Fu*king Cyclists

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Originally Posted by stfu&gbtw

The problem is that, despite all their claims that motor vehicles are out to kill them, cyclists know that 99.999% of all people would hit a tree before they'd hit a cyclist, and they exploit that to use the roads in unreasonable ways. No cyclist who actually feared for his life would ever fail to obey simple traffic rules like riding single file or stopping at red lights and stop signs. The three assholes I passed last week who decided to take their siesta in the road as opposed to the 12' of shoulder just to their right were simply exploiting their ability obstruct the road and impede traffic out of other people's concern for their safety. Not only were they not fearing for their own safety, they were using their complete confidence in the average driver's intention to not hit them as a social weapon.

I don't personally know anyone who thinks bikes shouldn't be allowed on roads. But everyone I know gets pissed off when their concern for another person is taken advantage of.

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Very well said, although only applicable to some cyclists (the ones we notice--we don't notice the ones riding single on the right side of the road and slowing and checking for other traffic before going through a stop sign).

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Originally Posted by jono

The problem isn't that most people are assholes, it's that cyclists have no way to assess who's who so they have to expect the worst 10% of drivers every time. That leaves about 65% of drivers (who aren't in the worst 10% but never ride) wondering what's going on. As per the usual, a vocal chunk of these imagine they know why everyone else acts as they do and finds an excuse, no matter how illogical, to rage at the "other" who does (or says or thinks) something they don't like. Stay classy San Diego.

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A good point also. Although 65 + 10 doesn't equal 100.

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Originally Posted by old goat

A good point also. Although 65 + 10 doesn't equal 100.

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Some drivers are also (or have been) cyclists.

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Originally Posted by stfu&gbtw

Only if they can do so safely in a legal passing zone of course. I have the same right to the road as they do, and they don't have the right to put other people's lives in danger just because they're in a hurry.

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It's the special entitlement that bugs me.

Bottom of my hill is Rock Creek Park in DC. The road upstream from the intersection is closed off on weekends for biking, fruitbooting, jogging, etc. The intersection has a stop sign for the riders and walkers, NOT the car traffic coming down my street. I had the right of way and drove through that intersection when some 60something in spandex decided that the sign didn't apply to him and busted through the stop. I slammed on my brakes and didn't get within 10 feet of him. He proceeds to leave his bike on the ground right in front of my car and walks to my door to yell at me, telling me he's a lawyer and that I'm a dangerous driver and he will make sure I lose my license. His little Peloton catches up to him and joins the chorus.

I actually had to pick up my kid who was waiting at a street corner or I would have obliged the retard and waited for the cops. As it was I got out, moved his bike, got in, and drove off while these dickheads were yelling and taking selfies with my plate.

This happened 2 weeks ago, and no cops have knocked on my door. My wife rides road bikes for fun/exercise and in Centuries. Fuck cyclists like that asshole.

Did you flip them off palm out as you drove off?

Always blame road bikers....fucking idiots...

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Originally Posted by ml242

Also, the idea that riding two abreast makes cyclists less safe is not true.

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Maybe you're talking extra wide roads, but around me, two abreast takes up half the road (as seen in my picture) and creates potential for a head on collision while trying to avoid the cyclist. It definitely does quite the opposite and makes things much more dangerous.

I saw a guy staggering along a road around 5:30 pm last week and thought he looked drunk. Just before I got to him he swung around throwing his thumb out and came really close to falling into the roadway. Swerved around him and left him to his walk.

back to the bike discussion.....

I haven't read the last 10 pages or so. Did I miss anything important? :biggrin:

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Originally Posted by strawjack

I haven't read the last 10 pages or so. Did I miss anything important? :biggrin:

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Several people took you up on your request for a bike-off, but you pussied out.

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Originally Posted by Sirshredalot

Several people took you up on your request for a bike-off, but you pussied out.

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Ha!

What a great weekend for riding!

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Originally Posted by strawjack

Ha!

What a great weekend for riding!

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Still pussying out, then?

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Originally Posted by Summit

That statement reeks of entitlement... unfounded entitlement.

Bikes were NEVER the primary user of roadways. They were always the 3rd tier minority behind horse/pedestrian and then motor/pedestrian.

Automobiles predate bicycles by a century if you go by prototypes, but if we go by machines we would recognize today, the pedal-bicycle was invented in 1860s and the gasoline powered automobile came along about 20 years later.



So if traffic obstruction is for visibility/safety purposes, it sounds like we need a public safety law mandating reflective fluorescent clothing... might interfere with everyone who wants to look like they are spancered-like-Lance... I mean Landis... I mean... who is the current roadie hero who has yet to get caught doping?

