[Closed] the idiotic cyclist thread

The couple of people in the cycling club I ride with who stop in the middle of the road at junctions, stop in the middle of the road at the top of a blind hill, never move into single file when there's a car behind etc. Takes zero effort on the cyclist's part to be sensible and yet creates a lot of anti-cycling resentment from drivers.
Basically there are idiots out there, whether they choose to transport themselves by car or bike has no bearing on their behaviour.

never move into single file when there's a car behind etc

So they don't make it more difficult for the car behind to overtake?

Good on them.

I really don't get this whole "car drivers are worse so don't criticise cyclists" thing.

No I don't get it either. I don't get where anybody is suggesting that. What some people including me are suggesting is that resources are better spent on improving driver behaviour than cyclist behaviour as that's where the road safety benefits are to be made - that's not exactly the same thing is it?

I suspect you've spent a long time in that America, where 'pants' means underpants. Here in the UK, pants are long trousers.

I suspect you've spent a long time under that rock, as the truth is the exact opposite to what you claim.

I like this guy.

aracer - No I don't get it either. I don't get where anybody is suggesting that. What some people including me are suggesting is that resources are better spent on improving driver behaviour than cyclist behaviour as that's where the road safety benefits are to be made - that's not exactly the same thing is it?

No I don't get it either. I don't get where anybody is suggesting that. What some people including me are suggesting is that resources are better spent on improving [s]driver[/s][b]Road User[/b] behaviour than cyclist behaviour as that's where the road safety benefits are to be made - that's not exactly the same thing is it?

More education needs to be given to everyone who uses the road.

Anecdotally my experience is that a greater proportion of cyclists are idiots than car drivers.

Yesterday along an A road going out of town a lad on a MTB with slicks riding right in the gutter which encourages drivers to go past like he wasn't there. Except every so often he would randomly swerve into the middle of the road without looking. I sat behind him for a few hundred metres and there was a car coming the other way waiting to turn right across us. The cyclist just stopped and waved the car across my path. Really not clever.

Then early one Sunday morning I overtook a cyclist about 600m before a cross roads controlled by traffic lights. I was turning left so I indicated well before the junction where I was the only person waiting. the cyclist came up and sat in my blind spot on my left. The lights go green and I see him start to move so I wait to let him get clear before turning left. Then he starts to go left so I pull away to follow him, then he changes his mind and goes straight. I hit the anchors and just miss him. I get abuse. I was indicating left the whole time.

And if you have any doubt, try marshalling on a sportive. I was standing next to a roundabout on a busy dual carriageway. the riders were turning right onto the dual carriageway. Numerous times big groups were just steaming onto the roundabout without looking then riding along the dual carriageway taking up one and a half lanes. Then giving abuse to the motorists who were suggesting they should leave at least one lane for them to drive in.

Finally don't get me started on the guys who go out at dusk wearing Sky kit on rural A roads. Darwinism in action.

I say this BTW as a slow, patient driver who also rides around 4000km a year on roads. And if I'm on a singletrack road and a car is sitting behind me I'll frequently pull in and let them go. It's called being considerate and I usually get a friendly wave as thanks. Far better than sticking to my rights and getting abuse for it.

My personal favorite is adults riding with little kids where they've put a helmet on the kid but don't wear one themselves. Even when the kid is on a seat on the adult's bike.
Firstly, what kind of an example is that? Say as I do.... And* what use are you to your child if you get knocked off your bike, have a head injury and so leave your child to care for you for the rest of your life.

*In fear of starting another 'what use is a helmet' debate, please ignore second point if necessary.

Anecdotally my experience is that a greater proportion of cyclists are idiots than car drivers.

So where are the rest of your anecdotes - you've only given us a couple? I see drivers doing idiotic things on a daily basis. Speeding, tailgating, passing too close.

Part of the whole problem is that drivers' idiotic behaviour is accepted as the norm and ignored.

But I also think it's wrong to suggest that all cyclists are entirely blameless, or that there's no value to be had in encouraging safer and more responsbile riding.

Just so long as that doesn't encourage drivers to think that it's the cyclists who need training rather than them, and that such a campaign means the problem is solved and they don't have to bother modifying their behaviour. Which would happen, wouldn't it? Arguably such a campaign (if there was a formal one) could actually be counterproductive from a road safety perspective - these things just aren't quite as simple as you think.

