Darling, because I have a life!

Cool.

But why have you dedicated it to searching last year's BF archives and adding inane comments?

Wow...that was...what was that? Bravo for further proving the validity of my first response!

Chipmonk, you really do take the biscuit don't you. All you do is make snide comments. You never post any worthwhile comments or opinions.

obviously, you haven't a clue. :

That's ironic coming from a Yankee Doodle Dandy vehicular cyclist.

Cool.

But why have you dedicated it to searching last year's BF archives and adding inane comments?

It took me 20 seconds to do a search on wa***rs...... and out you popped. No dedication required.

obviously, you haven't a clue. Although it sounds like the john forestor approved 'childish cycling' method of riding off to the side of narrow lanes of traffic seems quite popular in Great Britain. :roflmao:

If you ride like you do in the US in GB then I can assure you wouldn't be riding for long. You really do not have a clue

If you ride like you do in the US in GB then I can assure you wouldn't be riding for long.

Please explain what makes Great Britain traffic so special. According to some posters from the same area as me, I can't ride like I do either. I'm still waiting for them to offer some good reason so maybe you'll answer the question for them.

Chipmonk, you really do take the biscuit don't you. All you do is make snide comments. You never post any worthwhile comments or opinions.

Wrong again, strike three, thanks for playing. You really should attempt to read AND understand that quote in your sig. In the meantime, enjoy your sidewalk riding...we appreciate you not getting in our way.

It took me 20 seconds to do a search on wa***rs...... and out you popped.

Wow, PWNED.

Good times.

"ANY 'SO-CALLED' VEHICULAR CYCLIST THAT THINKS IT'S OK TO, AS YOU PEOPLE SO STUPIDLY SAY, 'TAKE THE LANE'

This pi$$es off all other road users so much that much that us 'NORMAL' cyclists get tarred with the same brush as you and 'cop it', so to speak.

Like you, I too am a fan of irony. Keep up the good work.

How do you really feel about 'so-called vehicular cyclists'?

Chipmonk, you really do take the biscuit don't you. All you do is make snide comments. You never post any worthwhile comments or opinions.

Hey! No Fair! That clichéd insult has been reserved for Me by a select band of BF Group Thinkers who use it whenever my comments question their Conventional Wisdom/Competent Expert Opinion.

Dream up a new ignorant simple minded insult for my pal Chip. Surely it won't be hard for you.

Hey! No Fair! That clichéd insult has been reserved for Me by a select band of BF Group Thinkers who use it whenever my comments question their Conventional Wisdom/Competent Expert Opinion.

Dream up a new ignorant simple minded insult for my pal Chip. Surely it won't be hard for you.
:D

It's all good. ;)

Hey! No Fair! That clichéd insult has been reserved for Me by a select band of BF Group Thinkers who use it whenever my comments question their Conventional Wisdom/Competent Expert Opinion.

Dream up a new ignorant simple minded insult for my pal Chip. Surely it won't be hard for you.

:lol:

Now this is why I read BF! Brilliant.

I think each of us should have our own clich́ed insult- it would save so much time having to be creative with new ones each time.;)

I think each of us should have our own clich́ed insult- it would save so much time having to be creative with new ones each time.;)

I thought that policy was already in use.

I thought that policy was already in use.

Some posters must have been on Ignore Mode when the memo was distributed.

:lol:

Now this is why I read BF! Brilliant.

I think each of us should have our own clich́ed insult- it would save so much time having to be creative with new ones each time.;)

Oh, oh...you went and reminded me of a bad joke.

Guy gets tossed into a prison...real nasty place, more like a dungeon. As he's sitting there mulling his predicament, another prisoner suddenly hollers "FOURTEEN!", followed by laughter from the rest of the prisoners. A moment later another prisoner hollers "FIFTY SIX" and the place goes wild with laughter.

Confused, the guy nudges the prisoner chained next to him. "What gives?" he asks. The other prisoner explains "In here, the same jokes are told so many times and everybody knows them by heart, so we decided to just give them numbers and save ourselves the effort of repeating them over and over. Go ahead, try one."

The guy thanks the other prisoner for the insight, then hollers out "FORTY SEVEN!" Dead silence.
He tries again, "TWENTY FOUR!" Again, silence.

He turns to the other prisoner and asks "How come nobody is laughing?"

"Some people can tell jokes, some people can't"

:p

Oh, oh...you went and reminded me of a bad joke.

Guy gets tossed into a prison...real nasty place, more like a dungeon. As he's sitting there mulling his predicament, another prisoner suddenly hollers "FOURTEEN!", followed by laughter from the rest of the prisoners. A moment later another prisoner hollers "FIFTY SIX" and the place goes wild with laughter.

