General Cycling Discussion - Rider stopped by police on charity ride

Read with some amount of disgust:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_yorkshire/5197792.stm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2006/07/24/jane_tomlinson_usa_week3_feature.shtml
(see Day 19)

Now I'm not unaware of spins played by the media, but one does wonder what the full story was of the police officer. The truck driver? He must really be one unhappy fellow and miserable in life.

Fortunately it sounds like Jane Tomlinson had a more positive incident with the police later on. Jane sounds like a remarkable person to me.

Who knows. The description of a trucker moving to the middle of the road to intentionally pelt the riders with chips and stones could also be interpreted as the trucker moving to the middle of the road to pass the riders with a safe cushion of space. Hard to tell. The police officer sounds like a jerk in the story, but it's hard to tell. Maybe there's some sort of regulation in that area requiring cyclists to ride on the shoulder.

The person who threw a soda bottle at the riders is just a jerk. No room for interpretation there.

You think the rural parts of the United States are bad? Just try to pedal through most of the large urban centers of Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. You might get actually shot!

That is the sad testament to a still extremely beautiful country with nice people mixed in everywhere. The few "bad apples" spoil the whole lot.

Sounds like a bunch of whining to me, probably to get attention for the cause. How can a truck "deliberately" spray road chippings? Sounds more like a truck passing a bunch of slow bikes. And a single cop being a jerk, wow that is rare....

Considering she is riding across the entire country for over 4,000 miles, it is only common sense that she would meet up with some jerks. Big deal.

I understand the immense challenge of riding that distance while sick, but spending the entire time singing whoa is me, really detracts from it.

There are lots of people who are offended by people on bikes.

I understand the immense challenge of riding that distance while sick, but spending the entire time singing whoa is me, really detracts from it.

Did you read the enitre blog, or just that one single day's entry? I found just the opposite to be true.

The cop might have actually been looking out for their own safety as much of Colorado is mountainous winding roads. The fact he followed them for 90 minutes supports that theory.

Can't blame the riders for not wanting to get near the edge though. It's a long way down. :)

I've ridden in fresh chip-seal before, and I can attest that you get 'sprayed' with stones whenever a car goes by. It's not the car's (truck's) fault, it's more like splashing through a puddle that goes on for miles.

The policeman obviously didn't understand vehicular law: driving on the shoulder is illegal, even though it seems to be tolerated in the case of bicycles only because it makes things easier for motorists. I've found the best way to handle a dumb cop is to go along with him - until he's gone.

Sounds like a bunch of whining to me, probably to get attention for the cause. How can a truck "deliberately" spray road chippings? Sounds more like a truck passing a bunch of slow bikes. And a single cop being a jerk, wow that is rare....

Considering she is riding across the entire country for over 4,000 miles, it is only common sense that she would meet up with some jerks. Big deal.

I understand the immense challenge of riding that distance while sick, but spending the entire time singing whoa is me, really detracts from it.

Let's see - she's got terminal cancer, has run marathons, done an Ironman, ridden from Rome to Leeds and is now riding 4k miles across the US and has raised £1.25m for cancer charities.

And you think she's whining!

Puhlease

Earlier this month in Portland,Or

Starting at 9 PM, 2000 cyclists with HELMETS, LITES and following courteous rules of the road/area pedaled about 15 miles around the city,some in costumes some with very small children riding their own bikes,all having a fine time. All obeyed traffic lites,busses cars truks gave room and no cyclist was injured, not a single police officer noticed, group patrolled and policed itself, neighbors we passed waved and clapped and cheered

I rather think the trans cont, rider was commenting not whinning

The reward, a great ride in the moonlite, and donnuts at the end