Fairweather brigade

gtvlusso

Here they come.....slow, useless, no observation's and getting in the way of everything.

Road full of slow moving obstacles this morning - inside and outside, usually on a knobbly shod MTB or a flatbar of some description. Bikeshed full at work...unusually, as it has been empty for the last 5 or 6 months.

And I had a little visit from the puncture fairy and her 3" nail this morning.....new tyre and tube as they are both ripped.

I am under a cloud :-(

simple_salmon

But it's better than them being in cars - yes?

gtvlusso

To be honest - I would rather some of them were in cars or back on buses as they spent most of the morning in my way and having sweet FA road sense......

snooks

The more the merrier

If there were more cyclist may be they would be sweeping the road for puncture causing nasties leaving you free to cycle debris free, unless the nail came off a bike in front of course!!

Anyway, if they are that slow you'll be past them in an instant!!

gtvlusso

Most of them are hopping on and off curbs without a care of looking behind them when the re-join the road. You get stuck behind them in the traffic queues on the inside and outside filters.....just painful this morning. Overtook everything until my tyre let go.....

I am emotional about the experience and I have to bloody work tonight!!!! Vent vent vent!

MrChuck

A few years ago when I used to have a longer commute into Cambridge I used to sweep along a nice empty cycle path (shared use, so not actually in the road) with only the odd other rider for company. As I sat on 20 or more past a long line of stationary cars I did sometimes think about how much worse my ride in would be if loads of them decided to start riding instead and wobbling about in front of me. So although people getting out of their cars can only be a good thing I do know what gtvlusso means!

il_principe

Passed a persistent RLJ'er about 5 times last night. Typical fair weather numpty, all in black, no lights, jumped 6 sets of lights in a row and still got caught every time. Now that the evenings are a bit lighter there seem to be loads of lightless morons on the road.

Chewy Cheeks

I have noticed more and more ignoring of lights in SW London in the short time I have been back commuting.

Whether or not I overtake them after they have done it is irrelevent to me, my own concern for getting oxygen in and safely negotiating the traffic are more pressing matters. They are usually not racing snakes though (irrelevent i know).

The thought that one day I feel I am going to see one of them splattered or worse ride into someone does concern me.

Its the everythings all right so I'll blithely carry on, on one has seen me so it cannot be a problem, lalalalalalalalala aura they seem to give off that scrapes my bits a bit

Should this be on Rants? I hope not

pintoo

Out of my way mortals! How is this attitude different to the one cyclists face from some drivers, cabbies etc?

gtvlusso

pintoo wrote:

Out of my way mortals! How is this attitude different to the one cyclists face from some drivers, cabbies etc?

Simple really - Why not cycle all year around and ditch the car. Or does it cancel out your winter carbon footprint or something by cycling in summer - in which case, Why bother as you could have virtually no carbon footprint if you cycled all year.

I can understand if it is bloody miles or something and it can only feasably done a couple of times a week (kids, pets, lifestyle etc etc), but you can still do the run all year around.

Cycle all year around or just stay in your car/on the bus!!! If I, my wife and coutless others can do it without too much hassle - then why not you?

gtvlusso

Just wussing out because it is: cold, raining, snowing or windy does not compute in my book!

MTFU!

*Your skin is waterproof*

rolf_f

Embrace it! You should try cycling in Holland. Wonderful anarchy, cycles rule the roads and, seemingly, anything goes. I cycled the wrong way up a one way street at night with a defective rear light simply because it seemed the Dutch thing to do!
This place will only really be right when there are so many cyclists about, that the odd lightless individual doesn't really matter.

They do behave with regard to signal lights - many people won't even cross the road on foot at a Pelican crossing unless it is green even if there isn't a moving car within half a kilometer.

pintoo

gtvlusso wrote:

pintoo wrote:

Out of my way mortals! How is this attitude different to the one cyclists face from some drivers, cabbies etc?

Simple really - Why not cycle all year around and ditch the car. Or does it cancel out your winter carbon footprint or something by cycling in summer - in which case, Why bother as you could have virtually no carbon footprint if you cycled all year.

I can understand if it is bloody miles or something and it can only feasably done a couple of times a week (kids, pets, lifestyle etc etc), but you can still do the run all year around.

Cycle all year around or just stay in your car/on the bus!!! If I, my wife and coutless others can do it without too much hassle - then why not you?

It's a free country. Why do yuou think your views should apply to everyone? If people start cycling now, they might carry on into the colder months. They might not. But it's up to them. They have as much right to the road as the rest of us.

If you want to turn this into a CO2 debate, it's still a loser. Fewer journeys in a car is better. If those only happen in the Summer, it's better than not at all.