And if I'm on a singletrack road and a car is sitting behind me I'll frequently pull in and let them go. It's called being considerate and I usually get a friendly wave as thanks. Far better than sticking to my rights and getting abuse for it.

+1 & glad to know its not just me too

what use are you to your child if you get knocked off your bike, have a head injury and so leave your child to care for you for the rest of your life.

Do you also have the same issue with people driving cars without helmets whilst their kids are strapped into a seat which protects them?

please ignore second point if necessary.

Oh sorry.

[s]Do you also have the same issue with people driving cars without helmets whilst their kids are strapped into a seat which protects them?
[/s]

I think there is a big issue between having the right to do something and actually exercising that right...

My commute is down narrow lanes, which leave about an inch between a car and me. I have the right to take up as much space as the car and carry on but I am not going to do that when a car comes up behind me...not fair on them. So I slow down and move right over to allow them past...everyone is a winner.

I did do something stupid earlier though, coming down the outside of cars stopped at traffic lights (nothing coming the other way) just managed to sneak in front of car and turn off as it started moving off...massive mis judgement on my part and I got lucky...apologised to the driver and slunk off.

We all make mistakes, its the determination of cyclists to exercise their rights when it benefits no one that frustrates me. I.e. riding three abreast when a car comes up behind, takes two minutes to get in close single file and is safer for everyone.

The couple of people in the cycling club I ride with who stop in the middle of the road at junctions

Sounds like exactly the right thing to be doing tbh.

Anyone mentioned the idiots who spend thousands on bikes but don't really know how to ride them? hmmmm...

iding three abreast when a car comes up behind, takes two minutes to get in close single file and is safer for everyone.

Are we talking about a normal width single carriageway road here? One where a car has to wait until nothing is coming the other way to cross onto the other side of the road to safely overtake single file cyclists? Three abreast is probably OTT on a lot of roads because it puts the furthest out cyclist in more danger when the car driver follows the HC and completely crosses the white line to overtake, but I'm struggling to see the disadvantage of two abreast for anybody (including the car driver who can overtake a two abreast group in less space than a group in single file).

Anyone mentioned the idiots who spend thousands on bikes but don't really know how to ride them?

I think this thread is supposed to be about cyclists who aren't on STW.

This guy

[url=

attacked by fellow cyclist[/url]

Here in the UK, pants are long trousers.

I just read all of the post and the thing that really got my goat was someone confusing American with our UK language. I wear my pants under my trousers. Trousers are long - i.e. they cover your legs. Long things worn on your legs when cycling that are tight are called 'tights'. Things worn over your pants that are short are called 'shorts'. Whatever next? My boot becomes 'the trunk', we lose the ability to spell words with the letter 'u' in them and we add 'z' where a 's' used to be! Pass me some more of Mom's home-made apple pie....

As for cyclist who are idiots - same for any other walk of life or sport - there are good ones and there are not so good ones and there are complete 'd**kheads'.

One thing I have noticed though, more roadies are doffing their caps to us MTBers. And vice versa. Which is nice....

what use are you to your child if you get knocked off your bike, have a head injury and so leave your child to care for you for the rest of your life.

I think the point he's making is that if you believe in the safety gear then use it yourself, "rather than when your older you won't need one"

Do you also have the same issue with people driving cars without helmets whilst their kids are strapped into a seat which protects them?

The adult should wear a seatbelt also.

aracer -
Just so long as that doesn't encourage drivers to think that it's the cyclists who need training rather than them, and that such a campaign means the problem is solved and they don't have to bother modifying their behaviour. Which would happen, wouldn't it? Arguably such a campaign (if there was a formal one) could actually be counterproductive from a road safety perspective - these things just aren't quite as simple as you think.

But I also think it's wrong to suggest that all cyclists are entirely blameless,

Anecdotally my experience is that a greater proportion of cyclists are idiots than car drivers.

My commute is down narrow lanes, which leave about an inch between a car and me... when a car comes up behind me...not fair on them. So I slow down and move right over to allow them past...everyone is a winner.

Provide they can safely pass with an inch to spare - otherwise no one is a winner!

I don't think anyone here has suggested that you should never be courteous and allow cars to pass - but some of us suggest that should only happen on your terms, when it is safe for them to do so.

