fabs Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 And I am referring to the incessant need by cyclist to 'own' the road i.e. disobeying the laws. But this rant is not about that per se since that is a futile debate with advocates on both sides. What this rant is concerned with is the fact that there are now groups/individuals that actually 'attack' those who do obey the laws. This Saturday I'm cut off when I cross a green light by a large cycle lab group jumping the red without any hesitation. I saw them coming so took evasive action and went on my merry way, in the same direction as them, but on the gravel since I'm on a MTB on my way to Groenies. I pass the whole group and a few hundred meters further on I'm forced back into the yellow line when the ride-able gravel ended. Another 50 meters further the next light turned red and I proceeded to stop. About 45 seconds later all hell broke loose as I'm been shouted at for stopping at the red light and endangering their (this is the cycle lab group I over took) lives. There was one particularly verbal individual. I waited for the light to turn green and proceeded to ride up to the group and this individual. Now during my brief encounter with him I was able to establish that he is a) physically weak, b) mentally weak and c) intellectually weak. He is physically weak because he thinks he is on a training ride while battling to hold the wheel of the big boned chick in front of him while riding in the middle a 30+ bunch. He is mentally weak since he obviously buckled under peer pressure to the notion that a cyclist 'owns' the road. But most astonishingly he is an individual with a very weak intellect. When I rode up to him and inquired as to why he felt the need to verbally abuse me for obeying the law he proceed to inform me that the fact that a whole bunch broke the law by not stopping at a red light means they were in the right and that I was in the wrong for stopping at a red light. My jaw dropped and after asking him to invite me to his child's funeral when a car driver who made his own law kills him I departed. What scares me is not the fact that people decide when a law applies to them and also how it implies. It also does not scare me that there are many, many of them. What scares me is the fact that he actually think that he is right and conveys this to a youth that joins the club, who then applies this same logic when driving his first car. I do not know what Andrew's affiliation with the club is but I feel sorry for him. He has begged and pleaded multiple times on national TV for cyclist to obey the traffic laws, only to have people like these show him the middle finger. Unfortunately no matter what his involvement he is still associated with the club, even by non cyclists.Hello Muddy. You should be a writer, and leave cycling alone. I have a few problems with your comments .... "This Saturday I'm cut off when I cross a green light by a large cycle lab group jumping the red without any hesitation."A whole group of cyclists will jump a red, if instructed safely by a road safety marshall.I have never jumped a red robot as a group, in 2 years of cycling.This is definitely not what the club stands for. "but on the gravel since I'm on a MTB on my way to Groenies. I pass the whole group and a few hundred meters further on I'm forced back into the yellow line when the ride-able gravel ended"Do you mean that you were on the gravel on an MTB, and "forced back" into the yellow line, without checking behind you if a faster road group was approaching? "There was one particularly verbal individual"I will not comment on individual comments, albeit you attack CL as a group. " the big boned chick "This comment of yours classifies you as mentally and intellectually weak. Oh, and you are also physically weak, the fact that you need to ride on the gravel bordering the road, and "forced into" the road indicates this.Go and find some real off road single paths, instead of specifically targeting road groups. Andrew does a sterling job in promoting all forms of cycling in this country.The club abides by a strict set of rules, that ensures everyone (groups) has fun during rides, and ensures safety.
DIPSLICK Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 Andrew does a sterling job in promoting all forms of cycling in this country. HE DOES DO LOTS FOR CYCLING I AGREE The club abides by a strict set of rules, that ensures everyone (groups) has fun during rides, and ensures safety. HERE I CANT AGREE AS A CYCLIST ON MY WAY TO HARTIES THE GROUPS I SEE COULDNT CARE LESS, yes they are kitted and they do have the cycle lab vehicles behind them, but as i said previously i have seen many times how robots simply are there for everyone else,
Patchelicious Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 I must agree. Even though I mostly ride by myself, I do ride with the Fourways Lab on the odd occasion. (need to be a member of a club for licensing purposes). I did about 6 or 7 rides with them last year and not once did we jump a red light. My mates have done this on a few private smaller rides, only to get an earful, but not on official rides. I hope this isn't a bunch of rouge guys riding in club kit on non club rides and break the rules.Those "the rules only apply if somebody is watching" types. This is however the danger if you have a well distributed brand, lots of people wear your clothes and the actions of a few will reflect badly on you.... Shell dude crashing into car comes to mind.
KarlvN Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 Coming down Black Hill road towards Glencairn on Saturday morning I was passed by 3 guys kitted out in CL gear. Two middle aged guys and a younger bloke. I managed to hold onto the back wheel of the guy in the back of this trio, and we cruised down at an average of around 45kph, approaching the set of traffic lights at the bottom of the hill. Imagine my (lack of) surprise when I pulled my brakes to stop for the reds, only to see the guys in the CL kit promptly keep going and turn left on the way to Fishhoek. I must say I was not shocked by that, since I see it often, but what did baffle me was the blatant arrogance in the face of excessive Saturday morning traffic on that very busy stretch of road between Simonstown and Muizenberg. My rant is all about the fact that institutions like PPA are trying their damndest to get national policy changed as well as the mindset of the general non cycling public, to get them more focussed on cycling safety etc. Think about their latest Stay wider of the rider campaign. Now, all that flies out the window when some rather selfish and idiotic morons ride like they own the road and deem themselves above the law.
