What annoys you about cycling.
Discussion
Watchman said:
The British weather.
My job (taking me away from valuable cycling time).
Not having a city like Copenhagen or Amsterdam in the UK where I could move to and semi-retire my car. (Maybe I should just move there).
My age. Specifically, those 20 years I did nothing but surfed the sofa, frittering away the health and fitness I had as a youth. I'll never get that back.
My obsession for n+1.
Uncannily like something I could have writtenMy job (taking me away from valuable cycling time).
Not having a city like Copenhagen or Amsterdam in the UK where I could move to and semi-retire my car. (Maybe I should just move there).
My age. Specifically, those 20 years I did nothing but surfed the sofa, frittering away the health and fitness I had as a youth. I'll never get that back.
My obsession for n+1.
At a risk of upsetting the OP, I am going to add a little to his point about the " you could ride that on a hard tail"
There seem to be so many new "specific" types of bike available that the marketing fork at bike companies do get a bit carried away trying to pigeon hole bikes as specific types unnecessarily see , trail vs all mountain, 4x vs dual slalom, dh vs enduro and such like.
My other gripe is the number of "international standards" for things like bottom brackets, headsets (damm those tapered 1.5inch frames) , handler bar diameters, seat posts - god dammit why so many seatposts sizes!!
There seem to be so many new "specific" types of bike available that the marketing fork at bike companies do get a bit carried away trying to pigeon hole bikes as specific types unnecessarily see , trail vs all mountain, 4x vs dual slalom, dh vs enduro and such like.
My other gripe is the number of "international standards" for things like bottom brackets, headsets (damm those tapered 1.5inch frames) , handler bar diameters, seat posts - god dammit why so many seatposts sizes!!
rdjohn said:
This is what cycling looks like in Denmark.
Generally people use bikes as alternative transport and so you do not normally see sports bikes, or MTBs. Cyclists travel in relaxed platoons rather than race each other.
RGambo said:
I've mentioned them before, but I REALLY dislike other cyclists who, once you pass them think its OK to sit 10mm from your rear wheel with out letting you know they are there. Firstly, it's rude not to say hi and secondly if I haven't worked out they are there and I decide to , slow down, stop, change direction, avoid a pot hole , they have no idea what I'm going to do and they crash into the back of me!
If you've passed them and don't know they're there that's your problem isn't it?! It's when they catch you and sit in behind you and don't say anything that's what winds me up. I don't mind riding at this time of year but the extra faffing of all the extra clothing and lights and batteries makes me pine for the summer and just hopping into shorts and a jersey and heading out.
And noises - ticking clicking grinding. The wet tarmac and gnarly little stones that sound and feel like a slow puncture.
Feckin' loose dogs!
(Or more precisely, their stupid, self absorbed owners)
Keep your wretched Buchon Frizzease on a feckin' leash ya moron! And get a proper man's dog. That silly little thing looks like it belongs on the Sooty show with someone's hand up it's...
...as you may have guessed, I met 'Camp Colin' and his stupid ball of fluff today, and despite ringing my bell, and slowing right down, the stupid Ewok ran straight in front of me and stopped dead. I got the wheels around it, and by some miracle got the left hand crank to top dead centre and the pedal passed harmlessly over the beast's back. Then the camp fella (OK, he wasn't really, but looked it walking this daft dog) began to swear at ME! Do yourself a favour, doofus. Get the dog under control, and there'll be no need for this 'near miss' nonsense. If you took your smart phone out of your face for a few seconds, you might hear the bell, and the approach of a pair of 2.0" tyres on gravel. Or just let the dog run wild, and maybe you'll meet someone riding faster than me, who hasn't seen the dog, and you can use the damned smart phone to find a vet who's doing a deal on euthanasia jabs?
Why was it that I had no problem with any of the other dozen or so dogs/owners that I met? Maybe because their (man-sized) dogs either did as exactly as they were told, or they were physically restrained by their owners in response to my ringing the bell.