(So not by riding in the gutter and not by letting them squeeze by with an inch spare!)

Your safety should always be more important than their convenience.

just saying I think it's a bit short-sighted to say the blame for all cycle/vehicale incidents is entirely down to the driver, is all. The vast majority? Beyond a shadow of a doubt. But not all.

I don't think you'll have any argument there - the stats certainly support that. The point remains that drivers are far, far more dangerous than cyclists, whatever the perception might be.

My commute is down narrow lanes, which leave about an inch between a car and me... when a car comes up behind me...not fair on them. So I slow down and move right over to allow them past...everyone is a winner.
Provide they can safely pass with an inch to spare - otherwise no one is a winner!

I don't think anyone here has suggested that you should never be courteous and allow cars to pass - but some of us suggest that should only happen on your terms, when it is safe for them to do so.

(So not by riding in the gutter and not by letting them squeeze by with an inch spare!)

Your safety should always be more important than their convenience.

Yes sorry.... meant to imply slow down and pull in to increase the inch to a bit wider.

@aracer - I would go single file even on a wide dual lane road, vision of the road ahead is more important than the extra 2m or so but appreciate we this is a small point

Anecdotally my experience is that a greater proportion of cyclists are idiots than car drivers.

That's because the wrongdoings of car drivers are completely internalised by society.

The significant majority of drivers break laws almost constantly. But it's ignored because creeping over the speed limit or edging past that light as it turns red isn't considered anything wrong.

Since I've been walking to work lately I'll chip in with my two pence worth...

Its the morons that ride on the pavement when there's a perfectly good road adjacent.

And not to mention the tit that ran a red light and came skidding to a halt as I was crossing the road. He didn't look like much of a cyclist to me though wearing his sisters jeans and a pair of flip flops.

I would go single file even on a wide dual lane road, vision of the road ahead is more important than the extra 2m or so but appreciate we this is a small point

What advantage is it giving and to whom for you to single out on such a road? A main road I use a lot is wide enough for a car to pass a single cyclist safely without crossing the central white line, but probably not two riding side by side, but such road widths are a rarity so I presume you're talking about a road where the car driver would still have to cross the central line after you've singled out. Who's vision of the road ahead are you bothered about? The car driver behind ought to be able to see perfectly well past a couple of cyclists.

This is a real bugbear of mine as it's one point where the HC is definitively wrong (I can only assume it's advice was written by somebody who hadn't thought the issue through any more than most people do). Was riding with my sister once and got stopped by a policeman for riding two abreast - [s]we[/s] she successfully argued the point that it was safer to do so and he let us go on our way suitably educated.

it's one point where the HC is definitively wrong

Not the only one though. Anyone think it is a good idea to cycle round roundabouts in left lane even if they are going right??

The Highway Code was written for motorists by motorists. The "other road users" advice is an afterthought at best and doesn't agree with the best practises taught in Cyclecraft etc

I just read all of the post and the thing that really got my goat was someone confusing American with our UK language. I wear my pants under my trousers. Trousers are long - i.e. they cover your legs.

Where I grew up (in the UK), "trousers" are called pants.

Where I grew up (in the UK), "trousers" are called pants.

Where I grew up (in the UK), "trousers" are called pants.

pants [b]noun[/b]

1) [b]British[/b] underpants or knickers.

2) [b]chiefly North American[/b] trousers

3) [b]British informal[/b] rubbish; nonsense: he thought we were going to be absolute pants

--

OXFORDDICTIONARIES.COM "http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/pants?q=pants"

Oxford Languages - The home of language data

The home of language data

American embassy?

Or Lancashire...

Lancastrians and Americans are correct: they're called "underpants", not "undertrousers".

Whilst I have an unhealthy hatred towards any one who is NOT a professional rider wearing Lycra I still cannot condone it because I genuinely believe that the person is riding riding their bike for a reason, be it because they are FAST in their mind ? They are reliving their youff, they could have been a pro but had a snapped clavicle or a nasty off on a greasy surface rendering their career over before it began,

For reference see all the 40 year old David Beckham wannabes littered across the country on a Saturday morning busting out of their track suits teaching kids football, if it hadn't been for that broken metatarsal they could have been worth £83 million !