Jay dubbleU

gtvlusso wrote:

Here they come.....slow, useless, no observation's and getting in the way of everything.

Road full of slow moving obstacles this morning - inside and outside, usually on a knobbly shod MTB or a flatbar of some description. Bikeshed full at work...unusually, as it has been empty for the last 5 or 6 months.

And I had a little visit from the puncture fairy and her 3" nail this morning.....new tyre and tube as they are both ripped.

I am under a cloud :-(

Excuse me - some of us have been riding flatbars all winter - our bikeshed is also full for the first time this week MTFU

il_principe

simple_salmon wrote:

But it's better than them being in cars - yes?

Defo, I just wish people would take more care, ie use lights and respect other road users.

gtvlusso

pintoo wrote:

gtvlusso wrote:

pintoo wrote:

Out of my way mortals! How is this attitude different to the one cyclists face from some drivers, cabbies etc?

Simple really - Why not cycle all year around and ditch the car. Or does it cancel out your winter carbon footprint or something by cycling in summer - in which case, Why bother as you could have virtually no carbon footprint if you cycled all year.

I can understand if it is bloody miles or something and it can only feasably done a couple of times a week (kids, pets, lifestyle etc etc), but you can still do the run all year around.

Cycle all year around or just stay in your car/on the bus!!! If I, my wife and coutless others can do it without too much hassle - then why not you?

It's a free country. Why do yuou think your views should apply to everyone? If people start cycling now, they might carry on into the colder months. They might not. But it's up to them. They have as much right to the road as the rest of us.

If you want to turn this into a CO2 debate, it's still a loser. Fewer journeys in a car is better. If those only happen in the Summer, it's better than not at all.

You really need to MTFU!

I would hazard a guess that "no" car journeys is better than some.....Fewer journeys in a car is better - better than what?!?!

I agree - it is entirely up to people to decide what they do - they are still wusses and need to MTFU - I did not say that anyone had to agree with me, just stating the facts, sound like you are trying to justify yourself - just accept ithat you're a wuss and need to MTFU.

Ride all year and I have maximum respect for you - ride only when the sun shines (in our very short summer) and I will take the pee. Does this also mean that if it rains during summer you won't ride in it?!

UNless you have a "summer" house close to work and a "winter" house in the alps - then I could see why you only cycle in the summer - but lets face it, you would probably take a helicopter or private jet!

gtvlusso

Jay dubbleU wrote:

gtvlusso wrote:

Here they come.....slow, useless, no observation's and getting in the way of everything.

Road full of slow moving obstacles this morning - inside and outside, usually on a knobbly shod MTB or a flatbar of some description. Bikeshed full at work...unusually, as it has been empty for the last 5 or 6 months.

And I had a little visit from the puncture fairy and her 3" nail this morning.....new tyre and tube as they are both ripped.

I am under a cloud :-(

Excuse me - some of us have been riding flatbars all winter - our bikeshed is also full for the first time this week MTFU

No offence intended - flat bars are fine!

MrChuck

pintoo wrote:

Out of my way mortals! How is this attitude different to the one cyclists face from some drivers, cabbies etc?

You're quite right, and it's not on. But still, it is a bit frustrating when you know that a lot of these people will have given up in a couple of weeks or at the first sign of rain. Same sort of thing as, say, big queues in January at the sports centre you use all year round.

Also I think gtvlusso needs to calm down a bit with the MTFUs!

pintoo

gtvlusso wrote:

You really need to MTFU!

I would hazard a guess that "no" car journeys is better than some.....Fewer journeys in a car is better - better than what?!?!

I agree - it is entirely up to people to decide what they do - they are still wusses and need to MTFU - I did not say that anyone had to agree with me, just stating the facts, sound like you are trying to justify yourself - just accept ithat you're a wuss and need to MTFU.

Ride all year and I have maximum respect for you - ride only when the sun shines (in our very short summer) and I will take the pee. Does this also mean that if it rains during summer you won't ride in it?!

UNless you have a "summer" house close to work and a "winter" house in the alps - then I could see why you only cycle in the summer - but lets face it, you would probably take a helicopter or private jet!

Fewer car journeys are better than more car journeys. Is that so hard to fathom?

I'm not after your respect. I don't care what you think. I do ride all year round, but I'm not a smug turd about it. The more the better.

People are dead manly on forums, though aren't they? Leet speak makes you so intimidating.

mookiebaylock

cock

mookiebaylock

ok, c*ck

snooks

gtvlusso wrote:

I agree - it is entirely up to people to decide what they do - they are still wusses and need to MTFU - I did not say that anyone had to agree with me, just stating the facts, sound like you are trying to justify yourself - just accept ithat you're a wuss and need to MTFU.

