Cyclists - what irritates you most about other cyclists?

DizzyMum_2

As a cyclist and driver and wife and mother to other cyclists things I don't like about other cyclists


- Ninja cyclists
- the ones that can't be bothered with a hello
- cyclists that assume they own the road - wobble all over, move out without a behind look or indication and then get all indignant
- cyclists that run red lights
- cyclists that terrify the life out of me by coming up behind me shouting 'Helmet' very loudly whilst they whizz past at great speed. I was on my touring bike doing about 8mph on a really quiet road. Depending on what I'm doing I wear a helmet. I'm of the brigade that thinks it's self and road awareness that is going to keep me safer than a helmet. That's not to say that helmets don't have their place and if you're happier in one fine - it's all about confidence.

I'm sure I could go on ...

skivenov

reddleman wrote: »

One of the things that irritates me sometimes, is the snobbery of some cyclists when they see me out on my 'allotment' bike complete with wicker basket on the back, and wearing wellies. One of them once remarked, 'You ride well for someone with a basket on' after I pursued him for four miles with a smile on my face after he'd overtaken me with a smirk. He shouldn't assumed that I was some old duffer, not an ex time-trialist!

Reminds me of one of the lycra warriors sneering a me on my bike, it's mostly a racer that I cobbled together from leftovers when I was 16 and rattle canned silver, since then it's gained a few rust patches.

What he didn't realise is, what it lacks in tidiness, it makes up for in lightness and having a good set of gears on.5 minutes later halfway up a nice steep hill I passed him like he was standing still.

Macca83_2

Dave_C wrote: »

It seems that you are a motorist. If so you are posting in the wrong board in the wrong thread. The place for irrational hatred of cyclists is on the motoring board in this thread.

Dave

Whoops. I didn't realise that owning a car excludes you from riding a bike. My apologies.

art_for_arts_sake

Dave_C wrote: »

It seems that you are a motorist. If so you are posting in the wrong board in the wrong thread. The place for irrational hatred of cyclists is on the motoring board in this thread.

Dave

Macca83 wrote: »

Whoops. I didn't realise that owning a car excludes you from riding a bike. My apologies.

The clue's in the title of the thread - Cyclists - what irritates you most about other cyclists.

Drivers are welcome to comment, if it's their experiences on a bike, otherwise, as I requested in my original post "unless you also cycle, go and moan on your own forum, pretty please."

Crabman

I've moved two posts to the thread on the Motoring board, please try to keep this on-topic.

dawny10

People cycling in a way that just feeds the prejudices of motorists - red light jumping, hoping on and off the pavement when pedestrians are around, no lights etc
Saw a guy the the other day at dusk who had carrier bags on both handlebars, no lights and had only one hand on the handlebars as the other was holding his mobile phone on which he appeared to be texting. To be fair actually quite an impressive feat!

Seen some 'proper' cyclists all lycra'd up with headphones on, seems madness to me. I'd love to have some music but I'd not be here now if I hadnt heard the bus that was about to run me down so I could dive out the way. But their choice, same as with helmets.

Getting overtaken by a mountain bike when I'm on my road bike!

shesub

My cycling experience has been wonderful and hassle free. I had huge worry/anxiety, before I began; I cycled on pavements in hiviz.

Having cycled a commuter route in London for two months, I have no complaints. I guess, having read your comments, that I can attribute it to: wearing lights, checking over my right shoulder and then indicating, getting in the correct lane at roundabouts, always indicating, never running a red light, and being fortunate enough to share the road with considerate motorists.


I can understand why cautious cyclists use the pavement. I myself used the pavement wilfuly before I got comfortable with roads.

I'm surprised BUSES arn't a pet hate.
The cars are lovely. The taxis are fine. The buses, obviously are a hazard, with how much they brake.

I never overtake a bus on the left. I check indicators and only overtake on the right if it's safe. But buses often pull out into the right as/before they indicate. Oh, and sometimes, they honk at me for cycling too slowly in our lane! Which is understandable, as they've got a scheduled timetable. This is my pet peeve.

liz545

I cycle in London, and while I don't tend to feel endangered by other cyclists in the same way as by drivers, I do regularly get irritated by the way some people cycle. Around this time of year you tend to notice people who haven't got any lights, or think that a hi-vis jacket will do the job instead (it doesn't). People who jump red lights/cycle on the pavement just breed resentment from everyone else, and I worry when people change lanes/indicate without shoulder checking but the biggest one that gets me is undertaking.

Don't cycle up the gutter on my inside if I'm sat at a junction. There's a reason I've left a gap between me and the kerb - it's because I don't want cars to overtake me until I'm through the junction. If you're fast enough to pass me, pass on the right, like any other road user. Don't undertake a queue of left-turning traffic, and don't filter on the inside lane if you can't guarantee you'll get to the ASL in time to safely complete the movement. Take some cycle training - it's free, and it'll vastly improve your roadcraft. I don't want to watch you die.

redboy1

[QUOTE=
I'm not anti-helmet, but choose to wear one only in bad weather, and only recently gave up motorcycling after being cut up once too often, this time by a speeding lorry driver, so I know how some things can dent your confidence, but the sight of a middle-aged man in hi-vis and helmet riding on the pavement made my blood boil.

It was the combination of the three things that particularly got my goat, but it was hard to restrain myself from telling him to man up and cycle on the road or get off and walk.

It's a close call but I have slightly more respect for the Ninja cyclist (no lights, dressed in black) that cut across my path while I was out cycling.
.[/QUOTE]

I don't really understand why your blood boils because you saw a cyclist with hvis and helmet on the pavement, also you have more respect for the ninja cyclist :huh: . I wear hivis and sometimes a helmet on paths but mainly I'm on the road or cycle paths.
If it makes him feel safer then so be it, maybe he could say to you Man up and get back on your motorbike.

Anyhou, one of my bugbares is when there are about 2 or 3 cyclists who think there in the tour de France and just take the whole road up and not even pulling in when there are cars trying to get past. Just no need and does the motorists heads in even more.

Also roadies who pass me and don't acknowledge or look dswn there noses at me because I'm on an MTB.

Stargirl1

I've seen parents with their kids on the little seats on the back of the bikes before - parents wearing helmets, kids not. That drives me mad!