Your rants here.

will3

MonkeyMonster wrote:

WTF is up with parliament sq traffic after 9pm... I've seen better driving in a playgroup. Fecking bend buses ignoring yellow boxes and rogering the traffic flow which then makes everyone else lose about 50 iq points who then vainly try to get round or under or over and it all goes massively tits up - the peds then ignore their crossing lights and look affronted when you slowly go through your green light and not hit them.

FFS!

Honestly London sounds so crowded, I wonder why so many people live there.

Cafewanda

MonkeyMonster wrote:

WTF is up with parliament sq traffic after 9pm... I've seen better driving in a playgroup. Fecking bend buses ignoring yellow boxes and rogering the traffic flow which then makes everyone else lose about 50 iq points who then vainly try to get round or under or over and it all goes massively tits up - the peds then ignore their crossing lights and look affronted when you slowly go through your green light and not hit them.

FFS!

................ and breathe.............................

rich_e

Not really a rant this one... just a pure outstanded WTF? moment!

On my way home from work last night, riding along Tavistock Place. There is a seperate two way cycle lane which runs alongside the main road. It's painted green, it has it's own set of lights, it also has numerous cycling signs, both on the path and on signposts, as well as bollards. Finally, it has a pavement partition across it to seperate the cycle lane from the cars.

I'm sat waiting at the junction in the cycle lane waiting for its seperate lights to change. The guy in a Honda (think it was a Honda) who was sat across from me in the car lane, moves off at the green light. Rather than going straight on, in the regular car lane, he starts to pull aross the road, towards the cycle lane.

So I'm thinking... "Idiot, he's not going to pull over there and just block the cycle lane, and the other cars".

But no!
For some bizzare reason he decides that this cycle lane is the way he is suppsoed to go, not to mention he seems to think his car must be designed for it!

He half mounts the kerb as he tries to avoid both sets of the traffic lights, but then gets wedged into the lane.There were some good crunching and scraping noises as he wrecked all four of his wheels and the undercarrage of his car; he certainly gave the cyclists coming the other way down the cycle lane a hell of a shock!

I've seen it all now!

Mr Sworld

Rich, you should of taken a photo! Classic!

rich_e

Mr Sworld wrote:

Rich, you should of taken a photo! Classic!

I know, I wish I had, it would have mean't stopping and getting my camera out. As I joined the main road to avoid the carnage in the cycle lane!

I did slow down enough to give the driver a look of pure bewilderement.

downfader

..well after my comments the other day about cars with blacked out windows looking shifty to me what should happen..?

Hurtling downhill at about 30 in primary I see a car waiting on a side road to my right. All black windows, proper big lady sat in the drivers seat. Despite my 3 very bright front lights (all visibile in the day time I'll add - I put these on to be noticed, plus the yellow bib etc) ..she pulls out on me in a near parallel turn.

I put up my hand, shake my head at her and say something like "ARE YOU WATCHING!!" I had to nip in tight to the kerb to avoid hitting her back end. Tried to get her attention in the wing mirror but she doesnt look in those either, obviously.

To add to this insult of a driving move I was right behind her for the next mile until the lights. I pulled into a right turn lane, she a left turn so I looked over at her and get completely blanked. I know she now knows I'm there, so I have a gander at her plates quite openly and shake my head again. Lights go green and I move off.

Oh and a few minutes before I, again, am keeping up with the traffic p***-easy. I head over a mini roundabout and through some temp traffic lights. Road gets a bit wider, and despite my being up close to the car infront some silly woman barges past.

"Now what was the point in that!!?" I say. Blanked again. I have to admit this woman's two young kids were in the car, both saw me and pointed, I think they knew she didnt need to overtake. To make matters more bizare she was taking an immediate right turn for crying out loud. So I filtered past shaking my head.

Has been good all this week except for these two clowns.

shouldbeinbed

BMW driver on the A627 tonight "you need to learn to ride that thing you c**t"

mirror (and look) signal, manouver past (illegally) parked car maintain position in the centre of the carrialgeway and keep my arm out because I'm turning right at the lights in 10 yards. They are on red with a queue to go straight on.

Was there any need to scram up behind me, slam the brakes on, bounce up the kerb to undertake me only to slam your anchors straight on again to not hit the queue of cars and shout at the one of us that does know how to be on a road?

You sterereotypical BMW Bellend.

redvee

Not just Audi drivers that are cocks, drivers of other German cars are too. Was sat at a roundabout in the inside lane to go straight ahead, the other options are turn left, turn right or onto the M32 sliproad so turn left and straight on use the same lane. Mr Porsche Cayenne driver decides the middle lane is for turning left, left hooking me and overtaking the left turning LGV in front of me together. Poinless waving as the mirrors are for decoration, not for rear vision.

downfader

redvee wrote:

Not just Audi drivers that are cocks, drivers of other German cars are too. Was sat at a roundabout in the inside lane to go straight ahead, the other options are turn left, turn right or onto the M32 sliproad so turn left and straight on use the same lane. Mr Porsche Cayenne driver decides the middle lane is for turning left, left hooking me and overtaking the left turning LGV in front of me together. Poinless waving as the mirrors are for decoration, not for rear vision.

