Road Cycling - Princeton Freewheelers NJ - RUDE!

Boy, I've gotta vent this one out.

Riding my car back from the garden center this afternoon I was on a local ~40 mph speed limit back road. It twists and turns - I commute by bike and take this road each way every day.

This lovely Sunday afternoon there was a group ride that was stopped for a cyclist to repair a flat, they (the group size was roughly 20 riders) were clustered up 3 and 4 deep taking the entire lane - on a blind corner.

I pulled abreast of the middle of the pack and VERY politely explained why I thought this was a bad idea

1. it was a blind corner and as a motorist it made it near impossible to navigate the turn safely at any speed.
2. I commute by bike on this road and get enough irate motorists honking and whatnot because there is no shoulder. So ticking the locals of further and cyclists by disregarding basic safety and traffic patterns boded ill for me on my daily rides.
3. there was a TON of room in the well mowed grass (the side of a farm field) off the road to accommodate them and another 10 groups their size there really was no need to take the lane.

This was meet with rude comments and aspersions that I indeed was a cyclist at all, people shaking their heads, one guy said they have a right to be 2 abreast (although they were taking the whole lane), When I asked why they were getting pissed that I was being polite and not trying to get on them one guy make a few sarcastic comments.

This had to be the most belligerent group of riders I have ever come across. I was astonished that after I explained I was a mountain bike racer, an avid local road rider, and a daily commuter by bike AND was being very polite that they would react this way towards me. It was such a slap in the face I am still pretty annoyed about it.

I felt I was one of them simply asking they be more considerate and suggesting there was an alternative to the way they set up and the hostility was palpable. Seemed like anything I could have said they were closed off to and I was just another guy in a car giving them greif, they wern't open to hearing me at all.

I had considered joining the club the last few years since taking up road riding, I mostly ride alone - but after this I doubt I would even casually join one of their sponsored rides. Even though it was only about 5 - 8 of the riders who were openly belligerent I take that poorly.

I know not everyone will agree with speaking ones mind to a group of riders who obviously were not trying to start trouble - But trust me when I say I approached this situation very calmly and non-threatening and was not treated in kind.

ed

Remember in Forrest Gump when he was running cross country and stepped on dog **** and kept on running like nothing happened?

Boy, I've gotta vent this one out.

Riding my car back from the garden center this afternoon I was on a local ~40 mph speed limit back road. It twists and turns - I commute by bike and take this road each way every day.

This lovely Sunday afternoon there was a group ride that was stopped for a cyclist to repair a flat, they (the group size was roughly 20 riders) were clustered up 3 and 4 deep taking the entire lane - on a blind corner.

I pulled abreast of the middle of the pack and VERY politely explained why I thought this was a bad idea

1. it was a blind corner and as a motorist it made it near impossible to navigate the turn safely at any speed.
2. I commute by bike on this road and get enough irate motorists honking and whatnot because there is no shoulder. So ticking the locals of further and cyclists by disregarding basic safety and traffic patterns boded ill for me on my daily rides.
3. there was a TON of room in the well mowed grass (the side of a farm field) off the road to accommodate them and another 10 groups their size there really was no need to take the lane.

This was meet with rude comments and aspersions that I indeed was a cyclist at all, people shaking their heads, one guy said they have a right to be 2 abreast (although they were taking the whole lane), When I asked why they were getting pissed that I was being polite and not trying to get on them one guy make a few sarcastic comments.

This had to be the most belligerent group of riders I have ever come across. I was astonished that after I explained I was a mountain bike racer, an avid local road rider, and a daily commuter by bike AND was being very polite that they would react this way towards me. It was such a slap in the face I am still pretty annoyed about it.

I felt I was one of them simply asking they be more considerate and suggesting there was an alternative to the way they set up and the hostility was palpable. Seemed like anything I could have said they were closed off to and I was just another guy in a car giving them greif, they wern't open to hearing me at all.

I had considered joining the club the last few years since taking up road riding, I mostly ride alone - but after this I doubt I would even casually join one of their sponsored rides. Even though it was only about 5 - 8 of the riders who were openly belligerent I take that poorly.