Also, we should mandate daytime running lights for bikes (just like new cars and motorcycles have for years).

And let's crack down on drinking and biking!

And let's crack down on bikers who don't wear helmets!

Don't like those ideas? Then stop pretending this is about safety.

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The industry is already trending towards incorporating hi-viz colors into apparel and daytime running lights are becoming more popular by choice.

BUIs are not uncommon, especially in Boulder and Denver.

Regarding helmets, I'm sure your Jedi-like mastery of Google for helpful interweb argument statistics could yield hudge results, though perhaps contradictory. Some studies have found that helmets can encourage more risky behavior from cyclists, as well as influence drivers to pass more closely and drive more aggressively as the cyclist appears protected and armored.

But thanks for your concern.

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Originally Posted by strawjack

I haven't read the last 10 pages or so. Did I miss anything important? :biggrin:

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I did about 70 miles in two sessions since this thread started.


Btw, I just bought a new rear blinking red light made by Bontranger. Awesome. Highly recommended after reading this shit.

Bogner has blinking lights in their gear now?

Hot shit.

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Originally Posted by Sirshredalot

Still pussying out, then?

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Been here since '05 and still don't get it.

Yup, totally.

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Originally Posted by Benny Profane

Btw, I just bought a new rear blinking red light made by Bontranger. Awesome. Highly recommended after reading this shit.

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Good call. Anything to help you stay visible.

I had road bikes (motorcycles) for years and it was amazing how many people did not see me, but it is and was reality. Couldn't change it. Defensive riding is the way.

A dad on an adult trike with two kids hanging on the back (their heads were level to the dads ass) swerved in front of my car yesterday, going from the shoulder into my lane only going about 5mph in a 35mph? zone, in order for him to miss a pothole. I think the doofus hipster dad was drunk because that was the craziest thing I've seen a biker do in a long time. Sun was setting so I couldn't even see the biker very well but I was able to slam on the brakes. Was on 2700 South in SLC, a pretty fast/busy road. No helmets on anyone.

In other news, I made a really bad move driving yesterday where I was yelling at myself in the car, because I was so stupid, and the fact my 2 year old was in the car made everything worse. So whatever. We all make bad moves at some point, in a car or on a bike.

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Originally Posted by Tippster

It's the special entitlement that bugs me.

Bottom of my hill is Rock Creek Park in DC. The road upstream from the intersection is closed off on weekends for biking, fruitbooting, jogging, etc. The intersection has a stop sign for the riders and walkers, NOT the car traffic coming down my street. I had the right of way and drove through that intersection when some 60something in spandex decided that the sign didn't apply to him and busted through the stop. I slammed on my brakes and didn't get within 10 feet of him. He proceeds to leave his bike on the ground right in front of my car and walks to my door to yell at me, telling me he's a lawyer and that I'm a dangerous driver and he will make sure I lose my license. His little Peloton catches up to him and joins the chorus.

I actually had to pick up my kid who was waiting at a street corner or I would have obliged the retard and waited for the cops. As it was I got out, moved his bike, got in, and drove off while these dickheads were yelling and taking selfies with my plate.

This happened 2 weeks ago, and no cops have knocked on my door. My wife rides road bikes for fun/exercise and in Centuries. Fuck cyclists like that asshole.

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I don't know that I would have shown the same restraint that you did and only moved the bike. ...and this coming from a cyclist.

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Originally Posted by muted

A dad on an adult trike with two kids hanging on the back (their heads were level to the dads ass) swerved in front of my car yesterday, going from the shoulder into my lane only going about 5mph in a 35mph? zone, in order for him to miss a pothole. I think the doofus hipster dad was drunk because that was the craziest thing I've seen a biker do in a long time. Sun was setting so I couldn't even see the biker very well but I was able to slam on the brakes. Was on 2700 South in SLC, a pretty fast/busy road. No helmets on anyone.

In other news, I made a really bad move driving yesterday where I was yelling at myself in the car, because I was so stupid, and the fact my 2 year old was in the car made everything worse. So whatever. We all make bad moves at some point, in a car or on a bike.

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Not that this has anything to do with the dumbass on the trike (I'm chalking that up to Utarded Parental Entitlement Syndrome rather than DCES)...but it brings up an interesting example.