Blackbeard Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 Coming down Black Hill road towards Glencairn on Saturday morning I was passed by 3 guys kitted out in CL gear. Two middle aged guys and a younger bloke. I managed to hold onto the back wheel of the guy in the back of this trio, and we cruised down at an average of around 45kph, approaching the set of traffic lights at the bottom of the hill. Imagine my (lack of) surprise when I pulled my brakes to stop for the reds, only to see the guys in the CL kit promptly keep going and turn left on the way to Fishhoek. I must say I was not shocked by that, since I see it often, but what did baffle me was the blatant arrogance in the face of excessive Saturday morning traffic on that very busy stretch of road between Simonstown and Muizenberg. My rant is all about the fact that institutions like PPA are trying their damndest to get national policy changed as well as the mindset of the general non cycling public, to get them more focussed on cycling safety etc. Think about their latest Stay wider of the rider campaign. Now, all that flies out the window when some rather selfish and idiotic morons ride like they own the road and deem themselves above the law.Many of us have seen similar behaviour despite "a strict set of rules".
GoLefty!! Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 Coming down Black Hill road towards Glencairn on Saturday morning I was passed by 3 guys kitted out in CL gear. Two middle aged guys and a younger bloke. I managed to hold onto the back wheel of the guy in the back of this trio, and we cruised down at an average of around 45kph, approaching the set of traffic lights at the bottom of the hill. Imagine my (lack of) surprise when I pulled my brakes to stop for the reds, only to see the guys in the CL kit promptly keep going and turn left on the way to Fishhoek. I must say I was not shocked by that, since I see it often, but what did baffle me was the blatant arrogance in the face of excessive Saturday morning traffic on that very busy stretch of road between Simonstown and Muizenberg. My rant is all about the fact that institutions like PPA are trying their damndest to get national policy changed as well as the mindset of the general non cycling public, to get them more focussed on cycling safety etc. Think about their latest Stay wider of the rider campaign. Now, all that flies out the window when some rather selfish and idiotic morons ride like they own the road and deem themselves above the law. I've had many similar experiences with Cyclelflab kitted riders. ncluding the "group inertia". Had my fortune read to me when I stopped in glencairn one morning. I didn't even know the blithering idiots where wheel sucking
Falco Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 There is no way that the Lab can control every rider who wears their kit, no matter what Andrew McLean does or says. At least they do attempt to inform their riders to stop at red. Unfortunately some don't listen, the usual "me, myself and I" SA attitude comes out as soon as they turn a pedal. Far worse offenders, in my opinion, come from the Club 100 ranks. Those guys are red-jumping pro's. I rode with Fourways Labrats for a year, and apart from the one marshal controlled light at Fourways Mall, on the way out to the Cradle, the C1 group I rode with never once jumped a red. Hopefully that is still the case.
DIPSLICK Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 i got no issue with one particular club/ride/group just as any group activity there is normally a handfull of people who organize the rides IMHO those are the guys who should simply say "hey bud either we stop or find another group" then dont invite them next time or tell them pull that shiit again and you can ride aloneits also a problem to try deny guilt when 80 cyclists are riding TOGETHER with a sweeper vehicle with the same branding,,,, just saying
DJR Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 ...........My rant is all about the fact that institutions like PPA are trying their damndest to get national policy changed as well as the mindset of the general non cycling public, to get them more focussed on cycling safety etc. Think about their latest Stay wider of the rider campaign. Now, all that flies out the window when some rather selfish and idiotic morons ride like they own the road and deem themselves above the law. Agreed!
Maniax Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 Seems to be the feel amongst some of our peers
TheV Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 I'll be honest, I didn't read the OP's post.... way to long and after the first sentence I could pick up where it was going...
DIPSLICK Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 I'll be honest, I didn't read the OP's post.... way to long and after the first sentence I could pick up where it was going...so you missed the lucky number combo for this weeks lotto
Hairy Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 Each cycle jersey should be individually numbered and registered at the time of purchase ..... if you have 10 tops, well you end up with 10 numbers or make arrangements for a special order with the numbers to be the same. Number should be large enough and placed clearly to be read by the general public. If you sell the jersey or give it to another, it is your responsibility to change the registration. The above will help in controlling rouge riders and assist clubs in disciplining these riders and thereby, hopefully keep their image and the cycling community's image clean.
Edition 507 Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 Compared to the CL riders, I am a saint on a bicycle. Have you ever tried to drive through the cradle on a Saturday morning? CL have got a power in numbers mindset, just because there are lots of you doesn't mean you own the road! I must go out there one morning with my GoPro and film some choice misbehavior from cyclists and post it on the hub.
nonky Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 If the groups riding north of the fairways area over weekends continue to ride in this manner, it's only a matter of time before somebody gets hurt (or worse). .In the history of the cars vs. cyclist/pedestrian/jogger game, I am pretty certain that the motor vehicles have never conceded a single point....Is it really too hard to grasp the simple fact that a collision with a motor vehicle will injure, maim or kill a cyclist? Then where does all this bravado come from - can we really be this stupid?
GoLefty!! Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 Its not just CL riders.Around this time of year, 80% of the folks out training for a shot at Fun Ride World Champ prefers to not let law and order get in the way their power figures. Its hard to pick that average back up again you know.From April common sense seems to return as the numbers drop and a more chilled atmosphere starts to filter from the coffee shops. that said, he moment people wear similar kit and congregate on the road, all hell breaks loose. Coffee rides becomes a chase for the next EPO shot. And then motorists and other cyclists are just inconvenience
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