Advocacy & Safety - NYC Cyclists Suck?

Specifically, the Lance wannabes. That's been my experience, both as a cyclist and a motorist. The neon spandex "racers" are hyper-aggressive toward pedestrians, motorists and even other cyclists.

Kevin Walsh, of the website, Forgotten New York, seems to agree with me. Here is an excerpt from his latest article:


I don't know about other cities, but I've found bicyclists in NYC to be among the, well, most avoidable people anywhere. On the Brooklyn Bridge, the unwritten rule is that bicycles are going to race as quickly as possible, and pedestrians and slower bicyclists had best get out of the way. The same holds on the DiMaggio bike path. What is it with the costumes? And, if you are a pedestrian attempting to cross the street on the green, look both ways, because if you don't you will be buzzed by a bicyclist. Needless to say, I ride with traffic, stop at lights when there's traffic, and stop for little old ladies. Mr. Nice Guy, I suppose. Drivers are no better. Arguments over doorings have nearly gotten violent on some occasions over the years.

See the entire article here:

http://forgotten-ny.com/SLICES/bikelanes/bikelane.html

Some cyclists will make pedestrians and motorists uneasy with their high speeds and carefree riding style. They can be very inconsiderate of others and only care about getting to their destination as soon as possible. But motorists and pedestrians in NYC aren't the most considerate people anyway. Pedestrians jaywalk and jump out in front of cyclists all the time. Drivers cut off cyclists, buzz them, leave their trucks double parked and swing the door open when you're not expecting it.
NYC can be a jungle sometimes, especially with being so damn crowded. Everyone just finds a way to cope with the environment.

Specifically, the Lance wannabes. ...Back again with the same old rant.:rolleyes:

Aggressive New Yorkers? I can't believe it....

Obviously, it' only the "lance wannabe" cyclists...it's not also the drivers, pedestrians, cabbies, bank tellers, rogues cops, shop clerks, school kids....

Obviously the problem is the cyclists... :-)

Back again with the same old rant.:rolleyes:

+1

To the OP: It's NYC- get over it.

NYC is a fantastic city and a great city for cyclists. Yeah, there are a few jerks here and there but as far as I'm concerned I've met some of the coolest, friendliest cyclists in that city- including the "Lance wannabees".

Give it a break- we've all heard this one before. :deadhorse:

Full team-kit wearing jerks.
Hipster jerks.
Businessmen/commuter jerks.
Leisure-riding jerks.

Courteous cyclists wearing full team-kit.
Courteous hipster cyclists.
Courteous businessmen/commuters.
Courteous cyclists on a leisure ride

Welcome to life, where the packaging does not indicate the content.

-Kurt

Full team-kit wearing jerks.
Hipster jerks.
Businessmen/commuter jerks.
Leisure-riding jerks.

Courteous cyclists wearing full team-kit.
Courteous hipster cyclists.
Courteous businessmen/commuters.
Courteous cyclists on a leisure ride

Welcome to life, where the packaging does not indicate the content.

-Kurt

You may not be able to figure out the content from the packaging, but I've found that people who tend to use the term "Lance Wannabes" are usually jerks.

...I've found that people who tend to use the term "Lance Wannabes" are usually jerks.

Does Garmin sponsor you? If not, poseur comes to my mind, along with costume and Lance Wannabe. But then...I am a jerk, so I agree with your theory.

Your avatar: http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=100079&stc=1&d=1238940070

Does Garmin sponsor you? If not, poseur comes to my mind, along with costume and Lance Wannabe. But then...I am a jerk, so I agree with your theory.

Your avatar: http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=100079&stc=1&d=1238940070

yes, Garmin sponsors me to post on BF. It's a pretty sweet deal.

You may not be able to figure out the content from the packaging, but I've found that people who tend to use the term "Lance Wannabes" are usually jerks.

Fine with me - I didn't say it :lol: ;)

-Kurt

In my native language Lance means chain. Like a bicycle chain. How cool is that?

You may not be able to figure out the content from the packaging, but I've found that people who tend to use the term "Lance Wannabes" are usually jerks.

And I've found that people who wear team kit without being sponsored are poseurs, no different than Hummer drivers.

ETA: The author of that Forgotten NY article is also an avid cyclist, and he's dumbfounded as to why a certain sub-genre of cyclist feels the need to spend big money on a neon-clown suits. Why? The answer is obvious to me, they're egotistical IDIOTS, and they act like it on the road.

And I've found that people who wear team kit without being sponsored are poseurs, no different than Hummer drivers.

