Buffalo & Doozerie - The mild musings of two grumpy old men!

Chuchote

Seve OB wrote: »

WTF is it with these people who choose to cycle as close to the traffic as possible when there are clearly safer alternatives.......

Cycle a mile (km in new money) in another man's saddle before you judge him. It may be that the surface where these people were riding was too crap to cycle on. For instance, Beaver Row in Donnybrook/Clonskeagh - you have to stay out and a lot of the time you have to ride up out of the saddle, the surface is so bad on the end near the metal bridge. For instance Leinster Road, from Harold's Cross to Rathmines, has a series of badly degenerated patches on the part where you'd normally cycle for large parts of the road on either end, and so cyclists tend to stay in the middle of the road where it's safer.

I lolled at mopeheads too. Realised after a moment that mopeheads is what they were riding in Roman Hollday.

Seve OB

Chuchote wrote: »

Cycle a mile (km in new money) in another man's saddle before you judge him. It may be that the surface where these people were riding was too crap to cycle on. For instance, Beaver Row in Donnybrook/Clonskeagh - you have to stay out and a lot of the time you have to ride up out of the saddle, the surface is so bad on the end near the metal bridge. For instance Leinster Road, from Harold's Cross to Rathmines, has a series of badly degenerated patches on the part where you'd normally cycle for large parts of the road on either end, and so cyclists tend to stay in the middle of the road where it's safer.

I lolled at mopeheads too. Realised after a moment that mopeheads is what they were riding in Roman Hollday.

I would accept your argument if you spoke of the roads in question.
But I do know the roads, I cycle regularly in the Phoenix park, a brand new road (well ok its about 5 years old now) but the surface is perfect, so no excuse there. The N4 inbound, resurfaced only last week, again, perfect road. N11, I've not cycled there in an awful long time so can't comment but I do drive it a good bit and it is not noticeably bad at all. At any rate, that is probably the most dangerous of the 3 roads and the one where any bit of cop on should tell you to stay as far away from the traffic lane as possible

Oh and I know Leinster road very well, I used to live there. It is a world of difference cycling there & Beaver row to the other 3 roads especially cycling on the N11, with cars not far off Motorway speeds!

Lumen

Seve OB wrote: »

N11, I've not cycled there in an awful long time so can't comment but I do drive it a good bit and it is not noticeably bad at all. At any rate, that is probably the most dangerous of the 3 roads and the one where any bit of cop on should tell you to stay as far away from the traffic lane as possible

The problem is that the further away from traffic you cycle, the more likely you are to pick up a puncture.

So there's a trade-off between a tiny risk of being clipped and a small risk of a puncture. I normally cycle in the middle of the hard shoulder.

Seve OB

Lumen wrote: »

The problem is that the further away from traffic you cycle, the more likely you are to pick up a puncture.

So there's a trade-off between a tiny risk of being clipped and a small risk of a puncture. I normally cycle in the middle of the hard shoulder.

That's a fair point, I think the middle of the hard shoulder is fine, I would probably be a bit left of center myself

I remember once cycling out the N3 around Blanch. It was a pretty scary experience, one I never returned to!

CramCycle

So I am getting more and more used to the commute along the N11, go on the cyclepath and there are several points where it becomes almost like a round of cyclocross with a blindfold on, go in the bus lane and while the majority of drivers are respectful, there is typically one taxi driver who beeps at you, as he slows down mid overtake. Typically he will turn right in less than 150m, and never sees the irony that he could overtake easily, therefore he was not obstructed.
Last night coming home, it was typical Irish weather. I have decided that no great effort would be made on my part, time to relax. Just coming past the Montrose, I come close to catching a guy with TT bars, yellow booties, and a range of Aldi walking lights (the ones you wrap around your arm or leg, 10 or so red LEDs), one round his ankle, one round his arm, one on his bag. This man means business. His helmet is a garish yellow which has to be said, is probably more noticeable at close range than the typical RSA builder outfits for children.
As we come upto the lights, as he is down on his TT bars, which as far as I could tell, aren't rigged up for brakes, they go green. I am sure he would have stopped and off he goes, into the wind and the night. As we start the not so steep climb out of Stillorgan, I find I have caught up to him. I can't overtake as his instance on being in a TT position without any bike handling skills means he is wobbling all over the cycle lane. It was at this point I realise that his lights are only visible on a wet day at a maximum of about 20m. The cycle lane becomes flush with the road again (I have at this point overtaken him 3 times, only for him to pass at traffic lights and then roll thorough on red, I then have to stick behind his wobbling shenanigansuntil the next break). This time there is no lights for awhile, I overtake and go on my way. The Foxrock lights catch me a short time later, and while I sit there waiting he yet again rolls up, a little more apprehensive this time but he rolls through regardless. Back to square one, but this time I sit back and figure if I give it a break, I won't see him again. I nonetheless do, as he skips the queue at the Cornelscourt lights, much to the chargrin of several people who shake their heads. I took the road at this point as there are a large number of cyclists and traffic is not that heavy that I could not be overtaken easily. The next lights comes along and it is only myself and a lady on a purple sit up. I stop behind her and yet again, the same thing. Rolls through the red, in between traffic. As the crossing traffic gets a filter light for southbound, I see a Garda van. I think to myself what are the chances, what are the chances.
Woop-woop! That's the sound of da police!
Blue lights, in it pulls and I see him and another guy getting stopped. Our light goes green and we roll up slowly behind. He is explaining his position, the Garda gives him a verbal warning. It turns out the Garda was pulling over the other cyclist for something else and my time trialing friend carries on. At least he may have learned I feel, at least he may gain some knowledge that if he doesn't run them for the right reasons, let him not run them out of fear he would be caught. We roll upto the bridge before the turn for Shankhill. He is there waiting. He has learned, I am so proud. Oh. Wait. No. He pushes off, this time actually missing a car that had to slam on. I look around and see the 84 bus driver facepalm, I feel his annoyance. I see my time trialling enthusiast a few more times, once nearly getting sidelined by a car who had a green light but his enthusiasm for TTing meant that my relaxed spin was left behind, and I am all the more thankful for it.