I know not everyone will agree with speaking ones mind to a group of riders who obviously were not trying to start trouble - But trust me when I say I approached this situation very calmly and non-threatening and was not treated in kind.

ed

I umpired baseball for about 25 years from Little League up to NCAA Division I. I found over the years that when the players and fans were obnoxious yahoos, the coach was the biggest obnoxious yahoo of them all. This only failed once, when the players and fans were very nice and the coach was a revolving SOB.

Now, I told you that to tell you that the group leader of this ride was probably one obnoxious jerk and the rest were doing their darndest to be just like him.

I umpired baseball for about 25 years from Little League up to NCAA Division I. I found over the years that when the players and fans were obnoxious yahoos, the coach was the biggest obnoxious yahoo of them all. This only failed once, when the players and fans were very nice and the coach was a revolving SOB.

Now, I told you that to tell you that the group leader of this ride was probably one obnoxious jerk and the rest were doing their darndest to be just like him.
I have to concur. It's the "group vs. individual" mentality and you walked right into their locker room.. I bet if you'd spoken one-on-one with several of those guys, it might have been different.

55/Rad

I bet some of them visit this forum - lets here from you!

I bet some of them visit this forum - lets here from you!

I'm sort of fishing for that. I hoped to even get one of the group to respond. I'm dying to see what they perceived of the whole exchange.

ed

I'm sort of fishing for that. I hoped to even get one of the group to respond. I'm dying to see what they perceived of the whole exchange.

ed

You have hit upon an excellent point. Skewed perception often times becomes someone's reality.

This lovely Sunday afternoon there was a group ride that was stopped for a cyclist to repair a flat, they (the group size was roughly 20 riders) were clustered up 3 and 4 deep taking the entire lane - on a blind corner

With that attitude and ignorance, they'll end up learning the hard way. Don't join this group. You are the company that you keep. They sound like the Sun City Cyclers from Sun City Hilton Head in Bluffton, SC, a bunch of arrogent Yankees that have dung for brains.

My club did just that type of stuff today. When we stopped to regroup and wait for people they were blocking a trail with other riders coming. Once on a ride they stopped jsut after turning off a main street onto a side street, and blocked so much of the road that cars couldn't even get by on the other side. Then they get upset when someone in a car says something. I wonder how they would feel if a cop stopped and ticketed them each for blocking the road?




Boy, I've gotta vent this one out.

Riding my car back from the garden center this afternoon I was on a local ~40 mph speed limit back road. It twists and turns - I commute by bike and take this road each way every day.

This lovely Sunday afternoon there was a group ride that was stopped for a cyclist to repair a flat, they (the group size was roughly 20 riders) were clustered up 3 and 4 deep taking the entire lane - on a blind corner.

I pulled abreast of the middle of the pack and VERY politely explained why I thought this was a bad idea

1. it was a blind corner and as a motorist it made it near impossible to navigate the turn safely at any speed.
2. I commute by bike on this road and get enough irate motorists honking and whatnot because there is no shoulder. So ticking the locals of further and cyclists by disregarding basic safety and traffic patterns boded ill for me on my daily rides.
3. there was a TON of room in the well mowed grass (the side of a farm field) off the road to accommodate them and another 10 groups their size there really was no need to take the lane.

This was meet with rude comments and aspersions that I indeed was a cyclist at all, people shaking their heads, one guy said they have a right to be 2 abreast (although they were taking the whole lane), When I asked why they were getting pissed that I was being polite and not trying to get on them one guy make a few sarcastic comments.

This had to be the most belligerent group of riders I have ever come across. I was astonished that after I explained I was a mountain bike racer, an avid local road rider, and a daily commuter by bike AND was being very polite that they would react this way towards me. It was such a slap in the face I am still pretty annoyed about it.

I felt I was one of them simply asking they be more considerate and suggesting there was an alternative to the way they set up and the hostility was palpable. Seemed like anything I could have said they were closed off to and I was just another guy in a car giving them greif, they wern't open to hearing me at all.

I had considered joining the club the last few years since taking up road riding, I mostly ride alone - but after this I doubt I would even casually join one of their sponsored rides. Even though it was only about 5 - 8 of the riders who were openly belligerent I take that poorly.