So I take it you don't wear anything with labels on them? No Nike t-shirts... no, No Fear seems like your style. You think that somehow supporting a team equates to posing?

I'll stand by my first statement.

So I take it you don't wear anything with labels on them? No Nike t-shirts... no, No Fear seems like your style. You think that somehow supporting a team equates to posing?

I'll stand by my first statement.

Why would I pay MORE MONEY for an item of clothing that makes me a rolling billboard? And it's not just cycling clothing that makes me cringe, I have the same reaction when I see some couch potato wearing a NY Yankees jacket.

If you want me to advertise your BUSINESS on my back/ass, I gots to get paid -- at the very least you should provide the clothing for free.

Why would I pay MORE MONEY for an item of clothing that makes me a rolling billboard? And it's not just cycling clothing that makes me cringe, I have the same reaction when I see some couch potato wearing a NY Yankees jacket.

If you want me to advertise your BUSINESS on my back/ass, I gots to get paid -- at the very least you should provide the clothing for free.

Well, you certainly yelled me down. :rolleyes:

Some people actually like to support their favorite teams/business/etc. No one is forcing you to wear anything, so the least you could do is tone down the judgmental rhetoric...

I'll never forget the kid I saw in Haiti wearing the Robert E. Lee Middle School t-shirt. Man what a poseur that kid was.

Actually the biggest poseur bicyclists I see on a daily basis are not wearing 'team kit' but are dressed up like bike messengers of the 1990s and using $250 messenger bags.

The absolute worst poseurs I have to deal with aren't on bicycles at all, they tend to be wearing suits.

If it weren't for New York drivers, this section of Central Pennsylvania would be significantly safer. And people talking about cycling kits just make themselves look like idiots in my book. Might as well ridicule football players for wearing their uniforms, or an F1 driver for wearing a fire suit.

And I've found that people who wear team kit without being sponsored are poseurs, no different than Hummer drivers.

ETA: The author of that Forgotten NY article is also an avid cyclist, and he's dumbfounded as to why a certain sub-genre of cyclist feels the need to spend big money on a neon-clown suits. Why? The answer is obvious to me, they're egotistical IDIOTS, and they act like it on the road.

Hey, I have spent "some" money on some "neon clown" jerseys that I prefer to wear when I am doing longer fast rides.

I bought the neon clown jerseys for two reasons...
1) they are very comfortable for longer rides...
2) those neon clown colors make me stand out... and thus hopefully I am visible to a motorist or two. In fact if some motorist then thinks "look at that clown" I am set... they HAVE seen me!

Comfort and visibility.

And when I don't wear the neon clown jersey... I commute in international rescue orange. I WANT TO BE SEEN! It is as simple as that.

Now on the flip side... there are no team logos or names readily visible on my clothing.

But consider this: anyone riding around in "too hip" black or dark gray... good luck with that. :rolleyes:

Hey, I have spent "some" money on some "neon clown" jerseys that I prefer to wear when I am doing longer fast rides.

I bought the neon clown jerseys for two reasons...
1) they are very comfortable for longer rides...
2) those neon clown colors make me stand out... and thus hopefully I am visible to a motorist or two. In fact if some motorist then thinks "look at that clown" I am set... they HAVE seen me!

Comfort and visibility.

And when I don't wear the neon clown jersey... I commute in international rescue orange. I WANT TO BE SEEN! It is as simple as that.

Now on the flip side... there are no team logos or names readily visible on my clothing.

But consider this: anyone riding around in "too hip" black or dark gray... good luck with that. :rolleyes:

I've got no problem with high-viz clothing, I own some myself. On the other hand: Wearer of Team Colors When not Part of Team = ******.

I've got no problem with high-viz clothing, I own some myself. On the other hand: Wearer of Team Colors When not Part of Team = ******.

Really... is it any worse than folks wearing Baseball jerseys, or Football jerseys in their effort to celebrate and support a team?

Every MLB and NFL team out there sells team jerseys for fans.

How is someone wearing a White Sox or Raiders jersey different from someone wearing a Rabobank or Garmin-Slipstream? Can someone really tell me what the difference is?

No, I don't wear logos... (except maybe "Levis") But honestly, what is the big deal for those of you that seem to get all worked up about folks that do enjoy supporting their teams and wearing the "team colors."

http://mlb.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pMLB2-3701645dt.jpg

http://www.sexysoxgirls.com/images/girls/81-208-tn.jpg

Really... is it any worse than folks wearing Baseball jerseys, or Football jerseys in their effort to celebrate and support a team?

Every MLB and NFL team out there sells team jerseys for fans.

