Numpty Week

TheStone

Great to see so many people commuting, but the standard of some of the cycling is shocking and I've got sun spots on my eyes from all the fluorescent jackets.

Should we officially call the second or third week of March 'Numpty Week'?

Kieran_Burns

TheStone wrote:

Great to see so many people commuting, but the standard of some of the cycling is shocking and I've got sun spots on my eyes from all the fluorescent jackets.

Should we officially call the second or third week of March 'Numpty Week'?

I think it shoul be: the first warm week of the year

Christophe3967

No, no no. we should embrace them with open arms and remember that we were all beginners once. We need more not fewer cyclists. Please.

always_tyred

TheStone wrote:

Great to see so many people commuting, but the standard of some of the cycling is shocking and I've got sun spots on my eyes from all the fluorescent jackets.

Should we officially call the second or third week of March 'Numpty Week'?

I prefer "wobble week" or "bimble week".

EDIT - or "Squeak week" (most of the bikes appear to be relics retrieved from long term storage in a place without oil).

woodyonthebeach

Lets call it the week of sloth. Iv seen grass grow faster than they move.

gtvlusso

Elbows out and big cog engaged......

always_tyred

gtvlusso wrote:

Elbows out and big cog engaged......

... out of the saddle, bouncing along on the front suspension.

gtvlusso

Always Tyred wrote:

gtvlusso wrote:

Elbows out and big cog engaged......

... out of the saddle, bouncing along on the front suspension.

I don't get it......:-(

nation

gtvlusso wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

gtvlusso wrote:

Elbows out and big cog engaged......

... out of the saddle, bouncing along on the front suspension.

I don't get it......:-(

Cheapo supermarket MTBs come with horrible suspension that compresses in response to pedalling forces, especially if you mash in the big ring.

Watch someone on an Argos special trying to ride up a hill sometime. It's like they're trying to control a pogo stick.

the_hundredth_idiot

gtvlusso wrote:

Elbows out and big cog engaged......

Perfect image! That's exactly what I've been spotting all week.

I think there's a difference between "beginners" and "numpties". I wouldn't criticise someone for trying commuting by bike, I'd encourage them. But that's not what I'm seeing this week. This week, I'm seeing numpties.

I've had so many repeat scalps:
* pass budget hybrid ridden (at 10mph) by numpty with an undone flourescent bib which flaps in the wind;
* wait at next red lights while numpty comes sailing past (not just RLJing but M&S RLJing - a complete disregard for the existence of the red light* not even a more considered RLJ after checking the way is clear);
* repeat several times

In fact, remind me of the SCR rules - are such conquests even able to be called scalps? I suspect not as I know in my heart that there is no effort involved on my part.

THI

* my favourite being on the bridge on Camberwell Grove, for those that know it. It's now just one lane wide with traffic lights but with an uphill only cycle lane in addition. Both mornings so far this week (was heading out of London on the train on Monday morning) I've been waiting at the red light while heading downhill and a numpty has come whizzing past on the wrong side of the road and proceeded down the narrow one-way uphill only cycle lane. I haven't seen anyone do that all winter until now. :roll:

Chewy Cheeks

Threads like this seem to go off and end up a bit like IT smirking/giggling at folk who dont know how to do some counter intuitive but simple if your as clever as us type task.

I do agree some folk have limited manners resources and there are a few more about now its turned out nice again, but some will get better some will drop out.

The snooty distain is just a bit exclusive.....for me.

Roastie

Christophe3967 wrote:

... remember that we were all beginners once. .

I was born with a bicycle between my legs...

gtvlusso

Chewy Cheeks wrote:

Threads like this seem to go off and end up a bit like IT smirking/giggling at folk who dont know how to do some counter intuitive but simple if your as clever as us type task.

I do agree some folk have limited manners resources and there are a few more about now its turned out nice again, but some will get better some will drop out.

The snooty distain is just a bit exclusive.....for me.

I don't understand your first sentence. The vague premice I can gather is; "chip on shoulder".

Well, yes, probably....we do. Most of us have been doing this all year!

Still, as long as only one bit of road gets blocked and I can use the other bit and there is a "wobble" gap left for said numpty.

Roastie

Chewy: As a relative newbie to this forum myself, I can see where you are coming from -a lot of truth in what you say.

always_tyred

I was born between the legs of a bicycle...

People sure do post some strange things on this forum.

NGale

I'm peeved that I haven't got my cyclescheme voucher yet because my new bike is all ready to go and I can't pick it up yet :evil:

never mind just have to be a numpty on my old bike tommrrow instead

itboffin

Christophe3967 wrote:

No, no no. we should embrace them with open arms and remember that we were all beginners once. We need more not fewer cyclists. Please.

That's funny because when I try to embrace them they all cycle away very quickly :?

stevedb55

I think anyone who chooses to get out and cycle (even if only part time), for whatever reasons, should be encouraged, we don't want to be another exclusive, snobby club, do we?

il_principe

I have no problem with beginners, delighted to see more people trying out cycling. But, I totally agree with The Hundredth Idiot:

I think there's a difference between "beginners" and "numpties". I wouldn't criticise someone for trying commuting by bike, I'd encourage them. But that's not what I'm seeing this week. This week, I'm seeing numpties.

I've had so many repeat scalps:
* pass budget hybrid ridden (at 10mph) by numpty with an undone flourescent bib which flaps in the wind;
* wait at next red lights while numpty comes sailing past (not just RLJing but M&S RLJing - a complete disregard for the existence of the red light* not even a more considered RLJ after checking the way is clear);
* repeat several times

It's more than a little irritating. There's being a beginner and there's cycling like a [email protected] I'm already starting to get bored of the [email protected] That's not being snooty, I get equally annoyed with people who drive like [email protected]

stevedb55

Granted, there are a large number of cyclists out there who have no road sense and obviously think the rules of the road don't apply to them (and I don't think most of them are beginners) - totally agree they give all of us a bad name, I'm not condoning that sort of behaviour.

