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

StevieGriff

Just home from 6 months in New Zealand, practically lived on my MTB while over there, barely even saw a road bike. First day back on the road bike yesterday in the hopes of getting the legs in shape to start racing again soon. Felt bizarre, couldn't ride in a straight line to save my life and almost careered into a ditch when I got out of the saddle. Never had problems jumping from mtb to road in the past. Anyone experienced this before?

check_six

StevieGriff wrote: »

Just home from 6 months in New Zealand, practically lived on my MTB while over there, barely even saw a road bike. First day back on the road bike yesterday in the hopes of getting the legs in shape to start racing again soon. Felt bizarre, couldn't ride in a straight line to save my life and almost careered into a ditch when I got out of the saddle. Never had problems jumping from mtb to road in the past. Anyone experienced this before?

Had that when I first tried a road bike. 30 minutes spin will probably get you back in the swing of things (stay in the saddle for at least 15 minutes).

You never really forget, it's like riding... a (slightly different handling) bike!

Chuchote

StevieGriff wrote: »

Just home from 6 months in New Zealand, practically lived on my MTB while over there, barely even saw a road bike. First day back on the road bike yesterday in the hopes of getting the legs in shape to start racing again soon. Felt bizarre, couldn't ride in a straight line to save my life and almost careered into a ditch when I got out of the saddle. Never had problems jumping from mtb to road in the past. Anyone experienced this before?

It's not the bike it's the Antipodes effect. Your legs want to be upside down.

CramCycle

I crashed this morning. it was not a pleasant commute in for the first half, with several people cutting me up for no reason. Coming upto the one roundabout I use there is a bend in the road and the cycle lane actually disappears off the road and brings you in a different direction. I indicated out and was merging into the bus lane when a car decided the regular traffic lane (not even busy) was to slow and cut over. I had to swing back in but then I was on this bizarre bike junction thing and my brain shut down and I went into a railing at about 10km/hour.

StevieGriff

Chuchote wrote: »

It's not the bike it's the Antipodes effect. Your legs want to be upside down.

I think this has to be the most reasonable explanation. Things a bit better today, 60k with 1.5 hours at the start of sprint intervals followed by z4 work. Couldn't hit z4 despite riding eyeballs out...must be the upside effect.

eeeee

CramCycle wrote: »

I crashed this morning. it was not a pleasant commute in for the first half, with several people cutting me up for no reason. Coming upto the one roundabout I use there is a bend in the road and the cycle lane actually disappears off the road and brings you in a different direction. I indicated out and was merging into the bus lane when a car decided the regular traffic lane (not even busy) was to slow and cut over. I had to swing back in but then I was on this bizarre bike junction thing and my brain shut down and I went into a railing at about 10km/hour.

Shyte hope all's ok?

CramCycle

nee wrote: »

Shyte hope all's ok?

More comical than anything else, turned the handlebars completely out of place once I realised what was happening. Other than hitting my hand off a railing, nothing terrible happened.

Pinch Flat

Saw another motorists "educating" a cyclist this morning. Bit of a bizarre one. I was going through the Phoenix Park, stopped at the crossing at the castleknock roundabout. A cyclist was coming through from the Ordnance survey direction, heading towards the ashtown gate. As he cycled on, a car slowed down coming against him on the opposite side of the road, the driver rolled his window down, and yelled "you should be using the fcucking cycle lane" - there is a cycle lane on the opposite side of the road. The cyclist was going the opposite direction to the car and had absolutely zero impact on the (obviously crazy) motorists progress.

As I headed down the park, I glanced over at the motorist, now stuck in traffic, who seemed to be happy enough sitting in the 3km queue of traffic that stretched from just before the Aras to Park Gate Street.

buffalo

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Saw another motorists "educating" a cyclist this morning. Bit of a bizarre one. I was going through the Phoenix Park, stopped at the crossing at the castleknock roundabout. A cyclist was coming through from the Ordnance survey direction, heading towards the ashtown gate. As he cycled on, a car slowed down coming against him on the opposite side of the road, the driver rolled his window down, and yelled "you should be using the fcucking cycle lane" - there is a cycle lane on the opposite side of the road. The cyclist was going the opposite direction to the car and had absolutely zero impact on the (obviously crazy) motorists progress.