I know not everyone will agree with speaking ones mind to a group of riders who obviously were not trying to start trouble - But trust me when I say I approached this situation very calmly and non-threatening and was not treated in kind.

ed

It is a rare situation indeed when I tell a complete stranger that he is doing something unsafe and he says "...yes, I guess I am. Thanks for bringing it to my attention." All the good intentions in the world seem to be of little value in such cases. Sometimes I think that all we can do is keep trying and to be a bit more receptive when someone tries to help us by pointing out our unsafe acts.

edk-

Thanks for the heads up.. The Freewheelers seem to be one of the only groups in this area, and I have been looking for some group rides to join in on. I think I will still give them a try, but if that is really their mentality (and not just the mentality of a few "Bad Apples") I will definitely keep riding on my own/in the small groups of 2-3 I ride with currently. Are you farmiliar with any other groups?

BTW: what road/area were you in? I know there are several groups of Freewheelers that go out.. I'll try to avoid that one.. :)

I applaud you for informing the cyclists of their foolish ways. Many times people don't take criticism well, but once they think about it, they may determine they were in the wrong. Hopefully, they will think the next time this type of situation occurs. So....although your efforts did not bear fruit on this encounter, maybe, just maybe...you stoped a future lane closure.

I was complaining to my daughter (a non-cyclist) about a 6 lane roadway I was cycling on where the car drivers didn't move over. It was a Sunday morning, and only about 12 cars would proceed through a traffic light. When they see a cyclist, you would think they would change lanes, no way. All 12 cars stayed in their lanes and about 10 minutes later the same pattern again. There is very little traffic at 8:00 am on a Sunday morning. My daughter's reply to me was, "Until you started cycling, I thought cyclists were annoying and should be on the sidewalk, those drivers probably felt the same way." I have been exposed to cycling and cycled as a teenager. Just never figured my kids were not aware of cyclist's right to the road.

edk-

Thanks for the heads up.. The Freewheelers seem to be one of the only groups in this area, and I have been looking for some group rides to join in on. I think I will still give them a try, but if that is really their mentality (and not just the mentality of a few "Bad Apples") I will definitely keep riding on my own/in the small groups of 2-3 I ride with currently. Are you farmiliar with any other groups?

BTW: what road/area were you in? I know there are several groups of Freewheelers that go out.. I'll try to avoid that one.. :)

I was on Gordon rd. coming from RT 130, the second right bend. I actually tried to change the title of the post since I thought it generalized that group too much, but could not do it. I'm sure they are a good group overall and they certainly are the main attraction here in the princeton area. I think it speaks more to the group mentallity then any one specific group. I think it was a group B or lower ride - since the whole group had stopped while he fixed the flat.

But today as I rode past that spot I felt like I lost a little of that feeling that sort of bonds cyclists together. Thats the real shame of it, and I wonder if those angry riders realize they took that away.

ed

Maybe a polite note to the group's president, or all of the groups in the area if you're not sure which group it was blocking the road, might help.

Maybe a polite note to the group's president, or all of the groups in the area if you're not sure which group it was blocking the road, might help.

Yep, did that yesterday, good idea.

ed

edk, sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with other riders :( . I hope that you if you are considering a joining their group, it sounds like you would be a good influance on them. ;)

{But today as I rode past that spot I felt like I lost a little of that feeling that sort of bonds cyclists together. Thats the real shame of it, and I wonder if those angry riders realize they took that away.**



Cylcing as in all things, your going to get the Good, the Bad, and the Stupid. I am new to cycling and have found night and day differences between bikes shops and cycling groups. Some groups I know not to even wave at anymore because they never wave back (maybe I had the wrong socks?), other shops and cyclists/groups are just raring to help out someone new or anyone else.

A guy riding his atv (all terrain vehicle) in the woods told me a story after he got his ATV stuck in deep mud 15 mt bikers stopped their ride and helped him pull it out.

Don't worry. When one of them gets killed it'll only be his own fault. I just hope the car driver's ok. Riding in a taxi in Tokyo last month I witnessed first hand their new phenomenon of Biker gangs. It's times like these I wish I had enough money to sacrifice my car. All it would've taken was a medium-sized saloon car knocking a couple of them off at speed and 10 bastards might've got rehabilitated there and then....well at least when they got out the hospital.
:mad: