Your rants here.

The Chingford Skinhead

idwa wrote:

New here and already having a rant! - but when i turned round to have someone right on my wheel going up Farringdon street - and when I told him to f-off - his response was childish slanders of faggot.

So - what should I do next time - slam on my brakes and wait for the crunch?

Your views on slipstreaming - should people do it in London? Or leave it to the tour de france?

drafting is completely inappropriate on the streets. You can at least amuse yourself by working out what he was - as only 3 kinds of people imho use terms like faggot, ghey etc 1 primary school children; 2 people who don't have the intelligence for an argument and so resort to 1 above; and 3 people who are latently homosexual but are in complete denial - honestly, they should be true to themselves the'd be so much happier in the long run.

The Chingford Skinhead

Robmanic1 wrote:

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

Robmanic1 wrote:

vanquished wrote:

Just been spat at :-(

Was riding back to work after lunch, when a metallic green Astra pulled alongside, momentarily. The passenger wound down their window, spat at me, and then the driver accelerated off.

Didn't get the number plate, almost caught up with them at the traffic lights a mile distant, but just missed the phase.

Soured the ride in somewhat.

Possibly the worst thing a human can do to another! :evil: :evil: :evil:

:?: :shock: :?: Really? I'd have put it way behind: Murder, shooting, stabbing, raping gbh, abh, torture etc etc

I may have put it close to drafting another rider without their consent and then abusing them with an insulting phrase when they make it clear they don't want you tail gating them - see first post on this page and then your response.

1.Oh yeh, forgot about all those things :roll: :roll: :roll:
2. Wot are you talking about?

1 you made a very daft statement without any caveat - i merely put it in perspective for you
2 I made the point that drafting uninvited and then abusing your vivtim when they complain is on a par with spitting in my book. both are uninvited and unpleasant.

robmanic1

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

[

drafting is completely inappropriate on the streets. You can at least amuse yourself by working out what he was - as only 3 kinds of people imho use terms like faggot, ghey etc 1 primary school children; 2 people who don't have the intelligence for an argument and so resort to 1 above; and 3 people who are latently homosexual but are in complete denial - honestly, they should be true to themselves the'd be so much happier in the long run.

As opposed to people who turn around and tell you to "fcuk off" because your cycling a little bit too closely for them to handle, which is a much more adult response innit! :roll:

nielsamd

UDs ,`Unauthorized Drafters', are a pain and used to annoy me but now I console myself that the danger is largely for them to deal with, now or in their future. If there is any sideplay wheel contact its usually the person behind that loses more control and goes down. Of course, they usually tend to RLJ or barge straight on over red pelican crossings as well so there is a danger of them plowing into you if you follow the ...the...what is it again? oh yeah... the law. Was once sworn at by a UD for stopping at a red pelican. Wonder if he's still alive with that attitude.

robmanic1

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

Robmanic1 wrote:

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

Robmanic1 wrote:

vanquished wrote:

Just been spat at :-(

Was riding back to work after lunch, when a metallic green Astra pulled alongside, momentarily. The passenger wound down their window, spat at me, and then the driver accelerated off.

Didn't get the number plate, almost caught up with them at the traffic lights a mile distant, but just missed the phase.

Soured the ride in somewhat.

Possibly the worst thing a human can do to another! :evil: :evil: :evil:

:?: :shock: :?: Really? I'd have put it way behind: Murder, shooting, stabbing, raping gbh, abh, torture etc etc

I may have put it close to drafting another rider without their consent and then abusing them with an insulting phrase when they make it clear they don't want you tail gating them - see first post on this page and then your response.

1.Oh yeh, forgot about all those things :roll: :roll: :roll:
2. Wot are you talking about?

1 you made a very daft statement without any caveat - i merely put it in perspective for you

Thanks for that, because I seriously thought spitting was right at the forefront of human abuse. Perhaps you could check my other posts in case I've made any other embarrassing errors.

2 I made the point that drafting uninvited and then abusing your vivtim when they complain is on a par with spitting in my book. both are uninvited and unpleasant.

