Beware the squeaky chains and clicky gears...

_Brun_

Noddergeddon has arrived a week early in North London.

If this morning was anything to go by, I'm gonna have a hard time buying the argument that more people on bikes is good for everyone. Repeatedly stopping at traffic lights first only to be engulfed by a sea of unpredictable wobbly fluorescent yellow f#@kwits will get annoying very quickly.

Aguila

Sooo glad I dont have to ride in London.

Going along my country roads the only new sights are the sprouting daffs and the randy animals!

il_principe

I feel your pain. I watched a fluro lady lecture a motorcyclist about being in the ASL on 9 Elms this am. He'd honked another cyclist for pulling up in front of him so she turned round, shouted at him and then proceeded to cycle off through the red light, and the next one. Honestly what is the fcuking point.

Rich158

Somebodies not a happy bunny this morning are they. I share your frustration dude, why do the noddies have to force their way to the front at lights and then sit there at 10mph where it's impossible for me to pass :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

sarajoy

I had a moment this morning when driving to work (not back on the bike yet, right arm still pretty weak), sitting in a right-turn lane trying to turn into a road, with nary a gap coming in the oncoming traffic (meaning that when I do see a gap, I'm going to have to nip through it sharpish).

Cyclist plonks herself right in the area that my bonnet will swing into. Cheers.

When she and I do move off together when a big enough gap appears, it's at a crawl and I'm at full lock making sure I can give her enough clearance on the turn as she rides across the front of the car (I didn't push past - but I did pass her moments afterwards).

Saw another gentleman filter up beside a rather chunky-wheeled flat-bed lorry too, just as the pelican crossing that the lorry had stopped for was flashing amber - with lorry at the front just moving off again.

Of course the gent ended up stuck in a small gap between the kerb and the lorry for some time, as it slowly passed him. He could have just sat behind and avoided it altogether.

Do these people want to get hurt, or what?

itboffin

This is one club I CAN join, my bike squeeks like an old bed spring, my avg speed is falling faster than BA shares, pretty sure I have a hi-viz jacket and a nobby bmx style helmet somewhere to.

Just have to work on my nod.

Ow yes!

el_presidente

On Monday I thought the clocks had changed and I'd forgotten - at 7am it was broad daylight, there was loads of traffic and also loads of nodders. Particlualry irked at the bottom of Hyde Park to wait with some cars while three of them RODE across a zebra crossing.

Next week is going to be even worse. I blame the tube prices and the petrol prices. Bring back the snow! (only joking)

I'm not sure whether just to keep quiet or turn into a militant cyclist loudly telling people why they are behaving dangerously / stupidly / rudely. Maybe I'll alternate from one day to the next. Either way I need to bookmark the rants thread.

Cafewanda

I'm shaking my head a lot at the antics of some 'new' cyclists on my route, as already described above. I'll need to work hard to retain my 'zen-like' mood of a morning I feel.

gbsahne001

Rarely see any cyclists on my route and traffic is relatively light (smug)

PeteinSQ

Nothing more irritating than overtaking a slow cyclist (or even a mob of them) only to arrive at a set of lights where they all push past you so that you can overtake them again and be forced back into the traffic.

Don't they realise that I'm a higher form of life? I cycled all bloody winter whilst they were on the train. Damn them :evil:

will3

Aguila wrote:

Sooo glad I dont have to ride in London.

Going along my country roads the only new sights are the sprouting daffs and the randy animals!

+1

Does anyone else have a plague of frogs on the roads on damp nights after dark? It's like frog slalom.

Clever Pun

Noddergeddon

jamesco

I kinda like seeing all the fair-weather riders returning - it makes me feel like an eagle among pigeons, while only a month ago it seemed there was a "pass me, quick!" sign on my back

sarajoy

PeteinSQ wrote:

Nothing more irritating than overtaking a slow cyclist (or even a mob of them) only to arrive at a set of lights where they all push past you so that you can overtake them again and be forced back into the traffic.

<devil's advocate> I think that's how the car drivers feel.. </devil's advocate>

blu3cat

yep and so the Neon Newbs and fair weather cyclists return to annoy us all.