How is someone wearing a White Sox or Raiders jersey different from someone wearing a Rabobank or Garmin-Slipstream? Can someone really tell me what the difference is?

No, I don't wear logos... (except maybe "Levis") But honestly, what is the big deal for those of you that seem to get all worked up about folks that do enjoy supporting their teams and wearing the "team colors."

http://mlb.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pMLB2-3701645dt.jpg

http://www.sexysoxgirls.com/images/girls/81-208-tn.jpg

I could care less what people want to wear when cycling, but I believe the difference is that people don't wear their (insert favorite sports team name here) jerseys while engaging in said sport like cyclists do. You "usually" don't see guys wearing their Manning jersey while playing football at the park. At least where I live, they don't.

I either remove or deface logos or brand markings on my clothing, it's an idea I stole from a character in a William Gibson novel. I use camoflage underarmour when mountainbiking, and the screen-printed logos are usually some bright color, so I color them black with a sharpie marker. Once, just for a goof, I bought a black starbucks t-shirt w/ white text just so I could change the "b" to an "f" (sharpie again). Most of the barristas had a good chuckle at that when I wore it in their store. My neon street-biking wear, sadly, has no logos or labels to deface.

Why, oh why do people still care how other folks dress???

...
Actually the biggest poseur bicyclists I see on a daily basis are not wearing 'team kit' but are dressed up like bike messengers of the 1990s and using $250 messenger bags.

The absolute worst poseurs I have to deal with aren't on bicycles at all, they tend to be wearing suits.Oh good, my messenger bag only cost $160 (1.6 months worth of not parking a car at work); so I must still be cool.

I could care less what people want to wear when cycling, but I believe the difference is that people don't wear their (insert favorite sports team name here) jerseys while engaging in said sport like cyclists do. You "usually" don't see guys wearing their Manning jersey while playing football at the park. At least where I live, they don't.

I know whole Little League teams that DO wear MLB team jerseys when they play.

If you "don't care" then why are you even discussing it?

Why, oh why do people still care how other folks dress???

Damn good question. I've been trying to figure out for years why a neck tie matters in the business world. :D

the obsession that some people have with cycling kits is disturbing. I'm tempted to go buy as many kits as I can just so these people can have something to obsess over. Team kits have the attraction that they are often sold on clearance. Most of the people I see appear to be wearing their club's kit. I also saw some jerseys yesterday that looked like a team kit, but were mementos from a ride. Do people really analyze other people's cycling clothing that closely? I really don't think so, they just see a kit and assume. As I said before, the obsession some people have with other people's cycling clothing is diagnostic of a personality deficit. This goes with the obsession with people riding fixies with messenger bags as well.

I confess:

I occasionally put on my hi-viz safety vest, my bright yellow Bell Citi-Helmet and full "Fred" kit and pretend to be a "Fred"- I've even, on occasion, grown a beard to complete the picture. I'm sure I'll get flamed for this but I just felt you all had the right to know.:rolleyes:

Oh good, my messenger bag only cost $160 (1.6 months worth of not parking a car at work); so I must still be cool.

'Still?'

'Still?'Of course, everyone is born cool.:thumb: Except maybe Fissile!:p

'Still?'Every generation thinks it invented cool. Won't be long now before the kids are rolling their eyes and making snarky comments about the hipster generation. And then, twenty or so years down the road, the kids will be rolling their eyes at that generation. And then...

Is this thread about NYC cyclists or their clothing. I ride occasionally in NYC, and drive there in my car quite often. I also make good use of the subway system. I'd have to say that, in the last half dozen years, I've noticed a great taming of the atmosphere there. Gone is the incessant horn blowing and a good bit of the aggressive driving. I'm not certain where most of you see all this jay walking. When driving, I am almost never deterred by jaywalkers.

Just sayin'

Caruso

I know whole Little League teams that DO wear MLB team jerseys when they play.

If you "don't care" then why are you even discussing it?

Dude! Relax. Little league teams are different than grown men wearing a pro players jersey while playing an unorganized game of sunday football in the park!

I discussed it to try to shed some light as to why I think it can be viewed as annoying or silly to some folks on here. I really don't care one way or the other. I was just pointing out the difference between cyclists and fans of other sports!

Dude! Relax. Little league teams are different than grown men wearing a pro players jersey while playing an unorganized game of sunday football in the park!

I discussed it to try to shed some light as to why I think it can be viewed as annoying or silly to some folks on here. I really don't care one way or the other. I was just pointing out the difference between cyclists and fans of other sports!

Cyclists buy kits to use them. We'd look even dumber if we wore them like football fans wear their jerseys.

