Your rants here.

elbowloh

Drove to work this morning. Queuing at a red light. It's single lane, but it splits into two lanes a few meters ahead of me (the inside lane of which quickly becomes a bus lane). A white van man, drives up my inside using the bus stop and over the kerb that projects out to get into the inside lane. I think it's one off, but then another van and a car, seeing his crappy behaviour, follow suit.

All 3 then have to cut back in to the right hand lane to avoid the bus lane once the light goes green. Just stupid and inconsiderate to those queuing properly, just to gain a few places in a line of traffic.

Pathetic.

porlyworly

Riding home along a pitch black country lane, hear a car roaring up the hill behind me, next thing I know the horn is beeping and headlights flashing and the car swerves to within a foot or two of me. I managed to get off the road onto the grass (thankfully no kerb to negotiate) as the maniacs tear off into the distance. Or so I thought - the car does a handbrake turn about 300 yards up the road then comes flying back down, on the wrong side of the road, flashing and beeping again. Waited a few mins and no sign of them coming back but for the rest of the ride home every car that approached from behind had me on edge. Probably just idiots trying to scare the cyclist, don't think they were trying to knock me off but they couldn't have gotten much closer.

Rang the police when I got home, gave them the reg no and details and they said they'd send someone round (which they inevitably never did). Now going a different route home which is a right pain as it's further and much lumpier but it's also, for the first time since I started cycling & commuting by bike daily (approx. 3 years ago) completely wiped out my motivation to ride.

Need to man up and snap out of it!

timothyw

PorlyWorly wrote:

Riding home along a pitch black country lane, hear a car roaring up the hill behind me, next thing I know the horn is beeping and headlights flashing and the car swerves to within a foot or two of me. I managed to get off the road onto the grass (thankfully no kerb to negotiate) as the maniacs tear off into the distance. Or so I thought - the car does a handbrake turn about 300 yards up the road then comes flying back down, on the wrong side of the road, flashing and beeping again. Waited a few mins and no sign of them coming back but for the rest of the ride home every car that approached from behind had me on edge. Probably just idiots trying to scare the cyclist, don't think they were trying to knock me off but they couldn't have gotten much closer.

Rang the police when I got home, gave them the reg no and details and they said they'd send someone round (which they inevitably never did). Now going a different route home which is a right pain as it's further and much lumpier but it's also, for the first time since I started cycling & commuting by bike daily (approx. 3 years ago) completely wiped out my motivation to ride.

Need to man up and snap out of it!

Well, hypothetically you could find out where they live and slash their tyres.

Probably not the best thing to do when you've already reported them to the police, the police might put two and two together.

Still, might take the thug off the road for at least a brief period.

itboffin

If i had the number i'd post it to twitter and or facebook and mention in your local police account, that seems to get a lot more attention these days.

martincroxall

Hey PorlyWorly is that Bagworth in Leicestershire? What lane were you riding down? There were a few incidents out there last year I think related to a BMW although I could be wrong.

porlyworly

Yes mate was literally the country road that takes you from Newbold Verdon up to Bagworth (about half a mile from the turning into Bagworth at the top of the village).

I'm almost certain they were joyriders as there was a police helicopter in the sky

fatsmoker

martincroxall wrote:

Hey PorlyWorly is that Bagworth in Leicestershire? What lane were you riding down? There were a few incidents out there last year I think related to a BMW although I could be wrong.

Word on the street is they were pikeys who moved on to harrass people somewhere else.

Wheelspinner

Mostly OT rants, but it goes here anyway.

1. Dear Climate Change Scientist dudes: here's a PR tip. If you want to release a press statement declaring the future for our fair city is considerably warmer and drier conditions through summer, I recommend you check with your brethren over in the Forecasting division to pick the day. Publishing this on what is the coldest and wettest couple of mid-summer days in 20-odd years makes you look just a teeny bit silly. And yes, I know the forecasters are in fact the guys who couldn't make it in the Amateur Blind Darts league competitions, but every once in a while they get close. And yes, I know weather and climate are different. You still look like fools.

2. Dear Madam, if you insist on a daily diet of 20 donuts for breakfast, may I suggest you take the freight train to work instead of the regular commuter one? You didn't really fit down the aisle; what on earth made you think you could reasonably wedge yourself into the seat next to me?

3. Dear Work People (i): the reason the software package you want me to go learn and be an expert in has not been a sales success in this market in the last 20 years is because it's cr@p. I may be fabulous, but flogging dead horses isn't one of my special talents. Sorry.

