What's the obsession middle aged lads have with cycling?

24-07-2018 03:56PM

The Kop wrote: »

According to AndrewJRenko it's always the motorists fault

Here's a mad idea - try finding something that I actually said that you can argue with, instead of making up stuff that I didn't actually say.

Baron de Charlus wrote: »

Never going to happen. If there's one thing angry people hate more than the target of their anger, it's admitting that they're wrong.

Or admitting that they've learnt anything - that's even more out of the question.

meeeeh wrote: »

I can assume from the stats (high number of deaths in over 54 bracket) that a lot of cyclists involved are older people. Cycling is extremely popular among pensioners but they can be a bit of a mess on the roads. The difference is that on the bike they are mostly just danger to themselves but in the cars they can endanger others.

That's an unsafe assumption. It could well be that drivers just treat older cyclists badly because, well, because they are older cyclists. Assumptions aren't wise in these matters.

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

You're probably largely correct, but maybe it should be. Smarter cafe owners are certainly getting there, and doing something about it:
http://www.insomnia.ie/whats-brewing/article/more-than-just-cups-insomnia-launches-mission-compostable

magicbastarder wrote: »

i already have the inside of my helmet lined in tin foil to exclude *any* interference with my brain patterns.

The tin foil hat is great for reflecting extra light up to the helmetcam too - win/win.

partyguinness wrote: »

When you knock over a cyclist no Court will ever find in favour of a motorist. Guaranteed.

Not quite 'finding in favour', but it's not that hard to come with a good story (preferably one involving children) avoid any meaningful punishment by the Courts for knocking over, and even killing a cyclist, sadly.
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/i-am-totally-lost-without-him-cyclist-was-killed-when-young-mother-took-eyes-off-road-to-help-kids-with-toys-36839998.html

meeeeh wrote: »

There are plenty that are not wide enough to have central line. It would be perfectly safe to overtake when cyclist is at the side of the road and completely unsafe if they are towards middle (again assuming there is no good reason to cycle in the middle of the road).

SO just to be clear, there are plenty of roads with about 1m for the cyclist, 1.5m safe passing space and 2.4m for the car - 5m single carriageway roads - are you really sure about this?

Silent Running wrote: »

Dominating the road huh?

As I have said before, I mostly drive on twisty country roads with a solid centre line. It wouldn't be unusual for the line to be unbroken for 10kms or more. A cyclist dominating that road would quickly find a long queue of vehicles of every size pottering along in his/her wake. Now I know that most (all?) cyclists will not pull in to a gateway or passing spot to let the queue get past - like a tractor driver would do - so what do you see happening in this scenario? Everybody happily crawling along, enjoying the view and all humming the same tune in harmony?

Isn't it amazing though how this 'long queue of vehicles of every size pottering along' never happens, or happens so rarely that it is never documented. It doesn't pop up on dashcam channels or the boards dashcam thread, or on Twitter or social media. The long queue might as well be led by a unicorn .

marvin80 wrote: »

That's a good point - all cyclists are grouped together and there's a bias against them as a group as a result of a small few cyclists and their actions (breaking red lights etc..).

It's not really 'a small few cyclists' breaking red lights. Some days I feel that I'm the only cyclist who stops at red lights. The real question isn't 'how many cyclists break red lights'. The real question is 'how many cyclists endanger other people on the road', closely followed by 'how many motorists endanger other people on the road'.

Rennaws wrote: »

I'd never do anything to put another road user's life in danger but the good will is rapidly being eaten up..

This isn't a 'good will' matter. Cyclists aren't going to be tugging their forelocks for the privilege of not being killed on the road. Overtaking causing inconvenience is a specific offence. You need to
1) Obey the law
2) Not kill people

Rennaws wrote: »

As I said, you always know the skilled guys.. They shoot through and pose no bother to anyone. They have the nouse and road awareness not to hold up other traffic on the road.

Nah, wrong again. The ones who take the lane are generally the ones who have taken advanced training, as it is a core part of advanced cycle safety training. 'Not holding up traffic' comes a long way down the priority list of any road user. Getting some safely to your family without being killed is generally top of the priority list.

Here's why cyclists need to take the lane:

https://twitter.com/Stokesy1966/status/1021489721216774144

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5 · 24-07-2018 04:00PM

marvin80 wrote: »

You made a dump sweeping statement so I countered it with one of my own

More people are cycling than ten or five years ago, that's a fact and broadly a welcome one.

If more people are cycling, the chance of encountering someone being a dick cycling goes up.

I was pointing out that the poster encountering more dickish cycling behaviour was probably down to more, and more inexperienced cyclists than any big attitude change among existing cyclists.

What's dumb about that exactly?

You certainly did make a dumb sweeping statement completely irrelevant to anything I said, I guess I was more wondering what point you thought you were making.

Or actually fcukit, I'll post in kind.

marvin80 wrote: »

You made a dump sweeping statement so I countered it with one of my own

Your face made a dump sweeping statement so I did one too no take backs I WIN!!"!

Grab All Association · 24-07-2018 04:00PM

07Lapierre wrote: »

and BMW drivers! don't forget them!

