They walk among us . . .

[Robbie Stewart]

I was going to just luss this and move on with my life as I felt it was not worth the effort to engage as I do not believe 'Ian' will change his mind anytime soon . . .

 

But then today, I went for a ride along the cycle path to Melkbos and back to open my account for the year. Cruising along the beach front in Melkbos I had to dodge many cars looking for parking or trying to get back into the road. No hassles, as we are all just trying to scrounge a little bit of time for ourselves, but then I nearly got taken out by Mr. Fortuner who was hell-bent on scoring the only available parking spot regardless of the cyclist (me) taking up the space (for what amounts to a fraction of a second as I passed) between his SUV and the gleaming parking spot that could disappear within the blink of an eye. Suffice to say I left some rubber on the tar trying to avoid becoming a bonnet ornament on a Fortuner.

What saddens me though about our mate Ian up top is that his comments are about a rider who went out for a morning ride, leaving his wife and two small kids home alone, only to never return again as he died "doing what he loved" according to this guy. 

Are we really exposed to this? Has society really reached a new low, where human life is worth f-all?

I want to cry. And I'm a grown ass man of nearly 46 . . .

What has the world come to.

[Super Sywurm]

Just remember, more people die in car accidents.  

Going down your favourite trail might also kill you.

 

[BaGearA]

Ian is hiding behind A screen and none of his peers will hold him accountable for saying those things. IF they did he would behave himself better , the ones who wouldv'e have probably left or never came into his peer group at all 

 

 

It's going to get worse as the world moves more and more towards face to screen interactions rather than face to face 

 

 

 

.... as I'm typing this from my computer 😁

[ChrisF]

Robbie the average cell operator behind a steering wheel has zero consideration for other vehicles, nevermind cyclists.

 

Sometimes it feels like taxi drivers show more consideration to cyclists than the average driver ...

 

 

As for Ian's rants .... sadly many car drivers have said similar time and again.  As wrong as it is, there are many drivers out there with that mindset.

 

 

That said, I still do more distance on tar than on the trails, and will continue to do so.

 

I know the risks, and do what I can to improve my odds.  And if the worst happens ... rather out there doing what I enjoy.

[Pikey]

25 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

I was going to just luss this and move on with my life as I felt it was not worth the effort to engage as I do not believe 'Ian' will change his mind anytime soon . . .

 

But then today, I went for a ride along the cycle path to Melkbos and back to open my account for the year. Cruising along the beach front in Melkbos I had to dodge many cars looking for parking or trying to get back into the road. No hassles, as we are all just trying to scrounge a little bit of time for ourselves, but then I nearly got taken out by Mr. Fortuner who was hell-bent on scoring the only available parking spot regardless of the cyclist (me) taking up the space (for what amounts to a fraction of a second as I passed) between his SUV and the gleaming parking spot that could disappear within the blink of an eye. Suffice to say I left some rubber on the tar trying to avoid becoming a bonnet ornament on a Fortuner.

What saddens me though about our mate Ian up top is that his comments are about a rider who went out for a morning ride, leaving his wife and two small kids home alone, only to never return again as he died "doing what he loved" according to this guy. 

Are we really exposed to this? Has society really reached a new low, where human life is worth f-all?

I want to cry. And I'm a grown ass man of nearly 46 . . .

What has the world come to.

This is the exact reason I don’t have any social media accounts. There are to many people like Ian on this earth that boil my blood instantly. It’s just better for my sanity and anger management not to read crap like that.

How can you think like that moron and sleep at night. 

Edited January 5, 2022 by Pikey

[Pikey]

31 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

I want to cry. And I'm a grown ass man of nearly 46 . . .

What has the world come to.

I am 51 tmw and often hang my head and feel the same. I worry for my kids and feel doom & gloom when I read crap like that .

