is it just me - new cycling breed ?

localhothead

Is it just me or are cyclists suddenly becoming dumber ?
ive been cycling about 30 odd years and its becoming really apparent.
Ive noticed that cyclists seem to be hell bent on getting ahead of each other at lights junctions , partic on the canal commutes .
some are practically straddling the cross cycle lane to get ahead of other cyclists .
and its usully the most unfit ones on crapped out wonky bikes , that cant even take off quick - once the light goes green.

the same ones then attempt to race you away from a green ,
its comical watching a 20 year old student nearly have a heart attack
as hes destroyed by someone twice his age whos barely putting a bit of extra effort in , as the student trys to get ahead .
I like to just pedal in a slightly increasing torque so im always just slowly inching away , as they try to match you .
then at full pelt , hes level, so i then blast away full tilt , ( you can hear some swearing in disbelief and exhaustion at you )
and im on a heavy MTB .
they tend to pull up some 10 seconds later then you at the next lights all messed up looking.
im sure some have ended up rupturing themselves.
also whats with the morons with no helmet and in ear headphones that suddenly decide to over take another from a distance
without looking behind as you are pulling past them ?
I cant believe thse people manage to survive a daily commute.

short circuit

Are you sir talking about me ... ... I shall race you if you are ahead of me .. and shall have a heart attack trying to beat you ..

But I will not
1. Overtake you at the lights
2. Bread red lights to beat you
3. Endanger myself or you ...

But if you are really talking about what sort of a person panted and gasped trying to overtake you ... that could very well be me ...

Halfrauds

localhothead wrote: »

Is it just me or are cyclists suddenly becoming dumber ?
ive been cycling about 30 odd years and its becoming really apparent.
Ive noticed that cyclists seem to be hell bent on getting ahead of each other at lights junctions , partic on the canal commutes .
some are practically straddling the cross cycle lane to get ahead of other cyclists .
and its usully the most unfit ones on crapped out wonky bikes , that cant even take off quick - once the light goes green.

the same ones then attempt to race you away from a green ,
its comical watching a 20 year old student nearly have a heart attack
as hes destroyed by someone twice his age whos barely putting a bit of extra effort in , as the student trys to get ahead .
I like to just pedal in a slightly increasing torque so im always just slowly inching away , as they try to match you .
then at full pelt , hes level, so i then blast away full tilt , ( you can hear some swearing in disbelief and exhaustion at you )
and im on a heavy MTB .
they tend to pull up some 10 seconds later then you at the next lights all messed up looking.
im sure some have ended up rupturing themselves.
also whats with the morons with no helmet and in ear headphones that suddenly decide to over take another from a distance
without looking behind as you are pulling past them ?
I cant believe thse people manage to survive a daily commute.

helmets aint a legal requirement mate. The BS standard for them only requires them to withstand a impact at 12mph involving only the rider. doesnt take into account hitting another moving object or a car. So since i am more ofte than not over 12mph i dont use one on the road.

Totally agree with the heads on the BSO, they are gas, luckily i cant hear the squeaks, clinks, clunks because ive my ipod in:pac:

however i dunno how you can see them stopped at lights as its a requirement for these head the balls to break every light and kamikazee into oncoming traffic!

nothing wrong with trying to get home as quick as you can, your better off pushing yourelf to the edge than taking it easy like yourself, because the day will come when that guy with the underinflated, squeeky jeep bike with a buckled wheel will make you feel like your in reverse and going backwards.

always remember, there is always sombody faster:p

Lumen

localhothead wrote: »

im on a heavy MTB

There's your answer.

Halfrauds

Lumen wrote: »

There's your answer.

sounds like a BSO:pac:

there are MTBs lighter than some road bikes:D

Raam

the trick is to go so fast that they NEVER catch you

Bunnyhopper

The other trick is to approach them from behind and at full tilt, then pull out to pass them (having done a shoulder check, of course) and let yourself coast by while you jauntily whistle a happy tune, then as they turn a darker shade of pale just pedal on and away at a nice low and fast looks-easy-but-isn't cadence.

Get to red light. Stop. Let them wobble past. Wait for green light. Repeat.

t0mm

I try to go as fast as I can (between lights) but that's because my commute is also part of my fitness, lots of stops and starts on the SS. I also go through redlights, but only at pedestrian crossings when I can see there is no people for miles. And I intend to race you. Don't tell me where you are, or when, I will find you, I will race you, and I might maybe win.

Húrin

OP, you are a longtime cyclist and yet you are on a heavy MTB, demanding that others wear helmets? Did many people wear helmets 30 years ago?