Yes, EXACTLY the same thing :roll:

The Chingford Skinhead

Robmanic1 wrote:

[

Yes, EXACTLY the same thing :roll:

I said on a par (an equality in value or standing; a level of equality) not EXACTLY :roll:

robmanic1

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

Robmanic1 wrote:

[

Yes, EXACTLY the same thing :roll:

I said on a par (an equality in value or standing; a level of equality) not EXACTLY :roll:

So someone riding in close proximity to your rear wheel would have the same "level of equality" as someone spitting in your face?

My, you really are a skinhead aren't you sir.

always_tyred

idwa wrote:

So - what should I do next time - slam on my brakes and wait for the crunch?

1. Slow to an agonising crawl and then draft them once they've gone past, or
2. Fart as loudly as possible or
3. Accidentally clumbsily operate your water bottle.

downfader

Drafters.. never get them around here... Even though my knees are screwed at the moment I can pretty much burn them off. Says a LOT for the locals that have ever tried it

Personally I think it is rude and dangerous, if I cant be bothered to race off I just sloooooowwwww righhhhhhhttttt downnnnnnnn.

Right my rant for the day. Old lady in a car (aint got a clue as to what it was) couldnt have been any younger than 80 pulls up to a junction as I'm riding up a slight incline on the main road, shirley road, this morning. Waits until I get my front wheel in line and lurches out.

Cue me going "Wooooaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!" for the second time this week. My pants brown for the second time also. People at the bus stop found it hilarious, I mean I was doing about 20 with a nice tailwind helping me a long and had to flick right out in the center of the road.

Second rant. Teenage kids, all on Halfords-specials, full-sus going up hill on chessel avenue. Pain in the bum that they were, I'm knackered and cant get past and they're all over the road doing wheelies not looking where they were going. Finally I pass them move on up to the lights. Slowly they crawl past the car infront of me and just amble on into oncoming traffic. :shock: :?

It pains me to say it but I pity the poor driver who ends up hitting them (as well as the kid too obviously) as it wont have been their fault. Very luckily the drivers on both sides sussed out what was happening and stopped.

The Chingford Skinhead

Robmanic1 wrote:

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

Robmanic1 wrote:

[

Yes, EXACTLY the same thing :roll:

I said on a par (an equality in value or standing; a level of equality) not EXACTLY :roll:

So someone riding in close proximity to your rear wheel would have the same "level of equality" as someone spitting in your face?

My, you really are a skinhead aren't you sir.

it would really help if you read the posts and then reread them to make sure you haven't got ahead of yourself added words and thus misunderstood or misinterpreted what has been written.

You claimed spitting was "Possibly the worst thing a human can do to another!" and i demonstrated that this was a daft thing to say.

You then interpreted the word par to read exactly - v different words.

Now your adding spitting IN THE FACE to the thread whereas Vanquished said he was spat at - no mention of face anywhere.

we'll clearly have to aqccept that we don't agree and leave it at that

robmanic1

Are you STILL going on? Ive traveled 2 hours to get home in the time it's taken you to come up with that.

Remember who started this fella, you jumped on my, fairly innocent and well meaning comment, like a complete pedant, who are you to go around correcting folk anyway.

For the record, on a par means the same as or, as you quoted probably from the dictionary you keep handy at all times as forum prefect, "level of equality".

Anyhew, life's too short. adieu.

wes100

What is an acceptable gap if following another cyclist? I occasionally find myself behind another and I don't want to be accused of wheel sucking. I generally allow enough room for a car to safely fit between us (at speeds above 10mph), is that acceptable?
When I have the energy and it is safe I will pass the guy in front, or find out that he was just coasting for a bit and that he can maintain 30mph on the flat!

Rockbuddy

This is kind of a rant but also wondering if I am being a bit of a numpty...

When cycling up to parked cars I have got into the habit of overtaking pretty much without indicating, after a quick shoulder check and seeing there is plenty of room between me and the car behind, I just pull out. I guess my thinking is that cars really should be anticipating that I am not going to plough into the parked car in front at 20+mph. Maybe not the most sensible stance because as I am over taking the parked car it seems that this is the best time for the car behind me to rev and accelerate to overtake me. It's happened a couple of times down the same downhill strech, where the road narrows and there's not really room to overtake when I'm overtaking a parked car. Surely indicating when the car seems intent on overtaking would just end in an arm swipe by a stray wing mirror.

