loons and some crusties, but most of them seem to be people like me, near enough. I know there's a minority of people who regard annoying motorists as an important objective, but the bulk of them are riding their bikes, together, because it's nice. Just my impression of London recently. I've been on ones in Bristol years ago which were definitely a PITA.

People sitting in cars will get incredibly angry about most things, including disabled people not crossing the road quickly enough. The fact that they get angry about Critical Mass doesn't greatly trouble me. 😉

+1 for the comment from si_progressivebikes above.

My take on it? Well, way back when I went on a couple in Southampton. They were great fun, lots fo people having fun riding bikes and showing how much fun riding bikes could be. The aim was to disrupt traffic as little as possible, by showing that bikes ARE traffic, and a damned good form of traffic too.

Now, look at the ones in the larger cities, especially That London's Famous London, and they have become an embarrasment. Binners and crazy-legs have it spot on there.

If you want to project a positive inclusive image of cycling with mass participation, this is the way forward IMHO

http://new.britishcycling.org.uk/skyride/article/What-is-Skyride-0

Went on the manchester one and it was a mix of families with their kids, roadies, BMXers, the lot. Much more friendly, and better PR, than some bunch of dreadlocked idiots annoying people

I realise that what I say about it is probably a symptom of what crazy-legs calls it being hijacked a bit by the fixie fashionista brigade. Personally, I never mind things I sympathise with being hijacked by cool attractive people, even if they don't share my 10 mile commute in the dark. It's also conspicuous how many girls there were on CM over the summer. 🙂

Skyride is good, but being permitted to ride your bike around town for one day a year by courtesy of corporate sponsorship and constabulary permission is one thing, and just being able to ride your bike around town because you have the liberty to do so are slightly different things.

Besides, Skyride annoyed thousands of people enormously, it just wasn't obvious from inside a massive group of people having fun that people outside the group were infuriated that the road was closed. 🙂

I joined a local one, carnaval atmosphere, happy people and happy smiling motorists giving us a wave rather than a fist. Do one then comment.

It used to be quite good back in the day (I'm talking 10 years ago here on the London one) but it seems to have been hijacked a bit by a) the fixie fashionista brigade and b) people out to deliberately cause trouble.

This. Getting loads of people riding together, and enjoying the freedom to do so, is fine even if it delays other traffic a bit. "Corking" side roads, ignoring red lights and other stuff just to keep the group together is just going to antagonise people. Plus they attract the eco crowd who just go round abusing the people in cars that they're already inconveniencing.

I like the idea of Critical Manners, everyone rides through the city being as law-abiding and polite as possible. Sadly no London one just yet.

I like the idea of Critical Manners, everyone rides through the city being as law-abiding and polite as possible. Sadly no London one just yet.

Love it!

and then find perfectly normal to have 20-30 idiot in lycra taking all the road on a saturnday/sunday morning on their carbon exotica…

Double standard anyone?

No, they're also complete douchebags.

We have a Critical Manners here in Manc.

null

I've done it a few times, but even a group of half a dozen or so riding by the rules seems to wind up the motorists.

Done well and with a bit of common sense and courtesy it can be a very powerful message and actually the majority of motorists & pedestrians seemed to just accept it.
Done by a bunch of selfish smug pseudoanarchists bent on causing as much hassle as possible while still (just about) staying on the right side of the law it just annoys the hell out of everyone.

+1

I went on one in Brum once and would never go again, totally counterproductive- unless of course the aim is to make people hate cyclists.

Juan- there's a difference between going out of your way to antagonise drivers on CM and riding on the road as you're perfectly entitled to do. I don't really get your intense dislike of roadies- sure there are inconsiderate individuals and probably groups just as with everything else, but 'taking up the road' is pretty rare and if you really mean 'taking up the lane' then I'm afraid drivers just have to wait- just as I have to wait when drivers are clogging up the lanes in town.

Juan, I am sure I remember you trying to whip up interest on here for one a couple of years ago in Edinburgh on a Friday teatime,do I not?

I'm more embarassed by the twunts that 'rock-up' in a car park of a weekend, take twenty minutes or so to 'set up' their 'rigs' then go for a 'quick blast' round the 'sweet singletrack' – I'd be willing to bet that many bikes spend more annual mileage strapped to an infernal combustion machine than on the trails – a bike should be a political statement not a lifestyle accessory !!

Then I have to disagree with your thought process. I'd rather people enjoyed bikes in a way that didn't make all cyclists look like annoying idiots that get in the way of other people.

I am amazed that people find critical masses to do more harm than good, and then find perfectly normal to have 20-30 idiot in lycra taking all the road on a saturnday/sunday morning on their carbon exotica…

Double standard anyone?

Not at all, come on Juan, you're an educated guy – surely you can see the vast differences here?

Having done both I think Juan has a point though I found critical mass somewhat less anti-social than a typical roadie group. In the roadie group the car with the flashing light behind, lack of respect for road rules and refusal to let cars overtake led to far more aggression than I experienced in critical mass.

I've never seen a critical mass but I have seen groups of roadies being annoying.

In the roadie group the car with the flashing light behind, lack of respect for road rules and refusal to let cars overtake led to far more aggression than I experienced in critical mass.

Don't think I've ever experienced this in over a decade of driving around favourite roadie haunts, having to drive through/near/with time trials for multiple miles etc. However I have seen one CM, it ground liverpool to a halt and caused no end of fury. Just ME.

as was pointed out of getting in every bodies way on the roads and being a complete c*ck changed the world the caravan club would be in charge

As this is a MTB forum and there'll be some of you who's experience of riding as traffic consists of pootling round the trail centre carpark, its maybe not surprising that there are daft opinions such as mistergnar and juan have posted.
I've never been on a bunch ride or race when any road traffic laws were broken, indeed some take a zero tolerance attitude to anyone thinking of it. Deliberately discouraging stupid overtakes is not by definition being inconsiderate, especially on country roads where there are usually poorer sightlines.
Critical mass on the other hand, I think, started with some great intentions, but the only recent ones I've seen , just seem to be a lot of car-hating students out for aggro, many of whom only cycle at these events to cause trouble and break rules.
If other responsible cyclists like me want to distance myself from them, then I think the games a bogie.