My particular pet hate is that where we keep our bikes at work, there is no space without juggling others bikes around. Where the bleedin' hell were you all when it was a bit snowy and there were 4 bikes outside?

Fireblade96

Aguila wrote:

Sooo glad I dont have to ride in London.

Going along my country roads the only new sights are the sprouting daffs and the randy animals!

Blooming crocuses in the garden, pigeons shagging in the mulberry tree

Aguila

will3 wrote:

Aguila wrote:

Sooo glad I dont have to ride in London.

Going along my country roads the only new sights are the sprouting daffs and the randy animals!

+1

Does anyone else have a plague of frogs on the roads on damp nights after dark? It's like frog slalom.

OMG yes! At the weekend it was frog coverage of biblical proportions round here, they're all off down the pond for some hot frog lovin.

zrazzle

I'm a new cyclist! Have been commuting for about a month now and hopefully I haven't pissed too many seasoned veterans off.

I've enjoyed lurking on these forums but now fear (well, don't really fear) that I am antithetical to all you guys:

1) I LONG for that bloody light ahead to turn red (especially on the hills). My thighs need a break (although I have noticed them getting stronger over the last week).

2) Wear high vis.

3) Wear crap hat

4) Happy pootling along at a nice relaxed pace. Are you all really in that much of a hurry to get to work?! I know i'm not, I just enjoy cycling along.

However, I do wear long socks and shorts, AND started in one of the wettest, windiest, coldest weeks ever (back in Feb) so maybe that earns me some bonus points? Seriously, I'd hope if I did anything majorly annoying that someone would point it out to me as obviously i'm new to all this.

Btw, I ride a silver specialised globe (bought cheap off ebay - it creaks a bit) from West Norwood to Clapham Junction and back.

Hi! Sorry if you have to share the road with me!

Martyn
Xx

jonginge

Hey Martyn, welcome. Don't worry too much I'm sure you're fine.

Every year, though, with the onset of spring there is a surge of new cycling warriors, resplendent in pristine his-vizzery, on the streets. Many wobble; many change lanes without looking/signalling; many push through to the front at lights; many filter with insufficient thought to personal safety. They learn; they get better but it takes a few months...

SJ makes a good point in that we annoy drivers in exactly the same way.

Big Wib

Aguila wrote:

will3 wrote:

Aguila wrote:

Sooo glad I dont have to ride in London.

Going along my country roads the only new sights are the sprouting daffs and the randy animals!

+1

Does anyone else have a plague of frogs on the roads on damp nights after dark? It's like frog slalom.

OMG yes! At the weekend it was frog coverage of biblical proportions round here, they're all off down the pond for some hot frog lovin.

did a half marathon on Sunday & one stretch of road was lined with squished frogs. My bemusement kept me going for a mile or so, and then we turned a corner and there were none. :?

_Brun_

zrazzle wrote:

IHappy pootling along at a nice relaxed pace. Are you all really in that much of a hurry to get to work?! I know i'm not, I just enjoy cycling along.

Absolutely nothing wrong with pootling, just don't push past people waiting at the lights like at least half the inconsiderate pillocks on my ride in this morning.

Also consider if it's really necessary to squeeze past all the cars in a queue, particularly if traffic is otherwise free-flowing and you're just making people pass you repeatedly.

Bit of common sense and courtesy goes a long way.

sarajoy

zrazzle wrote:

1) I LONG for that bloody light ahead to turn red (especially on the hills). My thighs need a break (although I have noticed them getting stronger over the last week).

Agreed, sometimes I'm aching to stop!

zrazzle wrote:

2) Wear high vis.

Good stuff

zrazzle wrote:

3) Wear crap hat

4) Happy pootling along at a nice relaxed pace. Are you all really in that much of a hurry to get to work?! I know i'm not, I just enjoy cycling along.

