Cycling two abreast....agree or not?

[Ares]

fastraxx said:

mdavids said:

Lorry driver? fking hell!!

'Professional driver', there's an oxymoron if ever I saw one. Should have went for the job flipping burgers in Maccy Ds instead, you might be less angry

Probably posted that whilst driving past a cyclist

"....or raping a hitch-hiker" - Jeremy Clarkson(TM)

[Ares]

fastraxx said:

I am glad I am on the turbo for a while to get away from these 'all cyclists are aholes' idiots in lorrys/pickups. Absolute imbeciles and it seems like the stress/rage is only going up as lockdown goes on.

Except it isn't. I think I'm at one incident per 100,000km, maybe 2.

The anti-cyclist ranters on here are just acting like billy-big-bollcoks. They'd st themselves if they ever left their laptop screen and wk-sock for 30mins an actually encountered a cyclist as filled with vitriol as they claim every one is.

[Ares]

Mastodon2 said:

Could someone from the angry side explain the issue with lycra? It seems to inspire so much anger. Bright colours seem to attract even more rage, as if being visible was somehow more offensive.

It's funny, the ones who complain about lyrca are also the ones who complain about being "held up" - do they realise that if we don't wear lycra, we'll be going even slower? The difference between cycling in normal clothes and proper fitted cycling attire is massive.

Those who can, do. Those who can't, bh about those who do.

[Ares]

Fady said:

Makes a difference to everyone. A flappy top is going to slow you down however much you weigh.

Anyway - you probably haven't seen Wiggo lately. Now that he has stopped racing - not a lot of difference between he and said IT assistant manager...

But he can still ride better than almost any other mortal man.

[StuntmanMike]

J4CKO said:

OpulentBob said:

J4CKO said:

I am around sixteen stone, am fifty next week and work in IT

I didn't know that when I wrote my post - it wasn't aimed at you specifically!

No, but I fit the profile, it is what it is, cycling is keeping me sane, life is comfortable at the moment, too bloody comfortable, need to feel the elements, it just resets me, my mood is so much better.

And I cant help my job (pays ok) but I do need to lose some podge, if nothing else I feel fitter, dragging myself up hills, heart rate hitting 170 odd willl either kill me or do some good

Many happy returns for next week.

I’m fifty after Christmas and around 16 stone myself.

[Ares]

NewUsername said:

I don't wear lycra for aero benefits at all but i do wear it (well mostly merino based products)


My cycling clothes keep me comfy, regulate my temperature, dont chafe, keep me dry, wicks sweat away from my skin etc etc

In the same way I wear a dinner jacket for dinner and flip flops on the beach.

Right tools for the job

Christ, imagine if the neanderthals on here tried to comprehend bib-shorts....or even worse, bib-tights

[Ares]

J4CKO said:

Generally, citing the weight aspect is to piss on someones bonfire as its a way to try and belittle them or maybe put them off, generally its a reflection of some insecurity or guilt on the part of whoever is saying it as the fact someone else is doing something reminds them that they arent.

We were on a pretty long ride as part of a charity thing, few years back now, my mate who is, by his own admission pretty big was holding his own, doing better than me as I got cramp after a minor misunderstanding at a junction some toothless scratter in an old shed gave him some stick over his weight "You shouldn't be on that, you are too fat" , he got it back, with interest

I am around sixteen stone, am fifty next week and work in IT, but I can ride 50 miles without feeling it, can climb hills out of the saddle and really enjoy it, spent over a grand on a Smart Trainer, so will drop a couple of stone and get down to my 14 stone ideal (for me) weight.

I wear Lycra as its comfy, doesn't fall down and so motorists can view my magnificent arse and ladies can check out my junk (its cold out, alright...), you get to wear Budgie Smuglers in public, oh yeah

I'm nearly 50yr, 62kg, 5% body fat. I love cycling with 14-16 stone riders.... Sit in the draft all day

[Ares]

NewUsername said:

nickfrog said:

NewUsername said:

Given that its a proven fact that people who cycle regularly are less of a burden on the NHS, the government should be subsidising the activity and transferring the cost onto those commuters who drive....

The ride to work scheme is a good fiscal incentive.

It was a bit tongue in cheek as I know we get incentives like bike lanes C2W, no 'road tax' or insurance or ID legislation etc etc, its almost like the Government know we save them money and are better for the overall health of the country etc etc

A survey earlier this year calculated that every person that took up cycling saved the NHS £680 per year.

[Ares]

Falconer said:

Ares said:

Falconer said:

Foss62 said:

A lot depends on where they are going. Bridges and tunnels are rare and cycle lanes that have priority crossing roads, apparently non existent. Consequently many cyclists feel (and probably are) safer turning right or negotiating roundabouts with the traffic.
There are also numerous ‘cycle tracks’ with reversed priorities meaning that cyclists are supposed to give way at every side road for completely unknown reasons - put yourself in the position of a cyclist on one of these and you can see why the road might be an attractive choice...

