Is it time to start calling out bad cyclists?

He a was full lycra kit one so yeah quite possibly it was that.

There's no pre-selection to go right cos it's a towpath. So in those cases I pass left, but I see where he's coming from passing right as that's what you do on the road. Ah well.

It does sound as though he knows you quite well. xx
@greenhell

He a was full lycra kit one>

Does anyone else think there is a tendency for cyclists who wear cycling kit, as opposed to normal clothes, are more likely to ride antisocially?

I personally think the opposite is true, and find that less experienced / "fairweather" cyclists are more likely to be thoughtless / unsafe.

Third possibility is: when someone who appears different to us behaves badly, we are more likely to remember it than if it were someone we perceive as like or similar to us. There goes another typical nodder. Another typical fixie skidder. another typical etc etc glad I'm not one of those.

Third possibility is: when someone who appears different to us behaves badly, we are more likely to remember it than if it were someone we perceive as like or similar to us. There goes another typical nodder. Another typical fixie skidder. another typical etc etc glad I'm not one of those.

I think is probably it.

There are a few informal/social clubs round here that don't have club kit and while the numbers are a lot less than the proper clubs, there's something else that I find less offensive about them, and they could be riding just as poorly.

Yeah, actor/observer bias!

No, but when you're passing elderly, traumatised ramblers who've been forced into the ditch by a marauding bunch of two/three abreast, blind cornering and bellowing (stand clear! STAND CLEAR!) cyclists, it's nice to stop and make sure they're okay and to reassure them we're not all like that.

It's bizarre because in isolation, it doesn't seem like much and it seems petty mentioning it but taken as a whole, it all adds up and is getting to the point where it's remarkable.

Nah it's not on that sorta of thing. I understand well you want to put it right and it's annoying the club doesn't take your input on board.

The Lycra had to do with the Strava >>> Wanting to go fast.

Not with people in Lycra cycling in general, I find actually the roadies tend to be quite good in Belfast. It's people with clapped out old bicycles with no cycle training and no lights and people hopping of kerbs not looking that are the main hazards here.

I know full well about observer bias, so I try to take people one at a time. Unless they're car coming up in my rear mirror doing 40 in a 30 zone then asshole bucket right away :P

So many fucking idiots on the road this morning.

Two options here in my hometown: risk the big-fish-small-pond drivers, or risk pavement nazis. I face both because of the way the paths end right onto main roads, but the pavements are generally wide and labeled for shared use.

Anyway, I pass a lot of dog walkers, elderly, etc. More often than not they are surprised that I slow down to a stop when passing their pets, or greet them. Admittedly I do pass from behind without much signal at times, but only because nobody pays attention to the noise I'm making to warn them on the approach, especially on the noisier stretches.

It's difficult - do you shout so you're heard, and risk offense/startling? Or do you hope they are paying attention to their surroundings? Experience shows people are so deep in their own world that they are likely to bee-line or simply not hear any warning, such as walking on green man even though a bus is hurtling through having jumped a signal (left me feeling sick).

There's no need to be a massive dick to people though, someone posted months ago asking best way to get through Oxford St cos of all the peds, and someone suggested "avoid Oxford St" or something to that effect.

The greater issue I face is younger generations (talking my age, 20's-40's), and parents with kids, because they really don't share space well.

On the country roads, all the ramblers and other cyclists/dog walkers etc are quite used to the Audis screaming by at speed, so are quite happy to smile and say hello when shouted at.

Maybe helmets shouldn't be mandatory but comedy honkers should be. Better to make someone laugh.

At a very rough guess based on experience, about 15% of people on the road are arseholes whatever their chosen mode of transport. Dulwich are pretty visible and I'm sure there are arseholes in the club.

Do the club read the comments? Of course they do and they try their best to adjust behaviour where inappropriate.

At a very rough estimate, about 50% of the people who respond in comments sections are arseholes. I tend not to read the comments personally.

I went on the Dun Run last year with four (club) mates. Pretty sure we were friendly, didn't barge anyone off the road etc etc etc, treated it like the lovely night ride to the coast that it was.

Will I be doing what? Never really done sportives, don't see the point personally. I like to race but do it in...a proper race environment. Is that ok with you?

Most are talking about this group of riders.

And yes they did block the entire road at the start for photos. They also then proceeded to ride as a single large pack of riders and then to keep in formation or whatever forced past other riders often extremely close(some of your club have uploaded video of that if you need to see it for yourself google/youtube).

Proper race environment is exactly what people are talking about.

do you shout so you're heard, and risk offense/startling?>

this really is a tricky one. I was riding through dulwich park the other day, and I slowed for a couple infront of me to about 10mph, then said "I'm going to pass on your right". I got an angry "we can't hear you coming get some lights" (I have 4 lights). I have spent the rest of the week explaining to them in imaginary conversations why what they said made no sense at all.

That imaginary discussion is the worst. Maybe it's the Westcountry in my blood (fighting the London in there too), but I find the use of "just" more effective. For example "just on your right", or "just behind yah!" as a much better solution, except when sprinting uphill toward people staring at me and not moving, on those occasions it's an unapologetic "sorryyyy!"

On those occasions more often than not it's a very pleasant fake smile that turns to a grimace as soon as they can't see my face.

I'm doing Dunwich Dynamo this year. I was expecting mostly casual riding rather than tool city. What's the best bet to avoid the latter specimens?

On the passing front, I just go with a bell way behind, a bell before I past rather than doppler-effect distorted 'on yer- mrafflerqffle!' Am I the only person left with a bell now?

The end of the bell?

Like a bell to say going past is about to start and one to show me going past has ended. Like a bell start and a bell...oh wait.

I got bell'ed the other day so was expecting someone to pass, imagine my surprise when no one came sailing pass. Turns out the lady behind me was dinging her bell to anyone who was in a meter radius of her.

Turns out the lady behind me was dinging her bell to anyone who was in a meter radius of her.

obvs euph

One of the guys I train with dings his bell to tell me when he's dropping off and I need to slow down. Reverse belling.

Reverse belling.

Weird boner.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/apr/01/law-breaking-cyclists-mr-loophole-police

his points range from the glaringly hypocritical to the outright erroneous to the just plain fucking stupid and probably don't warrant any further comment other than to point out that Nick Freeman, who calls himself Mr Loophole, is a cunt.

also:

“Whilst some may suggest the figures have fallen because less cyclists are breaking the law that is clearly total nonsense..."

LOL. Mr Loophole looking to expand his potential client base.

Make cyclists follow strict rules -> encourage more tickets = more people to defend -> Profit!

[Insert 1000 lawyers at bottom of sea joke here]

but people ride because they're poor and can't afford cars, there's no way they could afford Nick Freeman, who calls himself Mr Loophole, who is also a cunt.