Numpty Week

TheStone
TheStone Posts: 2,291
edited March 2009 in Commuting chat
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'?
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Comments

  • Kieran_Burns
    Kieran_Burns Posts: 9,757
    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 :wink:
    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 commuter
  • Christophe3967
    Christophe3967 Posts: 1,200
    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
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    edited March 2009
    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).
  • Lets call it the week of sloth. Iv seen grass grow faster than they move.
    The doctor said I needed to start drinking more whiskey. Also, I’m calling myself ‘the doctor’ now
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    Elbows out and big cog engaged......
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    gtvlusso wrote:
    Elbows out and big cog engaged......
    ... out of the saddle, bouncing along on the front suspension.
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    gtvlusso wrote:
    Elbows out and big cog engaged......
    ... out of the saddle, bouncing along on the front suspension.

    I don't get it......:-(
  • nation
    nation Posts: 609
    gtvlusso 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.
  • gtvlusso wrote:
    Elbows out and big cog engaged......

    Perfect image! :lol: 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:
    Never be tempted to race against a Barclays Cycle Hire bike. If you do, there are only two outcomes. Of these, by far the better is that you now have the scalp of a Boris Bike.
  • 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.
    No Babbit No, Look what Birdy doing
  • Roastie
    Roastie Posts: 1,968
    ... remember that we were all beginners once. .

    I was born with a bicycle between my legs...
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    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
    Roastie Posts: 1,968
    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
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    I was born between the legs of a bicycle...
    People sure do post some strange things on this forum.
  • NGale
    NGale Posts: 1,866
    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
    Officers don't run, it's undignified and panics the men
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,052
    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 :?
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • stevedb55
    stevedb55 Posts: 52
    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
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    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 tw@t. I'm already starting to get bored of the tw@ts. That's not being snooty, I get equally annoyed with people who drive like tw@ts.
  • stevedb55
    stevedb55 Posts: 52
    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
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    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!

    :lol:
  • wantaway
    wantaway Posts: 96
    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
    batch78 Posts: 1,320
    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
    nielsamd Posts: 174
    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
    nation Posts: 609
    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
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    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
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    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
    BoardinBob Posts: 697
    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
    Dudu Posts: 4,637
    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?
    ___________________________________________
    People need to be told what to do so badly they'll listen to anyone
  • chuckcork
    chuckcork Posts: 1,471
    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!
    'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that caught the cycling craze....
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    edited March 2009
    OK

    Beginners aren't numpties. Numpties are numpties. Tw@ts are Tw@ts. 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.
    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 Game