General Cycling Discussion - What about other cyclists irritates you?

The other thread about what pisses you off got me to thinking. When you see other cyclists what irritates you. For me the most irritating thing to me is, when I see people ridign roadbikes with the handlebars upside down, also when I hear that squeaky chain.

I actually think upside down handlebars are cool, although I'd never do that to my bike.

The only thing that really pisses me off is the condescending attitude some of the elitist cyclists have. Other than that, I am all for cyclist of almost all types.

Elitist Fitness Weenies - Road and Mountain, that continuously look down their collective noses at anyone that has a body fat percentage above 8%...

Mountain Bikers that ride on the trail with their dogs...with absolutely no care for the dirty doggie droppings and/or the trail manners of the dog.

Riders that ride without a thought for:
1 - Etiquette
2 - Safety
3 - Trail Conservation
4 - Advocacy

Trail riders that won't invest an hour or two a YEAR back into the trail systems with a bit of maintenance and conservation.

Those aren't cyclists, those are guys that just ride a bike because they
a) can't afford a car, or
b) don't have a license
There is a difference between cyclists and bike riders.

I gotta vote for the squeaky chain thing... I went on a club ride a few weeks ago, and I ended up passing this guy.. probably mid 30's.. real nice bike.. I thnk it was a Trek OCLV (aren;t they all, in my neck of the woods ??) this thing sounded worse than my BMX Huffy I had when I was a kid, and never ever lubed the chain, and left it outside 24/7/365...

It irks me that someone could go and spend $1000's of dollars on a bike, and not have the decency to learn basic maintenance... the bike i'm riding now is a 10 year old Centurion 6 speed, and it runs pretty smooth for as old as it is !

Lube it, or Lose it my bruthas

Jeff

What irks me is seeing riders riding on the wrong side of the road.

Zack

i get annoyed with cyclists who seem to purposely come up to the stoplight and not look like they are stopping(if i am a pedestrian) and the ones who go through red lights thinking its ok.. no cars are coming.. no wonder the drivers get pd off.
and unfortunately i really dislike cyclists who do not say on your left.. remember not all of us have squeaky chains and if you're coming at quite a clip.. it's dangerous..
ok my rant is over :)

Originally posted by ZackJones
What irks me is seeing riders riding on the wrong side of the road.

Zack

Yeah I get a bunch of those too... I usually yell at them... not so much to piss them off, but to inform them... usually it's BMX kids I see....

And what is the deal with Runners.. always in the bike lane.. going against the flow of traffic ?? and they never want to get out of my way when I'm coming at them !!

ARRRGGGHHH !!!

This thread could go on forever !

Jeff

What about other cyclists irritates you?

Really nothing, except:

1) Riding against traffic.
2) Cutting diagonally across intersections.
2) Running stop lights/signs.
3) Riding on the sidewalk habitually.
4) Failure to yield right-of-way.
5) Forcing pedestrians to move out of the way.

6).....(riding faster than I.)

:beer:

Originally posted by Pete Clark
What about other cyclists irritates you?

Really nothing, except:

1) Riding against traffic.
2) Cutting diagonally across intersections.
2) Running stop lights/signs.
3) Riding on the sidewalk habitually.
4) Failure to yield right-of-way.
5) Forcing pedestrians to move out of the way.

6).....(riding faster than I.)

:beer: That pretty much wraps it up for me.:D

The little BMX brats riding on the sidewalk, the wrong way, and weaving into the bike lane when they jump off driveway curbs. Almost had one land on top of me the other day. Very tempted to pop em' upside the noodle with my pump, but I spent good money on that pump so...
At least he was wearing a helmet, which all 16yrs and under are required to do in Oregon.

Idiots on the sidewalk and on the wrong side of the road.

As you approach from the back and say "on your left" and they turn around and slide three widths to the left!.

Originally posted by pcsanity1
As you approach from the back and say "on your left" and they turn around and slide three widths to the left!.

Cyclist who buzz by you on a casual group ride without saying "on your left".

Wheel suckers who never want to pull.


Cyclist who can afford all the new expensive wiz bang gizmos, equipment, and bikes, which of course I can not. (In case you don't get it I'm joking about this one.)

Anyone who cycles in a discourteous and/or unsafe fashion hurts our cause. Wrong-way cyclists are particularly menacing, as are those who ride at night without lights.

What other cyclist?


The only ones here are a few old bike riders and some kids on bmx!:(

Oncoming cyclists who don't wave.

Originally posted by Pete Clark
What about other cyclists irritates you?

1) Riding against traffic.
2) Cutting diagonally across intersections.
2) Running stop lights/signs.
3) Riding on the sidewalk habitually.
4) Failure to yield right-of-way.
5) Forcing pedestrians to move out of the way.

To that list I can think of a couple I'd like to add.

6) Riding without lights at night
7) Tosspots who think they're better than everyone else because they've got a spanky bike.

Originally posted by danr
snipping
The only thing that really pisses me off is the condescending attitude some of the elitist cyclists have. Other than that, I am all for cyclist of almost all types.

