Nodders
OneForTheRoad
Posts: 85
Afternoon all,
Coming in from South Croydon to Southwark Bridge this morning the roads seemed packed not with traffic but with other cyclists, usually I don't see another sole until Brixton Hill.
Most had strange cycling styles, went very slowly and didn't behave particularly safely (RLJ and undertaking at junctions etc). I referred to them as nodders in my head and was for some strange reason tempted to let everybody else know that I've been commuting by bike for about 8 months now and am not simply cycling because of the Olympics or Wiggins.
It got me thinking though:
I don't wear lycra, my commuter is a 20 year old MTB, I drink water from a normal plastic bottle that is stuffed in a normal non cycling rucksack and as I said have been commuting by bike for around 8 months.
On the plus side:
I cycle at a decent pace, I don't think I look strange when I pedal, am very rarely passed, obey traffic laws, am considerate to other cyclists and do approx 15miles each way 5 days a week.
Am I a nodder? If so then when do I stop becoming one?
Coming in from South Croydon to Southwark Bridge this morning the roads seemed packed not with traffic but with other cyclists, usually I don't see another sole until Brixton Hill.
Most had strange cycling styles, went very slowly and didn't behave particularly safely (RLJ and undertaking at junctions etc). I referred to them as nodders in my head and was for some strange reason tempted to let everybody else know that I've been commuting by bike for about 8 months now and am not simply cycling because of the Olympics or Wiggins.
It got me thinking though:
I don't wear lycra, my commuter is a 20 year old MTB, I drink water from a normal plastic bottle that is stuffed in a normal non cycling rucksack and as I said have been commuting by bike for around 8 months.
On the plus side:
I cycle at a decent pace, I don't think I look strange when I pedal, am very rarely passed, obey traffic laws, am considerate to other cyclists and do approx 15miles each way 5 days a week.
Am I a nodder? If so then when do I stop becoming one?
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Comments
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OneForTheRoad wrote:I cycle at a decent pace, I don't think I look strange when I pedal, am very rarely passed, obey traffic laws, am considerate to other cyclists and do approx 15miles each way 5 days a week.
Am I a nodder?
No.
But if you've been commuting for 8 months is the lure of a shiny new road bike not becoming irresistible...0 -
For the literal meaning. Does your head bob up and down as you pedal?
In general it's more like someone the rides in a clueless fashion. Doesn't sound like you do.0 -
dhope wrote:OneForTheRoad wrote:I cycle at a decent pace, I don't think I look strange when I pedal, am very rarely passed, obey traffic laws, am considerate to other cyclists and do approx 15miles each way 5 days a week.
Am I a nodder?
No.
But if you've been commuting for 8 months is the lure of a shiny new road bike not becoming irresistible...
Afraid not, never had one and never wanted one, besides the pot holes of Croydon would surely destroy anything other than good old fashioned steel tubes!0 -
It's more 'accurate' to call them POBs
Pedestrians On Bikes.
People who see bikes as extensions to walking and that the rules of the road do not apply to them. As opposed to cyclists who realise that they are on a road vehicle and act accordingly.
I saw hundreds of these on the last stretch of the 100 mile sportive a couple of weeks back when we joined the 48 mile 'challenge' route.
It was a little scary seeing the almost complete lack of road sense from people, most of whom you know must have driving licences.Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter0 -
I do a similar route to you from Croydon but carry straight on over London Bridge. Have commuted on both steel and alu road bikes and I wouldn't say the latter is any less durable than the former. There is a world of difference between a road bike and a MTB though. Try one and you may change your mind.OneForTheRoad wrote:dhope wrote:OneForTheRoad wrote:I cycle at a decent pace, I don't think I look strange when I pedal, am very rarely passed, obey traffic laws, am considerate to other cyclists and do approx 15miles each way 5 days a week.
Am I a nodder?
No.
But if you've been commuting for 8 months is the lure of a shiny new road bike not becoming irresistible...
Afraid not, never had one and never wanted one, besides the pot holes of Croydon would surely destroy anything other than good old fashioned steel tubes!0 -
JonGinge wrote:Who can tell? There are plenty of nodders in full lycra and on bling bikes.
Amen to that.- 2023 Vielo V+1
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The more nodders the better. Some of them will stick at it and become 'proper' cyclists. And the more cyclists we have, the safer it'll be.0
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You sound dangerous from a SCR perspective.0
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kelsen wrote:
I do a similar route to you from Croydon but carry straight on over London Bridge. Have commuted on both steel and alu road bikes and I wouldn't say the latter is any less durable than the former. There is a world of difference between a road bike and a MTB though. Try one and you may change your mind.OneForTheRoad wrote:dhope wrote:OneForTheRoad wrote:I cycle at a decent pace, I don't think I look strange when I pedal, am very rarely passed, obey traffic laws, am considerate to other cyclists and do approx 15miles each way 5 days a week.
Am I a nodder?
No.
But if you've been commuting for 8 months is the lure of a shiny new road bike not becoming irresistible...
Afraid not, never had one and never wanted one, besides the pot holes of Croydon would surely destroy anything other than good old fashioned steel tubes!
Indeed. "good old fashioned steel tubes" were used on road bikes for the best part of 100 years before MTB's were even thought of.1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
Pinnacle Monzonite
Part of the anti-growth coalition0 -
cje wrote:The more nodders the better. Some of them will stick at it and become 'proper' cyclists. And the more cyclists we have, the safer it'll be.
I agree with that. I tend to view nodders in the same way as I would view a Labrador puppy - they can do the most awful things but I fondly forgive them.0 -
Il Principe wrote:JonGinge wrote:Who can tell? There are plenty of nodders in full lycra and on bling bikes.
Amen to that.