Not sure about the crap hat (but let's not start the helmet debate) - however I wish I could pootle sometimes! The fairly fast roads of my usual commute mean I try for a fastish speed because then it's more likely vehicles will wait behind me at times instead of always revving to overtake... I think now I've moved house I will change my route to a more pootlable one (once my arm's better)

zrazzle wrote:

However, I do wear long socks and shorts, AND started in one of the wettest, windiest, coldest weeks ever (back in Feb) so maybe that earns me some bonus points? Seriously, I'd hope if I did anything majorly annoying that someone would point it out to me as obviously i'm new to all this.

I started properly* cycle commuting in Feb last year - welcome


* (I say this as I used to do about 1.5-2miles to/from work on a Claud Butler shopper - which was fine but wasn't really a ride, more like a hop down to work)

cjcp

zrazzle wrote:

I'm a new cyclist! Have been commuting for about a month now and hopefully I haven't pissed too many seasoned veterans off.

I've enjoyed lurking on these forums but now fear (well, don't really fear) that I am antithetical to all you guys:

1) I LONG for that bloody light ahead to turn red (especially on the hills). My thighs need a break (although I have noticed them getting stronger over the last week).

2) Wear high vis.

3) Wear crap hat

4) Happy pootling along at a nice relaxed pace. Are you all really in that much of a hurry to get to work?! I know i'm not, I just enjoy cycling along.

However, I do wear long socks and shorts, AND started in one of the wettest, windiest, coldest weeks ever (back in Feb) so maybe that earns me some bonus points? Seriously, I'd hope if I did anything majorly annoying that someone would point it out to me as obviously i'm new to all this.

Btw, I ride a silver specialised globe (bought cheap off ebay - it creaks a bit) from West Norwood to Clapham Junction and back.

Hi! Sorry if you have to share the road with me!

Martyn
Xx

Welcome to the forum!

Good on your for starting when the weather was pants.

Confession time: I sometimes wear a hi-viz Altura Night Vision jacket

zrazzle

haha cheers guys!

It's been very useful lurking on here actually - picked up some good tips.

rowing_sculling

zrazzle wrote:

4) Happy pootling along at a nice relaxed pace. Are you all really in that much of a hurry to get to work?! I know i'm not, I just enjoy cycling along.

Xx

I would be happy pootling but for sake of SCR can't be overtaken, plus it is the only time I really get on the bike so the faster I go the more miles I can do.

Cafewanda

zrazzle wrote:
4) Happy pootling along at a nice relaxed pace. Are you all really in that much of a hurry to get to work?! I know i'm not, I just enjoy cycling along.


Welcome zrazzle, it's not about rushing to work. It's about riding as fast (and safely) as you can. Arriving at work is the by-product

OK, so I'm on a hybrid so 'fast' is not actually part of the package but my legs don't know that

il_principe

cjcp wrote:

Confession time: I sometimes wear a hi-viz Altura Night Vision jacket

TRAITOR!!

cjcp

Il Principe wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Confession time: I sometimes wear a hi-viz Altura Night Vision jacket

TRAITOR!!

Imagine the scalpee's suffering when the hi viz goes past.

ride_whenever

Cafewanda wrote:

zrazzle wrote:
4) Happy pootling along at a nice relaxed pace. Are you all really in that much of a hurry to get to work?! I know i'm not, I just enjoy cycling along.


Welcome zrazzle, it's not about rushing to work. It's about riding as fast (and safely) as you can. Arriving at work is the by-product

OK, so I'm on a hybrid so 'fast' is not actually part of the package but my legs don't know that

Or perhaps you go fast so you can leave at the same time but take a longer route in

Kieran_Burns

cjcp wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Confession time: I sometimes wear a hi-viz Altura Night Vision jacket

TRAITOR!!

Imagine the scalpee's suffering when the hi viz goes past.

I go so fast, my hi-viz looks dark... 8)





....and then I wake up.... :oops:

jorhys

Lovely stuff! My, how superior we feel, racing about on our fixies or whatever, effortlessly adopting the correct position on the road (we never get to the front of ASLs -oh no, after you sir...), clad in midnight black with nary a light to be seen, Helmets - striclty for the wimps. Wow, man, we are the true faith roadie Ninjas, not the denizens of ghastly Hi-Viz Newbie/Nodder Hell.

Grow up, children.