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

ChrisJ84 · 18-06-2019 3:31pm

doozerie wrote: »

Now there is a can of worms. That was clearly an early e-bike but the question that demands an answer is whether it was pedal-assist, or strictly illegal under Irish laws?

And that's before we even consider whether the kid cyclist stuck to cycling-designated air space, or recklessly used all of the airspace as if he was somehow entitled to. (Did he even PAY HIS AIR TAX???)

I foresee angry letters from the RSA, and like-minded people who all have only the best interests of the little bastard brat child at heart.

And, if I recall correctly, he was (recklessly) wearing neither a helmet nor a high viz vest.

Breezer · 18-06-2019 7:34pm

ChrisJ84 wrote: »

And, if I recall correctly, he was (recklessly) wearing neither a helmet nor a high viz vest.

Both weigh you down, making upward trajectory difficult. I could have removed mine and tossed them forward, thus enabling me to fly over (or at least bunny hop) the car and retrieve them mid air. But then she would have suddenly been unable to see me, and if her Ford Transit happened to collide directly with my head as I landed I wouldn't have had my protective armour on.

odyssey06 · 18-06-2019 8:39pm

Breezer wrote: »

Both weigh you down, making upward trajectory difficult. I could have removed mine and tossed them forward, thus enabling me to fly over (or at least bunny hop) the car and retrieve them mid air. But then she would have suddenly been unable to see me, and if her Ford Transit happened to collide directly with my head as I landed I wouldn't have had my protective armour on.

But what if a dragon appeared? You would be defenceless without a mantle.

JMcL · 19-06-2019 3:51pm

Breezer wrote: »

I'm still not entirely sure though whether she wanted me to cycle through the car, or to swerve around it in front of her at the last second.

If you'd been able to channel your inner Danny MacAskill and bunny hop it the look on her face would have been priceless

secman · 19-06-2019 4:27pm

Whilst out on a club spin last night, 3 of us, 2 abreast and one behind, we were beeped at for a good stretch by one motorist in Saggart, how hard is it to fathom 2 abreast is totally legal.
Then on my cool down loop around Tallaght village, on my ownio, mosying along, this guy starts shouting out passenger window screaming at me to get off the road and on to the cycle lane, the one full of broken glass, i shouted back that it wasn't compulsory to ride in cycle lane but he was so incensed with me being on the road my enlightening him most likely didn't register.

Im convinced learner drivers should be made cycle as part of their driving ability test.
80% of cyclists drive and only 20% of motorists cycle.

07Lapierre · 19-06-2019 4:34pm

I'm also convinced that a lot of new drivers lack the confidence to overtake properly. They seem to think that they should never cross the centre line under any circumstances.
Anyone who can't overtake two cyclists cycling two abreast needs to re-examine their own driving ability!

Weepsie · 19-06-2019 5:34pm

I keep a frame and wheels in a shared bike shed at my apartment complex. No componennts one them, and semi secured with tyres and stuff to make it a hassle for anyone to try and take.

Anyway, some neighbour decided it would be okay to take my front wheel and put it on their bike. It's a disc wheel too and they've put it onto a rim brake bike.

Either that, or someone tried to nick it, and someone caught them and didn't know what it belonged to.

Breezer · 19-06-2019 7:21pm

07Lapierre wrote: »

I'm also convinced that a lot of new drivers lack the confidence to overtake properly. They seem to think that they should never cross the centre line under any circumstances.
Anyone who can't overtake two cyclists cycling two abreast needs to re-examine their own driving ability!

I had one like this this evening on New St outbound (before it runs into Clanbrassil St), where there's a narrow cycle lane and two general traffic lanes. A learner in a driving school car seemed to hesitate and then overtook me relatively slowly (I'd say I was doing about 20 km/h and her about 30) with inches to spare. I didn't do or say anything, partly because she was going slowly and wasn't going to hurt me unless she suddenly swung left, and partly because I reckoned if I startled her it might cause her to panic and do something worse. I think her instructor may have slowed her down with the dual controls beforehand.