With the number of cameras there are on road junctions etc, it would be nice to see a few RLJ's and other examples of bad riding brought to book, how long before we all need some sort of number plate to identify the culprits??

il_principe

stevedb55 wrote:

Granted, there are a large number of cyclists out there who have no road sense and obviously think the rules of the road don't apply to them (and I don't think most of them are beginners) - totally agree they give all of us a bad name, I'm not condoning that sort of behaviour.

With the number of cameras there are on road junctions etc, it would be nice to see a few RLJ's and other examples of bad riding brought to book, how long before we all need some sort of number plate to identify the culprits??

Please God, NO!*

*Think of the effect a number plate would have on our drag coefficients!

wantaway

i'm with Chewy on this one.

at certain times it seems that it is way too late to start to worry about this forum becoming "another exclusive, snobby club".

batch78

Well said Jash.

Even as a beginner I oiled my chain, looked where I was going and accepted there are other road users.

If you fail to do this you are a numpty.

How is common sense and respectful behaviour being snooty or elitist?

nielsamd

Numpties or ex-pros.. its all safety in numbers. Cars tend to behave when surrounded by bikes. If you reach Dutch proportions you can even ditch the helmets without denting accident/injury stats.
Interesting, albiet long, reading here....:
http://www.eco-logica.co.uk/pdf/wtpp13.3.pdf

nation

For me, a lot of what annoys me is people on MTBs purely because that's what Halfords/Argos/Non-Specialist sports shops steer them towards. Said MTBs are almost invariably massively heavy clunkers with poorly designed undamped suspension at both ends. There's nothing wrong with full-sus bikes inherently, but most MTBers will accept that any full sus bike costing less than around £1500 is going to come with a significant weight penalty

Don't get me wrong, I don't blame the people riding the bikes, but I always wonder how many people are put off cycling for good because their relative lack of fitness combined with trying to ride a 35lb bike on knobbly tyres gives them a false impression of how difficult it is.

It also strikes me that an £89.99 road bike with no suspension and rim brakes is going to be lighter ang higher quality than an £89.99 MTB with full suspension and discs.

Marketing has a lot to answer for.

il_principe

nation wrote:

For me, a lot of what annoys me is people on MTBs purely because that's what Halfords/Argos/Non-Specialist sports shops steer them towards. Said MTBs are almost invariably massively heavy clunkers with poorly designed undamped suspension at both ends. There's nothing wrong with full-sus bikes inherently, but most MTBers will accept that any full sus bike costing less than around £1500 is going to come with a significant weight penalty.

Don't get me wrong, I don't blame the people riding the bikes, but I always wonder how many people are put off cycling for good because their relative lack of fitness combined with trying to ride a 35lb bike on knobbly tyres gives them a false impression of how difficult it is.

It also strikes me that an £89.99 road bike with no suspension and rim brakes is going to be lighter ang higher quality than an £89.99 MTB with full suspension and discs.

Marketing has a lot to answer for.

+1 million.

Saw a bloke sprinting on a front susser last night, it looked a tad pointless!

biondino

When I flash effortlessly past people clearly struggling to get any kind of speed out of their BSO, I do wonder if they look at me and think "hmm, maybe I'm approaching the bike-riding lark from the wrong angle". But I suspect most of them think "woah, full suspension, and mountain bikes are well cool, and under a ton! bargain!". People are a bit thick, usually.

BoardinBob

nation wrote:

For me, a lot of what annoys me is people on MTBs purely because that's what Halfords/Argos/Non-Specialist sports shops steer them towards. Said MTBs are almost invariably massively heavy clunkers with poorly designed undamped suspension at both ends. There's nothing wrong with full-sus bikes inherently, but most MTBers will accept that any full sus bike costing less than around £1500 is going to come with a significant weight penalty

Don't get me wrong, I don't blame the people riding the bikes, but I always wonder how many people are put off cycling for good because their relative lack of fitness combined with trying to ride a 35lb bike on knobbly tyres gives them a false impression of how difficult it is.

There are plenty of full susser bikes costing £1,500+ that weigh a lot more than 35lb.

Dudu

BoardinBob wrote:

There are plenty of full susser bikes costing £1,500+ that weigh a lot more than 35lb.

But aren't they exclusively for going downhill?

chuckcork

I think the sadder thing is people seeing road bikes and thinking that means racing and that isn't for them, when personally I see plenty of older riders around on older road bikes, must be 20-30 years old, and they are being used simply to get around.

Mountain bikes are a recognisable product however, and many newcomers will at least be assuming they won't be able to cope with potholed roads without one, and probably over-estimate how much time they are going to be off-road or on cycle paths.

But yes, the marketing has a lot to answer for, more so that if they buy heavy clunky slow bikes take forever to get anywhere people will be put off cycle commuting!

DonDaddyD

OK

Beginners aren't numpties. Numpties are numpties. [email protected] are [email protected] Beginners are beginners. Pr!cks are Pr!cks.

I have years of the experience on a flat bar bike of any sort. When I rode my Giant M2 I was a pr!ck. I can look back and say that. Still a beginner to serious commuting I was over confident arrogant and had no concept of the rules of the road (I didn't fully understand how to turn right at a junction or turn right from a main road to a minor - I had yet to pass my driving test).

When I got my first road bike in August 2008, given the speeds I was achieving I qickly realised the importance of road safety and following the rules.

Personally I think its the mentally of the cyclists that determines what category they fall into. you can be a beginner and realise (be aware of) your safety and the safety of others. Or you can be a beginner and have total disregard for those around you. i.e. pr!ck.