Any way, I digress if that 1 person can only enlighten another person to perch on that seat then we get another cyclist,

I wear black when I ride, sometimes with no helmet, but I do this to piss people off on the off chance I can have a good debate in front of said gobby bastards wife his kids and friends on a trail in the middle of nowhere !
I usually win that debate and push it that little bit further by swearing in front of his kids just to see how brave he really is ?
Bike riding is really an extension of your personality "well for me it is" you can generally see this by the bikes that some folk ride, boring bastards always ride the same MTB's ! They always drive Audis or BMW's and they always know best !
But at least they are riding their bike !

It's not even difficult to do, it's just that some people like to believe they are so much better at it than every one else, BUT its still called bike riding or as my Dad used to say, there's them that ride bikes and then there's bike riders !

see all the 40 year old David Beckham wannabes littered across the country on a Saturday morning busting out of their track suits teaching kids football

Yeah, what's all that about? Getting up at the crack of dawn to mark out the pitches on match day in all sorts of weathers, giving up their free time to pass on the game they love to the next generation, enduring the abuse (and worse) from know-it-all parents who are incensed that their little golden boy isn't up front where he should be, giving kids something constructive to do that encourages team spirit rather than hanging around breaking stuff...Sad losers, let's all sneer at them.

Not the only one though. Anyone think it is a good idea to cycle round roundabouts in left lane even if they are going right??

Except it doesn't actually advise that any more - on the contrary, the tone is such as to suggest it's not a good idea (it suggests what you should do to make it safer if you do do that). The advice is now actually to follow the same rules as other vehicles. There certainly are other dodgy bits of cycling advice, but not that one.

Except it doesn't actually advise that any more - on the contrary, the tone is such as to suggest it's not a good idea

It used to. It has changed a bit, though it still mentions it.

I think it would do a LOT better to outright advise against it.

77

You may feel safer walking your cycle round on the pavement or verge. If you decide to ride round keeping to the left-hand lane..

and

In all cases watch out for and give plenty of room to..

cyclists and horse riders who may stay in the left-hand lane and signal right if they intend to continue round the roundabout. Allow them to do so.

Otherwise you get people like this [s]muppet[/s] [i]misinformed chap[/i] quoting it as advice to cyclists!

Just to get back to the OP. Was commuting back from west brompton to watford on train. Had my brommie folded up nicely tucked away behind me, so not to get to many'that bikes taking up to much space' crap. When at Olympia a bloke got on with a foldy Dahon,brand new, and didnt fold it down! I get enough abuse on that route without idiots coming on with unfolded fold up bikes!!!! Then started getting annoyed cos people were touching his new bike! fold it idiot!!!

Edlong, no prizes for guessing what you will be wearing on Saturday morning then ?

And, I must have written my post wrong As I was trying liken one to the other,
MAMILS. Not right ! But I don't really care as long as it encourages riding bikes,

Golden Balls. Again not right with their copycat tattoos cheap Audi cabrios, ugly birds and beer guts, again not right but flaying football on a field with a wanabee pro footballer littered with dog shit is still playing football its just that some people like to raise their profile by pretending that not everyone can do it !

By the way, GT85 on the zipper will see it straight over the midriff

Does anyone have a clue what discoduck's point is?

Oh and if you want to encourage kids to do something constructive Ive found that swearing on the pitch at the ref is a poor role model by any body's standards, and team spirit in football ?

Try Rugby !

duckie, I don't own a tracksuit and can't play footie to save my life (I think it was considered "common" at my school - we only played rugby union in winter) - that's why I'm pathetically grateful to the coaches at my son's club, who put in a lot of time, usually without much thanks or appreciation.

On topic: some dick on a bike not looking properly before turning right at a crossroads, cutting across another cyclist, a proper "SMIDSY". That dick = me

Does anyone have a clue what discoduck's point is?

Don't drink in the afternoon?

My point is, if you don't like it don't come on here moaning about it like women in a corner shop.

Speak up and tell them them that they're fat useless ****s or dangerous or pig headed for not folding their bikes up on a packed commuter train !

People moaning in forums and shouting out "yeah you who rode the wrong way round a roundabout" on the off chance that they are on here is pathetic, I do lots of things that I'm not supposed to do ! If you don't like what others do then tell them !

Little Britain