Cylelab Hogging The Cradle

[Super J]

Well done LAB, for getting people out on bikes!!

['Dale]

[Stretch]

Must be a roadie thing, look at how us MTB'ers do it. All nice and neat in single file

 

do you have to block your nose going past those manure piles? 

[Rider3000]

That is just the kind of thinking that gets cyclists sworn at and in some cases the cr...p beaten out of them. Seems it could be thanks to this kind of thinking that we are hated by most motorists

I wont encourage riding in the whole lane... but SG1, to be honest i have been cycling for just over 20 years and the drivers attitude will never change towards our cyclist... time and time and time again this was the case. They think the road belongs to them and them only... that's the mentality that we don't need in SA not something like making a fuss about a group ride.

 

I spend some time in europe every year and you will not believe how they respect the cyclist on the road so as i said the drivers needs to understand that the road doesn't only belong to them. The roads in europe are narrow... they have far more trucks, busses etc. on their roads and its sooo much safer on your bike there than here.

[RocknRolla]

wait... I know... this is one of those Friday threads????

 

 

 

 

[SG1]

I wont encourage riding in the whole lane... but SG1, to be honest i have been cycling for just over 20 years and the drivers attitude will never change towards our cyclist... time and time and time again this was the case. They think the road belongs to them and them only... that's the mentality that we don't need in SA not something like making a fuss about a group ride.

 

I spend some time in europe every year and you will not believe how they respect the cyclist on the road so as i said the drivers needs to understand that the road doesn't only belong to them. The roads in europe are narrow... they have far more trucks, busses etc. on their roads and its sooo much safer on your bike there than here.

I agree with you whole heartedly but we don't need to encourage motorists to hate us even more. There have been physical attacks with cattle prods and tacs thrown on the road by locals who have had enough of the cyclists behaviour in the cradle. We have a specified cycle lane that you can ride 2 abreast in so except for overtaking and dodging glass there's no reason to be in the middle of the road.

I've ridden in Europe as well so I know what it is like there - mutual respect and an understanding that we have an equal right to the road.

[Ozzie NL]

I wont encourage riding in the whole lane... but SG1, to be honest i have been cycling for just over 20 years and the drivers attitude will never change towards our cyclist... time and time and time again this was the case. They think the road belongs to them and them only... that's the mentality that we don't need in SA not something like making a fuss about a group ride.

 

I spend some time in europe every year and you will not believe how they respect the cyclist on the road so as i said the drivers needs to understand that the road doesn't only belong to them. The roads in europe are narrow... they have far more trucks, busses etc. on their roads and its sooo much safer on your bike there than here.

Not sure where in Europe you ride but I grew up in Holland where I lived for 20 years and believe me there are plenty of cycling accidents there too.

 

Think SA roadies overplay the danger element. Besides nothing like going for a ride like it could be your last one  

[nathrix]

I agree with you whole heartedly but we don't need to encourage motorists to hate us even more. There have been physical attacks with cattle prods and tacs thrown on the road by locals who have had enough of the cyclists behaviour in the cradle. We have a specified cycle lane that you can ride 2 abreast in so except for overtaking and dodging glass there's no reason to be in the middle of the road.

I've ridden in Europe as well so I know what it is like there - mutual respect and an understanding that we have an equal right to the road.

There's nothing we can do as cyclists that will make motorists hate us or like us more. The problem is our LAWS, it's outdated. It does not protect cyclists at all. 99% of our roads are not designed with cycling in mind, another huge problem. We need laws to require bike paths alongside every road. Single file cycling law in SA should be changed http://www.bikelaw.com/2014/06/18/riding-two-abreast/

[Slower]

If we lucky, metro will close the roads till 11 for bikes. I say all cyclists must go there. Create a traffic jam and hope it becomes a dedicated cycle loop. Or budgeted for dedicated lanes. But expect some e toles. ????

[nonky]

The behavior of some of the roadies in the Cradle is just not on... why is it necessary to ride 3 or 4 or 5 abreast?  Safety in numbers gives you the RIGHT to behave like an a-hole? 

 

Could we all just TRY show some respect for each other?   Nah, it's SA, so let's insult other road users and blame everyone/thing else except our own wretched behavior.

[Falco]

If we lucky, metro will close the roads till 11 for bikes.

That will NEVER happen, so forget about it.

 

Re the Labrats, they aren't that bad, sure they ride out of the lane sometimes, but then so do I, even when riding alone. If there's crap in the cycle lane, I ride in the road.

 

Keeping a big group in the cycle lane all the time is near impossible. Having said that, when I rode with the rats in 2012 we spent more time in the lane than out of it.

[Ryan's dad]

The cycle lane needs to be swept clean , there is plenty of rubbish on the side that forces most people to ride in the road.

The other thing that bugs me is the " team cars" following the hubby and making a nuisance of themselves.

Maybe we can get one of those street sweeper tractor thingies to do a lop or two?

[Pieterg]

Why are we moaning enjoy the ride "live and let live"

[Butterbean]

I don't see why you're singling out Cyclelab club in this rant?? Anyone riding in the cradle will see the same behavior from club100, the groups from north cliff cycles, the guys from esmero, it goes on and on.

 

We know that it's not on, but it is a safer way to ride, IMHO. It forces the cars to slow down. And it's the cradle. It shouldn't be a problem because it's no thoroughfare there. So why are people rushing anyway??

 

You need to relax and realize that cyclists are not the problem in this country. Okay. They go through red robots which pisses me right off, but riding safely sometimes means taking over a lane to prevent passing by cars. It sometimes means not riding right on the left edge, but being safe.

 

Calm down, and enjoy the cradle for the little piece of cycling paradise it is. Perfect behaviour would still piss motorists off. So we may as well be safe about it.

[Bonus]

It is a shame there is so much glass in the cycle lane at the moment, particularly on the caves road. We've been lucky so far (probably doomed now!)

 

Maybe the rain will wash it all away when it comes :-)

[nonky]

I don't see why you're singling out Cyclelab club in this rant?? Anyone riding in the cradle will see the same behavior from club100, the groups from north cliff cycles, the guys from esmero, it goes on and on.

 

We know that it's not on, but it is a safer way to ride, IMHO. It forces the cars to slow down. And it's the cradle. It shouldn't be a problem because it's no thoroughfare there. So why are people rushing anyway??

 

You need to relax and realize that cyclists are not the problem in this country. Okay. They go through red robots which pisses me right off, but riding safely sometimes means taking over a lane to prevent passing by cars. It sometimes means not riding right on the left edge, but being safe.

 

Calm down, and enjoy the cradle for the little piece of cycling paradise it is. Perfect behaviour would still piss motorists off. So we may as well be safe about it.

I was referring to the stretch of beyers naude going north from the Krugersdorp highway to heia safari...

The thing that most of us tend to forget is that if a car has to choose between hitting an oncoming truck / bus / homicidal taxi or sideswiping a guy on a bike who is riding on the RHS of the yellow line....well, it's a simple choice, isn't it?

I don't want to argue the rights and wrongs of motorists' behavior from a hospital bed or a mortuary.