Rude cyclist... get off your carbon high horse

Jacomus-rides-Gen · May 2007

This morning it was my first commute after my broken collarbone, as I mentioned in an earlier post here I have been scared back into bodyarmour and as my road helmet was broken in the crash I'm wearing my Spesh DeviantCarbon full face lid (with the visor taken off so I can see on the roadbike!) I feel much better for cycling in AND I even saw another cyclist in bodyarmour and full face - we waved furiously at each other as we passed [:D]

I came across a good cyclist on a roadbike who gave me the "Lance to Ullrich look" when he passed me as I sat in a queue. I didn't really think about it and cycled normally and slowly caught him again by Blackfriars, I looked at him as we both sat in the ASL and he just blanked me and went back to watching the lights. I pulled away from him (or he went a different way) and then we met again at the junction of Finsbury Ave, I gave him another friendly nod as I cornered, he just pretended not to see me again whilst waiting at the lights.

Did he think he was so much better than me he didn't need to acknowledge me? Because my 45mph top speed (admittedly attained by drafting a wvm) and 17.0mph average through 7 miles of central London isn't exactly slow (and I don't rlj, and don't push forward in queues too much). Or was it that he felt I so spectacularly let down all roadies by my appearance that he didn't want to be seen near me? Or was he just a Tour de Commuter too wrapped up to notice?

Would you nod or wave to me if you saw me?

Grr, rant over! It was made more weird because I don't have any cars to complain about!

Be careful in the rain everyone [:)]

_________________________
Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."

Archcp · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Jacomus-rides-Gen
Would you nod or wave to me if you saw me?

_________________________
Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

If you were wearing a jersey that said "I'm on the C+ forum", then I might, or if I knew you by sight. otherwise, I might do a bit of a double take at the body armour and full helmet, but I don't think I'd look down on you.

But then, as a non-racy, utility cyclist, if I was on my heavy old hack, in jeans, you might look down on me...

And you definitely would if I was on my recumbent...[;)]

If I had a baby elephant, it could help me clean the car. If I had a car.

dondare · May 2007

I see lots and lots of cyclists so I only bother greeting the ones I know.
Same when I'm walking and see other pedestrians.

Baby elephants? Pah!!

Eat My Dust · May 2007

Don't worry about it. I wear a full face helmet and couldn't give a sh*t what other cyclist think. Saying that, it's hard to tell when you see the helmet from behind, and that's where most cyclists usually are!! And it has it's benefits, I took a hook off of an irate driver and the look of worry on his face when he realised the helmet had taken the impact was priceless!!

SNAPS

Phil Scp · May 2007

Why don't you get off your full-face-helmet-and-body-armour high horse? Why do you expect strangers to acknowledge you, mate? This is London. Get over it.

rothbook · May 2007

Strange thread. Who cares?

ChrisLS · May 2007

...full face helmet and body armour? I don't understand...

skewer · May 2007

Do you start interacting with the people next to you in bus queues, or on the tube, or just bury your nose in your paper?
Why should he have to acknowledge you, because your sharing the same form of transport?

Eat My Dust · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by skewer

Do you start interacting with the people next to you in bus queues, or on the tube, or just bury your nose in your paper?
Why should he have to acknowledge you, because your sharing the same form of transport?

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Maybe that's what's wrong with Britain today!

SNAPS

snorri · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Jacomus-rides-Gen

Would you nod or wave to me if you saw me?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
No.
I only communicate with people who look as if they are from the same planet as myself.[;)]

Unknown · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Jacomus-rides-Gen

I'm wearing my Spesh DeviantCarbon full face lid (with the visor taken off so I can see on the roadbike!) I feel much better for cycling in AND I even saw another cyclist in bodyarmour and full face - we waved furiously at each other as we passed [:D]

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

sure it wasnt a mirror? [:P]

sorry

Fnaar · May 2007

Here's a pic of my cycling holiday:
http://tinyurl.com/38r44k [:D]

More tea, vicar? [:D]

peejay78 · May 2007

i think i'd be so gobsmacked that the original "streethawk" had taken to commuting through london that i'd have to say something, at least something, if only to make the observation that airwolf was much better, but streethawk filled the gap before magyver came along.

winter: http://tinyurl.com/2xkbbs
summer: http://tinyurl.com/2hsagv

rothbook · May 2007

magyver, sheesh.

"Thanks Magyver!"

"Don't thank me son, thank the moons' gravitational pull!"