(Or more precisely, their stupid, self absorbed owners)
Keep your wretched Buchon Frizzease on a feckin' leash ya moron! And get a proper man's dog. That silly little thing looks like it belongs on the Sooty show with someone's hand up it's...
...as you may have guessed, I met 'Camp Colin' and his stupid ball of fluff today, and despite ringing my bell, and slowing right down, the stupid Ewok ran straight in front of me and stopped dead. I got the wheels around it, and by some miracle got the left hand crank to top dead centre and the pedal passed harmlessly over the beast's back. Then the camp fella (OK, he wasn't really, but looked it walking this daft dog) began to swear at ME! Do yourself a favour, doofus. Get the dog under control, and there'll be no need for this 'near miss' nonsense. If you took your smart phone out of your face for a few seconds, you might hear the bell, and the approach of a pair of 2.0" tyres on gravel. Or just let the dog run wild, and maybe you'll meet someone riding faster than me, who hasn't seen the dog, and you can use the damned smart phone to find a vet who's doing a deal on euthanasia jabs?
Why was it that I had no problem with any of the other dozen or so dogs/owners that I met? Maybe because their (man-sized) dogs either did as exactly as they were told, or they were physically restrained by their owners in response to my ringing the bell.
Munka01 said:
People that can't ride without putting on lycra. I've owned and ridden bikes over 20 years and never felt the need to dress myself up like an aerobics instructor.
They can ride without but they dont want to...I take it you are embarrassed by the look? Have you tried it? I wore normal clothes at first but moved to lycra and have never looked back. Its comfortable in both shaping of the garments and the materials used. They are not horrible against the skin if they get wet and wick away sweat when hot. I'd be uncomfortable walking about without the bike though.Batfink said:
They can ride without but they dont want to...I take it you are embarrassed by the look? Have you tried it? I wore normal clothes at first but moved to lycra and have never looked back. Its comfortable in both shaping of the garments and the materials used. They are not horrible against the skin if they get wet and wick away sweat when hot. I'd be uncomfortable walking about without the bike though.
I don't know how anyone rides in anything but? Anything more than a social spin to the pub is more comfortable. As for what other people think honestly I have given up worrying. Granted I wouldn't don a skinsuit and head off grocery shopping but if I am out and need a coke what's worse...a bloke wandering around in lycra or a random fatty with his/her gut hanging out?Munka01 said:
People that can't ride without putting on lycra. I've owned and ridden bikes over 20 years and never felt the need to dress myself up like an aerobics instructor.
I've looked in my cupboards and drawers, and try as I might, I can find nothing in my limited 'wardrobe' which is as eminently suitable for cycling around my local woods and trails as 'proper' Lycra cycling gear. I've tried all of my shirts, sweaters, lounge suits and even my dinner jacket, but none has three good sized pockets at the back ideally sized for my phone, camera, pump, keys, etc. And none of them takes repeated washing half as well either. Sure, jeans and a sweatshirt will work for nipping to the shop, or 'work clothes' for a short commute, but anything more than a few miles at an easy pace and Lycra, like it or not, is 'wear' it's at 
I used to ride in running shorts and cotton T-shirts, and scoff at the 'Lycra loons' too. But then a friend, and riding partner, gave me some cast-off cycling gear, and quite frankly, anyone who shuns decent cycling clobber is missing a trick. I'd never go back to riding in everyday 'street' attire unless I was just quickly whizzing up the road for a loaf of bread. I know I look like a bit of a tit in my Lycra, because my wife and kids openly mock me when I dress for a ride, but it isn't (for me, at least) about sartorial elegance. It's about going out knowing I can get covered in mud, and sweat like a roasting hog, yet remain relatively comfortable in the saddle for several hours
Weirdly, this subject tends to be a bit of a one way street, too. Plenty of folk who own no Lycra, and ride in their everyday clothes, seem willing to deride the Lycra wearing fraternity, yet for the most part, Lycra-ists don't seem to give two hoots about what their fellow cyclists choose to wear on the bike. Why does it annoy you, if it doesn't remotely affect you?
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