I’m not saying all cycle tracks are fit for purpose, but the one I am familiar with definitely is and a lot of money has been spent on it. It even deviates from the road to avoid a hill. But the “proper” cyclists with their Tour de France fantasies still ignore it.

You need to stop with the "Tour de France fantasies", they are no more that that you are a Lewis Hamilton/Ayrton Senna fantasist.

On to cycle lanes, Money doesn't equate to being fit for purpose. Cyclist will use a cycle lane that is fit for purpose. I'd bet you the air from all my tyres that if cyclists aren't using it, there is reason for it. Debris, obstructions, mud, junctions, runners/pedestrians, etc.

As I said above, there is one fit for purpose cycle lane near me, and it's far from perfect as it is busy AND only c5m wide....but pretty much every cyclist will use it for the 5km it runs alongside the A34.

Wrong fantasy. I’ve got a blue Subaru !

Gold Wheels?? Chav. I bet you almost never take it screaming through a muddy forest either?

[J4CKO]

Ares said:

J4CKO said:

Generally, citing the weight aspect is to piss on someones bonfire as its a way to try and belittle them or maybe put them off, generally its a reflection of some insecurity or guilt on the part of whoever is saying it as the fact someone else is doing something reminds them that they arent.

We were on a pretty long ride as part of a charity thing, few years back now, my mate who is, by his own admission pretty big was holding his own, doing better than me as I got cramp after a minor misunderstanding at a junction some toothless scratter in an old shed gave him some stick over his weight "You shouldn't be on that, you are too fat" , he got it back, with interest

I am around sixteen stone, am fifty next week and work in IT, but I can ride 50 miles without feeling it, can climb hills out of the saddle and really enjoy it, spent over a grand on a Smart Trainer, so will drop a couple of stone and get down to my 14 stone ideal (for me) weight.

I wear Lycra as its comfy, doesn't fall down and so motorists can view my magnificent arse and ladies can check out my junk (its cold out, alright...), you get to wear Budgie Smuglers in public, oh yeah

I'm nearly 50yr, 62kg, 5% body fat. I love cycling with 14-16 stone riders.... Sit in the draft all day

62 kilos ! Marcus Rashford is going to turn up with a sandwich for you

[Ares]

popeyewhite said:

df76 said:

OpulentBob said:

Mastodon2 said:

Could someone from the angry side explain the issue with lycra? It seems to inspire so much anger. Bright colours seem to attract even more rage, as if being visible was somehow more offensive.

It's funny, the ones who complain about lyrca are also the ones who complain about being "held up" - do they realise that if we don't wear lycra, we'll be going even slower? The difference between cycling in normal clothes and proper fitted cycling attire is massive.

To Wiggo, maybe. Does it make that much difference to a 16 stone IT assistant manager?

Yes, probably it does. You would choose to run a 10k in your business suit?

Exactly, it's not just cyclists that look silly in lycra. Yes, it's easier to commit to serious sport wearing lycra...but most serious sport doesn't take place as cars and lorries thunder past so I imagine some of the scorn towards overdressed cyclists is also based on the enviromental dichotomy.

You appear to have spelled your last two words wrong, it's spelt 'Ignorant Bigotry'.

[Ares]

Pan Pan Pan said:

Mastodon2 said:

Could someone from the angry side explain the issue with lycra? It seems to inspire so much anger. Bright colours seem to attract even more rage, as if being visible was somehow more offensive.

It's funny, the ones who complain about lyrca are also the ones who complain about being "held up" - do they realise that if we don't wear lycra, we'll be going even slower? The difference between cycling in normal clothes and proper fitted cycling attire is massive.

I don't really give a monkey`s what cyclists wear, and I have seen some pretty good cycling outfits, but walking into a pub dripping with sweat, looking like a condom packed with walnuts is not as good a look ,as some cyclists seem to think it is

Very few lycra-clad cyclists walk into a pub dripping wet, alcohol and (serious) cycling doesn't mix. Has that anecdote come from the 'all cyclists ride 2-abreast for 20miles' and 'I was held up for 45 mins' school of exaggerated bullst?

[Ares]

DoubleD said:

NewUsername said:

DoubleD said:

Still looks funny though

Does it?

I like a joke and some fairly risque and non pc ones too but I really dont see anything funny in that photo whatsoever.

What looks funny about it?

The image looks funny.

Are you seeing a reflection in error?

[Ares]

smn159 said:

Bobtherallyfan said:

I can’t see any hypocrisy.....drivers were getting fed up being delayed by other cars on the motorway and drivers get fed up being held up by cyclists on other roads. In both cases drivers get fed up because other people are inconsiderate.

