Ants Part Deux

As well as ants it seems the nice weather has brought swarms of cyclists to London's roads! Now obviously more folks on bikes is a good old thing but Jeez Louise was it hectic riding home tonight. I think this week has brought a lot of bikes and cyclists out of winter storage and it ain't just the chains that are rusty. Keep your wits about you kids!

I had a late evening cycle yesterday and there were swarms of flies. It felt like someone was throwing pebbles at me 'ead! Keep an eye out - and mouth closed - for them too!

As well as ants it seems the nice weather has brought swarms of cyclists to London's roads! Now obviously more folks on bikes is a good old thing but Jeez Louise was it hectic riding home tonight. I think this week has brought a lot of bikes and cyclists out of winter storage and it ain't just the chains that are rusty. Keep your wits about you kids!

If they wiggle on overtaking, I gently knock their handlebars and accelerate out of it. A bit like Spitfires and V1s. Did it today at the Houses of Parliament.

I'm not a very nice person, in the humanist sense, by the way.

what really gets me is the sound of a drivetrain that hasn't seen oil since last season. The sound genuinely gets to me.

I keep a bottle of lube in my bag (you never know) and sometimes it's all i can do not to whip it out and give some young cyclist a good hard lecture on chain maintenance.

You're a mean SOB ain't ya 50/14! ;-)

he likes a bit of full-contact cycling

you should take up bmx racing paul

I've booked into a beginners course with my grand nephew, king of the block aged 10.

You're a moean SOB ain't ya 50/14! ;-)

Just corrective medicine with no time for elaborate instruction in my book.

If I see a cute girl wiggling as I overtake I generally slow down to get a better look not knock her bars. Maybe it's just me? Guessing it's a good tactic. Do you have any pics of the aftermath of said bar nudging?

why don't you do that to me 50x14? lets see what happens.

No thanks you'll catch me up!

And you don't know how to wobble, so I've heard.

what really gets me is the sound of a drivetrain that hasn't seen oil since last season. The sound genuinely gets to me.

I keep a bottle of lube in my bag (you never know) and sometimes it's all i can do not to whip it out and give some young cyclist a good hard lecture on chain maintenance.

Oil?
Drivetrain?
What?

The cuntster will receive no such maintenance! When it sounds like a tractor I throw it up in the air and let it smash onto the ground. That usually sorts out some squeaks.

Oil?
Drivetrain?
What?

The cuntster will receive no such maintenance! When it sounds like a tractor I throw it up in the air and let it smash onto the ground. That usually sorts out some squeaks.

Pete Townsend of the fixed world!!!

'we won't get fooled agaaaaain, yeah'

If I see a cute girl wiggling as I overtake I generally slow down to get a better look not knock her bars. Maybe it's just me? Guessing it's a good tactic. Do you have any pics of the aftermath of said bar nudging?

\\\\\\\a good look to see all ok, and note reaction.

No pics though, that takes time, maybe a camcorder, and all you want to demonstrate is there is a definite difference between 'bicylists' i.e. people who use bicycles, and 'cyclists', people consumed with a passion who have to use the same space. No range war, just a notification that streets are crowded (everything is crowded) and no one who shares space can behave as if they are the only one, because they've got a rusty winter hulk and have just decided to use it in the mainstream with no 'L' sign and no road sense. At least practice in a quiet area 'til you can control what you are doing. That I believe is what the faltering car test tries to provide.

You know what that makes you sound like?
That's right. A driver.
And a white van driver at that. :)

No pics though, that takes time, maybe a camcorder, and all you want to demonstrate is there is a definite difference between 'bicylists' i.e. people who use bicycles, and 'cyclists', people consumed with a passion who have to use the same space. No range war, just a notification that streets are crowded (everything is crowded) and no one who shares space can behave as if they are the only one, because they've got a rusty winter hulk and have just decided to use it in the mainstream with no 'L' sign and no road sense. At least practice in a quiet area 'til you can control what you are doing. That I believe is what the faltering car test tries to provide.

This sounds a bit elitist to me; making a distinction between cyclists and people who use bicycles. I wonder which group you consider yourself to belong to?

So what, the sun is out and people bring their bikes out for their commute. Maybe they don't want to spend cash before deciding whether to carry on or not. WTF gives you the right to destabilise them. What would you think of a car driver who objects to you holding him up and decided to give you a nudge?

Do you mean 'car drivers' or 'people in cars'? :p

they've got a rusty winter hulk and have just decided to use it in the mainstream with no 'L' sign and no road sense. At least practice in a quiet area 'til you can control what you are doing. That I believe is what the faltering car test tries to provide.

hell yea. so i am a white van driver and i am a motorcyclist and i am a cyclist too. i totally think that people need to be on the ball if they decide to ride in traffic and so should they have road sense and bike ability. personally i think it makes it safer for everyone if everyone on the road (including cyclists/bicyclists) are able and aware of other road users. we all know how to complain about wanky drivers but i sure see some wanky cyclists too. and i dont necesarilly just mean those that run red lights or whatever (guilty-i'd rather run a red light just before it changes than pull away with a bunch of revving commuters but whatever).... i mean those who are really unsure of their positioning, their signalling of intentions voluntarily or otherwise, the state of their bike and knowledge of how to control it etc etc. more people on bikes is where its at, however, safety and awareness is the top priority..... did i mention im a cycle instructor too?? start teaching them young and hopefully they keep the knowledge their whole life till they drive and are in turn more aware of riders on roads. safety, people, is what we want all round, from drivers and cyclist too..
im not convinced id tap someones bar if they are wobbling but hey we are all different so im not gonna jump on that one.
as for girls, wobbly or not, on a bike or off, they are amazing and i generally cant help but look. wonderful wonderful.

ignore my spelling please.

This sounds a bit elitist to me; making a distinction between cyclists and people who use bicycles.

also. im not convinced that this veiw is elitist. take a look on the roads, i'd say its a truth. perhaps the definitions arent perfect but the sentiment is. there are people who ride a lot or a little but are still safe and aware. and then there are people who ride a lot or a little and no feckin clue and are generally a hazard and unpredictable. scarey to watch or ride behind. i sometimes find myself behind them in london and i find i cant overtake for fear of leaving them to get squished. so i ride behind them, a bit further out in the road than them, sheilding them if you like so they arent forced in to the gutter or spook drivers with their wiggle/wobble.

the noddys fuckin rule.

I love them. make the ride more interesting and hurt less than vans when/if they hit you.

alright stompy, not sure why you quoted me on that bit but hey. like i said, im not really someone to tap someones bar if they are on the wobble already. read what i wrote and quote me proper if you want to. and you are right, london traffic isnt a joke, but i like riding in traffic and i think im capable of it. some arent, so perhaps shouldnt be there for everyones sake till they are safe.