I really hate on road painted cycle lanes that are too narrow. I'd rather they weren't there at all. People seem to feel it's fine to overtake at any miniscule distance as long as they're in "their" lane and you're in "yours".

Edit: sorry I thought this was the near miss thread. I should have told that story using more evocative language!

North of 32 · 20-06-2019 5:18pm

Just a week ago I bought a brand new rear tyre because the previous one was full of nicks and holes. I only got about 1500 - 2000km out of the tyre and punctured 8 times.

Today was the third ride on the new tyre and after approximately 100km I punctured on a tiny piece of glass. The best part is that it went right through the tyre so it might be that I have to just bin it. That's an average of 1 flat per week since the end of April. A few have been pinch flats because of terrible cycle-path surfaces but most have just been small stones/glass.

I've been flatting so often I bought an extra floor pump to keep in my girlfriend's car. All-in-all, between the pump, new tyre, inner tubes and patch kit I've probably spent 100euro because of how frequently I've been puncturing. I weigh 78kg and wherever possible, when I see an uneven surface, I get out of the saddle to get as much weight as possible off the rear tyre. I weave around patches in the cycle-path surface. I run the rear tyre at 90psi. I pray to God. Nothing works.

At this point I'm ready not just to give up on cycling but also life itself.

smacl · 20-06-2019 5:26pm

Sounds like either tubeless, solid tyres or maybe just Marathon plus tyres are in order. Which tyres have you been using to date?

North of 32 · 21-06-2019 8:32am

smacl wrote: »

Sounds like either tubeless, solid tyres or maybe just Marathon plus tyres are in order. Which tyres have you been using to date?

Continental GP 4000. Maybe I should give the gatorskin a go but it's pricey

smacl · 21-06-2019 10:35am

North of 32 wrote: »

Continental GP 4000. Maybe I should give the gatorskin a go but it's pricey

For reasonably bombproof road tyres that are still feel decent I find Durano Plus to be excellent. Haven't used gatorskins but others here have commented they're not the best in the wet.

Weepsie · 26-06-2019 9:54am

RLJing in motor vehicles to my mind seems worse, and more dangerous lately.

I was a passenger this morn in a car. At a T Junction, we got a green to go left. A bus from the right breaks the red. Same bus then delays us and proceeds to block a yellow box further on preventing us from going straight, and preventing other traffic from leaving the opposite junction. It may save the driver of a vehicle a couple of seconds to break a red, but the knock on effect is everyone gets delayed then.
I walk the last 4 km to work. Bottom of Whitworth Road I am waiting to cross. Light goes red for cars, green for pedestrians. The driver of a black VW decides this is the time to gun it and then stopped short of the yellow box. It was utterly moronic.
Santry avenue the lights have been no more than optional for anyone the last week it seems too.
The junction in Ballymun beside the Axis too. Every sequence at least 2 vehicles decide to plough on after the red.

I've also had some impatient beepers lately. Some back road in Meath last week, between Skreen and Ardcath. Wide enough to pass me safely as 3 or 4 cars did. A driver arrives behind me and rather than trusting their competence, they just beep me for me to move. Same again beside the Airport on monday night with ample room.

155 km, with hundreds of cars that saw no issue, yet these 2 were angry at the very sight of me using the space in front of them,

CramCycle · 26-06-2019 10:09am

Weepsie wrote: »

RLJing in motor vehicles to my mind seems worse, and more dangerous lately.

Pretty much the reason why ANPR cameras need to be put at all light controlled junctions. It's not only regular but expected occurance at most junctions. I now no longer need to look around to estimate when lights will go green, I know it because cars will accelerate for amber on theirs, so I know my lights are about to go green based on the increase in speed and noise from crossing traffic.

JMcL · 04-07-2019 5:31pm

Experienced a particularly woeful piece of "driving" on the way to work yesterday morning. Was on the road exiting this roundabout yesterday morning.

