Rude cyclists

[bikemonster]

They are busy doing their Jobs. It gets even wors for them should they take a fall.

 

 

 

Tough sh!t. If you aren't a good enough cyclist to find a way past, sit behind. If you aren't a good enough human being to avoid being an a$$hat, find some other sport.

 

 

 

In the last few years I have ventured into motorsport, and there are some notions in motorsport that would fit well with cycling.

 

 

 

1 - Rights to the line. It is up to the overtaker to make the pass safely. Until the overtaker is alongside the person being overtaken, the car/bike in front has rights to the line. The car/bike in front should behave predictably but while they are in front, they have the line.

 

 

 

2 - When overtaking, treat slower traffic as part of the course and find a way around.

 

 

 

I know, the analogy is not a perfect one, but if you are behind somebody, no point in yelling "Hold your line!". Where they ride, that is their line. Don't overlap your front wheel with their back wheel and everything will be fine.

[benadeja]

I agree and there is a certain very popular cycling club whose riders seem to do this at every race (scream and shout abuse to make way for them) , especially the younger more arrogant ones.

[Starry nights]

 

I agree and there is a certain very popular cycling club whose riders seem to do this at every race (scream and shout abuse to make way for them) ' date=' especially the younger more arrogant ones.[/quote']

 

That is so uncool of them!   Lucky I don't get that on the dirt! Always get a friendly nod, "Hi", smile etc when riding past another MTB out there.

 

 

[Purnjap]

Yes, first time MTB riders do get a bit of a rough welcome from the serious contenders, and yes, younger MTB riders are less curtious than those with more experience and less testosterone, but once one accepts those facts, it is still a beautiful sport with more camaraderie than most other sports

[DesertConvert]

Thanks for the warning. I'll now be prepared for any rudeness encountered on the road. I suppose a glare and a quick finger should sort it out...

[scotty]

I agree and there is a certain very popular cycling club whose riders seem to do this at every race (scream and shout abuse to make way for them) ' date=' especially the younger more arrogant ones.[/quote']

That is so uncool of them!   Lucky I don't get that on the dirt! Always get a friendly nod, "Hi", smile etc when riding past another MTB out there.

MTB'er racers are not imune and some will screech to make way for them on single track. If the rider requests firmly and clearly i will make way for them but screaming at me has the opposite effect on me and i'll ride slower.

[Starry nights]

I am still a rookie - just been lucky so far then.  I do the go slow thing in my car when someone rides up my backside being an idiot (and I don't drive slow) so will do the same if screamed at and abused on my bike. 

[backup rider]

My daughter is currently first year junior and if I ever hear that she yells and swears at someone that will be the end of her short cycling career.. job or no job good manners is what she has taught and good manners she will have on the road at all times

[Gasping]

Tough sh!t. If you aren't a good enough cyclist to find a way past' date=' sit behind. If you aren't a good enough human being to avoid being an a$$hat, find some other sport.

[/quote']

 

+1 and also

[Desi]

I'm a slow rider, and haven't had too many twits being rude. But I do sometimes call (not shout!) 'hold your line', 'keep left' or 'passing right' when I am passing an even slower rider who is wobbling about a bit, just to let them know I'm on their right. I normally follow that with a 'thanks' as I pass. Some of the really fast riders are really unpleasant ... pah! if they were really any good, they would be cycling overseas now, wouldn't they?

[hboli4]

Rode my first competitive road and mtb race last year. Do not want to generalize, but the 'vibe' at the mtb event and road event differed a lot, with the mtb one being more relaxed & friendly than the road one. Sure, I encountered some rude riders in the mtb event but not nearly as many as in the road race. Mtb riders just seems more tolerant/friendly/helpful during a race...

[HappyMartin]

I just love the way this gets to be a mtb versus roadie thing. I have been yelled at on road and on mtb races. What do you think, when you show up to buy a bike at a shop they do a personality test and only if they see you are brave, polite, tough and skillful will they sell you a mtb otherwise they stick you on a road bike?

 

 

 

With the explosion of mtb numbers there are far more beginners on mtbs than road bikes. I am not saying it is right to yell at people and I am not saying that the originator of this thread screwed up but there are people that cannot successfully negotiate a woolies aisle with a shopping trolly and they can be a pain in a race.

 

 

 

Andrew McLean is constantly saying to beginners to not look behind in a race because they cannot look behind and keep a line. In that he is quite right but it does not mean that behind does not exist and you are free to amble around like you are the only person on the road and can even stop in the middle of the road should the desire strike you.

 

 

 

A race is about multiple use and the fast guys, I am not one of them by the way, and the slow guys need to look out for each other. I have seen far more acts of dangerous idiocy by slow back markers than I have acts of screaming rudeness by the fast guys and I have spent a lot of time at the back of races, both mtb and road

[bikemonster]

... What do you think' date=' when you show up to buy a bike at a shop they do a personality test and only if they see you are brave, polite, tough and skillful will they sell you a mtb otherwise they stick you on a road bike?...[/quote']

 

 

 

In my experience they also found that I was strong, wily and determined and then sold me a road bike.

 

 

 

 

 

(I know what you're going to ask next, but no, they were not testing for awesomeness or attractiveness.)

[Joe Low]

I understand you feeling a bit miffed. And I am not sure of the exact

circumstances of this incident. I do however believe that if someone comes into my workplace and hindered me from earning my income I would most probably get upset and scream as well. Rember you can only lose a couple of minutes which means you have more time having fun. They are busy doing their Jobs. It gets even wors for them should they take a fall. [/quote']

I'm sure it  wasnt the intention, but this reads as incredibly patronising to me.

 

"coming into my workplace blah, blah, blah"

 

This is a public event that everyone has paid to enter, no-one is to be shouted at by aggressive riders.  It doesnt matter if they are pros or not, but earlier on the thread folk said the ladies are not pros; it's not a workplace.

 

"Rember you can only lose a couple of minutes which means you have more time having fun."

 

I can almost see you patting the rider on the head, there, there.

 

Two years ago (maybe 3) on R4S Malcolm Lange crashed into the back of a slower rider and fell - his fault, no shouting, no recriminations. There's slow riders on the course, you have to avoid them.

 

 

 

If this was an ironic post then i take my hat off to you, otherwise, not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joe Low2010-02-24 05:32:04

[cinderellalee]

When I started cycling a couple of years back I really enjoyed the sport, even with all the battling, etc, etc, but you know what I conquered all the difficulties.

 Then I was licenced (not by choice), there went the enjoyment out of this sport that I loved so much. The nastyness, bitchiness...who do these people actually think they are. I have experienced riding with the men as well who's aim is to see who has the better oiled legs, outdress each other etc, (supposed to be girl thing!!!) and who is going to drill who in a race, even on a normal Sat or Sun ride....gee that must be such FUN!!!! and the swearing and cursing that goes with it...nah, not cool.

The many times I hear these so called top cyclists complaining about the "fun riders" well darlings if it were not for them you would not have races to ride as those are the people that actually contribute to your winnings!!! and you know what at least they are on their bikes and not lying around doing nothing..

 

So!! I plan to cut up my Licence card and get back with the riders that are pleasand, help one another and most of all smile and laugh and have fun and then hopefully I will start enjoying this sport again.

 

 

[Starry nights]

 

When I started cycling a couple of years back I really enjoyed the sport' date=' even with all the battling, etc, etc, but you know what I conquered all the difficulties.

...

 

So!! I plan to cut up my Licence card and get back with the riders that are pleasand, help one another and most of all smile and laugh and have fun and then hopefully I will start enjoying this sport again.

 

 

[/quote']

 

Best post today!