4. Dear Work People (ii): commuting to the office for an hour and a half each way in pelting rain on public transport to spend the day bored senseless trying to look busy because there's not much to actually do may be a small part of why I am such a grumpy sod. Who knew? I can just as easily do this little useful work from the comfort and convenience of home: insisting I come in here achieves nothing for either of us.

5. Dear Medical Profession: I know you are entitled to those month-long holidays in Tahiti or the Bahamas or wherever, and I don't even mind contributing to your funding program for them, provided you actually deliver some results for the wheelbarrows full of cash I've shovelled your way. Recommending I go see Specialist number 6 (presumably because his Platinum Amex is maxed out after the ski month in Aspen and he needs the business) to find he has no clue or advice of any value is somewhat frustrating. I'm going to start carrying a bag of rocks to throw at you lot. Trust me, it will help me feel better, which is way more benefit than the 20 grands worth of "advice" I've had in the last three years.

Annnnnnd breathe...

redvee

Trying to find a new pair of Kinesis DC37 forks is impossible at the moment unless anybody here knows a shop with stock. It's something I've been meaning to do for a while but now with the front wheel 25k miles old, it's long overdue for replacement. In the meantime I'm using the front brake as little as possible.

rick_chasey

Passing other cyclist on the inside - especially when they barrel through a zebra crossing.

a) don't get p!ssy when I don't appreciate it - you were almost knocked off as I set off as a result of that.

b) the comeback of 'the rules are all about you aren't they' doesn't really work in that context.

c) yes, I will patronise you if you fail to understand what is correct and what isn't. Telling me I'm patronising isn't really going to stop me is it? Obviously I'm patronising, that's the point, duh.

d) telling me to go and 'cry off to your boyfriend' and then getting very upset when I call you a homophobe is weak.

kiwimatt

£50 fixed penalty from Strathclydes finest for failing obey a no entry sign that leads into a tiny 30m stretch of always deserted one way back street that then turns immediately into 2 way again. Me and about 500 others a week. Trying to have a civilised wee chat about why so many cyclists do this to stay out of the way and as a safe route out of town led to a stern lecture on section 38 of the RTA, the helpful suggestion I dismount and push my bike along the pavement, the fact that he wasn't interested in my opinion followed by the gleeful declaration he had handed out 16 tickets already this evening. I think they must teach being a prick at traffic training as well as motorbike handling.

So ho hum its fair enough you are technically breaking the law so I shall pay up but an expensive commute and not an obvious alternative route.

Wheelspinner

redvee

Doing the Order Picker thing that is one of the roles I perform in work and the last order of the day started off with picking 1s and 2s of items then I moved onto 26 20kg bags of coal. Glad in a way it was the last order of the night.

First.Aspect

(1) Wiggle. Sent me some small parts (chain links and inner tube). They selected "crap cheap courier" instead of Royal Mail and charged me £3 for the privilage, so it took a week to get them. When asked why, they claimed that Royal Mail did not ship such items. Really? Wow - I didn't need you to send me the inner tubes already inflated.

Stop digging, Gemma at Wiggle. Gullible is in the dictionary under G, so don't try telling me that it isn't.

I already try to avoid using Wiggle because the "in stock" items so often aren't, and because the "expected in stock" dates are mere preludes to "item no longer available, but we'll suck you in by leaving them listed". I hope Chainreactioncycles mashes you into a pulp you silly people.

(2) Crap cheap courier DX - hired by Wiggle.
-Only deliver once, unless you specifically book a redelivery.
- You have to book before 6pm, so you don't get them the next day for the same reason you don't get them the first.
- The reason you give for having to spend 10 minutes putting in more personal details than you need to fly to Syria in order to get anything re-delivered? Items need to be signed for. What are you on about?
-Only they didn't deliver - no card. So even if I had been home, I wouldn't have known, because they only send an email the next day.
- Reasons given for not delivering, in order of imagination: (i) "Couldn't gain access to property" (ii) "road closed" and then subsequently (iii) "traffic accident blocked road" when pressed. I'd almost believe it were it not for the facts that you can reach my house from 4 different directions, and a roofer, painter, our postman, me, my wife and DHL all managed to make it here and back that day and the massive RTA that blocked the local road somehow hasn't made it into the local news.

DX Driver, Liar is in the dictionary, under L. As is Lazy and Late.

3) Its snowing. I'll have to cycle 14 miles e/w on a mountain bike today, at least 6 on uncleared roads.

4) Moots - why do you tell people things like "8 weeks for a frame" or "5 weeks for a stem" when the actual numbers are 22 and 10? You aren't in competition with Canyon or SRAM so stop doing it. I'm sick of waiting for you; you aren't even the best or best value in the town where you are based any more.