buffalo

I felt like I struck a blow for the well-behaved cohort today, albeit accidentally. Coming to a red pedestrian light on the NCR, wide enough cycle lane - I'm on the right hand side as there's another cyclist just ahead and to my left who I was working on overtaking.

She comes to a stop at the light, I slow and come to a stop just behind her to her right. I think about trackstanding and turn my front wheel to the left. This is when I become aware of the muppet behind who has decided he's not stopping for the red light and that the best way forward is in between the two of us who have stopped. However as he shunts forward, his right pedal comes up and his shoe rubs all along the outside of my wet and dirty front tyre.

He wobbles and pedals on, followed by another guy who overtakes properly (though also breaking the light). About 20 seconds later I'm right behind them at the next set of lights, where I can see the guy in front muttering to himself and trying to rub the dirt off his shoe.

I hope it never comes off! muahaha!

buffalo

Another cheering sight this morning - there was a Garda at the top of Whitworth Road making someone in a car do a U-turn on top of Crossguns bridge.

Looked like the driver had come up from Whitworth and taken an illegal left. This manoeuvre means you have to drive through a pedestrian crossing while people are using it. Nice to see the Gardaí not only stopping (and hopefully ticketing) them, but also making them take the proper route.

CramCycle

Traffic corp where kerb crawling up the N11 to catch drivers on their phones last night. Great to see them doing a few other things out of the routine.

On a personal story, hands up yesterday morning, I was completely in the wrong and a huge thanks to the 46A driver who reacted quite quickly. Coming down the N11, there was a 145 pulled in and a 46A coming up behind it. I was in the bike lane and as I passed the 145 I decided to overtake the person in front of me. I looked around and decided, bus lane as they were taking the lane and it was at one of the narrower parts. Just before I moved over to the bus lane my front wheel snagged, jerking it sideways. Instead of concentrating on the road, I concentrated on staying up right and swerved maniacally out into the bus lane which was about to be occupied by the 46A. Thankfully he held his nerve and reacted quickly, resulting in a close pass but no injuries. 100% my fault. At the next lights I could see him preparing to defend himself, I think he expected me to sideswipe him with abuse. I rolled up and I could see his face ready to answer my abuse. I just held up my hands and said sorry, 100% my fault, it wasn't intentional just stupid. He looked at me like a disappointed parent realising that their child had learned the lesson and the wise words that were prepared for handing down were meaningless.

OleRodrigo

Weepsie wrote: »

. It's become normalised.

In the city center, it's been normalized for a long time.

Seve OB

CramCycle wrote: »

Traffic corp where kerb crawling up the N11 to catch drivers on their phones last night. Great to see them doing a few other things out of the routine.

On a personal story, hands up yesterday morning, I was completely in the wrong and a huge thanks to the 46A driver who reacted quite quickly. Coming down the N11, there was a 145 pulled in and a 46A coming up behind it. I was in the bike lane and as I passed the 145 I decided to overtake the person in front of me. I looked around and decided, bus lane as they were taking the lane and it was at one of the narrower parts. Just before I moved over to the bus lane my front wheel snagged, jerking it sideways. Instead of concentrating on the road, I concentrated on staying up right and swerved maniacally out into the bus lane which was about to be occupied by the 46A. Thankfully he held his nerve and reacted quickly, resulting in a close pass but no injuries. 100% my fault. At the next lights I could see him preparing to defend himself, I think he expected me to sideswipe him with abuse. I rolled up and I could see his face ready to answer my abuse. I just held up my hands and said sorry, 100% my fault, it wasn't intentional just stupid. He looked at me like a disappointed parent realising that their child had learned the lesson and the wise words that were prepared for handing down were meaningless.