I'd respect them a lot more if they actually bought petrol models instead of cancer causing glorified tractors (diesel)

marvin80 · 24-07-2018 04:04PM

Ellie Hallowed Acorn wrote: »

I was pointing out that the poster encountering more dickish cycling behaviour was probably down to more, and more inexperienced cyclists than any big attitude change among existing cyclists.

Apologies - hard to follow this mess of a thread at times - I just thought you were another cyclist hater making sweeping statements (there's a lot in here).

Anyway I'm out!!

topper75 · 24-07-2018 04:05PM

Blazer wrote: »

To cyclists .. **** off and stay at the side of the road, ride one abreast and in small groups and we’ll all be good.

I'm so old now I come from a time when to get a licence to drive you had to read and prove that you understood the rules of the road. It was a little booklet you could buy in the post office and it explained all the rights and obligations of the various road users. When did they get rid of that?

magicbastarder · 24-07-2018 04:05PM

Silent Running wrote: »

I can only speak for myself. No cyclist has EVER pulled over to let me by. I have never seen a cyclist do it for other drivers. I have a very long driving career having covered well over one and a half million kilometres at this stage.

i can only speak for myself. when driving, i've *never* been held up for more than a minute or two by cyclists*. i don't drive nearly as much as i used to as my job doesn't require driving now.

*apart from the mentally ill 80 year old who lived near my parents in law who would deliberately block any cars he didn't recognise. but that was the least of his quirks.

partyguinness · 24-07-2018 04:06PM

Well all I can say now is while I am not a cyclists it would be far better if there were better provisions to allow for more cyclists.

And for the people that allow petty like things like cyclists annoy you.....get a life. There are far bigger issues in the world to remedy.

Yes breaking red lights etc is irritating but there are far more dickhead motorists out there than dickhead cyclists that's for sure.

24-07-2018 04:06PM

meeeeh wrote: »

No it does not. Not too narrow straight road enables safe overtaking when someone is cycling at the side of the road, it does not allow it if they are towards the middle of the road. (I cycle on one of those quite often). There is a reason why cyclists are advised to accommodate drivers where it is safe to do. It makes use of the road better for everyone.

You are questioning the official advice for safe cycling and implying I meant something I didn't mean just for the sake of argument.

Official advice from the RSA to cyclists includes: "Take the space you need to cycle safely. You are as entitled to your road space as any other road user."

Silent Running wrote: »

Again a cyclist says "look over there, a motorist is doing something wrong".

I can only speak for myself. No cyclist has EVER pulled over to let me by. I have never seen a cyclist do it for other drivers. I have a very long driving career having covered well over one and a half million kilometres at this stage.

Besides I didn't say it never happened. That fantasy is entirely in your own head. I just said it never happened to me.

How often have you pulled over to let a faster cyclist by in heavy urban traffic?

meeeeh wrote: »

Most adults drive so it's sorted in sub groups, yummy mummies in SUVs, boy racers, be drivers etc. It's structured so it doesn't include the author of the post. It even works the other way, most cyclists here are male professionals, their complaints in this thread are most directed at yummy mummies in SUVs or van drivers, the motorist group that usually doesn't include them. Most people complaining about cyclist don't cycle so they don't need to distinguish.

Here as in 'Ireland' or here as in 'boards.ie'? Either way, I'd love to know how you worked this out.

24-07-2018 04:08PM

topper75 wrote: »

I'm so old now I come from a time when to get a licence to drive you had to read and prove that you understood the rules of the road. It was a little booklet you could buy in the post office and it explained all the rights and obligations of the various road users. When did they get rid of that?

Do you mean this little booklet?

Silent Running · 24-07-2018 04:09PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

i can only speak for myself. when driving, i've *never* been held up for more than a minute or two by cyclists*. i don't drive nearly as much as i used to as my job doesn't require driving now.

*apart from the mentally ill 80 year old who lived near my parents in law who would deliberately block any cars he didn't recognise. but that was the least of his quirks.

Oh, neither have I. I was hypothesising. The real world is a bit boring, don't you find?

partyguinness · 24-07-2018 04:10PM

One thing which really pisses me off is when drivers in front of me toss their cigarette butts out of the car window. I must see it at least 2-3 times every day.

Never seen a cyclist do that.

Silent Running · 24-07-2018 04:13PM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Official advice from the RSA to cyclists includes: "Take the space you need to cycle safely. You are as entitled to your road space as any other road user."

How often have you pulled over to let a faster cyclist by in heavy urban traffic?

Here as in 'Ireland' or here as in 'boards.ie'? Either way, I'd love to know how you worked this out.

I could say hundreds of times and you couldn't prove otherwise. That pulsing vein on your forehead is getting worse. You should see a doctor.

Silent Running · 24-07-2018 04:15PM

partyguinness wrote: »

One thing which really pisses me off is when drivers in front of me toss their cigarette butts out of the car window. I must see it at least 2-3 times every day.

Never seen a cyclist do that.