Seconded.Ben
Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
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i must have looked like a nodder this morning, riding a look 695 and riding very slowly.
however i destroyed myself last night out for a ride so had nothing left in the tankBMC TM01 - FCN 0
Look 695 (Geared) - FCN 1
Bowman Palace:R - FCN 1
Cannondale CAAD 9 - FCN 2
Premier (CX) - FCN 6
Premier (fixed/SS) - FCN30 -
Sewinman wrote:You sound dangerous from a SCR perspective.
This is a contributing factor in not changing to a road bike, need to keep the FCN high enough to avoid and inflict maximum embarrassment!0 -
OneForTheRoad wrote:Sewinman wrote:You sound dangerous from a SCR perspective.
This is a contributing factor in not changing to a road bike, need to keep the FCN high enough to avoid and inflict maximum embarrassment!
You are a bandit then! Shameful.0 -
Sewinman wrote:OneForTheRoad wrote:Sewinman wrote:You sound dangerous from a SCR perspective.
This is a contributing factor in not changing to a road bike, need to keep the FCN high enough to avoid and inflict maximum embarrassment!
You are a bandit then! Shameful.
I prefer my newly coined phrase of "Transnodder, cyclist in disguise"0 -
I'm leaving guards on the commuter in the hope that it'll make it appear as 'functional' rather than 'proper rapid SS'0
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OneForTheRoad wrote:Sewinman wrote:OneForTheRoad wrote:Sewinman wrote:You sound dangerous from a SCR perspective.
This is a contributing factor in not changing to a road bike, need to keep the FCN high enough to avoid and inflict maximum embarrassment!
You are a bandit then! Shameful.
I prefer my newly coined phrase of "Transnodder, cyclist in disguise"
I think there's a lot to be said for it. I got a couple sneaky KOMs in Bushy Park on my old Marin MTB, one of them was in the snow. An old rigid MTB can be pretty fast, reminds me I need to change the headset bearings in that.0 -
I blame Wiggins (see what I did there ?)0
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Their worst trait is pulling out from the kerb to overtake an even slower nodder without bothering to look over their shoulder.
I had to literally manhandle a nodder the other day because he swung out into my path.
I'm happy to see people cycling but most other cyclists are dickheads.0 -
have seen a lot of shiny new folk on shiny new bikes of late.
But to be honest at least out here they aren't a problem, saw a few today, I passed wide and about twice their speed and that was that.0 -
Veronese68 wrote:OneForTheRoad wrote:Sewinman wrote:OneForTheRoad wrote:Sewinman wrote:You sound dangerous from a SCR perspective.
This is a contributing factor in not changing to a road bike, need to keep the FCN high enough to avoid and inflict maximum embarrassment!
You are a bandit then! Shameful.
I prefer my newly coined phrase of "Transnodder, cyclist in disguise"
I think there's a lot to be said for it. I got a couple sneaky KOMs in Bushy Park on my old Marin MTB, one of them was in the snow. An old rigid MTB can be pretty fast, reminds me I need to change the headset bearings in that.
I'll second that.
While I secretly want drop bars and exotic materials my trusty mid 90s rigid MTB makes every roadie I overtake wince in shame just a bit.I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.0 -
Without being in any way elitist or disrespectful to those in the early stages of their biking lives, I use two definitions only; there are 'Cyclists' and there are 'People on Bikes'. Its not about the bike (sorry Lance) or the kit - its the attitude, behaviour and competency of the individual that defines one or the other.Raymondo
"Let's just all be really careful out there folks!"0 -
Personally I think a nodder isn't determined by the length of time they've spent riding a bike, but the road sense, etiquette and judgement they display while on a bike.
I think of 'nodders' in the same way I do a 'Sunday driver'.Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
Angry Cervelo Guy rides about like a nodder, he's just on more expensive kit.0
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OneForTheRoad wrote:On the plus side:
I cycle at a decent pace, I don't think I look strange when I pedal, am very rarely passed, obey traffic laws, am considerate to other cyclists and do approx 15miles each way 5 days a week.
Am I a nodder? If so then when do I stop becoming one?
Sorry I take this last part back.
Hot weather and twenty something girl in hot pants and boob tube equals distraction, squeeling of brakes and a soft thudding noise as I go into the back of a bus.
I hang/nod my head in shame.....0 -
Ha ha, it's easily done. Hope nothing but your pride is bruised. Lots of distractions out there in this weather, be careful people.OneForTheRoad wrote:Sorry I take this last part back.
Hot weather and twenty something girl in hot pants and boob tube equals distraction, squeeling of brakes and a soft thudding noise as I go into the back of a bus.
I hang/nod my head in shame.....0 -
Veronese68 wrote:
Ha ha, it's easily done. Hope nothing but your pride is bruised. Lots of distractions out there in this weather, be careful people.OneForTheRoad wrote:Sorry I take this last part back.
Hot weather and twenty something girl in hot pants and boob tube equals distraction, squeeling of brakes and a soft thudding noise as I go into the back of a bus.
I hang/nod my head in shame.....
I often discuss the merits of this with my friends who are stuck on PT, with sweaty people where as I get to view the lovely sights that occur in the summer.
"If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."
PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills0 -
No ridden in for a few days as I was off work - but this morning I did see a few examples of dangerous riding.
Out of about 12 cyclists I was the only one to stop at a red light - but I finally got really annoyed when two went straight across a roundabout causing a car on their right to break hard. I am not the safest on the road but they were just crazy!0 -
Saw a bloke on a MTB undertake a left-indicating bus last night. He was halfway alongside when the lights went green, and only the sharp-awareness of the bus driver stopped him from being in a bus / railing sandwich.
The thing is, when they see experienced cyclists sat behind buses in primary, what do they think we do it for?0
