Manners please

Fuck 'em. They think they win because they have more mass.. and then they get a closer look when I confront them at the lights and do the 'truffle shuffle' from Goonies :D

You're one to talk about "thinking they win because they have more mass".

Same.
Speed and position will get you out of a lot of trouble if you are going quick enough.
You are less likely to be overtaken dangerously (in London) by buses and cars if you go a little quicker and stay away from the side.

Yep. I don't ride in the gutter for no one. I ride like a muppet some times (everyone does) but generally keep myself out there and visible and don't get intimidated by wankers laying on the horn or whatever. Riding 'with room to move' also means you have more chance of avoiding cunts that snap change lanes without indicating.

You're one to talk about "thinking they win because they have more mass".

Read the rest of the statement ya eejit! Didn't you see my truffle shuffle gag.. sigh

Oh, I win because I'm faster. Being fatter may or may not help :)

the road is not a race track. not for you, thinking you awarded pole position by winning between lights nor for the guy overtaking in the 'pit lanes' in front of the lights

Apologies if I'm misunderstanding this post, it's not quite clear... but it sounds to me like you're lecturing those of us who are annoyed by obviously slower riders trying to get out in front of us at lights?

I'm as far from being a speed demon as anybody could possibly be. I do, however, like a nice smooth obstacle-free ride. Every time I'm forced to overtake somebody, I expend extra effort and take on additional risk. I don't think I should be "awarded" a position at the front because I "win" between lights... I think people who know they're slower than me should let me go first, because it makes the most fucking sense.

I don't think I am a good cyclist yet, but I am constantly thinking about where I am on the carriageway, and looking over my shoulders when appropriate (amazing how many cyclists never seem to look behind 'em when changing lanes or pulling out around parked vehicles).

I too hate the undertakers, who don't seem to understand what taking the primary position is for. We need to have a good thing to say to them, a bit like the cabbies^ little one-liner. And I mean friendly but firm, not super tough angry shouty things. Like 'undertaking is a quick way to the undertakers' or something. Anyone?'

i told a man off for this (moving ahead of you at lights) once and he called me, in a very posh voice, a "silly twit". I had no comeback at all and it bothers me even now

@Hippy You just truffle shuffle your way to the front with your big ol' ass.

"Oi.. fuck off cunt" works for me in most situations or "wanker!" in most others. :)

the road is not a race track.

some times it is, all the time, get out of my way.

@Hippy You just truffle shuffle your way to the front with your big ol' ass.

You love it.. you've got the image of my arse in your mind now and you're salivating a little.. I know you are.. you bad bad boy...

Same.
Speed and position will get you out of a lot of trouble if you are going quick enough.
You are less likely to be overtaken dangerously (in London) by buses and cars if you go a little quicker and stay away from the side.

+1 - just like driving, confidence on the road is key. decisive moves shows you know what youre doing.

I would describe myself as a defensive road user, but it's easy to feel pressured by less careful cyclists and lose concentration. For me it's less about manners and more about making other cyclists panic and react dangerously.

i told a man off for this (moving ahead of you at lights) once and he called me, in a very posh voice, a "silly twit". I had no comeback at all and it bothers me even now

Would have thought, with all your many years on the road, that this sort of thing is water off a duck's back. I guess when someone uses a word like Twit it can be very disarming... must use that one. I like it. And you Berk. Although that one is actually quite rude but doesn't sound it to most people.

How about 'You Wally'?

I don't think I am a good cyclist yet, but I am constantly thinking about where I am on the carriageway, and looking over my shoulders when appropriate (amazing how many cyclists never seem to look behind 'em when changing lanes or pulling out around parked vehicles).

I too hate the undertakers, who don't seem to understand what taking the primary position is for. We need to have a good thing to say to them, a bit like the cabbies^ little one-liner. And I mean friendly but firm, not super tough angry shouty things. Like 'undertaking is a quick way to the undertakers' or something. Anyone?'

[FONT=Helv][SIZE=2]May get caned for coming to the defence of a minicabby, but I was riding along Commercial rd yesterday behind a single speeder who was pounding it up the inside. Upcoming intersection was semi-obstructed by a large truck turning right. The little minicab van thingo drifted left to pass the truck coming close to pinning this guy against the curb. Cycle hero proceeded to puch the rear window of the cab with significant force and make some odd angry growly noise. Seemed a somewhat disproportionate reaction for something that, on the behalf of the minicab, was neither:

a) unexpected
b) particularly reckless
c) totally unavoidable

I figure that if you cant handle manouvering out of that situation, you shouldn't have fucking put yourself in there in the first place. Seemed to me like a lack of foresight and awareness. Had I not had the remanants of 87 pints of Guinness in my belly, I'd have caught him and let him know. I couldnt help but think that anyone who saw that would think worse of riders for his reaction. It has its place, that just wasn't it.

Having said that, I run up the inside on Commercial on my commute, but do so knowing the risk.

Then this morning, saw a bloke on a mountain bike go up the inside of a garbage truck - you know, those big white things with all the fucking bright flashing lights and hazards, you know the ones with 'vehicle frequently stopping' plastered in massive fucking letters on the back? Im really sorry you nearly came off your bike. Im sure you're better off for the fright though.
[/SIZE][/FONT]

I guess every duck has his limits

Slightly modified quote from the wheel-less Bentley thread:

I dont think there is anything wrong with being really into **** per se. It just so happens that most of the people who are really into **** and spend money on doing them up...think they own the roads...

I couldn't give a shit if someone passed me on the inside or skidded up next to me. I quite enjoy it actually, the elbows out sprint up the hill from Stockwell to Clapham in a pack of 30 different cyclists is a wicked buzz, it's no man's land. It's also no different to a car being too close, or a bus squashing you up against a curb, or a whole host of other "commuting" instances.

Relax a bit, digital rants always make me smile because they are pretty much pointless. It's just riding a bike.

I'm with chris crash on everything hes said here.
Ride on the outside and people HAVE to pay attention to you.
Speed is always your friend in terms of staying safe on the road.
The road is a race track i mean ..... come on ..... its 2008.

what you need is a rear hub with Ben Hur chariot-style blades on to chop through the spokes of anyone cutting up the inside.

^ chug it, riding with a pack of commuters is fun, I like bullying traffic sometimes to keep them safe!

You love it.. you've got the image of my arse in your mind now and you're salivating a little.. I know you are.. you bad bad boy...

I'v been owned.

or the modern equivalent: industrial grade lasers

Just Xena them with your quick release chainring. Light, effective, cunning.

Quality rant, roxy.

My two pence.....

If at a red light I decide there is not space to pass a bus/lorry safely thank the Cycling Gods that one of us has a brain and wait quietly behind me.

Shouting or attempting to physically force your way past (or me through the non-gap) will benefit nobody.

if you cant shoot the gap get out of the way, some one else might be able to

if you cant shoot the gap get out of the way, some one else might be able to

especially if you are a scooter.