The daily "I cycled to work" thread
Discussion
I think it's chronological rather than geographical. I've observed a peak in pish poor driving at set times. Ten to fifteen minutes before shifts start and half an hour before schools open.
my old blog said:
There are five types of drivers at half five in the morning.
1/ The "I should have gone to bed two hours earlier" type who drive six feet at a time because the can't concentrate enough to see any further up the road. These will SMIDSY you.
2/ The "I've overslept and now I have twenty minutes to drive a forty minute journey". After three cans of Redbull and four Pro-Plus these guys will take back roads to avoid the authorities but don't use them offen enough to know the road well. Slowing to 20mph for bends and driving up to 100+mph between corners.
3/ The ones who get out of thier boring bed leaving their boring wife (who's probably looking forward to the window cleaner because at least with him the sex isn't as boring), eating a boring breakfast while listening to tiresome FM (Radio 2), only to put on their boring clothes get into their boring car and drive the same boring route every day for the rest of their lives to their boring jobs. All to pay for the children that have been raised so nonchalantly they can hardly be arsed to get up for school let alone have the will or have been encouraged to get a paper round. I call these drivers "Autopilots". They have driven the same route so many times they know if a leaf has moved on the tree outside that house on the corner near the hedge that looks like like a cow. Every bump in the road, every braking point at every corner. They will also SMIDSY you because they're used to you being ten feet further up the road.
4/ The Vigulantees. These drivers get up extra early so they can critcise other drivers. The would have joined the I.A.M if it was free. Would have joined the Police if they didn't have that caution for shoplifting Kylies greatest hits from HMV. They're more than happy to shout at cyclist for holding the world up just before hitting a cue traffic.
5/ Carefull and considerate drivers. Who take the time to overtake safely and actually see cyclist in the first place.
1/ The "I should have gone to bed two hours earlier" type who drive six feet at a time because the can't concentrate enough to see any further up the road. These will SMIDSY you.
2/ The "I've overslept and now I have twenty minutes to drive a forty minute journey". After three cans of Redbull and four Pro-Plus these guys will take back roads to avoid the authorities but don't use them offen enough to know the road well. Slowing to 20mph for bends and driving up to 100+mph between corners.
3/ The ones who get out of thier boring bed leaving their boring wife (who's probably looking forward to the window cleaner because at least with him the sex isn't as boring), eating a boring breakfast while listening to tiresome FM (Radio 2), only to put on their boring clothes get into their boring car and drive the same boring route every day for the rest of their lives to their boring jobs. All to pay for the children that have been raised so nonchalantly they can hardly be arsed to get up for school let alone have the will or have been encouraged to get a paper round. I call these drivers "Autopilots". They have driven the same route so many times they know if a leaf has moved on the tree outside that house on the corner near the hedge that looks like like a cow. Every bump in the road, every braking point at every corner. They will also SMIDSY you because they're used to you being ten feet further up the road.
4/ The Vigulantees. These drivers get up extra early so they can critcise other drivers. The would have joined the I.A.M if it was free. Would have joined the Police if they didn't have that caution for shoplifting Kylies greatest hits from HMV. They're more than happy to shout at cyclist for holding the world up just before hitting a cue traffic.
5/ Carefull and considerate drivers. Who take the time to overtake safely and actually see cyclist in the first place.
my old blog said:
Okay having had a crack at drivers here are the the five types of cyclist you get on the roads...
1/ PoB "Pedestrians on Bikes". No lights, reflective gear, helmets or any road sence whatsoever. Ropey, neglected bikes that if there were a pedal powered M.O.T would fail on at least a dozen different things. These are a menace to any other road user even other cyclists. The will turn into traffic without looking or incapable of looking due to wearing a hooded jacket, deliberately wobble when you overtake and if you do hit one they have injury shysters for you on speed-dial.
2/ Ecocyclementalists. Ever stopped at a red light and a tramp looking hippy type on an old basket bike (probably nicked from the nearest Post Office) taps on your window and asked you...
"Why don't you cycle to work? Your car puts out the same amount of Carbon into the atmosphere every day as burning down a football field of trees".
...if so then you have met an ecocyclementalist (or Rob Newman). If you say anything other than...
"Really? How interesting; I'll look into that, or didn't you used to be the funny one in the Mary Whithouse Experience? How is David Bladybum?".
...they will wobble in front of you for the next half an hour at a steady three to five miles an hour. If you manage to overtake, you will be bombarded with abuse. "You've just killed another tree you
sideways with a cabbage!"
Whatever you do, never point out the Carbon footprint of making a bicycle.