There are two Cayenne drivers seen reguarly in Southampton. Complete idiots behind the wheel. I deliberately ride at an earlier time to avoid these clowns as they have no sense of sensible speed past schools or in urban areas, let alone safe passing distances. :?

cjcp

1. Tourists who queue for coffee when I want one and then faff and faff and faff over muffin choices. Tourists shouldn't be allowed in town before 10am.

2. Putney High Street and the right turn onto Battersea Bridge from Cheyne Walk. WTH is with the traffic? Drove into work tonight to get my bikes after beers on Friday night (yes, I hate the trains that much). An average speed of 14.9 mph on the way in. Took an hour. It's quicker by bike. Fortunately, a whopping 21 mph on the way back.

w86h2000

Evening folks, I'm new on here but have a bit of a rant to share.

I cycle through Stockton Tees on my way to work. There's a t-junction with lights on that I come out of. Its two lanes, both going right onto a dual lane road. I am behind a taxi at the lights in the left most lane waiting for the lights. Lights go green and I follow him a big behind. I take up a position in the middle of this lane which then leads up to a major enough roundabout (two lanes on where I am, two off at the next turn, then two back on at the same turn. my exit is straight ahead 2nd exit). I come up to the roundabout and wait until I get a clear way from the cars coming on from my left. As I go around and start to pass the first exit, a car/van in one of the two lanes gives way to me. However, there is a white van in the second lane pulls straight out almost on front of me, I'm going at a good pace and its way too late to stop! You know when you are just on the point of crashing into something going mental because I know I can't stop, well that was me about to go straight into the side/front of him. He must have swerved slightly around the back of me cos I felt my back wheel sliding a bit. Was in a bit of shock as I then took my exit knowing I'd just escaped from ending up in the paintwork somewhere or underneath him. nice way to start the day. This was at 8 in the morning about a month ago when it was still bright.

Anyway rant over. Presuming other people have seen/been here reading through all 46 odd pages of this!

MonkeyMonster

I may well be going out for drinks, pizza and a film but I can still rant that this meant I can't really cycle in today - especially when the weather was begging me to!

Gah.

That and having to leave early on friday - sounds like I missed a goodun! DDD you got off lightly from me Next time...

Wallace1492

My rant today is at the weather. 24 hours of rain......

Decided day off the bike, slight flooding on local roads, but not as bad as they have it up north. As usual when not on bike, now regretting it..... However been a while since a non bike day.....

Itching to get back on iron horse.

fairweatherbiker

downfader wrote:

There are two Cayenne drivers seen reguarly in Southampton. Complete idiots behind the wheel. I deliberately ride at an earlier time to avoid these clowns as they have no sense of sensible speed past schools or in urban areas, let alone safe passing distances. :?

Sing along.

Eight feet tall and two lanes wide Canyonero, Canyonero !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCzCXyQ-bv0

asprilla

Enormous piece of glass straight though a gatorskin on Queens Ride this morning. No problem since I've got a spare tube, except the valve on it is buggered and I've used my CO2 before I realise.

No problem, I walk to the bike shop on Upper Richmond Road, except that it doesn't open on Mondays. Great way to start the week.

Big thanks to the guy who was able to fix the valve and the second guy who stopped with a pump.

el_presidente

fairweatherbiker wrote:

downfader wrote:

There are two Cayenne drivers seen reguarly in Southampton. Complete idiots behind the wheel. I deliberately ride at an earlier time to avoid these clowns as they have no sense of sensible speed past schools or in urban areas, let alone safe passing distances. :?

Sing along.

Eight feet tall and two lanes wide Canyonero, Canyonero !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCzCXyQ-bv0

Unexplained fires are a matter for the courts

cjcp

Asprilla wrote:

Enormous piece of glass straight though a gatorskin on Queens Ride this morning. No problem since I've got a spare tube, except the valve on it is buggered and I've used my CO2 before I realise.

No problem, I walk to the bike shop on Upper Richmond Road, except that it doesn't open on Mondays. Great way to start the week.

Big thanks to the guy who was able to fix the valve and the second guy who stopped with a pump.

That was you? Damn it! I should have asked if you had a pump. Sorry. Didn't even dawn on me. :oops:

asprilla

cjcp wrote:

That was you? Damn it! I should have asked if you had a pump. Sorry. Didn't even dawn on me. :oops:

You sir are a scholar and a gentleman and can have first option on my first born when it arrives.



I didn't ask about the pump because I thought I had abother CO2 canister, alas like a bad boy scout I was not prepared.

cjcp

Asprilla wrote:

I didn't ask about the pump because I thought I had abother CO2 canister, alas like a bad boy scout I was not prepared.