How much time each week do you spend getting 'held up by cyclists'? I'm betting it's pretty much zero

But in his mind it's at least eleventy-twelve hours every day.

[Ares]

OpulentBob said:

ddom said:

Bobtherallyfan said:

I can’t see any hypocrisy.....drivers were getting fed up being delayed by other cars on the motorway and drivers get fed up being held up by cyclists on other roads. In both cases drivers get fed up because other people are inconsiderate they are impatient individuals.

EFA

Is that the same excuse for some cyclists running red lights?

No - that's illegal. Same as when drivers do it, or break the speed limit, drive with no insurance, no numberplate, no tax, no MOT, bald tyres, with excess alcohol or drugs in their system...etc etc. The world is full of people that break laws.

Be careful of your glass house roof...

[Ares]

thewarlock said:

Ares said:

Want to heard like a grown up. Use punctuation.

Ironic

It wasn't a question. No question mark required.

[Ares]

J4CKO said:

Ares said:

J4CKO said:

Generally, citing the weight aspect is to piss on someones bonfire as its a way to try and belittle them or maybe put them off, generally its a reflection of some insecurity or guilt on the part of whoever is saying it as the fact someone else is doing something reminds them that they arent.

We were on a pretty long ride as part of a charity thing, few years back now, my mate who is, by his own admission pretty big was holding his own, doing better than me as I got cramp after a minor misunderstanding at a junction some toothless scratter in an old shed gave him some stick over his weight "You shouldn't be on that, you are too fat" , he got it back, with interest

I am around sixteen stone, am fifty next week and work in IT, but I can ride 50 miles without feeling it, can climb hills out of the saddle and really enjoy it, spent over a grand on a Smart Trainer, so will drop a couple of stone and get down to my 14 stone ideal (for me) weight.

I wear Lycra as its comfy, doesn't fall down and so motorists can view my magnificent arse and ladies can check out my junk (its cold out, alright...), you get to wear Budgie Smuglers in public, oh yeah

I'm nearly 50yr, 62kg, 5% body fat. I love cycling with 14-16 stone riders.... Sit in the draft all day

62 kilos ! Marcus Rashford is going to turn up with a sandwich for you

Welcome to the benefits of cycling......

[J4CKO]

Ares said:

smn159 said:

Bobtherallyfan said:

I can’t see any hypocrisy.....drivers were getting fed up being delayed by other cars on the motorway and drivers get fed up being held up by cyclists on other roads. In both cases drivers get fed up because other people are inconsiderate.

How much time each week do you spend getting 'held up by cyclists'? I'm betting it's pretty much zero

But in his mind it's at least eleventy-twelve hours every day.

It is strange how moaning about cyclists holding you up is way, way more time consuming than cyclists holding you up, and an inexplicable 30 mins sat on the M6 not moving in nose to tail traffic is met with a shrug of the shoulders.

Its similar to when on the roads and someone does something stupid and you dare object in any way they will take as long as is necessary to follow you to get a chance to remonstrate/intimidate/kill you and bury you in a shallow grave.

Same strange reason why you see so many energy drinks bottles and cans, gives people all that energy, but not enough to get to a bin.

[J4CKO]

Ares said:

J4CKO said:

Ares said:

J4CKO said:

Generally, citing the weight aspect is to piss on someones bonfire as its a way to try and belittle them or maybe put them off, generally its a reflection of some insecurity or guilt on the part of whoever is saying it as the fact someone else is doing something reminds them that they arent.

We were on a pretty long ride as part of a charity thing, few years back now, my mate who is, by his own admission pretty big was holding his own, doing better than me as I got cramp after a minor misunderstanding at a junction some toothless scratter in an old shed gave him some stick over his weight "You shouldn't be on that, you are too fat" , he got it back, with interest

I am around sixteen stone, am fifty next week and work in IT, but I can ride 50 miles without feeling it, can climb hills out of the saddle and really enjoy it, spent over a grand on a Smart Trainer, so will drop a couple of stone and get down to my 14 stone ideal (for me) weight.

I wear Lycra as its comfy, doesn't fall down and so motorists can view my magnificent arse and ladies can check out my junk (its cold out, alright...), you get to wear Budgie Smuglers in public, oh yeah

I'm nearly 50yr, 62kg, 5% body fat. I love cycling with 14-16 stone riders.... Sit in the draft all day

62 kilos ! Marcus Rashford is going to turn up with a sandwich for you

Welcome to the benefits of cycling......

I am well aware of them, its just the benefits of beer and chips are winning

[thewarlock]

Ares said:

thewarlock said:

Ares said:

Want to heard like a grown up. Use punctuation.

Ironic

It wasn't a question. No question mark required.

No, I understand that. And I'm probably now in for some sort of lecture about how this isn't technically a grammatical issue, so doesn't constitute irony, but it was the missing word I was referring to.