I'm basically at 2700S and 1700E. 2700S is a great example of a street that should reduce its speed limit to 25. Between 1300E and 2000E there are 2 elementary schools and a church and multiple signed/painted crosswalks that are rarely acknowledged by drivers, since most are pushing 40mph.
And it actually is a 30mph street, not 35; but you'd never know it based on driver behavior and a few hard-to-spot signs.
It's a busy cyclist corridor (commuting and recreational) as its the only decent East/West route for a mile or two in either direction. You'll often see cyclists in the middle of the downhill Westbound lane, since the bike lane-ish/parking lane is full of giant potholes and other wheel smashing uneven pavement good times. It's a big utility corridor too, so it constantly gets torn up in random little spots.
I "Neighborhood Pace Car" the shit out of it multiple times a day, and watch people lose their shit in my rear view. I haven't been passed yet, but I've seen some aborted attempts.

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Originally Posted by Tippster

It's the special entitlement that bugs me.

Bottom of my hill is Rock Creek Park in DC. The road upstream from the intersection is closed off on weekends for biking, fruitbooting, jogging, etc. The intersection has a stop sign for the riders and walkers, NOT the car traffic coming down my street. I had the right of way and drove through that intersection when some 60something in spandex decided that the sign didn't apply to him and busted through the stop. I slammed on my brakes and didn't get within 10 feet of him. He proceeds to leave his bike on the ground right in front of my car and walks to my door to yell at me, telling me he's a lawyer and that I'm a dangerous driver and he will make sure I lose my license. His little Peloton catches up to him and joins the chorus.

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That's a tough one. Do we blame the sense of entitlement on him being a cyclist, 60 something, or a lawyer? Or all of the above. (Are you sure he's a real lawyer? Real lawyers don't make idle threats, they just carry them out without warning you.)

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Originally Posted by joetron

Not that this has anything to do with the dumbass on the trike (I'm chalking that up to Utarded Parental Entitlement Syndrome rather than DCES)...but it brings up an interesting example.

I'm basically at 2700S and 1700E. 2700S is a great example of a street that should reduce its speed limit to 25. Between 1300E and 2000E there are 2 elementary schools and a church and multiple signed/painted crosswalks that are rarely acknowledged by drivers, since most are pushing 40mph.

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The way you "name" streets in SLC is fucked up.

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Originally Posted by old goat

The way you "name" streets in SLC is fucked up.

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Grid system FTMFW.

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Originally Posted by old goat

The way you "name" streets in SLC is fucked up.

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Try Grand Junction sometime.

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Originally Posted by Buster Highmen

Try Grand Junction sometime.

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Haha. Excellent.
"I'm at 16 3/8rd and G 13/16rd"

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Originally Posted by joetron

Not that this has anything to do with the dumbass on the trike (I'm chalking that up to Utarded Parental Entitlement Syndrome rather than DCES)...but it brings up an interesting example.

I'm basically at 2700S and 1700E. 2700S is a great example of a street that should reduce its speed limit to 25. Between 1300E and 2000E there are 2 elementary schools and a church and multiple signed/painted crosswalks that are rarely acknowledged by drivers, since most are pushing 40mph.
And it actually is a 30mph street, not 35; but you'd never know it based on driver behavior and a few hard-to-spot signs.
It's a busy cyclist corridor (commuting and recreational) as its the only decent East/West route for a mile or two in either direction. You'll often see cyclists in the middle of the downhill Westbound lane, since the bike lane-ish/parking lane is full of giant potholes and other wheel smashing uneven pavement good times. It's a big utility corridor too, so it constantly gets torn up in random little spots.
I "Neighborhood Pace Car" the shit out of it multiple times a day, and watch people lose their shit in my rear view. I haven't been passed yet, but I've seen some aborted attempts.

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So the trike guy lives near you then, it happened a few blocks from there. I know that road well, I always think my shocks are blown when I drive on it. They need to pave it, that would solve a lot of issues. It's jarring in my car, never mind on my bike. I commute with thick-ish tires so I don't have to go in the middle of the road though.

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Originally Posted by strawjack

Good call. Anything to help you stay visible.

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Yeah but not too visible. I think the blinking lights are pretty annoying, and especially the bright as the fucking sun white lights a lot of people rock at night now (pointed right at your eyes, and drivers)

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Originally Posted by ml242

Yeah but not too visible. I think the blinking lights are pretty annoying, and especially the bright as the fucking sun white lights a lot of people rock at night now (pointed right at your eyes, and drivers)

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That is so true with headlights. The red flashing may be annoying, but the ones I've seen are not blinding, so I think those are a good thing. Last year a women was walking on the road and shined her LED flashlight right at my windshield and held it there. I couldn't see anything. Light angle is key.