Usually commutes at this time of year are bliss as all the stressed school runners are now on holiday. Nope. Mrs 4xFaux (quashqai, Sportage et al) was obviously in a hurry and Could Not Be Held Up. She did admittedly give way to me on the actual roundabout, but there was an old dear crossing the road just beyond the island on the exit, so I stopped to let her finish crossing as you know, the law says you have to because she has right of way. I'd taken primary almost, but not quite halfway across the lane, not that this deterred She Who Is In A Hurry one bit. She squeezed between me and the pedestrian island first of all, then realised that the woman was crossing ao I think "alright she's going to give way". Nope. After the briefest of pauses she gunned it between the two of us. I apologised to her, not sure why, maybe for not blocking mrs knobhead properly

Weepsie · 08-07-2019 8:22pm

Thanks to the taxi man who unselfishly pointed out the awful cycle lane on the drumcondra road (the one that's full of peds and forces you to yield 3 times in a few hundred metres) while shouting at me about it. He'd beeped at the cyclist behind me, and shouted at the one further up the road. He then offered the advice that it was safer for us, ignoring the fact he had in fact safely over taken 3 despite the fact he was not looking at the road ahead.

I ended up ahead of him again, and but for I was taking a rare detour I'd have nearly sat in front of him to show him how safe it was

If he deems it unsafe, I wonder how he feels fit to drive around 8 hours a day

buffalo · 26-07-2019 9:40am

One of my least favourite charges levelled at the cyclist mob is that of 'entitlement'. As if we all go around making outrageous demands and expecting them to be fulfilled. Surely by now, everyone who has turned a pedal in Ireland has realised we're low down the pecking order, and any requests have to be accompanied by begging, pleading, protests, letters to politicians, and still we're resigned to the ongoing 8 year wait for the Liffey Cycle Route.

The low level aggression I encountered this morning on the quays was extremely minor in the grand scheme of things, but just so totally *unnecessary* as to really get under my skin.

I could explain in great detail the whys and wherefores of why this driver is an entitled prick, but sure just watch it yourself - it's on the north quays heading for the turn for Blackhall Place: https://goo.gl/maps/pBp4R2RD3vcbi7aG7

MojoMaker · 26-07-2019 10:10am

TT bike down the north quays a rare spot!

Weepsie · 26-07-2019 10:42am

That triathlete probably bothered them in fairness

eeeee · 26-07-2019 11:01am

Weepsie wrote: »

That triathlete probably bothered them in fairness

That's not a triathlete, that's a track rider

In pursuit gear to be precise.
So not a tt bike, but a track bike in pursuit mode :cool:

Weepsie · 31-07-2019 1:06pm

Saw a complete and utter halfwit on a moped this morning driving in the off road, on path cycle path in Blanchardstown/Clonsilla this morning/ I sense this might be a regular occuerence so, I expect to get them on camera sometime.

MojoMaker · 31-07-2019 5:41pm

What a pillock. I've yet to see that but will be keeping the eyes peeled now that you've mentioned it!

check_six · 31-07-2019 10:42pm

Weepsie wrote: »

Saw a complete and utter halfwit on a moped this morning driving in the off road, on path cycle path in Blanchardstown/Clonsilla this morning/ I sense this might be a regular occuerence so, I expect to get them on camera sometime.

I think I may have spotted this loolah going down the cycle path this evening on the Blanchardstown Road. On a moped, on the cycle path, on the wrong side of the road! Not great. (thought it looked like a motorbike at first glance)

Mickiemcfist · 01-08-2019 9:00am

Any chance it's one of those pedelec ones which look like a regular moped?

eeeee · 01-08-2019 9:03am

I've come across one, they're called Koumo bikes or something like that, where it's basically a moped with pedals.
I've seen a guy in that area on it, the last time I saw him he had a woman on the back, I got caught behind them for ages in traffic.
He can go up hills and everything without pedalling.

Weepsie · 01-08-2019 9:43am

I've seen one of those Koumo bikes too in the wild only once last week in Drumcondra. They were on sale at the Christmas Flea market last year. This one looked very much like a normal moped though.

buffalo · 06-08-2019 8:06am

Busted my derailleur yesterday while cycling around town with my wife (chain was slightly too short). I lowered the saddle which turned it into a giant balance bike, which helped.