16simon · May 2007

that sort of behaviour is clearly unacceptable. if anyone has the nerve to cycle their bike fast whilst wearing inappropriate clothing, the right thing to do is to put them in the gutter. next time, try dressing appropriately, and you may receive a curt nod of approval. or not...

Flying_Monkey · May 2007

If somebody wearing body armour and a full face helmet kept chasing me down, I'd be bloody petrified... perhaps if you'd used a Darth Vader voice box you could have scared the poor bloke event more! [;)]

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety

peejay78 · May 2007

sorry - i missed that bit: "45mph top speed (admittedly attained by drafting a wvm)"

i find this a shade unlikely, WVM or not. that's mainly based on my experience of doing 52mph downhill towards hebden bridge.

i can count on one hand the number of times i've got over 42mph, and it's never been on the flat, or behind a vehicle.

winter: http://tinyurl.com/2xkbbs
summer: http://tinyurl.com/2hsagv

Eat My Dust · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by peejay78

sorry - i missed that bit: "45mph top speed (admittedly attained by drafting a wvm)"

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I would imagine that this is very possible, but not all together recommended for safety issues!! You'de have to be pretty close behind them and would have no way of braking in time!!

SNAPS

peejay78 · May 2007

"sucks air in through teeth, gives plumber's expression of doubt"

winter: http://tinyurl.com/2xkbbs
summer: http://tinyurl.com/2hsagv

Eat My Dust · May 2007

not really a white van, but you get the picture!!

http://www.canosoarus.com/08LSRbicycle/LSR%20Bike01.htm

SNAPS

rothbook · May 2007

This type of record was invented by Charles "Mile-a-Minute Murphy" who drafted a train to set a 60 MPH record at the turn of the century. A mile of plywood sheets was attached to the railroad ties, so Charles would have a smooth surface. He had to be lifted onto the train just before they ran out of the plywood surface!

Sheesh.

dondare · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by rothbook

This type of record was invented by Charles "Mile-a-Minute Murphy" who drafted a train to set a 60 MPH record at the turn of the century. A mile of plywood sheets was attached to the railroad ties, so Charles would have a smooth surface. He had to be lifted onto the train just before they ran out of the plywood surface!

Sheesh.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I thought that everyone knew that.

Baby elephants? Pah!!

miffedcp · May 2007

i think if you were a full face for anything but really burly allmountain or DH then you'll get funny looks and lack of acknowledgement.

Im sorry but you will look a bit daft.

maybe dont draft at 40mph and then you might not need the armour... just a thought.

Jacomus-rides-Gen · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Phil S
Why don't you get off your full-face-helmet-and-body-armour high horse? Why do you expect strangers to acknowledge you, mate? This is London. Get over it.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Totally agree actually! I just re-read and it was almost like I hadn't written it, though I still think its no harm to have a comradely little wave if someone waves at you.

_________________________
Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."

Kev67 · May 2007

If you're going to draft white vans at 45mph then wearing full body armour and a full face helmet is probably not a bad idea.

Ste_S · May 2007

17mph av through Central London ?

My average speed drops a fair bit when riding in traffic (I don't rlj and if i do filter it's very slowly), is a 17mph average acheivable without being suicidal ?

BentMikey · May 2007

Unlikely really. If I'd been your carbon matey, I wouldn't have blanked you. I think I would have laughed at seeing your full face and body armour instead!

My bikes
My skates

If I had a baby elephant, I'd teach it to skate.

The Bosscp · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Kev67

If you're going to draft white vans at 45mph then wearing full body armour and a full face helmet is probably not a bad idea.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
[*whisper*] yes but it's probably not actually true. [*/whisper*]

Jacomus-rides-Gen · May 2007

Hey, I'll admit to sounding like a total prat, but I didn't lie. I actually almost took a pic of my computer last night after seeing the other posts about my inability to do that speed. Unfortunately I never got round to it before I went to bed.

Edit: Actually, I just remembered my computer gives weeks totals - I've just taken some pics on my mobile, which shows the max speed, I'll pop them on tonight when I get home. 

_________________________
Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."

peejay78 · May 2007

are you sure it's not set to KPH?

or that the max speed came from the time you put the bike on the train and the wheel fell though a gap in the floor and spun round furiously?

and don't worry, even normal people wear a gimp mask every now and then.

[:)]

winter: http://tinyurl.com/2xkbbs
summer: http://tinyurl.com/2hsagv

Jaded · May 2007

Have you set it up for the wheel size of an ordinary? [;)]

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[Warning] This post may contain a baby elephant or traces of one

Rude cyclist... get off your carbon high horse

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