As I headed down the park, I glanced over at the motorist, now stuck in traffic, who seemed to be happy enough sitting in the 3km queue of traffic that stretched from just before the Aras to Park Gate Street.

To top off the idiocy, that cycle lane goes in the opposite direction to the cyclist's travel (https://goo.gl/maps/Bug342GqxJ52).

Pinch Flat

buffalo wrote: »

To top off the idiocy, that cycle lane goes in the opposite direction to the cyclist's travel (https://goo.gl/maps/Bug342GqxJ52).

Ah, but the motorists was obviously 'held up' by a cyclist at some point. Wonder did he get out and berate the few hundred cars that lined his path towards Park Gate Street? Some crazies out there.

magicbastarder

to be fair, she's just walking, not even jogging.

Seve OB

Weepsie wrote: »

And there's nearly always someone jogging in it. Even in the streetview there's someone in it.

not far from where a poor cyclist was killed by a jogger in the cycle lane wearing headphones only about a year ago

magicbastarder

that's not the info i had, so best not to speculate on that unless it's proven.

Tomred13

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Saw another motorists "educating" a cyclist this morning. Bit of a bizarre one. I was going through the Phoenix Park, stopped at the crossing at the castleknock roundabout. A cyclist was coming through from the Ordnance survey direction, heading towards the ashtown gate. As he cycled on, a car slowed down coming against him on the opposite side of the road, the driver rolled his window down, and yelled "you should be using the fcucking cycle lane" - there is a cycle lane on the opposite side of the road. The cyclist was going the opposite direction to the car and had absolutely zero impact on the (obviously crazy) motorists progress.

As I headed down the park, I glanced over at the motorist, now stuck in traffic, who seemed to be happy enough sitting in the 3km queue of traffic that stretched from just before the Aras to Park Gate Street.

Jaysus. ive been reading all the comments about motorists having a pop at US poor cyclist, whether its trying to run us off roads, complaining that we don't pay road tax , buzzing or clipping us at speed, or as mentioned above trying to educate US about cycle lane use. Ive been cycling, racing, couriering, commuting for over 31 years now. Ive lost friends to road bike accidents and ive had friends that killed others in bike accidents. If a motorist trys to educate me it is usually met with a "go f*$k youself" if they endanger my life in any way they will be met with aggression and a spd cleat to the side door of a car or a rear window will be put in with the help of a sparkplug. now I Know im gona get a huge backlash for saying this as the PC brigade wont agree but im sick of people in metal boxes trying to kill or educate me.

RayCun

Tomred13 wrote: »

the PC brigade

I'm sorry, but that's an automatic
:rolleyes:

Chuchote

Speaking as a lieutenant-colonel of the PC Brigade, I have never seen damage to someone's car as a good way of persuading them that their advice is not needed. Strategy, not tactics, that man.

buffalo

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.

I take it all back! Got two thank yous from fellow cyclists on the towpath this morning for singling out to let them pass more easily, normally there's none.

Also, yesterday evening I was waiting on Stephen's Green east to head onto Earlsfort Terrace. It's a terribly laid out junction imo, which led one cyclist who was heading straight to wait in the middle of the left turn lane. There was a green for left turning traffic, so when a 46A rolled up behind him, it had to stop. Fair play to the driver, he didn't blast the horn.

Instead, he waited patiently. The reaction from the cyclist when he realised a bus was sitting right behind him was the funniest thing I've seen all week. If a double-decker bus can sneak up behind you, maybe your music's too loud?

Zzippy

Chuchote wrote: »

It's not the bike it's the Antipodes effect. Your legs want to be upside down.