3/ DoB's "Drivers on Bikes" or BaC's "Born again Cyclist". New Years Resolutionists, midlife crisies and people who can't afford Petrol anymore. As drivers they are well aware of the hazards both the road and cyclist present. Wear more hi-viz than is strictly necessary and are lit up like Blackpool pleasure beach. One problem with DoB's is whatever little things that annoy you in a car with be the most irritating thing in the world when you cycle. I think it's because in a car you're traveling several time the speed you are on a bike so when you see something in a car you barely have enough time to roll your eyes, on a bike you can dwell a little too much about it. Weapon of choice for DoB's (like me) is dual suspension (due to the potholes) mountain bike with slicks or a Hybrid. BaC's are in for a shock. Probably haven't been on the saddle for twenty years and the shock of doing exercise, not being in their nice warm cars and bikes never used to chaife when they were younger. Means for the first couple of weeks they'll be covered in sweat and walking around like a George Michael fan. Needless to say after three weeks they'll be back in their cars waiting for fair weather or the bike will be on eBay.
4/ Lycralists. Usually hunt in packs and ride three or four abreast on country lanes. Several thousand Pounds worth of metal under them. Looking over their shoulders often, not for hazards or traffic but for the imaginary Mario Chipolini, Lance Armstrong, that Scotish bloke who sells Wheatabix (Mark Have-a-dish?) chasing them (other cerials are available and some even taste better than the box). Single L.E.D lights to save as much weight as possible when it gets dark so SMIDSY's waiting to happen and it's never their fault. In towns and cities Lycrlists will not use cycle lanes as they are for lesser cyclists and treat the road like their own private overtaking lane.
5/ Cycle-antees also known as Cycyoutube-ists, Basically a bunch of aholes with cameras strapped to their bikes (front and rear views) or their helmets. If you drive with the tinyest lack of consideration expect your numberplate to appear on a Youtube search with "cut me up, tailgated me, left hook, failed to this, failed to that"...
Completely self absorbed and with an air of smuggness that makes the Ecocyclementalists look easy going. Preaching the gospal of the "Road Traffic Act" to every single driver they come across who puts a foot wrong and then posting videos of themselves doing between 5 and 10mph over the speed limit in other clips. With the excuse "Section eighty-something of the RTA 1988 says "Motor Vehicles" and cycles don't have engines so we are above the Law" dispite the fact you are on the road you are Traffic and since the Road Traffic Act was reviced in 2006 to include all Traffic something else you can thank the G-Wizz for. Criticising drivers on one video whilst showing a disregard for the same set of laws in another in my book makes them tts of the highest order. Some even stop and have a go at drivers only to edit the video in such a way the number plate will appear later with "road rage cycle hater" in the title. A classic case of something that started out as a good idea, posting videos to help raise awareness; that has sadly become a battle to get Youtube views and Twitter followers, tuning their commute into a popularity contest for the wrong reasons.
The rest of the blog is mostly moaning about the weather and the fact I couldn't get my bike to do the commute in less than 34.30 1/ PoB "Pedestrians on Bikes". No lights, reflective gear, helmets or any road sence whatsoever. Ropey, neglected bikes that if there were a pedal powered M.O.T would fail on at least a dozen different things. These are a menace to any other road user even other cyclists. The will turn into traffic without looking or incapable of looking due to wearing a hooded jacket, deliberately wobble when you overtake and if you do hit one they have injury shysters for you on speed-dial.
2/ Ecocyclementalists. Ever stopped at a red light and a tramp looking hippy type on an old basket bike (probably nicked from the nearest Post Office) taps on your window and asked you...
"Why don't you cycle to work? Your car puts out the same amount of Carbon into the atmosphere every day as burning down a football field of trees".
...if so then you have met an ecocyclementalist (or Rob Newman). If you say anything other than...
"Really? How interesting; I'll look into that, or didn't you used to be the funny one in the Mary Whithouse Experience? How is David Bladybum?".
...they will wobble in front of you for the next half an hour at a steady three to five miles an hour. If you manage to overtake, you will be bombarded with abuse. "You've just killed another tree you
sideways with a cabbage!"Whatever you do, never point out the Carbon footprint of making a bicycle.
3/ DoB's "Drivers on Bikes" or BaC's "Born again Cyclist". New Years Resolutionists, midlife crisies and people who can't afford Petrol anymore. As drivers they are well aware of the hazards both the road and cyclist present. Wear more hi-viz than is strictly necessary and are lit up like Blackpool pleasure beach. One problem with DoB's is whatever little things that annoy you in a car with be the most irritating thing in the world when you cycle. I think it's because in a car you're traveling several time the speed you are on a bike so when you see something in a car you barely have enough time to roll your eyes, on a bike you can dwell a little too much about it. Weapon of choice for DoB's (like me) is dual suspension (due to the potholes) mountain bike with slicks or a Hybrid. BaC's are in for a shock. Probably haven't been on the saddle for twenty years and the shock of doing exercise, not being in their nice warm cars and bikes never used to chaife when they were younger. Means for the first couple of weeks they'll be covered in sweat and walking around like a George Michael fan. Needless to say after three weeks they'll be back in their cars waiting for fair weather or the bike will be on eBay.
