British Cyclists
I was in London recently, for the first time in about 10 years and I'd just like to say (and I am not being sarcastic) that I greatly admire british cyclists. It appears that there are plenty of you, but the conditions for riding are absolutely appalling and so dangerous. Anybody who is able to train and/or commute under those circumstances is thoroughly deserving of esteem.
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P.B. wrote:Anybody who is able to train and/or commute under those circumstances is thoroughly deserving of esteem.
....... or a frontal lobotamy
Pictures are better than words because some words are big and hard to understand.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34335188@N07/3336802663/0 -
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Whilst I'd agree that UK road conditions are certainly more hostile than in France (certainly our little island is pretty crowded in the south-east in comparison to great tracts of France), I don't think watching cyclists in London is a fair indication of conditions across the whole country.
Generally, the vast majority of motorists are polite, and more importantly, patient - it's the small minority who are in a rush to get to an early grave that cause the problems.0 -
Generally, the vast majority of motorists are polite, and more importantly, patient - it's the small minority who are in a rush to get to an early grave that cause the problems.[/quote]
Beg to differ with you there... Last night cycling home from work a BMW driver decided in a queue of traffic to turn into the cycle lane clipping my pedal and almost knocking me off. I suggested he had his car recalled for the indicators to be looked at and his near side mirror, promptly to be given a load of abuse.
Tonight whilst riding home with a collegue from work, a van driving up the bus lane (which shouldn't have been) hurled a barrage of abuse about us cycling in pairs. I promptly told him to read up on his highway code only to be given more abuse. He soon shut up when I rang the number on the side of his van
Well that's just my experiences from the last 2 days.
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Damn the quote bit didn't work.0
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ACMadone wrote:Generally, the vast majority of motorists are polite, and more importantly, patient - it's the small minority who are in a rush to get to an early grave that cause the problems.
Beg to differ with you there... Last night cycling home from work a BMW driver decided in a queue of traffic to turn into the cycle lane clipping my pedal and almost knocking me off. I suggested he had his car recalled for the indicators to be looked at and his near side mirror, promptly to be given a load of abuse.
Tonight whilst riding home with a collegue from work, a van driving up the bus lane (which shouldn't have been) hurled a barrage of abuse about us cycling in pairs. I promptly told him to read up on his highway code only to be given more abuse. He soon shut up when I rang the number on the side of his van
Well that's just my experiences from the last 2 days.
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It's still a minority....unless you only encountered those two vehicles i the past two days.0 -
It didn't work for me either....
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They were just the most amusing incidents in the last 2 days. I'm sure with summer in the air that the drivers in Leeds are on something.0
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A lot of our roads are also appalling. Eg anything in Yorkshire. Made the mistake of dipping north out of Derbyshire this week and ended up going up to Huddersfield.
The road between Holmefirth and Huddersfield is a disgrace. There is an uncyclable "cycle lane" (loaded with glass, branches, rocks, etc). And potholes everywhere. Why are we so terrible at infrastructure in this country?0 -
Whilst marshalling at a race last weekend a motorist stopped to give me loads of abuse about cyclists slowing the traffic. He seemed quite a posh educated bloke but still chose to swear at me from a distance. When I approached him he sped off. I don't mind getting abuse I just wanted to drag him out of the drivers side window and fill him in in front of his family......does that make me a bad person??0
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redddraggon wrote:
its purely the challenge of overtaking the Fifth porsche 911GT in a mile that makes it fun -plus there are frequent tests of slow speed bike handling, inter traffic weaving, track standing and races with cars/busses.mopeds/other cyclists that make the 30 min ride really entertaining - certainily more entertaining than rush hour tube/trains!!
yes its childish, but then so's kicking/hitting a ball around or such otherWe're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
Theres a road near here that is on a main bus route and you could train for Paris Roubaix on it, holes , ridges where the utilities have dug it up and resurfaced. Spoke to a local councillor
who informs me that they only have money to resurface 3 roads in the area and this is not one of them...went on to say the residents like it like it is keeps the speed of the traffic down !!!0 -
Peakraider wrote:A lot of our roads are also appalling. Eg anything in Yorkshire. Made the mistake of dipping north out of Derbyshire this week and ended up going up to Huddersfield.
The road between Holmefirth and Huddersfield is a disgrace. There is an uncyclable "cycle lane" (loaded with glass, branches, rocks, etc). And potholes everywhere. Why are we so terrible at infrastructure in this country?
I used to think South and West Yorks road were bad (Holme Moss and Snake Pass were regular rides) until I moved to Auckland, NZ and started commuting by bike. Roads here are pretty shocking, a fair bit of broken glass and few street lights, and drivers much worse.0 -
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I commute into Leeds,& compared to dealing with all the inbreds towards Huddersfield,it's a positive joy!ACMadone wrote:They were just the most amusing incidents in the last 2 days. I'm sure with summer in the air that the drivers in Leeds are on something.so many cols,so little time!0 -
sicrow wrote:
it's got to be better than hanging out with the web-footed, arse-faced, mutant inbreds of south stockport.
(wink)0 -
Car drivers can be c*nts for sure, but that applies to people generally. I've seen too many apallingly rude and unpleasant cycists to think it's just drivers who are arses.
BTW I was in a bunch that got some awful abuse from a car driver during last year's Marmotte on the way to the start of the Telegraphe - not a great day to be in a car if you hate cyclists. So it's not just British drivers.0