I reckon it's actually the Coriolis Effect. His body still thinks it's in the southern hemisphere and wants to go left, but the northern hemisphere bike wants to go right. Just like divers coming up slowly to avoid the bends, he should have stopped off at the Equator for a few days to avoid the sudden change...

check_six

buffalo wrote: »

Also, yesterday evening I was waiting on Stephen's Green east to head onto Earlsfort Terrace. It's a terribly laid out junction imo, which led one cyclist who was heading straight to wait in the middle of the left turn lane.

How exactly is that junction supposed to work? I got stuck there for a number of sequences one day and had to get off and walk to get to Earlsfort Terrace. I don't go that way normally so maybe I missed something vital?

buffalo

check_six wrote: »

How exactly is that junction supposed to work? I got stuck there for a number of sequences one day and had to get off and walk to get to Earlsfort Terrace. I don't go that way normally so maybe I missed something vital?

In my experience (though I don't travel that way often), you need a bus to trigger the Green<->Terrace lights, or a certain type of bike right on the sensors.

I can't fathom why there's no advanced stop box for cyclists going straight ahead. Instead you're encouraged up the right of the left-turn lane, and even into the ASB there.

The absence of a left-turn cycle lane is maybe supposed to encourage people to take the lane? Or is that giving the road painters/planners too much credit?

dreamerb

Stephen's Green East to Earlsfort Terrace is on my regular route and is an almighty PITA. The straight-ahead bike lane has no sensors, and it's nigh-on impossible to set off the sensors in the straight-ahead bus lane unless you're a bus (or an illegal car).

As a result, it is the only red light in the city that I regularly break - I'll roll through slowly and cautiously on pedestrian green after pedestrians have cleared, unless a vehicle has turned up to trigger the sensor.

Chuchote

dreamerb wrote: »

Stephen's Green East to Earlsfort Terrace is on my regular route and is an almighty PITA. The straight-ahead bike lane has no sensors, and it's nigh-on impossible to set off the sensors in the straight-ahead bus lane unless you're a bus (or an illegal car).

As a result, it is the only red light in the city that I regularly break - I'll roll through slowly and cautiously on pedestrian green after pedestrians have cleared, unless a vehicle has turned up to trigger the sensor.

I usually get off and go and press the pedestrian lights button and cross when they change, then remount. So kludgy!

rollingscone

Weepsie wrote: »

To private drivers, good Friday is not a bank holiday, stay out of the bus lane. Tossers.

I've also seen quite a few drivers on phones today

Well obviously if you'd been wearing your #hivis and helmet they wouldn't be!

CramCycle

Coming home last night, on my track bike so pretty limited in regards speed but I had overtaken a few people (and also been overtaken by others).

The first 1/3 of the trip was punctuated by a guy who, at every light, would roll past to the top of the queue in his luminous yellow jacket, leading to a few minutes of waiting for a safe space to overtake and then happening over and over again. Finally he stopped doing this after the 4th red light. There was another guy on a fixed gear who looked around in disbelief the third time it happened.

Anyway, coming upto Shankilll, there is a slight hill and I overtook a few people and one guy attempted to tag on and follow me, he caught me in Shankhill itself, traffic is busy and you have to be cautious but then coming upto the roundabout just after the village, he overtakes on my right, giving it his all, as I cross the yield line onto the roundabout, swings across me, and then attempts to undertake the 145 that I had slowed down for, because, you know, it is a ****ing bus, it is ahead of me and it is a god damned single lane roundabout. The bus comes off with him on the inside and he thankfully hopped up on the pavement as it happened or he would be dead. FFS, the incredible stupidity of it all. He then meets me at a light in Bray where he sounds like he is about to vomit up a lung. I decided to ignore him in case I felt the need to point out his stupidity.

Then this morning, a guy on a green bike, turning right onto the N11, has a green light, waits for traffic to clear and proceeds safely, some idiot on a slip road with a flashing amber, who has just looked at him, jumps forward as he is in front of the bonnet. When the cyclist looks at him, he throws his hands up and says "It's alright"?????????? Are you mental, do you not realise your stupidity, he then switches lanes on the turn to almost hit a taxi.

Plastik

Sounds about right for daily commuting on the N11!

Bloggsie

CramCycle wrote: »

Coming home last night, on my track bike so pretty limited in regards speed but I had overtaken a few people (and also been overtaken by others).

The first 1/3 of the trip was punctuated by a guy who, at every light, would roll past to the top of the queue in his luminous yellow jacket, leading to a few minutes of waiting for a safe space to overtake and then happening over and over again. Finally he stopped doing this after the 4th red light. There was another guy on a fixed gear who looked around in disbelief the third time it happened.

Anyway, coming upto Shankilll, there is a slight hill and I overtook a few people and one guy attempted to tag on and follow me, he caught me in Shankhill itself, traffic is busy and you have to be cautious but then coming upto the roundabout just after the village, he overtakes on my right, giving it his all, as I cross the yield line onto the roundabout, swings across me, and then attempts to undertake the 145 that I had slowed down for, because, you know, it is a ****ing bus, it is ahead of me and it is a god damned single lane roundabout. The bus comes off with him on the inside and he thankfully hopped up on the pavement as it happened or he would be dead. FFS, the incredible stupidity of it all. He then meets me at a light in Bray where he sounds like he is about to vomit up a lung. I decided to ignore him in case I felt the need to point out his stupidity.

Then this morning, a guy on a green bike, turning right onto the N11, has a green light, waits for traffic to clear and proceeds safely, some idiot on a slip road with a flashing amber, who has just looked at him, jumps forward as he is in front of the bonnet. When the cyclist looks at him, he throws his hands up and says "It's alright"?????????? Are you mental, do you not realise your stupidity, he then switches lanes on the turn to almost hit a taxi.

cycled the N11 just once, numpties, muppets, tossers in abundance in cars, buses, vans, walking, on motorbikes and cycling, I think they opened the gates of the iniversity for the numpties, muppets, tossers and let them loose on SCD for the day, you know like work experience, before bringing them all back in for more studies!

magicbastarder

what is it with irish drivers increasingly being unable to actually figure out where to stop at traffic lights?

HivemindXX

Weepsie wrote: »

There was a story today that "they" (I don't know who they are) want to add another lane to the N11.

The amount poured into building roads and then realising they are not fit for purpose or at capacity straight away and over spent on crap public transport could have paid for a world class public transport service and cycle infrastructure which should have the knock on effect of reducing traffic numbers and making driving more pleasant too

To be fair the N11 has been around in roughly the same form for quite a long time, it was hardly found not fit for purpose straight away. In fact it's been a while since I've used it regularly (it really is dreadful for bikes what with the bad cycle path and the vigilante training Dublin Bus must give in Donnybrook garage) but it doesn't really seem like it urgently needs an extra lane. Seems like it's standard to good for motorised vehicles.

Pinch Flat

magicbastarder wrote: »

what is it with irish drivers increasingly being unable to actually figure out where to stop at traffic lights?

Driving here has turned into an impatient, hurried and all together frustrating affair, certainly in urban areas. It's borne out in the driving styles that are now almost a default on the roads.

The creeping at traffic lights is definitely something that's on the "up". Last night, I had a taxi draw along side me at a red light - before it went green, he's crept through the bike advance box, over the pedestrian crossing and was now sitting in the middle of the junction. What's particularly funny is when people do this, then misjudge the light sequence - so in the expectation of a green, it's coming the other way - so you now have cars trying to get through the junction, or blocking a pedestrian crossing and having people walk around the front of the car.

RayCun

I saw a taxi a few weeks back stop at the red lights, creep through the pedestrian crossing, around the corner, and through the pedestrian lights there too.

phoned trafficwatch several times to report it, never got through