Edited January 5, 2022 by Pikey

[DIPSLICK]

So in my humble opinion

 

No,,

 

i was cruising in Cape Town 

 

finished my ride 3km from hotel

 

no issues

 

i vaarked up, I over reacted Otb

proper 

”merc” driver decided not judge my speed

i over reacted 

he stopped he helped as did his wife 

so do the hotel security 

 

so did a passing by Legend(Tyrone)

 

 

we cannot brush everyone with the same brush

 

loooong ago I fell proper in rural harties, a shack dweller ran out giving me his ice and his only coke

 

Pass it on 

 

it has helped for me

 

yes I fall lots🤣🤣

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Fred van Vlaanderen]

I’m sad to say that I avoid general roads due to too many close incidents in the past. Having two young ones at home that is dependent on me, it is not worth the risk. 
 

I exclusively cycle MTB and only road when there is a designated cycle lane (i.e. Cradle). There are risks to the above two as well, but mitigated to a large extent. 
 

it is sad… but we have to do what we have to do. 

 

I’m afraid you’ll always have people like Ian at the end of the spectrum of any society. 

[Pikey]

9 minutes ago, DIPSLICK said:

So in my humble opinion

 

No,,

 

i was cruising in Cape Town 

 

finished my ride 3km from hotel

 

no issues

 

i vaarked up, I over reacted Otb

proper 

”merc” driver decided not judge my speed

i over reacted 

he stopped he helped as did his wife 

so do the hotel security 

 

so did a passing by Legend(Tyrone)

 

 

we cannot brush everyone with the same brush

 

loooong ago I fell proper in rural harties, a shack dweller ran out giving me his ice and his only coke

 

Pass it on 

 

it has helped for me

 

yes I fall lots🤣🤣

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Need to hear stories like that .

[Frosty]

It happens in many other countries too, so don’t think it’s SA only. As a few have said, some drivers have zero respect for all other road users, as they rush to get to their destinations.

Winds me up driving at/below the speed limit and seeing impatient drivers overtaking the line of others in front; on a solid white line; on a blind rise; and expect to be let in at the very last minute. They usually end up fine and the others end up in an accident (fatal or not).

Agree with Pikey; I prefer not engaging in social media, but have club and business accounts that I administer.

[Grease_Monkey]

As sad and wrong as it is, those people are the reason I will never get a road bike again. Just takes one idiot…

 

For the last month (and next month) I am stuck riding on the road only as recovery from an injury. Scarier than any mtb trail I have ridden in my life.

Edited January 5, 2022 by Grease_Monkey

[DieselnDust]

1 hour ago, Robbie Stewart said:

I was going to just luss this and move on with my life as I felt it was not worth the effort to engage as I do not believe 'Ian' will change his mind anytime soon . . .

 

But then today, I went for a ride along the cycle path to Melkbos and back to open my account for the year. Cruising along the beach front in Melkbos I had to dodge many cars looking for parking or trying to get back into the road. No hassles, as we are all just trying to scrounge a little bit of time for ourselves, but then I nearly got taken out by Mr. Fortuner who was hell-bent on scoring the only available parking spot regardless of the cyclist (me) taking up the space (for what amounts to a fraction of a second as I passed) between his SUV and the gleaming parking spot that could disappear within the blink of an eye. Suffice to say I left some rubber on the tar trying to avoid becoming a bonnet ornament on a Fortuner.

What saddens me though about our mate Ian up top is that his comments are about a rider who went out for a morning ride, leaving his wife and two small kids home alone, only to never return again as he died "doing what he loved" according to this guy. 

Are we really exposed to this? Has society really reached a new low, where human life is worth f-all?

I want to cry. And I'm a grown ass man of nearly 46 . . .

What has the world come to.

There are many Ian's especially in Cape Town and many driving Fortuna's... must be a really cuck car to be that angry behind the wheel

 

I could also tell you the story of the MTB tjop who ran several light from Sea Point to Bakoven and several stop streets with his "charming' female partner in tow. When confronted about the lack of respect for STOP's an Red traffic lights I was called a miserable young man who should rather buy a MTB (he was on a very High end MTB and his chickie babe on a grave; bike). I didn't expect this level of tjoposaur from a fellow mtb er but then again it made me think tat perhaps he also drives a Fortuna....🤪

 

Here in Sunny Cape Town we're experiencing an elevated level of aggression directed toward cyclists.....and other road users in general

[Steady Spin]

47 minutes ago, DIPSLICK said:

So in my humble opinion

 

No,,

 

i was cruising in Cape Town 

 

finished my ride 3km from hotel

 

no issues

 

i vaarked up, I over reacted Otb

proper 

”merc” driver decided not judge my speed

i over reacted 

he stopped he helped as did his wife 

so do the hotel security 

 

so did a passing by Legend(Tyrone)

 

 

we cannot brush everyone with the same brush

 

loooong ago I fell proper in rural harties, a shack dweller ran out giving me his ice and his only coke

 

Pass it on 

 

it has helped for me

 

yes I fall lots🤣🤣

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This post reads like a bike accident? You ok?

