[Closed] Crazy Roadie!

The cyclist was riding too fast for the situation he was in, on equipment far from ideal for the environment he was in (fact), it is also possible that even if the cyclist thought the taxi driver didn't indicate he may of in fact have done so (all the traffic except the rider was moving slowly and the rider was unsighted from the taxi by me), the taxi driver may also have checked all his mirrors and still missed the rider due to the way the rider was making his way through the traffic. If he had seen him passing me in his offside mirror he may also have judged that because of the speed he was travelling that was there he would probably stay. All speculation of course but when all is said and done the rider was not riding to the conditions, he was gambling, he made himself look a fool but it could've been far worse!

And yep, knocking the wing mirror off someone's car is antisocial and not something I would ever do. However when you've just had someone try to kill you, you don't always think rationally.

I think the more accurate observation, is the cyclist almost got killed by a combination of his own poor riding/judgement, then flew off the handle fueled by adrenaline.

As Scaredypants said, if the Taxi was at fault then Moe would have started a thread about the Taxi driver nearly killing the cyclist, after all he's a cyclist on a cycling forum, there's only one way to view his bias!

Although I disagree with this statement, there's nothing wrong with a road bike, I'd rather be on mine than on my MTB in town.

on equipment far from ideal for the environment he was in (fact)

there's nothing wrong with a road bike, I'd rather be on mine than on my MTB in town.

granted, but he was on a bike with aero bars, not ideal?

If the situation's not clear, we shouldn't be so quick to condemn the cyclist.

It appears that a lot of people on this thread were all there as witnesses!

I really don't understand how any of us are in a position to judge the cyclist [i]or[/i] the taxi driver based on the OP's description...

granted, but he was on a bike with aero bars, not ideal?

eh? So supposed to take a spare pair of bars with him for when he's riding through town? Or do you mean he was riding in heavy urban traffic [i]on[/i] the aero bars ie: not covering the brakes? In which case, fair enough - that's not showing much skill or risk awareness

It appears that a lot of people on this thread were all there as witnesses!

Or do you mean he was riding in heavy urban traffic on the aero bars ie: not covering the brakes? In which case, fair enough - that's not showing much skill or risk awareness

The cyclist was riding too fast for the situation he was in

on equipment far from ideal for the environment he was in (fact)

All speculation of course

but when all is said and done the rider was not riding to the conditions

Well, y'know, perhaps the taxi driver was "not driving to the conditions" when he drove into the path of a cyclist.

Maybe the cyclist [i]was[/i] being a knob. But those of us who weren't there cannot pass judgement. It is telling how quickly people jump to condemn the cyclist on the basis of a subjective anecdote on the internet.

People grasp at stories which confirm their predisposed world view. "Bloody cyclist came out of nowhere" anecdotes are popular for this reason.

Having done a bit of research my discription of the bars is slightly off, this is the type of bars on the bike.

[url= ]Bars[/url]

Funny how folk discect what others say to suit their own view.... all speculation was regarding what the taxi driver may have done.

btw, meant to say earlier but there was no kerb as such, he exited the road on the pedestrian crossing and across the pavement.

A mini cam arrived in the post that morning and I considered putting it in the car but I guess if I had spent time doing that I wouldn't have been there .... in which case it may never have happened ..... so ....that must mean.... It was all my fault! Happy now!?

People grasp at stories which confirm their predisposed world view. "Bloody cyclist came out of nowhere" anecdotes are popular for this reason.

Yes, on the dail mail comments section. By the same argument if a cyclist was riding badly enough for someone on a cyclist website to think they were being a bit of a cockerell then they must be really bad! Similarly, if the story had been about a bad bit of driving then it needs to be taken with a pinch of salt as this is STW where we all weave sandals from organic lentils, read the guardian, and hate cars (especialy taxis).

Having done a bit of research my discription of the bars is slightly off, this is the type of bars on the bike.

Presume you mean bullhorn, running the base bar from an aero setup would be a bit wierd, but not impossible, as they're based on bullhorn bars, which were just upturned drops with the drops cut off. Same width as a drop bar, and actually really practical for riding round town, hence the number of fixies and commuters seen with them.

after all he's a cyclist on a cycling forum, there's only one way to view his bias!

Not really. He's a mountain biker on a mountain bike forum who drives a car - it seems plenty of those chuck their bike on the top of the car to drive to the trail centre (complaining about being held up by roadies on the way) and never ride on the road. You only have to look at any previous thread on bikes vs cars to see people supporting the actions of drivers despite evidence suggesting they're the ones at fault.

Not that I'm saying that's the case here (though I see nothing to suggest that the OP does ride bikes on the road), nor am I saying that the cyclist in this incident wasn't in the wrong, just that it's a dangerous assumption to make.

Not really. He's a mountain biker on a mountain bike forum who drives a car -

I've been driving for 32yrs with one sole acci .... er, collision (someone drove into me while I was indicating to turn right), I survived being a teenage motorcyclist, as well as another 10yrs of motorcyling in more recent times, I spent 13 of the last 20yrs regularly commuting by road bike on busy twisting B roads through town & country and the last 3yrs on a relatively busy (very busy at times) single carriageway A road. Mtb has only really been a part of my life for the last 7yrs (I do also commute offroad by Mtb as well).

It does sound like the roadie was going to fast for his surroundings.

I with TINAS, I doubt Moe would start a thread about iffy cycling if he had any doubt it was not the cyclist fault.

Typical STW arguing about something they have not seen.

[i]Typical STW arguing about something they have not seen.[/i]

Exactly why I don't other with this type of thread anymore (except er, this one 😉 )
When you say that, people actually come back with the argument that they [i]do[/i] know what happened. Bloody weirdos.

DezB - how's that outrage working out for you? I was a bit concerned given the length of time since your last post that something had become of you.. 😉

Still not decided. Sorry.

When cycling if I ever filter on the inside or even just approaching a left turn with cars behind me I'll keep glancing behind me to the right to assertain the position of any cars and if they're indicating or slowing to turn. Yes the motorist should wait for the cyclist before taking the turn but some misjudge your speed, some are idiots and some just take the chance. After nearly being sideswiped by a young man in a honda I'm always very careful and when crossing a left turn or going through a junction, I think it's always best to think the car behind you is going to turn left on you until they don't. I can't be responsible for other peoples actions but I can be responsible for mine.

TBH plenty of bellend drivers and bellend cyclists on the roads....

Like the driver this morning who overtook me going down a hill an then decided a minute later to brake in front of me 🙂

Sorta get used to it .... mmmm gotta love Hopes....

(Course shoulda been riding primary for maximum mayhem)