Commuting - What new commuter most annoys you?

What kind of new commuter bugs you more? A guy who jumps right in and gets the best of everything (i.e., better than what you've been commuting with for the last 3 years), or someone who rides a department store Huffy?

Note that when I say "bugs you", I mean this in a light-hearted vein. I think it's great when anyone starts commuting regardless of the equipment.

In my case, it's the guy who spends several thousand dollars to get started on the best of everything bike and gear. Only because...... I can't afford it! :lol:

I'm not sure why either should bother me.

Wow, you're quick!

I'm not sure either, except that I am internally judgmental and found myself reacting to two threads about new commuters- one of the column A variety and one of column B.

I'd be happy just to see another commuter.

Oh... and this is a "lizard brain" poll.... let me know your first reaction, not your politically correct one. :P

I like to see other bike commuters. I'll admit I will a little annoyed when one is riding on MY side of the road going the wrong direction. Sometimes I politely say something...sometimes not. Either way, I'm a big fan of bike commuting, no matter what they ride.

Jerry H

If you held a gun to my head and asked me how many Column A and Column B commuters I saw on any given day, I couldn't tell you the answer to within an order of magnitude. I profoundly don't give a damn.

Neither. I commute to and from work on a xmart Schwinn. :( It was what I could afford. :(

Now I regret it and wish I had looked at CL. :rage:

As long as they're commuting.

I don't look at their bicycle often. I couldn't tell you if they're commuting on an X-Mart bike or a high end bike.

Neither. I commute to and from work on a xmart Schwinn. :( It was what I could afford. :(

Now I regret it and wish I had looked at CL. :rage:

Why the shame? You ride, be proud.

The type of new commuter that bugs me the most is the new commuter that gets on bf and starts ragging on all other commuters for running reds, jumping lights, passing him/her, listening to music, cutting through peds, cutting through traffic, blah blah blah like riding your bike to work makes you morally superior. Also, the Dutch.

Neither. I commute to and from work on a xmart Schwinn. :( It was what I could afford. :(

Now I regret it and wish I had looked at CL. :rage:

You're already a few rungs up from most already. No shame. There are some good quality bikes in the big box stores if you look carefully. Avoid the suspension bikes and there can be some jewels in the rough.

Neither. I commute to and from work on a xmart Schwinn. :( It was what I could afford. :(

Now I regret it and wish I had looked at CL. :rage:

+1,000,000

Are you sure you're not me? LOL

I agree wholeheartedly except I still really enjoy riding to work and just generally, so I'd get rid of the frowns. 14 mile RT commute five days a week and planning my first 40+ mile ride for this weekend, all on my xMart Schwinn. Could I have gotten more bang for my buck? Sure, but I still love riding! :love:

also, the dutch.


+1

There are only two ways a noob (or any rider) can annoy me. They are:
1) Riding in a way that threatens my safety, or the safety of other vulnerable road users.
2) Passing me and dropping my sorry ass.

In my 16 mos of commuting, I've come across exactly one other commuter. We pass each other going opposite ways about a block away from my house.

The commuter that bugs me is the one who bikes on the wrong side of the street going the wrong way; expecting me to make way from him...

i see what you mean... i'm jealous of the kona dew deluxe with velocity wheels and nice lights, but then again i've spent just as much and i'm only a year or so into the whole commuting thing.

The ones that have "Just Started", average 17 - 20mph, and then ask for advice on improving their poor performance.

The 65 year old guy on a squeaky mountain bike loaded down with 40 extra pounds of "Captain Dashboard" electronics, who somehow manages to kick my butt going up Novelty Hill.

... and I double checked: A hill assist is not part of his electronics rigging.


(edit)
I doubt he's a "new" commuter, but I've only just recently seen him.

The 65 year old guy on a squeaky mountain bike loaded down with 40 extra pounds of "Captain Dashboard" electronics, who somehow manages to kick my butt going up Novelty Hill.

... and I double checked: A hill assist is not part of his electronics rigging.


(edit)
I doubt he's a "new" commuter, but I've only just recently seen him.

Wait.... how can this guy be in WA and MN at the same time?
I've SEEN him. Brown polyester pants, black half boot street shoes with that side zipper thingy, and a greasy grey fedora? He totally owns me, even with those stinkin' rusted steel rims that are older than he is.
BAAH!

I would guess it is the guy with the big rasta hair, some short of funky chi pants, sandals, riding a fixie who smoothly and effortlessly passes me at about double my speed.....without a hi, or on your left :)

I mean this light-heartedly but the ones on X-mart bikes get to me most. I see them while I work. If you're gonna commute, get a good bike and a nice helmet and enjoy your ride. :) Of course that may be all they can afford so they're doing good.
As it stands I haven't seen any commuters along my route this year so I'd be glad to see anybody.
Ernest

The ones that have "Just Started", average 17 - 20mph, and then ask for advice on improving their poor performance.

Advise them on how to properly set their computer.

The only commuters that bug me are one that ride the MUP blazing 1000 lummen lights and don't dim for oncoming traffic. I run 600 lummens on the street, but about 120 on the MUP in the winter.

I don't care what they ride, but I do care about how they ride. Wrong way ninjas bug me the most.