Bet it wasn't as near as this lad

https://www.joe.ie/sport/watch-cyclist-lucky-alive-hair-raising-near-collision-lorry-580526?utm_content=buffer25f61&utm_medium=Social+organic&utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer

magicbastarder

the number of cyclists in dublin this evening with no lights is insane. worst i've ever seen.

magicbastarder

i wouldn't mind, only my wife was showing me the rear light she got in dealz for €1.49; so cheap that it's probably as easy to just replace the entire light as it is to replace the batteries (even if i think that would be a silly thing to do)

HivemindXX

magicbastarder wrote: »

i wouldn't mind, only my wife was showing me the rear light she got in dealz for €1.49; so cheap that it's probably as easy to just replace the entire light as it is to replace the batteries (even if i think that would be a silly thing to do)

Of course when you leave work and realise your €1.49 light has stopped working you're a bit stuffed. Or when you get home and realise it stopped working at some point on the way home, probably causing a few hundred ninja cyclist complaints.

A €1.49 light might be better than nothing, or it might not. You probably won't find out until it's too late.

magicbastarder

well, she managed to blind me with it earlier. i'll plump for better than nothing.

Chuchote

magicbastarder wrote: »

the number of cyclists in dublin this evening with no lights is insane. worst i've ever seen.

Surprised; I thought it was getting better - I've noticed fewer ninjas. So much is down to personal impressions either way.

CramCycle

Weepsie wrote: »

He shouldn't be on the road if he's willing to do that

Your clearly wrong, as After hours repeatedly informs us, because cars have reg plates, they would not risk such behaviour.

There is a word for people like that, I won't use it here, as some people don't like it, but he is one.

Had two buses beep me in the last two days. i was in the bike lane, the one up on a kerb on the N11. I am not sure if they thought I was going to hop down in front of them (I moved to avoid a bad part of the lane, but remained in it).

I hate being segregated like that as cars and buses in the lane, don't give any space, even when they think they should. I was never in any danger but their fear that I might fall in front of them, did not register as an issue with being too close.

spyderski

Weepsie wrote: »

I actually did think i had the correct reg, and i always double check it on motorcheck etc, but the colour given is different hence my doubt for reporting

If the make and model are right, I wouldnt let the wrong colour put me off reporting. Many vans now are vinyl-wrapped for promotional purposes, so a van registered as white may appear to be any colour...

Pinch Flat

Ah white van man. We love you really. Like the tool the other morning who headed up Cuffe street in the left only lane, through the bike lane (nearly hitting a couple of cyclists in the process), then headed down the dedicated bike lane at the south of Stephens green. Despite me drawing along side and asking him to leave the bike lane, continued to do so. Then cut up left, straddling the dedicated lane at the east side of the green, undertaking traffic then cutting across them again to get to Merrion row. Absolutely crazy, reckless driving and a complete disregard for other road users. ,

Vincenzo Nibbly

At Tara Towers junction this morning, a lady stepped out in front of me as the traffic light turned amber, with her hand raised for me to stop. "See - it doesn't hurt" she says looking directly at me. I was already braking... Also - I do not represent all cyclists, lady!!

CramCycle

Vincenzo Nibbly wrote: »

At Tara Towers junction this morning, a lady stepped out in front of me as the traffic light turned amber, with her hand raised for me to stop. "See - it doesn't hurt" she says looking directly at me. I was already braking... Also - I do not represent all cyclists, lady!!

Dear C***B***s,

Try not to be such a pair of C***B***s, see, it does not hurt.

Regards

Nibbles


On an unrelated note, coming upto a light in Stillorgan (which was green), a taxi merged over from the driving lane into the bus lane (I was in the bike lane, just where it merges before the light). He had his indicator on (came on when I was at his front left bumper), and I just had that feeling he was going to pull across. I couldn't tell which was the better option, to roar and hammer it, skirting inside, or hit the brakes and minimise the collision. I slammed on and managed to drop just behind but I could not avoid completely where I was so I swerved in behind him to try and waste momentum (going left would have required a bunny hop and I was not approaching it right for that). I swung right but could not go round due to angle and other traffic but I thought I might just avoid, only he then dropped anchor, which lead to a scream from me but somehow I had scrubbed all my speed.