High point: discovering how easily my wife can tow me around town when I hold onto her rack (on her bike).

Low point: being beeped at by a Dublin Bus driver in Drumcondra (https://goo.gl/maps/b5qEpWWiqyA4s6Se7) at a point where
a) there's not enough room to pass one cyclist anyway
b) he was about 100 metres away from a stop where he was pulling in
c) stop being a prick

I turned and showed him that I couldn't cycle my bike by coming to a stop and then pushing along with my feet. Part of me regrets not pulling in to the side of the road and waving him around me so he could show that it was me holding him up, and not the line of traffic and the narrow bus/bike lane.

The Noble Nudge · 06-08-2019 9:44am

Spotted some lunatic female cyclist no helmet on the M50 heading northbound over the bridge from Lucan to Blanch last week! Speechless

loyatemu · 06-08-2019 11:37am

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

Spotted some lunatic female cyclist no helmet on the M50 heading northbound over the bridge from Lucan to Blanch last week! Speechless

not sure a helmet would have made it any better.

The Noble Nudge · 07-08-2019 4:06pm

loyatemu wrote: »

not sure a helmet would have made it any better.

Maybe a tinfoil helmet!

Coming onto the Naas road today rush hour traffic had another space cadet on a DIY engine driven MTB try cross my path!:eek:

CramCycle · 20-08-2019 5:03pm

Car came barrelling through a yield sign and nearly knocked off a cyclist just round the corner. Doing north of 60kmph in a 30kmph. Stopped at next lights I just loudly said Slow Down and that was it. Next lights he rolls down the window after 2 minutes beside me to inform me I should have a bell on the bike. I laughed, informed him it's adapted for racing and he should read the road traffic act.

Keyboard Road Warrior 1 White BMW Driver 0

buffalo · 23-08-2019 11:13am

Coming to the Parkgate end of Chesterfield Avenue this morning, and there's a couple cyclists ahead of me on the edge of the cycle lane. I want to overtake, so shoulder check, indicate, move out in the main lane and past them.

An SUV behind me beeps and then overtakes me down the centre of the road. Wasn't really much need for the beep, but the passenger - a woman in her fifties - giving me two fingers as they passed was hilarious.

She didn't seem as aggressive when we ended up beside each other 500m later at a red traffic light. :pac:

magicbastarder · 24-08-2019 3:33pm

Between the main airport roundabout and the Coachman's roundabout earlier - I was in the bus lane but not on the pathetic cycle path there, and I guess that was why some arsehole entered the bus lane behind me so he could be that bit closer to me when he blew me out of it. Once he had passed me, he immediately pulled back out of the bus lane, content with himself having shown me what for. You have wonder.

magicbastarder · 25-08-2019 11:02pm

also, i only just realised that the provided cycle path is not just a cycle path combined with a footpath; it's actually a two-way cycle path. so the gist is that everyone commuting from swords to town, or the reverse, by bike, has to share this with pedestrians; you can see it here, where the outbound marker is so overgrown the arrow is no longer visible (you can see maybe half a wheel), but there's an inbound marker right beside it.
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.4308088,-6.2301339,3a,89.9y,267.87h,80.2t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sW529_RZ0yqqMQOxVhib3Gw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

anyone commuting from swords into the city centre would be expected to use that, i guess.

magicbastarder · 19-09-2019 7:56am

cycling down ballymun road this morning, past albert college park - it's a downhill, was doing somewhere between 35 and 40km/h at a guess - a garda car passed me, and almost simultaneously put on his left indicator. i started to brake, as did he, and it ended up with us both stopped in the road, him waiting for me to pass him up the inside. i waited till he realised i was not going to do so, and away he went up hampstead avenue. what a colossal dope.

triggermortis · 19-09-2019 4:04pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

also, i only just realised that the provided cycle path is not just a cycle path combined with a footpath; it's actually a two-way cycle path. so the gist is that everyone commuting from swords to town, or the reverse, by bike, has to share this with pedestrians; you can see it here, where the outbound marker is so overgrown the arrow is no longer visible (you can see maybe half a wheel), but there's an inbound marker right beside it.
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.4308088,-6.2301339,3a,89.9y,267.87h,80.2t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sW529_RZ0yqqMQOxVhib3Gw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

anyone commuting from swords into the city centre would be expected to use that, i guess.