Confused, the guy nudges the prisoner chained next to him. "What gives?" he asks. The other prisoner explains "In here, the same jokes are told so many times and everybody knows them by heart, so we decided to just give them numbers and save ourselves the effort of repeating them over and over. Go ahead, try one."

The guy thanks the other prisoner for the insight, then hollers out "FORTY SEVEN!" Dead silence.
He tries again, "TWENTY FOUR!" Again, silence.

He turns to the other prisoner and asks "How come nobody is laughing?"

"Some people can tell jokes, some people can't"

:p


:roflmao:


SIXTY NINE! (I hope I don't get booted for that one!):p

I thought I did a "do Not Resusitate" on this thread! it lives! it lives!

Wrong again, strike three, thanks for playing. You really should attempt to read AND understand that quote in your sig. In the meantime, enjoy your sidewalk riding...we appreciate you not getting in our way.

:lol:

That is quite good Chip.

:D

It's all good. ;)

Did I do that? :D Oh well, no worries! ;)

Please explain what makes Great Britain traffic so special. According to some posters from the same area as me, I can't ride like I do either. I'm still waiting for them to offer some good reason so maybe you'll answer the question for them.

All this VC crap and taking the lane really is a load of bo$$ocks. All you need to be is polite on the roads. You cycle as near to the kerb as is reasonably possible thus allowing faster moving traffic to overtake. All this rubbish about parked vehicles opening their doors is pathetic. You could just as easily get struck by lightening or come across a muslim suicide bomber.

I've never heard so much crap. Thank the Lord you have none of your missionary's over here.

All you need to be is polite on the roads. You cycle as near to the kerb as is reasonably possible thus allowing faster moving traffic to overtake.

In a world where traffic only goes straight, sightlines to pass are always good, or lanes are always wide enough to share, I totally agree.

You still didn't answer the question though :)

All this VC crap and taking the lane really is a load of bo$$ocks. All you need to be is polite on the roads. You cycle as near to the kerb as is reasonably possible thus allowing faster moving traffic to overtake. All this rubbish about parked vehicles opening their doors is pathetic. You could just as easily get struck by lightening or come across a muslim suicide bomber.

I've never heard so much crap. Thank the Lord you have none of your missionary's over here.


Man, if that's the case, I must be riding around with a lightening rod or living in Bagdad, especially when I was almost doored a few of weeks ago, and lucky I was just far enough out in the road to take evasive action in time.

So I'm riding through a neighborhood of winding lanes...two cars wide. I'm chasing another cyclist for a little sprint time and have not quite caught up when I see a lawn care trailer blocking the oncoming lane. There's also a car coming toward the trailer from the opposite direction. The biker ahead of me chooses to challenge the car for the right of way. When the car proceeds, as he is also proceeding, he reaches out and slaps the car's mirror as it passes by.
In my cowardly way, I've stopped to let the car pass before going through.
I catch up to the rider who is now squeezing his hand in pain. May have broken a finger or two when he slapped the mirror. I didn't stop to check so he wouldn't see me chuckling at his behavior.
One of us is incompetent, to some degree, but I'm not sure which?:D

One of us is incompetent, to some degree

Why?

Why?

Why what?

An Incompetent Cyclist is one who refuses to obey the traffic rules. They make it hard on the rest of us.

Ga. has some traffic rules that are specific for bicycles. They will ticket you if you break them.

An Incompetent Cyclist is one who refuses to obey the traffic rules. They make it hard on the rest of us.

Ga. has some traffic rules that are specific for bicycles. They will ticket you if you break them.

You've entered some dangerous territory. Rules are negotiable for many who post on this forum. Good Luck.

:beer:

An Incompetent Cyclist is one who refuses to obey the traffic rules. They make it hard on the rest of us.

Ga. has some traffic rules that are specific for bicycles. They will ticket you if you break them.

Well if that is the case, then here is a whole thread about incompetent cyclists: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=387260

An incompetent cyclist is one who rides on sidewalks, rides at night without lights, runs redlights or rides against traffic. Riding a bike in poor mechanical shape or riding with hands full of coffees or shopping bags is also a sign of an incompetent cyclist.

My definition of competency is a cyclist who behaves predictably, yields or takes the right of way according to the difined rules of traffic, and who does not switch back and forth between sidewalks and street, and rides observently and defensively....

But thats just me.

An incompetent cyclist is one who rides on sidewalks, rides at night without lights, runs redlights or rides against traffic. Riding a bike in poor mechanical shape or riding with hands full of coffees or shopping bags is also a sign of an incompetent cyclist.

Plenty of competent cyclists ride on sidewalks from time to time. The mark of a competent cyclist isn't blindly following some goofy dogma, the mark of a competent cyclist is one who is smart enough to adapt to the conditions at hand and utilize the unique attributes of the bike to get from point A to point B in the safest possible manner.