4/ Lycralists. Usually hunt in packs and ride three or four abreast on country lanes. Several thousand Pounds worth of metal under them. Looking over their shoulders often, not for hazards or traffic but for the imaginary Mario Chipolini, Lance Armstrong, that Scotish bloke who sells Wheatabix (Mark Have-a-dish?) chasing them (other cerials are available and some even taste better than the box). Single L.E.D lights to save as much weight as possible when it gets dark so SMIDSY's waiting to happen and it's never their fault. In towns and cities Lycrlists will not use cycle lanes as they are for lesser cyclists and treat the road like their own private overtaking lane.
5/ Cycle-antees also known as Cycyoutube-ists, Basically a bunch of a
holes with cameras strapped to their bikes (front and rear views) or their helmets. If you drive with the tinyest lack of consideration expect your numberplate to appear on a Youtube search with "cut me up, tailgated me, left hook, failed to this, failed to that"... Completely self absorbed and with an air of smuggness that makes the Ecocyclementalists look easy going. Preaching the gospal of the "Road Traffic Act" to every single driver they come across who puts a foot wrong and then posting videos of themselves doing between 5 and 10mph over the speed limit in other clips. With the excuse "Section eighty-something of the RTA 1988 says "Motor Vehicles" and cycles don't have engines so we are above the Law" dispite the fact you are on the road you are Traffic and since the Road Traffic Act was reviced in 2006 to include all Traffic something else you can thank the G-Wizz for. Criticising drivers on one video whilst showing a disregard for the same set of laws in another in my book makes them t
ts of the highest order. Some even stop and have a go at drivers only to edit the video in such a way the number plate will appear later with "road rage cycle hater" in the title. A classic case of something that started out as a good idea, posting videos to help raise awareness; that has sadly become a battle to get Youtube views and Twitter followers, tuning their commute into a popularity contest for the wrong reasons. fulham911club said:
Have you ever really flat spotted a tyre? I mean really ....
Yep. Two brand new fronts as a fkwit pulled out of a layby without lights (or indicating) on an NSL country road. When he realised what he'd done, he just stopped. My car didn't have ABS, and the fronts locked up massively. Had to get new tyres.
untakenname said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3COpEbkHSJk (some swearing as I was shocked by their behaviour).
I know the guy is a moron, but it was pretty obvious he was going to try to close you out before you got there. Personally I wouldn't have carried on down the inside!My commute is around 12 miles, some along semi-rural A roads (A38) and the last 4 miles through the middle of Birmingham. Driving standards generally don't bother me on the first part, though in Birmingham it is a little hit and miss. My main peev is people in traffic jams inching over to the right as far as possible as for some reason it annoys them that a bike filtering down the middle of the road is making progress at zero expense to themselves.
Hey ho.
Decent run in today, 2 x PR 4 x 2nds and 2 x 3rds out of 11 segments. Also managed to miss the rain which is a bonus.
Hey ho.
Decent run in today, 2 x PR 4 x 2nds and 2 x 3rds out of 11 segments. Also managed to miss the rain which is a bonus.
Blimey, last Tuesday it was SS top and shorts, today it was full winter gear!!! 2 layers, leg warmers and winter gloves! Temp was about 7degrees with a cold wind!#
Lovely ride in though, really felt like winter, really damp muddy roads with damp leaves making it very sketchy!
Only had 3 shots of espresso for breakfast instead of 4 and regretted it on the first climb....
Lovely ride in though, really felt like winter, really damp muddy roads with damp leaves making it very sketchy!
Only had 3 shots of espresso for breakfast instead of 4 and regretted it on the first climb....
Decided to try using my (first) road bike for the short commute for a change. Apart from the bedding in issues (well the bike bedding me in..) in terms of pain the ride was pretty uneventful.
I did feel a lot more held up with the traffic than I do on the MTB, and also felt the side winds a bit more. Hopefully will stay sunny for the ride home so I can add another loop on it and a few more miles.
I did feel a lot more held up with the traffic than I do on the MTB, and also felt the side winds a bit more. Hopefully will stay sunny for the ride home so I can add another loop on it and a few more miles.
Mave said:
Very very wet this morning. And unimpressed to find that Mrs mave had "tidied" my rucksack by removing my towel and spare underwear and socks to wash them! Dried myself with loo roll, and spent the morning commando + wet socks :-(
Revenge is a dish best served cold. If you've not mentioned it to her yet, don't. Leave it a couple of weeks, then simply 'tidy' her handbag while she's not looking.The resulting conversation might be 'interesting' to say the least, but it'll bring home the point far more effectively than telling her to butt out of your rucksack. She'll not understand what you are "moaning about" anyway
Vocal Minority said:
My main peev is people in traffic jams inching over to the right as far as possible as for some reason it annoys them that a bike filtering down the middle of the road is making progress at zero expense to themselves.
Sometimes, not allways but sometimes, this is to let motorbikes and scooters through the middle. Sometimes. donfisher said:
Vocal Minority said:
My main peev is people in traffic jams inching over to the right as far as possible as for some reason it annoys them that a bike filtering down the middle of the road is making progress at zero expense to themselves.
Sometimes, not allways but sometimes, this is to let motorbikes and scooters through the middle. Sometimes. Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff