San Rensho 

I have two, both of which have to do with the very basic concept that in a peleton, the guy in front ALWAYS has the right of way (assuming he's riding at group pace)

In a big group, say 30+, where it will get bunched up to where people will sometimes be riding 2 to 5 abreast, why does someone in back of me that wants to move up say very aggressively"On your left" or "on your right?" They think that by saying on your left or right that I have to move over for them? I don't think so. If the person wants to move up, all they have to do is show me a wheel, I won't move over on them, or if they really have to get through, just push me on the hip a little. I'll give them room. But when you're in back of someone, you just go if you can get by, if not, you have to wait. Its like calling "inside" during a race.

The other pet peeve is the guy in front of me who is always looking back before he moves over. He stops pedalling and therefore slows down, swivels his head around which makes him squirrel around on the road, making himself a hazard to those in back of him instead of looking out for them. Again, he doesn't understand the concept that he has the right of way and he can go wherever he wants.

Whats your peleton pet peeve?

bdcheung

People who blow snot rockets in the middle of the pack.

People who toss their garbage on the road instead of tucking it in their jersey pocket.

People who bark orders.

EventServices

I assume you're talking about a training ride? Because if you touch my hip during a race, I'm probably not going to move over. But I'll thank you for letting me know you're there.


The guy who is always late to see that the speed is slowing, so he's all over the brakes.

The guy camped out on the yellow line yelling "car back!".

The guy who yells "car back!" when the car is .5 miles behind us.

The guy who yells "braking!"

The guy who shouts, "did you see the knockers on that one??" not realizing how well voices carry to someone on the sidewalk.

NomadVW 

Depending on how quickly I'm coming up on someone's side, I might say in normal voice "watch your left" (or right) if he starts sliding and we're on the edge of the road. Getting pinched tactically is one thing, but it's no different imo than tapping his hip to let him know I'm there.

My only real pet peeve is people who don't know how to shift gears, head to the front of the pack before a climb, and then proceed to wreak havoc on the pelOton as they drop chain and go backwards through the middle.

YMCA

Not spelling "peloton" right.

pegleg

I call on your left/right, not because I expect a rider to get out of my way, but because I don't want them to move into the same open space that I'm going to. And I do it when I believe that I am not yet into their field of peripheral vision. And since there are riders that seem to have a disdain for checking over their shoulder or signaling that they are about to change their line, I'll continue to be vocal.

bdcheung

I stopped saying "on your left" because I encountered too many people who would turn their heads and subsequently drift into me.

Now I just put a hand on a hip.

queerpunk

man, i consider snot rockets just part of the game.

nitropowered

well they could just plug up that hole and you'd be screwed. In a race if anyone says "on your left/right" I move in that direction so they can't move up there.

pegleg

Fair enough...I was thinking training rides when I responded. In actual races...okay who am I trying to kid, even most training rides...the pack is usually so far ahead of me, I don't have to worry about this.

timmhaan

i hate when people ride without their hands on the bars... in the middle of the pack.

San Rensho 

If you believe this, then you haven't learned the first rule of riding in a pack, which is:The guy in front of you always has the right of way, he can do whatever he wants and its up to you to protect your front wheel. The guy in front DOES NOT have to look back or signal when he is moving over. You have to make sure he doesn't hit you.

RE guys that do look back or signal when they move over, see pet peeve 2, above.

pegleg

That's nice...if vocalizing my moves annoys some riders and I can avoid crossing wheels and being part of a pile up, I'll take that as a win-win.

San Rensho 

Two more pet peeves.

One, the guy that has to swerve halfway across the road to avoid the slightest imperfection in the road. If theres a big pothole or something lying on the road, fine, move to avoid it, but little bumps won't hurt anyones precious wheels.

And finally, guys that start threads about pet peeves. Do you think anyone cares about your petty resentments?

Pedaleur

People who slow down for the cobbles.

Creakyknees

Heh... that's me. Chicks dig me, what can I say.

vladav

My pet peeve is using an poorly formed sentence to point out a spelling error.

YMCA

Correct I was not.

Spreggy

Here's mine: people who don't pedal down hill on the front. Instead they stick their ass up in the air, apparently for us to bounce off of.

go do it

mine is when i get lapped and someone says "good job"

hollow

In a paceline when the first person pulls off and the next one immediately picks up the pace several mph.

ilpirata87

Even worse is that triathlon dude in the paceline who pulls off the front but still keeps going at 32 mph, just 3 feet to the left. Dude you have to frickin slow down a tiny bit so I can get past you!

bikeride

When someone starts barking orders. And you have no idea who he is.

Creakyknees

In the Tuesday nighters, the dude that is wearing really strong cologne.

I mean, WTF... if I can smell you from 5 guys back... were you stinking up your office like that all day? Think how strong it must be, since he put on the cologne in the morning, has had all day for it to fade, and he changed clothes into racing kit, and he STILL makes my eyes water.

waterrockets 

There's really not too much that bothers me in a pack. I can get around all of it as needed.