A simple request(aka a rant)

jeffontour · 12-12-2007 12:54pm #1

Hi all, frequent reader rarely driven to contribute but this morning just pushed me over the edge! I've a 4k commute each way to and from my job in the city centre. I've a car, public transport, shanks mare and the bike all available to me but I chose to cycle. It's quickest and leaves me with the biggest smile on my face when I face the start of another day. The last 2 days I've driven as I'm trying to shake off a sore throat from hell.

This morning, armoured by the pain relieving goodness of drugs and a hatred of traffic I jumped on the bike. At my first red light I was in my usual position at the front of traffic waiting patiently. Along comes another cyclist who parks himself directly in front of me. Fair enough I think, he may well be quicker than me(but deep inside I didn't believe this). Lights go green and he takes off, excruciatingly slowly, I overtake and carry on. I get stung by another red light with a pretty long time before it goes green again. Just before they turn green again my buddy from before pulls in front of me in a screech of brakes. I again overtake and wonder why he can't see sense. The next two sets of lights are close together and were the same story.

So if you're reading this you know who you are Mr. Slow and it's not funny and it's not clever! Please use common sense and recognise that you are causing another vulnerable road user to have to overtake you when there is no need.

So there you go, a problem shared and all that.

Jeff

Ciaran500 · 12-12-2007 12:59pm

You should of just pushed him infront of a bus. Problem solved.

unionman · 12-12-2007 1:02pm

There's one of those guys at every red light isn't there? The only consolation I can offer is that they are a joy to overtake, and most of the time it p**ses them off (especially the guys on MTB's with soft tyres and a rusty derailleur). Actually caught a look of disbelief from one yesterday as I tore past him, it was class.:cool:

12-12-2007 1:03pm

This has become increasingly standard, and never is it not annoying. People need to know their place on the road...

cunnins4 · 12-12-2007 1:15pm

unionman wrote: »

There's one of those guys at every red light isn't there? The only consolation I can offer is that they are a joy to overtake, and most of the time it p**ses them off (especially the guys on MTB's with soft tyres and a rusty derailleur). Actually caught a look of disbelief from one yesterday as I tore past him, it was class.:cool:

Nothing better than overtaking a roadie in full gear on my hardrock wearing jeans tucked into my socks and no spds or anything. Big heavy hoody and no go faster sunnies. Now that's more fun!:p

I hate it when people sit in front of you at lights and then take off "excrutiatingly slowly", it's such a pain in the asse.

Jeff, unfortunately this is part and parcel of cycling in town. It's part of life too-árseholes are EVERYWHERE!!!

Raam · 12-12-2007 1:15pm

jeffontour wrote: »

So if you're reading this you know who you are Mr. Slow and it's not funny and it's not clever!

Sorry about that Jeffo, you must not have recognised me in my tights

jeffontour · 12-12-2007 1:20pm

Oh, sorry about that Pedro. I'm used to seeing you in your tights by torchlight.

BTW, apologies to all who had to read this and now have hideous mental images!

BeerNut · 12-12-2007 1:26pm

unionman wrote: »

especially the guys on MTB's with soft tyres and a rusty derailleur

That's me, but even I get stuck behind the sort of idiots the OP is talking about. Harold's Cross Bridge is some sort of gathering point for them.

Raam · 12-12-2007 1:27pm

If you find yourself stopped at the lights before anyone else, it can be a good idea to take up the primary position, i.e. where the car would be, but go over the white line by a bit. Any other cyclist coming up would then likely stop to your left. They may or may not stop further up than you, but as you are in the primary position, you are perfectly poised to execute a swift overtaking maneuver.

Morgan · 12-12-2007 1:30pm

jeffontour wrote: »

causing another vulnerable road user to have to overtake you

Good heavens! :eek:

jeffontour · 12-12-2007 1:33pm

BeerNut wrote: »

That's me, but even I get stuck behind the sort of idiots the OP is talking about. Harold's Cross Bridge is some sort of gathering point for them.

You've hit the nail on the head there! I reckon the "front of the queue" merchants are swans who've been excommunicated from the swan brotherhood for slow flying. They're the only thing that outnumbers the swans at that bridge!

Borderfox · 12-12-2007 1:37pm

Even worse than that menace is buses overtaking me 10 yards before a bus stop and lashing on the brakes, me goes up the left and empties my water bottle on him...:) I havent cycled (amateur with Finglas Ravens) in about 10 years but this was my pet hate.

Thomas_S_Hunterson · 12-12-2007 3:11pm

Borderfox wrote: »

Even worse than that menace is buses overtaking me 10 yards before a bus stop and lashing on the brakes, me goes up the left and empties my water bottle on him...:) I havent cycled (amateur with Finglas Ravens) in about 10 years but this was my pet hate.

I find the Dublin Bus drivers very good these days, they won't try anything like that.

Bicyclegadabout · 12-12-2007 3:26pm

Sean_K wrote: »

I find the Dublin Bus drivers very good these days, they won't try anything like that.

Some do sometimes, but most of them don't most of the time. They're not a bad bunch, them bus drivers.

Raam's advice about getting in the primary position is advice worth heeding.

jeffontour · 12-12-2007 5:20pm

I'm far from new to the cycling lark so would generally be in this primary position you speak of at most junctions. This lad today was the sort who would gladly sit in the path of an oncoming train to ensure he was at the front of the queue though. If he had the brains not to put himself in danger of being hit by passing traffic he would have had the brains to know he was only getting in the way every time he barged through to the front of the queue!

Was good to get it off my chest though so thanks for all the feedback. I'll be back in two years or so with another observation of idiocy in action.

Raam · 12-12-2007 8:40pm

jeffontour wrote: »

...every time he barged through to the front of the queue!

So you're saying he out muscled you?

kona · 12-12-2007 10:11pm

yup this annoys the **** outa me!!
i just go so far infront that he'llkill himself going anyfurther out:D
they are usually on **** bikes with no lights too!! midnight cowboys lol

TheThing! · 12-12-2007 10:26pm

That is rather annoying, but it isnt as annoying as when you are using spds and you are slowing down to avoid stopping and taking your feet out, then the light goes green and the idiot in front in a 87 nissan sunny takes about 7 years to start moving again, forcing you to stop and take your feet out and then start again

SerialComplaint · 13-12-2007 9:01pm

jeffontour wrote: »

So if you're reading this you know who you are Mr. Slow and it's not funny and it's not clever! Please use common sense and recognise that you are causing another vulnerable road user to have to overtake you when there is no need.

Would you consider having a word with the offender when it happens? This doesn't have to be a huge confrontation - just a quick chat to explain the problem.

A simple request(aka a rant)

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