Plus some of the elitist cycle-nazi attitude that all of us in cars are a danger but then they don't follow the rules of the road.

I think all cyclists are wonderful people..no one cheeses me orf at all..

OK, I agree lights at night, and stopping at traffic lights (at least when cars are around), are good ideas, and a wave from fellow roadies is nice.. about given up on MTB riders with that one..

I got into a bad mood yesterday when I was on the road with my $1,000 road bike with brand new Michelin Carbon Pro tires, and here some young, chubby little guy wearing cutoff jeans , an all white t-shirt and a football helmet riding a rusted, beat up $25 mountain bike with worn knobbies catches me and passes me like I was standing still. I tried to stay with him, but he was long gone. I guess the old auto racing slogan "Speed costs money -- how fast do you want to go?" doesn't hold up in road cycling. Youth will be served!

All the above.

Originally posted by trmcgeehan
I got into a bad mood yesterday when I was on the road with my $1,000 road bike with brand new Michelin Carbon Pro tires, and here some young, chubby little guy wearing cutoff jeans , an all white t-shirt and a football helmet riding a rusted, beat up $25 mountain bike with worn knobbies catches me and passes me like I was standing still. I tried to stay with him, but he was long gone. I guess the old auto racing slogan "Speed costs money -- how fast do you want to go?" doesn't hold up in road cycling. Youth will be served! I'm sorry but I have to say LOL like the time I was commuting home on my MTB with an 8kg school bag and dropped some roadies on a really steep climb.....hehe...although one of them musta been in his 60's...but the others? ha!

Brendon
:beer:

Lack of a wave when passing others. Snobbish roadies. MTB riders with wide bars who don't slow to pass on narrow paths (I think they are motorists with a bike)

Guys who wear full armour when commuting

Cyclists who don't ask if you are ok when they pass you fixing a mechanical problem.

Anyone who is not riding a Scottish bike j/k

Here's another one. Here in GA we have a state law that says anyone under 16 must wear a helmet when riding a bicycle. I hate it when I see:

- a kid riding a bike without one
- a kid or grown up for that matter wearing their helmet on the back of their heads like a baseball cap
- a kid riding his bike with his helmet strapped to the handlebars. Thanks goodnes the bars will be protected when he crashes :)

Normally if Donna and I are out riding and we come up to a kid who is wearing a helmet I always give them a little praise for doing so.

Zack

couples (usually) riding 2 abreast on a path who
refuse to yield to oncoming riders.
I'm getting pretty good at playing chicken.


Marty

What pisses me off about other cyclists: is when I go to an organized ride and other roadies look at me like I am out of my element because I am 5-8" and weigh 195#. YES, I do understand that is kind of heavy for my height but that is just the genetics I have been dealt. The funny thing is when I get suited up to ride & unload my decked out LEMOND their attitude changes a little! Here is the best part after I have outrode them they come over to me and are really friendly and want to shoot the breeze. My point is dont judge someone by what they look like because even though they dont look like a purebred cyclist they might be more of a cyclist than you think!

Originally posted by uciflylow
What other cyclist?


The only ones here are a few old bike riders and some kids on bmx!:(

Ditto!!!

Cyclists who startle me by saying "on your left". Just pass me safely and get it over with! Bad as a horn honk as far as I am concerned.

Cyclists who can afford the best gear and then ditz mine. I know maybe they don't realize that not everyone can afford a real racing machine, but some of us need to shop the bargains (and yes I know reynolds 520 is worse then 853 but it is much less expensive as well which is the real quality to me right now!).

There, now I am done whining. Time to get out and overlook other cyclists innocent weakness's and hope they do the same for me!

I'm all for families getting out for a ride. Except for the ones clogging up the trails, 300 lb'ers walking their $3000 bikes while dressed in undersized team uniforms, yelling at their children...and they're only out there because they saw someone on TV loading bikes into a Ford Excursion and heading for a resort.

1. oncoming cyclists who don't wave or nod, and I'm not talking about those who are so intent on their course that they simply didn't know you were heading their way, but talking about those who simply stare blankly right at you when you wave or nod, like "what are you waving?"
2. those who ride sidewalk on my campus w/ the pedestrians and when they think it suit them better, change over into street traffic and then switch back when there's red-light, back and forth, whatever suits them
3. those in > $1000 road bike and full pro kit, riding on sidewalk or round and round on campus.
4. a local bike shop's owner/workers who look at you like you shouldn't be in their hallowed shop because you don't look like a guy who rides $3000 bike and came into their store to spend 100's of dollars. I wouldn't give those people a dime.

Casual bike riders stress about the weight of their accessories. You know the type. "it ways 2.6 grams thats extra weight" geez if I was Lance and I was trying to when the jersey yeah I would worry about it. But what difference does it make if I get there at 3:01:09 instead of 3:01:06 I mean its only a fun ride anyway lighten up :rolleyes:

The thing that bugs me most....is all the way-cool places other people get to go riding. Hawaii, Yellowstone, Africa.... COME ON, YOU GUYS! TAKE ME WITH YOU! I CAN FIT IN THE TRUNK OR ON THE ROOF RACK OR SOMEWHERE!!!!!