This all happened over 3 seconds. He stopped and wound the window down, I asked what he was at, and to be fair he was completely honest, he didn't realise I was so fast (poor situational awareness), and then when I disappeared from his view he panicked and dropped anchor ( I was in his rear view at this point). I asked why he just didn't wait behind, it was no more than 3 seconds delay, if even (it would have actually been sub 2 seconds), and he hands up and said, the light was green and I thought I would make it there before you, I just didn't think about it. He did seem genuine but a few things occurred to me, in my effort to avoid a collision, while I would have been safer, I also shifted the blame onto myself as it would have been a rear collision rather than a side on hit. I just don't get it, is life such a rush that two seconds, that you would regain on the side road or at the next lights that important.

robyntmorton

There's some crazy ones on the N11 anyway. I once had a driver merge in front of me outbound at Mount Merrion Ave. He sped up to go in front of me, when he could have easily gone behind. He got stopped immediately by the red light, so I told him it's safer to always go behind the cyclist. Of course he got defensive that he was clear ahead of me, and I decided it wasn't worth the argument. Some people won't change anyway.

Also, I hate the layout inbound at Stillorgan, between the slip off and then the main junction forcing you to use the pedestrian lights to get across. I'm usually inclined to take the bus lane from Brewery Rd. down, just to force the issue that yes, I'm here.

CramCycle

robyntmorton wrote: »

Also, I hate the layout inbound at Stillorgan, between the slip off and then the main junction forcing you to use the pedestrian lights to get across. I'm usually inclined to take the bus lane from Brewery Rd. down, just to force the issue that yes, I'm here.

I typically merge onto the bus lane just at the turn in for Stillorgan that goes up by The Hill. That junction makes no sense, they put cyclists into a merged space, with no lights, no indication etc. I hop back up on the bike lane after the junction where the kerb dips, or slightly past the next bus stop there is a crude ramp made.

fat bloke

I was cycling around Ballyroan last week with my two daughters. We're in the cycle lane and I'm outside and alongside the younger one cos she can be a bit wobbly, A car passes with a beep and I see the ol' "Move the fcuk over" finger-pointing-to-the-left gesture through his rear window.

Pedestrian lights went red up ahead so I caught him and enquired as to what the issue was.
He said indignantly and I quote "You were cycling side by side in the cycle lane"

Cycling in the cycle lane.... Jesus Christ. I started to argue with him and very quickly went a bit red-faced-Ian-Paisley-berserk. I don't remember what I said to him, but it would probably be easier to list the things I didn't call him.

He wasn't impeded by us one jot. Not a millisecond, not an inch. He had his lane, we had hours. Father and child. How that translated into his mind as "Better give these louts a good beeping and remind them where their place is, and who's boss of these roads"

that ... I cannot understand.

CramCycle

Coming home tonight I had a van pull up beside me and merge in. I slammed on immediately, just as he started his turn. Thankfully I stopped and let a roar, with my elbow touching the rear of the van he was so close. When I came around he went mental, started screaming at me that I was on drugs and to leave him alone. I was dumbstruck, I said all you have to do is say sorry, and he just went mental, screaming to leave him alone and I was on drugs. I think he may have been high himself.

I remember saying a few weeks ago, that with the mention of the MPL, that things seemed nicer, this has obviously stopped, unless this is somehow my fault??? Maybe I am doing something wrong that i do not realise.

nomdeboardie

CramCycle wrote: »

Coming home tonight I had a van pull up beside me and merge in. I slammed on immediately, just as he started his turn. Thankfully I stopped and let a roar, with my elbow touching the rear of the van he was so close. When I came around he went mental, started screaming at me that I was on drugs and to leave him alone. I was dumbstruck, I said all you have to do is say sorry, and he just went mental, screaming to leave him alone and I was on drugs. I think he may have been high himself.

I remember saying a few weeks ago, that with the mention of the MPL, that things seemed nicer, this has obviously stopped, unless this is somehow my fault??? Maybe I am doing something wrong that i do not realise.

Maybe it was this guy?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYgPznBrjiA
my new mental model for hysterical motorists

CramCycle

I am going to ring up his company tomorrow and tell them that one of their drivers is mental and needs extra break time to sit and meditate.

buffalo

Commuters are the worst bunch of bastards. Punctured this morning on the canal, and not one offer of help or check to see if I knew what I was doing.

Leroy42

buffalo wrote: »

Commuters are the worst bunch of bastards. Punctured this morning on the canal, and not one offer of help or check to see if I knew what I was doing.

Did you know what you were doing? I mean were you just standing there with your arms in the air waving for help or did you get on with fixing the puncture?

Chuchote

Commuters are sheep. If one person had stopped to help, others would have, or at least given a friendly nod of commiseration.

BoardsMember

Pretty elitist and obnoxious. Commuters are all types, usually in a hurry I would guess. Shouldn't a non-commuter type be able to sort themselves out without expecting assistance with a mere puncture? Was everyone on a bike that passed a commuter? Surely there must have been some "proper" cyclists, not all sheep/bastards, or maybe some "proper" cyclists are bastards too, as I have found many times stuck up some mountain in winter with freezing hands trying to replace a tube.