Ride all year and I have maximum respect for you - ride only when the sun shines (in our very short summer) and I will take the pee. Does this also mean that if it rains during summer you won't ride in it?!

Sorry, just had another read...what makes you think that if they weren't riding bikes they'd be driving??

When I don't cycle in, I walk to the tube/train station and take that. Just cos I don't cycle in doesn't make me a driver. And if I do drive, it's not into the office, it's on a motorway, which yer not allowed to cycle on anyway

Today was the first time I've commuted since 1 day in Jan. Sometimes I had too much kit to take on my bike, sometimes I'm going for a beer after work, Sometimes I didn't have a bike with me (at my girlfriends - now sorted) Most of the time I was out of the office. But just cos I don't cycle into the office everyday it doesn't mean you can take the pee out of me

I like to cycle into the office when I can, fact is I've rarely been in the office in the last 3 months. I was going to ride in today regardless of the weather.

Now I realise I'm no fair weather cyclist, and I don't ride on the pavement, and I'm considerate to other road users. But just cos I don't ride in every day, it don't make me a fair weather cyclist...;)

soy_sauce

gtvlusso wrote:

Here they come.....slow, useless, no observation's and getting in the way of everything.

Road full of slow moving obstacles this morning - inside and outside, usually on a knobbly shod MTB or a flatbar of some description. Bikeshed full at work...unusually, as it has been empty for the last 5 or 6 months.

And I had a little visit from the puncture fairy and her 3" nail this morning.....new tyre and tube as they are both ripped.

I am under a cloud :-(

what wrong with commuting on a MTB? 8)
its one of those fear of commuting in bad weather put people off commuting to work in winter. they just need to been out there cycling in heavy rain for an hour or so then they will realised its not as bad as they thought it would be and continue it in the winter.

biondino

gtvlusso off on one again :roll:

Clever Pun

More cyclists make it safer...

as people learn they become better users of 'your' space relax. You do sound like a typical car driver you realise

sarajoy

There's absolutely nothing wrong with fair-weather cyclists, especially if you don't think there's anything wrong with jumped-up roadies who act superior and intimidating to said fairweathers.

You might have another sporty hobby - say sailing, skiing, running - or indeed a non-sporty hobby like going round car boot sales looking for antiques or going dancing, whatever.

In all of these there will be beginners, people who just aren't very good at it, and people who will turn up seasonally only in good weather (or only in bad if it's an indoor activity).

Yes they might be annoying but these people need to be nurtured and encouraged, not looked down upon!

I will make sure I dance with a few beginners now and then as they need the experience of a good following partner, I will make sure I don't cut up a nervous-looking cyclist/skiier/dinghy-sailor, I help out a fellow member of the tallship crew who's got their ropes mixed up...

Sorry, this sounds very self-righteous but I'm afraid people are people.

Until I get into a supermarket on a busy day, when suddenly they are ALL CRETINS and IN MY WAY!!!

_Brun_

sarajoy wrote:

Until I get into a supermarket on a busy day, when suddenly they are ALL CRETINS and IN MY WAY!!!

mitchell_inman

In the spirit of the OP -

I'm a fair weather cyclist - what's it to you?? Much of the time, I really can't be bothered with cycling in the snow, wind, rain, etc.

Sometimes I drive, sometimes I use the bus, sometimes I run or walk. I might even start cycling now the nights are a bit lighter...

Maybe I should MTFU or maybe you should just STFU

BoardinBob

I had one this morning. Words cant even describe what kind of bike she was on.

Wasn't a hybrid, wasn't a roadie, wasn't a mtb, wasn't a brompton etc. It looked like something an 8 year old girl would ride.

I saw her in the distance trundling along at 2mph and when i caught her I held back then overtook her when the road was clear giving her plenty of space then put the foot down on a long straight. I then arrived at a red light at a busy junction and the lights remain on red for ages so she caught up. I was in the ASL box and when she arrived she went past me and stopped in front of me :?

Never mind. Lights go green, she wobbles off and I overtook her again. Short distance to the next set of lights and again she does the same

Lights to green and again I overtake her. We arrive at the next set of lights at a crossroads and she rides onto the pavement and stops at the green man crossing. She waits for the green man to appear and then sets off. At the same time my lights have went green so I set off too. Half way across the pedestrian crossing she swerves right and re-joins the road and again I have to overtake her.

I'm all for novice cyclists taking up the sport and we were all novices once but displaying a complete disregard for all other road users is not on!

BoardinBob

edit

pintoo

BoardinBob wrote:

I'm all for novice cyclists taking up the sport and we were all novices once but displaying a complete disregard for all other road users is not on!

There it is - 100% agree. But it's not just novices who ride without regard. I see a lot of experienced riders do the same, too.