[Robbie Stewart]

10 hours ago, copperhead said:

Pointless thread this. What is your goal here? 

I had no specific goal in mind. I suppose it was a mixture of pent up frustration at my incident earlier in the day boiling over when Ian decided to engage me with his vitriol. 

I am not saying don't ride road, or only ride mtb. People must ride what they feel they want to ride. I guess what I am saying looking back now is that regardless where you ride, stay safe and aware. Sometimes its easy to forget that we are but the next fall away from serious injury, be that on the road, or on the trail or on some remote stretch between nothing and nowhere.

I've had 3 x bike related trips to the ER to date. 2014 when Mr. Volvo ran the stop in front of me and I did a @DIPSLICK onto tar. Ended up with concussion and a small fracture to my elbow. 2016 I went otb on trails, ending up with concussion and broken arms. Last September I broke my ankle popping manuals in the road in front of my house. Mr. Volvo left me and did a runner. On the trails and outside my garage door, I was helped by friendly and concerned strangers.

I'm still not sure what I'm getting at . . . 

Stay safe out there, is all I can come up with for now.

[dave303e]

11 hours ago, Robbie Stewart said:

I was going to just luss this and move on with my life as I felt it was not worth the effort to engage as I do not believe 'Ian' will change his mind anytime soon . . .

 

But then today, I went for a ride along the cycle path to Melkbos and back to open my account for the year. Cruising along the beach front in Melkbos I had to dodge many cars looking for parking or trying to get back into the road. No hassles, as we are all just trying to scrounge a little bit of time for ourselves, but then I nearly got taken out by Mr. Fortuner who was hell-bent on scoring the only available parking spot regardless of the cyclist (me) taking up the space (for what amounts to a fraction of a second as I passed) between his SUV and the gleaming parking spot that could disappear within the blink of an eye. Suffice to say I left some rubber on the tar trying to avoid becoming a bonnet ornament on a Fortuner.

What saddens me though about our mate Ian up top is that his comments are about a rider who went out for a morning ride, leaving his wife and two small kids home alone, only to never return again as he died "doing what he loved" according to this guy. 

Are we really exposed to this? Has society really reached a new low, where human life is worth f-all?

I want to cry. And I'm a grown ass man of nearly 46 . . .

What has the world come to.

Honestly, I was feeling the same way as you are, this time last year. For me it was the constant fight between cyclists, runners and dogwalkers on the spruit in jhb, the absolutely horrid driving. The total selfishness of the general public( in shopping centres, gyms, restaurants etc etc)  and the permanent tension of people.

We moved out the city to a farm where we run and cycle the dirt roads and in fields with almost no traffic and space away from people and mentally it has cleared my mind totally and calmed me down to where I can focus on hurting myself(running or on the bike) and not dodging others. The reality is that we are fast tending towards a country with 0 empathy, a country of "I" Specialists. Me, myself and I, everyone else can take a hike.

Nowadays I dread going into town, the less people to interact with in public the better. It is not an ideal solution as it does not correct the issue at hand, but it has helped me.

[Robbie Stewart]

10 hours ago, DieselnDust said:

he was on a very High end MTB and his chickie babe on a grave; bike

This sounds suspiciously like the type of guy who NEEDS to compensate with his wallet for his patent deficiencies in other areas more pertinent to his chickie babe staying by his side. . . these types of guys get the twisted concept in their minds of grandeur and allocate themselves a set of rules that sets them apart from lesser plebs who do not need to compensate for these deficiencies - kind of like "rules for thee, but not for me". You see, when one is not deficiently endowed, one generally takes life less serious and ends up enjoying it more. 

So the need to impress with high end bikes or Fortuner's is not something that is required.