Cyclists even more stupid than drivers

littledove44

On Friday I was nearing the end of my ride on a long straight which ended with a couple of gentle curves, each one slightly blocking the view ahead, but not significantly as the car speed limit is 40mph which is completely safe.

I came around the first bend doing about 45kph on the bike. Some way ahead I saw a single cyclist pull out from the junction on the left and turn to go in the same direction as me. He probably should have waited, but easy for him to underestimate my speed. No biggie as I could simply pass him on the right.

To my astonishment though a further twenty bikes appeared. He was their leader, ahead by a few metres and they all pulled out without looking to the right, and immediately spread out across the road to take a right turn about 50m along the road from their junction. I was forced to pass them on the wrong side of the road or crash into them, or slam on brakes and possibly crash myself.

If I had been a car going over the speed limit (as many do there) the outcome could have been horrific.

Do people switch their brains off when following a guide?

priory

I had a bloke on bike come towards me on the wrong side last week and as we passed he showed no sign of embarrassment at all, which surprised me. I wonder if these are foreigners from somewhere this is normal. I don't remember seeing it much in my life before.

sloppyschleckonds

There are a lot of nodder cyclists out there, and to answer the OP yes, I think they switch off when in a group. I was riding recently crossing a busy road when a group pulled up opposite. 5 or 6 of them pulled up alongside the ride leader and blocked both sides of the road.

CiB

As we all drive anyway [apparently], shouldn't this thread title be 'People even more stupid than people'?

chris_bass

it happens in lots of situations, not just cycling.

I get it quite a lot when a few cars are waiting to overtake and once one goes the rest ust follow without really looking, motorbikes do it quite a bit I find (thats not to say its all motor bikes, ust I have noticed then more than others)

adr82

littledove44 wrote:

Do people switch their brains off when following a guide?

In a group situation, whoever is in front coming to a junction should really be looking carefully for oncoming traffic and loudly telling everyone behind whether it's clear or if they should be ready to stop. Sounds like nobody cared at all about that in this group.

ForumNewbie

littledove44 wrote:

On Friday I was nearing the end of my ride on a long straight which ended with a couple of gentle curves, each one slightly blocking the view ahead, but not significantly as the car speed limit is 40mph which is completely safe.

I came around the first bend doing about 45kph on the bike. Some way ahead I saw a single cyclist pull out from the junction on the left and turn to go in the same direction as me. He probably should have waited, but easy for him to underestimate my speed. No biggie as I could simply pass him on the right.

To my astonishment though a further twenty bikes appeared. He was their leader, ahead by a few metres and they all pulled out without looking to the right, and immediately spread out across the road to take a right turn about 50m along the road from their junction. I was forced to pass them on the wrong side of the road or crash into them, or slam on brakes and possibly crash myself.

If I had been a car going over the speed limit (as many do there) the outcome could have been horrific.

Do people switch their brains off when following a guide?

If they were turning right just 50 metres after turning in front of you, I'm surprised you were able to pass them without them crashing into you!

marcusjb

littledove44 wrote:

On Friday I was nearing the end of my ride on a long straight which ended with a couple of gentle curves, each one slightly blocking the view ahead, but not significantly as the car speed limit is 40mph which is completely safe.

I came around the first bend doing about 45kph on the bike. Some way ahead I saw a single cyclist pull out from the junction on the left and turn to go in the same direction as me. He probably should have waited, but easy for him to underestimate my speed. No biggie as I could simply pass him on the right.

To my astonishment though a further twenty bikes appeared. He was their leader, ahead by a few metres and they all pulled out without looking to the right, and immediately spread out across the road to take a right turn about 50m along the road from their junction. I was forced to pass them on the wrong side of the road or crash into them, or slam on brakes and possibly crash myself.

If I had been a car going over the speed limit (as many do there) the outcome could have been horrific.

Do people switch their brains off when following a guide?

Wow.

I am glad you are okay. That all sounds like a terrifying incident.

WarlKicken

Nothing I enjoy more on a Saturday morning than the London Dynamo taking up three quarters of the entire road in Richmond Park, whilst abusing drivers that are doing the speed limit. I cannot fathom the mentality of such low witted morons. Granted, that's a massive generalisation as it only appears to be one of the many groups of said London Dynamo rides that goes round.

This particular group, whether the same riders every week or, most likely, the "top/ strongest" riders, seem to find it completely acceptable to descend the steep climb, over taking cars onto my side of the road whilst I climb, across a double block white line down the road centre, then have an utter cheek to flip me off when I am trying to over-take slower cyclist on my side of the road??? Not sure at which point on the gate into RP it says the London Dynamo cyclists can do as they please, when they please to whom they please.....I must have missed that.

I had quite a serious accident in RP last year and dislocated my shoulder attempting to avoid a car that had stopped abruptly because riders were on the wrong side of the road (not London Dynamo I am hastened to add). The complete uselessness of some people on a bike because they seem to think they deserve the entire road to themselves and can do as they please, is the reason cyclists are hated so much.

Rant over. HAPPY EASTER!!!

davep1

adr82 wrote:

littledove44 wrote:

Do people switch their brains off when following a guide?

In a group situation, whoever is in front coming to a junction should really be looking carefully for oncoming traffic and loudly telling everyone behind whether it's clear or if they should be ready to stop. Sounds like nobody cared at all about that in this group.

Sounds like the leader did the classic SMIDSY thing of looking but not looking, or looking only for things as big as a car. If he looked at all...