And I've found that people who wear team kit without being sponsored are poseurs, no different than Hummer drivers.

ETA: The author of that Forgotten NY article is also an avid cyclist, and he's dumbfounded as to why a certain sub-genre of cyclist feels the need to spend big money on a neon-clown suits. Why? The answer is obvious to me, they're egotistical IDIOTS, and they act like it on the road.

Sadly, you describe most of the road cyclists I see here in San Diego County. I pride myself as having the same gear they have, but without the ads. The most "ad" I have on my gear is the California flag.

Sadly, you describe most of the road cyclists I see here in San Diego County. I pride myself as having the same gear they have, but without the ads. The most "ad" I have on my gear is the California flag.The things some people are proud of.:lol:

Yes, not being a shill (correct spelling?) for a company that isn't paying me. If "insert company here" wants to "sponsor" my rides, then I'll wear their ads. Otherwise, why do I need VOLVO or some beer or... on my cycling gear?

Yes, not being a shill (correct spelling?) for a company that isn't paying me. If "insert company here" wants to "sponsor" my rides, then I'll wear their ads. Otherwise, why do I need VOLVO or some beer or... on my cycling gear?
Fine, but to brag being PROUD of it!:roflmao2:

To be the exception to what seems the rule, yes. Proud may be too strong, but still, it isn't tough to find gear not ad covered. Voler and Performance to name two companies that produce or sell gear not covered in ads at reasonable prices.

the obsession that some people have with cycling kits is disturbing. I'm tempted to go buy as many kits as I can just so these people can have something to obsess over. Team kits have the attraction that they are often sold on clearance. Most of the people I see appear to be wearing their club's kit. I also saw some jerseys yesterday that looked like a team kit, but were mementos from a ride. Do people really analyze other people's cycling clothing that closely? I really don't think so, they just see a kit and assume. As I said before, the obsession some people have with other people's cycling clothing is diagnostic of a personality deficit. This goes with the obsession with people riding fixies with messenger bags as well.

Good post.

In contrast to the stereotype, the New Yorkers I've actually met were pretty nice. One guy even bought me drinks until I almost passed out...somehow, I lost my wallet that night. I'm not sure how that happened.

Yes, not being a shill (correct spelling?) for a company that isn't paying me. If "insert company here" wants to "sponsor" my rides, then I'll wear their ads. Otherwise, why do I need VOLVO or some beer or... on my cycling gear?

I'm curious, do you remove all of the branding from your bike's frame and components, or is it ok to advertise for those companies? Do you do the same to your car?

In contrast to the stereotype, the New Yorkers I've actually met were pretty nice. One guy even bought me drinks until I almost passed out...somehow, I lost my wallet that night. I'm not sure how that happened.

I doubt your new buddy was really a "New Yorker". I'll bet that more than half the people in NYC came from somewhere else. People born and raised in New York, and the immediate vicinity, are all ******-bags. Yours truly, for example, was born in Jersey City. I would have made you pay for my drinks, and then I would have repaid you by punching you in the face and taking your Blackberry.

I doubt your new buddy was really a "New Yorker". I'll bet that more than half the people in NYC came from somewhere else. People born and raised in New York, and the immediate vicinity, are all ******-bags. Yours truly, for example, was born in Jersey City. I would have made you pay for my drinks, and then I would have repaid you by punching you in the face and taking your Blackberry.

Hey! I did wake up kind of sore...and, with a fat lip. How did you know my Blackberry was missing?

Coincidently, I mislpaced that, as well. On the same night, no less. Maybe it's with my wallet.

Brands are quite different than the standard cycling gear. No, I don't remove the brand names from the gear, neither does the gear have it in HUGE letters either. I'm talking about the race kits with ads for companies. Everything has some sort of brand on it. I'm sorry you don't see the difference. Think about it in this way, NASCAR vs a standard auto. Cycling race kit vs no ads cycling gear.

neither does the gear have it in HUGE letters either.

Really? Who makes this frame?

http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/2009/bikes/7790-04_SW_TMSL_Red_l.jpg

Oooooooooh wait! I know........gimme a sec...............it's right there.............ummmmmmm...............

Really? Who makes this frame?

Some persons in China who can't even read the logos might be a good guess.

Getting back to NY'ers: They really aren't that bad.

I live a stone's throw (if you have a really, really good arm) from Kentucky. Getting lit up with a New Yorker is a walk in the park compared to running into a drunken fellow from the Blue Grass State, let me tell you. Besides, the NY'ers have more teeth.

Some persons in China who can't even read the logos might be a good guess.

Can you read Chinese?