I use this route on my commute and have never noticed this before, but then it's usually dark when I'm on this bit and I'd never dream of using that cycle path

Weepsie · 07-10-2019 10:21am

It seems as though Snugborough Road and both ends of Whitworth Road now have optional Amber and Red lights. I wish the RSA, Gardai and media at large would publish this information so even more drivers could go about with reckless abandon and not worry about anyone else.

CramCycle · 08-10-2019 1:26pm

Well that was an interesting exchange. Coming through Bray this morning and a guy beeped at another car for not progressing. Now the car in front it was clear was unsure which lane to take but only delayed the guy behind by about 1 second. Anyway I looked behind to see what the beep was as I passed and then continued immediately as it was obvious. Anyway, the van guy beeped again as he passed the other car, and I looked behind again and shrugged, nowt to do with me, Paddy Big But Small Balls had released his pointless frustration. Anyway, he drives past me, rolls down his window and then stops, starts berating me for giving him the finger (never happened) then called me every name under the sun, that he wasn't beeping at me ( I know), and proceeded to go bananas for about 30 seconds before leaving. I actually started laughing, as I tried to tell him to calm down, which apparently did not help the situation.

So today i got in trouble for merely existing and staying out of peoples business.

Weepsie · 08-10-2019 10:55pm

Got delayed leaving work this evening because some adults can't do things for themselves.

got a puncture on seville place thanks to a big ol chunk of debris that was left. I had moved out to go around a van that parks there every night when the cycle lane ceases to exist!

Co2 only half went in, and then got a pinch flat after the tyre resisted coming off for quite some time. walked an carefully rolled back to work car park. Get my second tube and realise it's for a much bigger tyre. Go up to office and get another spare I have there and realise that one for a rim with lower profile.

Gave up and set off for bus. PITA.

eeeee · 08-10-2019 11:02pm

You have tubes for lower profile rims?!

Weepsie · 08-10-2019 11:27pm

eeeee wrote: »

You have tubes for lower profile rims?!

My normal commuter wheels are 22/24 mm.

I let myself take the good bike and took an extended commute in. Poor thing is locked up at work overnight now

40 mm tube on the 35 mm rim just wouldn't cooperate. Had I the track pump to hand I mightve had a better grip on the valve so to speak. I try to always get 60 mm tubes

Puggy · 09-10-2019 12:31am

triggermortis wrote: »

I use this route on my commute and have never noticed this before, but then it's usually dark when I'm on this bit and I'd never dream of using that cycle path

It’s only two way between the airport roundabout and the pedestrian lights at the Coachmans, on the northbound side. Been like that since I started commuting 5 years ago. I’ve seen some people use it heading southbound going into the airport. I’ve never used it. On the southbound side there used to be a painted cycle lane that extended past the pedestrian lights to beyond where the AIB bank used to be. After some road works and resurfacing it was never repainted.

eeeee · 09-10-2019 6:48pm

Heading home this eve. Crossing the canal at Mount Street in the Rock Road direction. The traffic is pretty chaotic, there's an EX protest going on on Merrion Square.
The light is green to go straight on, the traffic coming the other way is going right as Mount street is closed to them. I proceed on, and an SUV promptly cuts me off. A tiny guard was standing in the middleish area, hands by his side, not directing anything) I had been through 3 garda cordons to this point, all guards pointing away, then I raise my hand and say 'Ah (something I can't remember, I didn't even swear!)'. Having spotted my mild protest, The tiny guard says I'm controlling the traffic at this junction'. I'm across the bridge just at this point, and then he shouts after me: 'Cyclists always think they know best'.

He only said anything because of my protest at the driver driving straight across me, hands by his side not even directing anything. He was well within his rights to tell me to stop, give out to me, (I had stopped, saw his standing there with hands by his sides and thought ok the lights are directing here (I've been frequently waved on by guards in the same position).