Basically am I being too agressive or should I assert myself more on the road???

Kieran_Burns

I always pull out gradually as I approach the parked car (after a shoulder check). I someone IS close I will give a hand signal to show I am pulling out.

The way I figure it: if you are meant when driving (you are) you should when cycling.

antfly

I would say keep your arms in and pull out early,you don`t have to signal every time you pass a parked car.

always_tyred

antfly wrote:

I would say keep your arms in and pull out early,you don`t have to signal every time you pass a parked car.

Agreed. I think its safer than spending your entire commute with one hand on the bars.
Its quite clear, if you are cycling as part of traffic (as opposed to timidly wobbling along the gutter) that you will be moving around the parked cars. Drivers who try to pinch me out get a hammer on the door or a Paddington Bear stare.
I also think that constantly indicating, unless its a large vehicle or a vehicle in a very odd location (e.g. where its not completely obvious if its parked or not) is potentially misleading to following vehicles.
All that said, you have to keep aware of the possibility of someone trying to nip past and be prepared to avoid them if they do. A glance over the shoulder is an effective way of inferring to a driver that you are thining of moving over. A full eye contact shoulder check is an effective way of letting a driver know you are concerned that they are a homicidal idiot.
This works most but not all of the time and you have to be in a position to abort if necessary

Stone Glider

Rockbuddy I agree with AT but the defining principle has to be that you do their thinking for them. This works just as well when you are driving the car.

Roastie

1) My rant: I have a head cold and feel like sh1t. Had to ride in gently (used a self imposed 120bpm limit). Miserable. Got passed by everything in sight.

2) What is the big issue with drafting? I have no problem with someone using that little hole of low pressure in my wake (provided they are courteous enough to acknowledge the hospitality). To me being drafted (and drafting where appropriate) is the most natural thing.

always_tyred

Roastiecp wrote:

2) What is the big issue with drafting? I have no problem with someone using that little hole of low pressure in my wake (provided they are courteous enough to acknowledge the hospitality). To me being drafted (and drafting where appropriate) is the most natural thing.

The key is letting the person in front know.

I drafted a guy for the fat end of 20 miles the other week (he on a colnago, me on a cross bike with mudguards, 28c's and disc brakes, me about twice his age - I was quite chuffied at the pull I did to reel him in to be honest). He dragged me half way around Devon and didn't seem bothered in the slightest. Bummer he took that wrong turn in Paignton really!

I let him know asap that I was there and that I'd just about killed myself trying to catch up, and that I'd happily take a pull, but that it would last about a femtosecond because I wouldn't be able to keep his pace.

On the flip side, you'll see an earlier rant of mine in this thread about people who DON'T tell you they are there.

cat_with_no_tail

Riding home the other day along the TT course, very wide stretch of road. Cars all passing very easily with plenty of room. Then some little chav in a clapped out old purple golf comes past and just skims my jacket with his wing mirror, then has the almighty brass balls to shout out of his window "FU***NG GET ON THE PAVEMENT YOU WA**ER".

Hearing some of the horror stories you UK City commuters come out with I have to say that over here we generally have very considerate drivers. The kind who always move over as far to the right as is humanly possible and slow down to let you pull out of busy junctions at rush hour.

antfly

Over where?

cat_with_no_tail

Sorry :oops: , Isle of Man

antfly

I realised when I saw your name.

sarajoy

Cat With No Tail wrote:

Hearing some of the horror stories you UK City commuters come out with I have to say that over here we generally have very considerate drivers. The kind who always move over as far to the right as is humanly possible and slow down to let you pull out of busy junctions at rush hour.

Out your way I bet they're so used to motorbikes that being nice to pushbikes is a doddle!

downfader

Had a good one today. Going down hill, quite a few traffic islands in the road plus I tend to go quite fast there. Some wolly in a massive red 4x4 decided waiting behind a cyclist doing 30 in a 30 zone isnt good enough for him and forces his way past me as I'm passing the next traffic island.