No, just their empty energy gel containers. Tossing butts aside is a pet hate of mine, no matter who does it! :mad:

24-07-2018 04:16PM

Silent Running wrote: »

I could say hundreds of times and you couldn't prove otherwise. That pulsing vein on your forehead is getting worse. You should see a doctor.

You're right, I couldn't prove otherwise. But we'd both know that the real answer is zero, while you pontificate about how other people should pull over to let you through.

meeeeh · 24-07-2018 04:17PM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Here as in 'Ireland' or here as in 'boards.ie'? Either way, I'd love to know how you worked this out.

Boards but mostly I meant you. Considering your opinion of women in SUVs I am pretty sure you are not one of them.

Silent Running · 24-07-2018 04:19PM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

You're right, I couldn't prove otherwise. But we'd both know that the real answer is zero, while you pontificate about how other people should pull over to let you through.

Well I never drive in traffic, except when behind a cyclist. So you're probably right for once. If I have to go near town I take public transport. A city is no place for a car. They should be banned and alternative transport made available.

meeeeh · 24-07-2018 04:24PM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

That's an unsafe assumption. It could well be that drivers just treat older cyclists badly because, well, because they are older cyclists. Assumptions aren't ...

It could be but considering in majority of cases cyclist is the one at fault it could be also mean that older cyclists don't cycle as safely. Considering I lived in the country I might be in a better position to make the assumption than someone who probably couldn't find the place on the map. (Btw there is a link that points out elderly cyclists are more vulnerable due to decrease of ability but it's in Slovene.)

whisky_galore · 24-07-2018 04:25PM

Silent Running wrote: »

Well I never drive in traffic, except when behind a cyclist. So you're probably right for once. If I have to go near town I take public transport. A city is no place for a car. They should be banned and alternative transport made available.

Ah but shur tis too dear / I'll get wet / it's not safe / it takes too long / it's always late...

greenspurs · 24-07-2018 04:29PM

589 posts since 12.00 yesterday.
You cant beat someone mentioning "cyclist" to get all the motorists out................. So predictable.

magicbastarder · 24-07-2018 04:30PM

meeeeh wrote: »

It could be but considering in majority of cases cyclist is the one at fault

in studies done in london and canada, it was found the motorist was to blame in the majority of KSIs.

greenspurs · 24-07-2018 04:32PM

shakeitoff wrote: »

Every weekend, they swarm around, what is it about cycling that brings them in? Why aren't they playing weekend footie or mountain biking?

Whats the obsession motorists have with other public road users ?

Silent Running · 24-07-2018 04:32PM

greenspurs wrote: »

589 posts since 12.00 yesterday.
You cant beat someone mentioning "cyclist" to get all the motorists out................. So predictable.

It's all motorists posting? I was sure I spotted a cyclist or fifity in among the posters.

greenspurs · 24-07-2018 04:34PM

Silent Running wrote: »

It's all motorists posting? I was sure I spotted a cyclist or fifity fifty in among the posters.

Started by a 'non cyclist', fuelling the usual anti-cyclist sh1te and commented on by other 'anti cyclists' ?

Am I wrong?

Silent Running · 24-07-2018 04:38PM

greenspurs wrote: »

Started by a 'non cyclist', fuelling the usual anti-cyclist sh1te and commented on by other 'anti cyclists' ?

Am I wrong?

So, you're saying that no cyclists have participated in the thread? I know cyclists are blinkered and can only see motorists as the bad guys, but I'm pretty sure Andy, the guy with the throbbing vein, is a cyclist. Is he an anti cyclist cyclist?

The Kop · 24-07-2018 04:39PM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

You're right, I couldn't prove otherwise. But we'd both know that the real answer is zero, while you pontificate about how other people should pull over to let you through.

You're some man to be accusing someone else of pontificating. Lol.
Pot kettle......

Beasty · 24-07-2018 04:42PM

Not just middle aged by the way

I know of one guy who cycled over 22km in an hour last year

He was 105 at the time

I personally know a number of guys over 80 who still race their bikes on open roads

Perhaps the benefits of cycling through middle age and on to old age outweigh the disadvantages.....

magicbastarder · 24-07-2018 04:43PM

Beasty wrote: »

He was 105 at the time

what groupset was on the bike?
*fingers crossed*

The Bishop Basher · 24-07-2018 04:46PM

greenspurs wrote: »

Whats the obsession motorists have with other public road users ?

Because other road users don't act the dick in the same numbers cyclists do..

Beasty · 24-07-2018 04:48PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

what groupset was on the bike?
*fingers crossed*

Wasn't he on a fixie up alpe d'huez?

Silent Running · 24-07-2018 04:49PM

Beasty wrote: »

Not just middle aged by the way

I know of one guy who cycled over 22km in an hour last year

He was 105 at the time

I personally know a number of guys over 80 who still race their bikes on open roads

Perhaps the benefits of cycling through middle age and on to old age outweigh the disadvantages.....

Since you bring the subject up. What's the deal with cyclists being allowed to race on open public roads? We've probably all seen the horse incident, that didn't look very safe. Public roads shouldn't be used to race on.

What's the obsession middle aged lads have with cycling?

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