Originally posted by chewa


Anyone who is not riding a Scottish bike j/k

So I take it, that you live by the motto.

"If it's not Scottish, it's crap !"

:D

Though I generally do say on your left when there are close confines or the person appears to be NOT paying attention, there is a correct way to do it.

We were talking after a club ride the other day about one of our members who BARK "ON YOUR LEFT" and people - even when he is at the back of the pace line.

Need to get him to sound nicer - we always have to be extra nice to the people we are overtaking - just so they dont think it is us!

That being said, I will not say on your left if the person looks like someone whou will NOT know what it means. (Casual neighborhood riders, kids, etc.) For those occasions I usually just offer out a friendly but loud hello as I approach.





Originally posted by Paul L.
Cyclists who startle me by saying "on your left". Just pass me safely and get it over with! Bad as a horn honk as far as I am concerned.

Cyclists who can afford the best gear and then ditz mine. I know maybe they don't realize that not everyone can afford a real racing machine, but some of us need to shop the bargains (and yes I know reynolds 520 is worse then 853 but it is much less expensive as well which is the real quality to me right now!).

There, now I am done whining. Time to get out and overlook other cyclists innocent weakness's and hope they do the same for me!

What torques me is the guys who complain about the trail conditions when they've never spent 2 minutes of their life to help improve them. AND even moreso the jerks who complain after I and others have spent hours just making them ridable period.

Originally posted by montlake_mtbkr
What torques me is the guys who complain about the trail conditions when they've never spent 2 minutes of their life to help improve them. AND even moreso the jerks who complain after I and others have spent hours just making them ridable period. Me to.:( :)

Originally posted by Kev
The other thread about what pisses you off got me to thinking. When you see other cyclists what irritates you. For me the most irritating thing to me is, when I see people ridign roadbikes with the handlebars upside down, also when I hear that squeaky chain.

Squeaks...I had a guy pass me (going the other way) his bb, chain, rear hub and probably front hub ALL had squeeks...it was so loud I could hear it through my headphones :D...

People who ride with headphones ;)

One of my peeves is "hippie menaces", as I refer to them, the ancient hippies on ancient ratty bikes who refuse to acknowledge things like traffic directions, pedestrians, stop signs, etc. Fine, endanger your own life but not mine.

As for cyclists, as opposed to people on bikes, one of my peeves was mentioned. The ones who spend shmillions on their bikes and don't even bother to take care of them, with squeaky chains, brakes, etc.

ANother peeve: idiots who don't let you know they're coming up behind you and then zoom out of nowhere. That applies not just to roadies, but it peeves me more when they do it because they really should know better.

1: Riders who don't wave.
2: Experienced riders who only help those in thier little clique.
3: Riders who pass another with a flat and don't even ask if they have everything.
4: Wheel-suckers who won't take thier turn at pulling.

Cycling is such a wonderful sport, why not have some fun, and help others??

Cyclists riding two-abreast in bike lanes, with one out of the lane in traffic. Background: Advocates fought long and hard to get bike lanes on otherwise virtually uncommutable roads. I can just hear the guy riding outside the lane complaining about what @ssholes the drivers are. Sometimes, we're our own worst enemies. :rolleyes:

i was in a crowded pub.. and really needed to get to the ladies room... the line up just walking to the stairway was so thick.. i forgot where i was and yelled "on your left!" as i passed . :)

it really does work :beer:

Other cyclists who wear underwear under their padded bike shorts really irritate me. They also irritate themselves.

I can't believe no one mentioned the scourge of the road--the half-wheeler. You know, the riding partner who insists on riding a half a wheel ahead of you when riding two-abreast (on deserted roads, of course). This causes you to speed up which causes him to speed up and so on. It's really kind of annoying. Maynard Hershon named a book after the half-wheeler called "Half Wheel Hell". Funny book. Gino

Lawbreakers!!

Why don't you just kill any desire for peaceful coexistence among motorists?!

Originally posted by Paul L.
Cyclists who startle me by saying "on your left". Just pass me safely and get it over with! Bad as a horn honk as far as I am concerned.


Now I'm confused.... are we supposed to warn "on your left" or not?!?!

Originally posted by chewa
Guys who wear full armour when commuting


Because presumably there's less chance of crashing while commuting, is that what you're saying?

I must remember to ditch the helmet, back protector, leather jacket, armoured jeans, armoured gloves, protective boots next time I do a short trip on the motorbike. :rolleyes:



<edited for clarity.>

nothing, absolutely nothing pisses me off, I just mind my own bussiness, and i will eventually live longer

I have so many problem of my own to think about other's way of cycling, I just go out and ride my bike be it in a large cycling group, although I follow group ride ettiquette, that's about it, I see to it I don't step on anybodies toes, and everybody would be a happy camper.....