An incompetent cyclist is one who rides on sidewalks, rides at night without lights, runs redlights or rides against traffic. Riding a bike in poor mechanical shape or riding with hands full of coffees or shopping bags is also a sign of an incompetent cyclist.

This from the guy who thinks you're not a "real" cyclist unless you wear a helmet.

I am the very model of a modern competent cyclist. Until I hit an ice patch, slide on my butt through the slush, and become the picture of an incontinent cyclist.

Plenty of competent cyclists ride on sidewalks from time to time. The mark of a competent cyclist isn't blindly following some goofy dogma, the mark of a competent cyclist is one who is smart enough to adapt to the conditions at hand and utilize the unique attributes of the bike to get from point A to point B in the safest possible manner.

Good definition!

:beer:

one of the marks of a competant cyclist is the ability to recognize they are NOT 'driving' their bicycles and their bikes are most emphatically NOT a motorized vehicle, and has different operating characteristics that lend itself to a proto-vehicular mode of operation.

one of the marks of a competant cyclist is coming to realize your fallibility, the fallibility of other road users, and your relative invisibility REGARDLESS of road position.

one of the marks of a competant cyclist is the ability to recognize they are NOT 'driving' their bicycles and their bikes are most emphatically NOT a motorized vehicle, and has different operating characteristics that lend itself to a proto-vehicular mode of operation.

one of the marks of a competant cyclist is coming to realize your fallibility, the fallibility of other road users, and your relative invisibility REGARDLESS of road position.

What is proto-vehicular and how does what you're saying define competence? I completely agree that a cyclist remember they're on a little piece of metal, rubber and plastic without a motor. But don't you still have to figure out how to safely share the road space?

:)

i use 'proto-vehicular' to describe vehicle use prior to the internal combustion engine.

the term 'vehicular' has morphed to become loaded with the characteristics of MOTORIZED travel despite vehicles having no motors for the vast majority of human's use of vehicles.

in my description 'proto-vehicular' just harkens back to the days before motorized transport.
Recognizing bicycling is NOT on equal footing with motorized traffic is one of the marks of a competant bicyclist- like chip and others have said, recognizing when non-vehicular operation is more prudent and safe than strict 'vehicular' interpretation on how to ride a bike.

i use 'proto-vehicular' to describe vehicle use prior to the internal combustion engine.

the term 'vehicular' has morphed to become loaded with the characteristics of MOTORIZED travel despite vehicles having no motors for the vast majority of human's use of vehicles.

in my description 'proto-vehicular' just harkens back to the days before motorized transport.
Recognizing bicycling is NOT on equal footing with motorized traffic is one of the marks of a competant bicyclist- like chip and others have said, recognizing when non-vehicular operation is more prudent and safe than strict 'vehicular' interpretation on how to ride a bike.

Thanks! Do you think it's too late to get rid of motorized vehicles and keep the roads? :D

Just kidding, although it would be wonderful. Seems like I agree with the majority of your posts.

:beer:

I'm on vacation, sorry for the slow response.

I've outlined below what I consider the marks of a competent cyclist ( you think forestors' test is hard????)

1) ability to ride dirt trails on a road bike

2)ability to hold a straight line with your eyes closed

3)ability to ride no handed while
--- a)holding a cup of coffee
--- b)changing lanes
--- c)turning a corner
--- d)turning a corner uphill

4) the ability to execute skid turns on ice and slick surfaces

5)sidehilling wet grass with road slicks

6) parallel curbjumps

any less and I'm going to consider you incompetant ;)

I'm on vacation, sorry for the slow response.

I've outlined below what I consider the marks of a competent cyclist ( you think forestors' test is hard????)

1) ability to ride dirt trails on a road bike

2)ability to hold a straight line with your eyes closed

3)ability to ride no handed while
--- a)holding a cup of coffee
--- b)changing lanes
--- c)turning a corner
--- d)turning a corner uphill

4) the ability to execute skid turns on ice and slick surfaces

5)sidehilling wet grass with road slicks

6) parallel curbjumps

any less and I'm going to consider you incompetant ;)

Be careful, you're in grave danger of going off topic.

But to add to the easy things you mention (do 'em almost daily)...

1. Climb slickrock in the rain on a roadie with a polypropelene chain, only aero bars and solid rubber tires.

2. Ride behind a hog truck on a dirt road without a mask while eating an energy bar.

3. Repair a flat without getting off the bike.

4. Do a 7 mile, 7% grade uphill with only one leg clipped in.

5. Find something by JF you can agree with.

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

come on! I only suck GU while behind hog trucks!

in all seriousness, my metrics for 'competant' cycling are bonifide assessments I use on guys from the bike shop.