Anyway, What a fine attitude to cyclists and cycling from a guard. Very disappointing. I thought it was particularly apt given the nature of the protest underway just up the road from him.

Oberkon · 10-10-2019 12:40am

Sadly it’s not just police , we are regarded as parasites by what feels like the majority of people who don’t cycle in this country .

I live in swords and find it vile for cycling at times .
The alternative near me is to head around the backroads of naul and north county Dublin . The amount of **** that give punishment passes can take the goodness out of the relatively quiet roads . I’ve noticed it’s got worse too

Weepsie · 10-10-2019 8:36am

Brought a spare wheel in yesterday to get bike home. Brought in a front though rather than a rear!!! Then I went back through the tube I tried putting in the night before. It was fine. My pump just wasnt cooperating. Now armed with a better pump I had the bike back on the road, but had to cycle home carrying my spare wheel.

People think I'm mad for often having a spare bike at work, but it just makes sense now!

buffalo · 12-10-2019 10:30am

I am, as the title of the thread indicates, an old man. I like to think I'm not as grumpy as I used to be but... Anyway, my Saturday morning routine consists of cycling to the local park for a run, then cycling to the local shop to get the paper, and then cycling home. As I said, old man.

In a 7km journey, it never fails to surprise me how many drivers I can encounter who are complete dickheads. From the guy driving out of the park who gave plenty of room to the family walking on his side of the road, but drove straight at me so that I had to hit the brakes; to the driver who beeped at me - I guess because they were somehow struggling to overtake me on a two lane dual carriageway; to the little old lady in the passenger seat of the close passing car who rapped on the window to point at the cycle lane on the footpath. It obviously never crossed her mind that I was turning right in 100m, and there's no access from the path to the road at that point.

Anyway, it's a bright and sunny Saturday morning. **** that lot!

CramCycle · 12-10-2019 12:51pm

I imagine none of them stopped to explain in a calm and rational manner what their issues were? I think it is because deep down, they know they are in the wrong.

Weepsie · 14-10-2019 8:50am

Mobhi Road, I'm happily freewheeling down it while holding the lane to avoid all the many cracks, potholes etc. A car passes very close while making their way up the bus lane. Stopped up ahead told him he was too close, he at least apologised. Guy in the car in front of him said I should have "hi viz pal".

I wish I'd asked how he could see me, or where is one was, or how he thought it would have helped me had I been hit. My pannier are reflective, I had lights, my jacket has reflective stuff on it too. He must have had a past, traumatic experience in which he feels it's his place to pass remark on incidents he has not seen or been involved in.

Weepsie · 16-10-2019 10:17am

Cyclists on the Royal canal. 2 things. Pick a bloody side please when it allows, and if you are going to suddenly veer left or right for no apparent reason, do a life saver, check behind or something. Some indication so overtaking folk can reduce speed accordingly.

That's aimed at the eejit yesterday, whom as I was overtaking, veered into my path forcing me to brake hard. He didn't hear my shout due to his in ear earbuds. Later saw him mounting a path and snaking his way around a few pedestrians and then forcing his way into a lane with oncoming cyclists at 5 lamps

Breezer · 16-10-2019 7:14pm

Weepsie wrote: »

Mobhi Road, I'm happily freewheeling down it while holding the lane to avoid all the many cracks, potholes etc. A car passes very close while making their way up the bus lane. Stopped up ahead told him he was too close, he at least apologised. Guy in the car in front of him said I should have "hi viz pal".

I wish I'd asked how he could see me, or where is one was, or how he thought it would have helped me had I been hit. My pannier are reflective, I had lights, my jacket has reflective stuff on it too. He must have had a past, traumatic experience in which he feels it's his place to pass remark on incidents he has not seen or been involved in.

That road is a disgrace at the moment. Are they waiting for a decision on BusConnects before doing anything about it I wonder? Between the potholes, trees blocking the streetlights, and now the dark and the rain, I find I’m usually about three quarters of the way out into the bike/bus lane going down there.

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

Comments