I shouted "OI!! Steady on pal!! You dont overtake at the island!" He checked his wing mirror and carried on driving, thing is he then slowed down for all the bends in the road and had to stop at the road works lights. I think he though I was going to have a go as he kind of sat dead, dead still staring in his wing mirror at me. Turned out it was an old boy

I must have been on his tail for half a mile and then passed him. Jesus its quicker by bike when people drive like that.

zanes

Ooooo, congratulations to the bloke on a fancy scott who undertook the entire queue to get out of Bath Uni, pulled out in front of an oncoming car, nearly got hit, got a good blast of horn, and about 1/2 a mile later pulled onto a roundabout with no stopping or giving way.


I have a question. What's it like getting overtaken by someone in high viz, with no front derailleur on a £300 road bike that's done two winters. Because that's what I did, despite your dangerous, illegal and stupid riding. Feeling fast?

chuckcork

zanes wrote:

Ooooo, congratulations to the bloke on a fancy scott who undertook the entire queue to get out of Bath Uni, pulled out in front of an oncoming car, nearly got hit, got a good blast of horn, and about 1/2 a mile later pulled onto a roundabout with no stopping or giving way.


I have a question. What's it like getting overtaken by someone in high viz, with no front derailleur on a £300 road bike that's done two winters. Because that's what I did, despite your dangerous, illegal and stupid riding. Feeling fast?

Don't matter what its like for him, he'll be in a box soon enough for the question to be redundant.

timpop

Reading this thread was winding me up a little so I had my lunch and I'm ok now.
I have some reoccurring themes to my commute but three occasions stand out as my favourites:
• Signalling to turn right at a small junction in sleepy Wimborne, the car that has been following slowly for about 10 seconds decides it would be prudent to pass me just as I’m preparing to turn. This seems to happen in other areas quite frequently, as someone wrote in an earlier post, drivers must think I’m waving them on!
• Riding down a side street, cars parked on both sides leaving space for one vehicle. I’m happily pedalling along and a large van speeds towards me without any consideration for the fact I have nowhere to go but I did manage just in time to make it out of his way, thus avoiding a head-on collision. Happens a lot and when I can I always give way but it’s not always possible.
• Travelling downhill at about 20-25 mph, nearing a petrol station very close to my home. A young lady turns right across my path in her little car. I had to slam on the brakes and pull out some creative manoeuvres to avoid a collision. So as a good citizen I pulled into the station to ask her to please watch out for cyclists, she hadn’t noticed me at all!
• Sorry, one more. I was cruising along and a postal truck was looking to pull out, which he did just as I went past. I swerved dramatically to avoid him at which point he finally saw me. I must admit, I half expected it. He actually pulled over shortly after and apologised.
• Wait another. Riding through Bournemouth town on Old Christchurch Road a car passed me and immediately stopped to park. Zipidy doo.

Basically there’s a lot of swerving going on. I was hit by a Camaro when I was 17, I didn’t swerve then. My bike was wrecked and my knees sore but I was ok, lucky. The Camaro needed a re-spray, ouch.

I’ll shut up now.

asprilla

timpop wrote:

• Signalling to turn right at a small junction in sleepy Wimborne, the car that has been following slowly for about 10 seconds decides it would be prudent to pass me just as I’m preparing to turn. This seems to happen in other areas quite frequently, as someone wrote in an earlier post, drivers must think I’m waving them on!

Happens to me all the time.

I live two houses before a right junction and as a result when I signal to turn into my driveway lots of people think I'm turning at the junction and they can nip round me.

timpop

Asprilla wrote:

timpop wrote:

• Signalling to turn right at a small junction in sleepy Wimborne, the car that has been following slowly for about 10 seconds decides it would be prudent to pass me just as I’m preparing to turn. This seems to happen in other areas quite frequently, as someone wrote in an earlier post, drivers must think I’m waving them on!

Happens to me all the time.

I live two houses before a right junction and as a result when I signal to turn into my driveway lots of people think I'm turning at the junction and they can nip round me.

Man, that has got to be trying on the patience. On the way home last night I had the classic trip with cars not leaving enough room to pass while they sit in traffic, even after they just passed me so surely they would know I'm coming. Then having cars do that rolling of the front of the car into the street just as I get to them causing me to 'swerve' into traffic to avoid flying over their hood. Argh!

Damn humans.