Also, the ability to let go of the handlebars while doing 40 on a loaded touring bike.

john, helmet head, nun- if you cannot do all of these things - INCOMPETANCY! ;)

I'm on vacation, sorry for the slow response.

I've outlined below what I consider the marks of a competent cyclist ( you think forestors' test is hard????)

1) ability to ride dirt trails on a road bike

2)ability to hold a straight line with your eyes closed

3)ability to ride no handed while
--- a)holding a cup of coffee
--- b)changing lanes
--- c)turning a corner
--- d)turning a corner uphill

4) the ability to execute skid turns on ice and slick surfaces

5)sidehilling wet grass with road slicks

6) parallel curbjumps

any less and I'm going to consider you incompetant ;)

I'll play Bek's game for entertainment

1. Maybe. I can ride my cyclocross bike on trails - but it has knobby 32c tires. My 25c road tires would not survive much past the first 100yards of trail. So I don't see how this is a cyclist skill vs. equipment. Of course I can ride my road bike with 25c tires on hard packed dirt roads with minimal rocks, but that is hardly different than pavement.

2. For how long? A foot, a mile? So again the answer is maybe/depends

3a. Don't drink coffee or other open topped containers while on the bike. Could I hold a cup of liquid with liquid say 1/2" from rim while riding without spilling, I'd bet I could, but its not a skill I find practical.
3b-c - Depends on the equipment. Some bikes I own I can ride no handed and turn with wide radius, etc. no problem. Other bikes become far more uncontrollable no handed.

4. Can do, but never do. No ice here, but on dirt trails on cyclocross I can. I don't on wet roads with traffic.

5. I never ride across wet grassy hills. I've seen some top class cyclocross cyclist struggle with this skill on some race courses, but of course pushing race pace.

6. Again I can do this easy on some bikes, I can't on my fixed gear, so again equipment affects level of skill required.

Al

come on! I only suck GU while behind hog trucks!

in all seriousness, my metrics for 'competant' cycling are bonifide assessments I use on guys from the bike shop.

Also, the ability to let go of the handlebars while doing 40 on a loaded touring bike.

john, helmet head, nun- if you cannot do all of these things - INCOMPETANCY! ;)

Okay, so I don't do 'em every day.

1. As a kid, rode dirt trail all the time on a medium tire single speed. MTB's didn't exist.

2. Yes, eyes closed and no handed.

3. Same as noisebeam.

4. Again, as a kid, rode in all conditions and did. Nowadays, snow and ice put me on the trainer.

5. Lots of speed to get up a short embankment- momentum and balance but didn't always make it.

6. Same as noisebeam.

Depends on how the bike is loaded. Low CG and perfect side to side, okay. Otherwise, I anticipate road rash.

I guess I'll just hang my head and pout. Can't qualify for VC and can't qualify for competent.

:(

yeah, if you can't ride dugast tubulars on rocks you are incompetant, noisebeam :rolleyes:

you fail one of my metrics asserting 25c tires don't or won't work on rough trails. Not that it's the best choice of equipment for the task, but a competant bicyclist should be able to ride gravel, dirt, rocks etc on 25c tires.

my opinion. but I like my metrics better than 'ankling' and 'too slow uphills' :roflmao:

you fail one of my metrics asserting 25c tires don't or won't work on rough trails. Not that it's the best choice of equipment for the task, but a competant bicyclist should be able to ride gravel, dirt, rocks etc on 25c tires.

Maybe out definition of rough is different. The trails I think of are desert southwest mountain bike singletrack, trails on which skilled mtber on full sus bikes blow tires. I manage carefully on 32c tires by unweighting over sharp ledges, etc. as best I can, but there are times when the only route options are thick with 4-12" sharp rocks, just something one can not manage with 25c tires without ripping a sidewall or cutting the tread, let alone a pinch flat. I know I've tried - there is only so much unweighting one can do before one levitates.

Dirt 4wD roads are different. The tire tracks are generally clear enough of large rocks to make them great for high speed riding with any tire, although I still prefer 32c knobbies over 25c slicks.

Anyway a trail with just dirt and gravel (no fields of rocks) would be a very well maintained one and probably be called a path instead due to the level of building and maintenance to remove the rocks.

Al

I'm on vacation, sorry for the slow response.


It's called vacation Bek, stay away from BF, it's worse for your health than a real job.

By the way can you see the atmospheric smoke haze from Kilauea?

http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Current/FSHShawaii059_G11L.jpg

Maybe sunrise has a special warmth to the colors?

Al

oh, i'm just surfing the site in between torrid emails with my girlfriend- and I find you guys and this forum entertaining! It's good stuff even on vaca.