And that's it.

R4skob

Didn't get a place in the Ride 100, fair enough.

though my brother got a place, and he doesn't even own a bike grr

GiantDance

R4skob wrote:

Didn't get a place in the Ride 100, fair enough.

though my brother got a place, and he doesn't even own a bike grr

This 3rd year running I've missed out 3rd year running bloke next to me gets in, 3rd year running he will probably drop out as his wife has booked their summer holiday over that weekend.

Kieran_Burns

Not had my email yet....

Ian.B

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Not had my email yet....

Nor me, I thought they said not till early February, and nothing on the website either

pinkteapot

Came up on the pavement (it's shared use) to use this crossing:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.89217 ... xMgkuA!2e0

I was on the pavement on the left as you look at that.

Traffic lights went red. I waited till the green man appeared as cars do nip across late on these lights. Left-hand lane of traffic coming down this road (direction of travel above) was stopped. I started across, then some TWONK came barrelling round the outside of the stopped traffic and just drove straight across into the right-hand lane for the roundabout.

Fully ran the red light when traffic in both directions was stopped for it. I only saw him and stopped at the last minute because my view of him coming was obscured by the stopped line of traffic on his inside.

Sadly I don't have a helmet cam and didn't get his number plate. :evil:

Ben6899

R4skob wrote:

Didn't get a place in the Ride 100, fair enough.

though my brother got a place, and he doesn't even own a bike grr

It's for choppers, anyway. I wouldn't fret about it.

redvee

A roadside tube swap with three thorns in the tyre. Need some PF free miles to keep up with last years 450 mile average, currently on 250 miles average per visit.

First Aspect wrote:

Crap cheap courier DX - hired by Wiggle.

My first encounter with DX/Wiggle wasn't good, like you the driver CBA'd to deliver the parcel. I took to Twitter and got a Saturday delivery organised at no expense. DX are also entrusted with your new passport when you renew it and although it needed 2 delivery attempts I did get it with less hassle than the haribo from Wiggle with free bike bits.

sswiss

Roads were fine, Cycle routes were hazardous.
First "Icy Off" of the season. Low speed, low impact, no real harm done!

reformedfatty

Ordering from CRC, selected deliver to my post office for me to collect, thinking I was doing everyone a favour by not having them carry a box up to the door when I'm not in.

Apparently it also means they don't bother putting a card through to tell you it's waiting for you. Similarly, should you pop in to the post office to collect another parcel, the staff definitely shouldn't tell you they have another one waiting for you as well.

:evil:

menthel

Had to walk the boy to breakfast club in my spd boots this morning. The clear got so cold that balls of ice formed around them, making walking painful and slippery. Was rather like ice skating and I don't like ice skating!

andy9964

Menopausal wife:
Leaves room, then an identical (in appearance - height, hair, clothes, facial features etc) woman re-enters. There are several women, all matching the same description, living in my house. Yet only one appears at any one time. Where do they all go?? Why does the nice one have to leave??

DrLex

Ar$e (visible)!
Ripped my favourite commuting trousers across the seat. Can't patch them and if made into shorts, would be suitable only for use in a SF bathhouse or a Tom Daley calendar shoot.

rolf_f

sswiss wrote:

Roads were fine, Cycle routes were hazardous.
First "Icy Off" of the season. Low speed, low impact, no real harm done!

I avoid any cycle routes if there is any chance of ice. Slightly odd to see some bloke on an MTB cycling on the pavement the other day - much scarier than the road!

Wheelspinner

Sold my last proper road bike over the weekend, stripped the delicious Colnago E1, and got rid of most of it via the usual methods. So... "Faster" from my sig is now gone, as is "Fastest" a little while ago. Better update that I suppose *grumble, mutter*...

This is in rants because the only reason I sold them is I could no longer ride them, dodgy neck and all that, and the prospect of being able to again seems more distant than ever. :x

At least the frame has gone to a good home. Chap buying it has (N+1) = 10 now, including a selection of very nice Bianchis. This will keep his C40 company in the collection.

Not. Envious. At. All.

itboffin

What have you done to your neck that's so permanent you've had to sell up?

Wheelspinner

itboffin wrote:

What have you done to your neck that's so permanent you've had to sell up?

Broke it 3 years ago, knocked off bike.

Fracture has healed ok I'm told, except I am now getting relentless pinched nerve issues in neck and shoulders which just will not cope with a road bike position. Tilting head back/up to see where I'm going is nigh on impossible for more than 3 minutes now.

I'm still (just) getting by on an MTB set up for road use.