Not a problem. It's a bit of a shame that Holdsworth don't open around 8:30 in a way. (Although that's not a complaint about them - they're very helpful. )

Feltup

Wow Nottingham drivers were on form this afternoon. Thanks to the lad in the black hot hatch who decided that having seen me he could still pull out. A quick shout of Oiii!!! did the trick and he begrudgingly backed off and let me take my indicated exit.

On the return trip I had the pleasure of being able to knock on the back window of a car as she decided that there was plenty of room between me and the bollards :roll:

redvee

Partook of a 2-4-1 special from first Bus in Brizzle this morning. See my post in this topic, no point in repeating it again.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... 9#15719799

snellgrove

I have seen it all now!!! :evil:

In fairly heavy traffic, but moving around 20mph or thereabouts (I dont have a computer)

I'm creeping past cars when I can safely, and I pull along side a .... Renault Scenic I think?

FUCKING DRIVER IS USING HIS LAPTOP ON THE PASSENGER SEAT :shock:

I pointed at the laptop on the seat quite a bit, and he started F-ing and blinding at me. I wish the traffic was bad at the next roundabout.. not to give him a piece of my mind but to tell him "is work really that important??"

he had kids in the back too... I'm sure he'd really kick himself if he caused an accident. What an idiot :roll:


:x :x :x :x

cjcp

:shock:

The Running Man

That is shocking!!!

:shock: :shock: :shock:

will3

Well you see since using a mobile phone is banned he probably has mobile internet so he can use skype.

CiB

You know what Evans staff do that gets on my wick? Whatever you're about to buy, or are showing an interest in, the member of staff 'helping' you will announce that he's got / rides / used to have one of them, and by implication 'that's a wise choice sir...'.

Unless Evans staff all ride 16 wheeled bikes whilst wearing 8 layers of clothing and multi-layered shoes and carry enough enough lights to keep aeroplanes away from a radio mast, they give all the impression of telling porkies.

Yes I know it's their job. They could be a bit more discrete at it though.

jimmypippa

snellgrove wrote:

I have seen it all now!!! :evil:

In fairly heavy traffic, but moving around 20mph or thereabouts (I dont have a computer)

I'm creeping past cars when I can safely, and I pull along side a .... Renault Scenic I think?

******* DRIVER IS USING HIS LAPTOP ON THE PASSENGER SEAT :shock:

I pointed at the laptop on the seat quite a bit, and he started F-ing and blinding at me. I wish the traffic was bad at the next roundabout.. not to give him a piece of my mind but to tell him "is work really that important??"

he had kids in the back too... I'm sure he'd really kick himself if he caused an accident. What an idiot :roll:


:x :x :x :x

I used to commute along the M3 from Aldershot to Sunbury.

One morning in traffic at the M25 Junction I passed a woman in a large VW checking her email at about 50mph.

pastryboy

I ride less than 2 miles on my route on the roads and nearly got taken out twice - both by impatient drivers going onto the wrong side of the road when it's pitch black.

I'd point out I had - hi-viz backpack, red flashing light at rear, front LED strobe, front P7 torch on low and ankle bands.

1 - going along just fine then a car on the other side of the road gets impatient sat behind a bus at a stop and just pulls out into my lane - had about a foot gap before they swerved back into the right lane. I veered onto the pavement just to be on the safe side.

2 - in primary on a 30mph road (holding about 24mph) because there's cars on the left and, like 90% of traffic, I'm about to turn right 100 metres ahead. Car goes around me and around a crossing island in the middle of the road, cuts back when it sees traffic coming towards it and is about a foot from my front wheel when it's back in the right lane. It goes on to turn exactly where I was intending to and got there all of about one second before me.

Pair of idiots - I hope they learnt a lesson from it and realised just how close they got (neither case was I able to hurl abuse at them).

Be patient and don't assume every cyclist is trundling along at 5mph so you can disregard them.

Porgy

Some time when I used to work nights (5 years ago at least) I passed a car driving along slowly on the Old Kent Road who had a DVD player propped up on his dashboard and he appeared to watching as he drove. :shock:


More recently driving down towards Bristol on the motorway my wife and I passed a silver merc driving along in the middle lane at 50mph. When we passed we could see it was a girl having a majorly animated phone call on her mobile and driving with one hand on the wheel.

I think that's the worst thing I've ever seen.

rich_e

ChrisInBicester wrote:

You know what Evans staff do that gets on my wick? Whatever you're about to buy, or are showing an interest in, the member of staff 'helping' you will announce that he's got / rides / used to have one of them, and by implication 'that's a wise choice sir...'.

Unless Evans staff all ride 16 wheeled bikes whilst wearing 8 layers of clothing and multi-layered shoes and carry enough enough lights to keep aeroplanes away from a radio mast, they give all the impression of telling porkies.

Yes I know it's their job. They could be a bit more discrete at it though.

You can find the same situation for pretty much any type of store though. Infact I even remember the first job I ever had, which was in retail. I distinctly remember my manager selling a product to a couple which he knew nothing about and never even used. It was rubbish though, and I felt quite bad that he was recommending them something which wasn't a good choice. But that's how sales work, but it is nice when you get someone who is honest.