I doesn't matter what bike they are commuting on as long as the bike is tuned up properly. Nothing scares me more than seeing someone on a bike with brakes that don't work properly or a tire with so low inflation that it looks like it will go flat at any moment... Or loud noises coming from the bike that make me think complete catastrophic failure of it is imminent.

The commuter that bugs me is the one who bikes on the wrong side of the street going the wrong way; expecting me to make way from him...

+1

- Anyone, commuter or not, that "salmons" it (wrong way) for more than a few yards bugs me.

- Anyone, commuter or not, that's a bike ninja (no lights, often dressed in dark clothing) bugs me.

- Anyone, commuter or not, riding on the sidewalk for more than a few feet bugs me.

- Anyone, commuter or not, behaving in a dangerous and/or unlawful manner as to jeopardize the lives of others and/or him/herself really bugs me.

Just ride lawfully and safely and I could care less what bike or gear you've got. :thumb:

1) Riding in a way that threatens my safety, or the safety of other vulnerable road users.

+1

Pedestrians in a crosswalk have a right to the road too. Annoys the hell out of me when I biker blows through a group of pedestrians who have the right away. Than logs onto BF and complains that other people aren't sharing the road.


The commuter that bugs me is the one who bikes on the wrong side of the street going the wrong way; expecting me to make way from him...

I used to be more tolerant of salmon, but I've gotten crotchety as I've gotten older. I will play chicken with these people, they all flinch first.

As mentioned, the commuter that annoys me most is the one riding like an idiot.

I pass this kid at 6:30am he's dark skinned, wears a big gray hoodie,rides an old mt bike with no lights/refectors whatsoever.The ultimate ninja.He's gonna get hit.He doesn't annoy me but dang,son.

The only commuters that bug me are one that ride the MUP blazing 1000 lummen lights and don't dim for oncoming traffic. I run 600 lummens on the street, but about 120 on the MUP in the winter.

Shhh... we're huntin zombies. You guys with the wimpy lights just scatter them. :roflmao2:

You guys have lots of rules for a bunch of misfits....

I feel the X-mart bike commuters are cheating themselves out of a lot of commuting fun. If it works for them - great. But if the bike is a pain in the butt, it might get them turned off bike commuting, and I'd like our ranks to keep growing. However, I can't say commuters on x-mart bikes "bother" me. Not by virtue of being on the x-mart bike anyway.

I could care less. To each his own.

the ones going the wrong way in the single lane bike lanes. or the ones going the wrong way on the road and look at me like im crazy for going with traffic.

The "new" commuter gripes are complete lack of lights, lack of helmet, lack of following traffic laws.

I really dont care about new commuters as long as they keep to the lane, dont bike through stop signs and red lights, and dont try to look so tough in their wal-mart bike...

I feel the X-mart bike commuters are cheating themselves out of a lot of commuting fun. If it works for them - great. But if the bike is a pain in the butt, it might get them turned off bike commuting, and I'd like our ranks to keep growing. However, I can't say commuters on x-mart bikes "bother" me. Not by virtue of being on the x-mart bike anyway.

I am one of those :)

I have a Schwinn (Pacific) 2.6FS MTB. I have upgraded the tires to 1.5" slicks, added a cheap MTB rack, a couple of lights. I bet it weighs 40lbs but it has done the job for about a year and a half now. I want to buy a nicer bike at some point but every time we have a little extra money, my wife seems to be pregnant again.

Those who have no flat or basic maintenance provisions then ask for your tube, patch, air or tools. That gets under my skin doesn't matter what they ride. I once came across a group of three people none of which who even had anything to fix a flat between them. I used to help now I just ride by them I have yet to be offered at least a dollar for my tubes or air yet or trouble. Wait one gay male did offer to take me out on a dinner/date though I didn't take him up on it but at least he offered something out of ten or so that I have stopped an helped.

I don't particularly care what bike they ride, but I get annoyed with (and see almost every day):
- People riding the wrong way while texting
- People swerving wildly all over the place or making left turns across traffic without looking
- People (usually teenaged boys) who speed up to pass me then slow down as soon as they've done so (or swerve wildly)

Still, I get annoyed with cars far more than I do with bicycles.

I'm glad to see anyone on a bike, BUT ones that don't bother to learn or even attempt to the adhere to the rules of the road cheese me off. You know the ones, riding the wrong way against traffic down the street with their helmets on backwards. I know they're trying but really it's just sad, I guess they eventually either figure it out or get themselves killed.

There's no vote button for "Doohickie."

I am one of those :)

I have a Schwinn (Pacific) 2.6FS MTB. I have upgraded the tires to 1.5" slicks, added a cheap MTB rack, a couple of lights. I bet it weighs 40lbs but it has done the job for about a year and a half now. I want to buy a nicer bike at some point but every time we have a little extra money, my wife seems to be pregnant again.

It's not the money, believe me.

The only ones that bother me are the bike ninjas, riding along dressed in black at night.

ones than annoy me most are probably the wrong way riders, but I let 'em be! they'll figure it out soon enough ... or not. either way it's not my job to bug 'em.

There's no vote button for "Doohickie."


fify (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=568383)

I'd actually prefer someone buying the nicest crap they can get as long as they use it. Maybe that's because I waited too long to get anything till it became a problem. No gloves till I mangled my hand in a crash, no bibs untill I rode the crotches out of about $150 worth of jeans/shorts/pants, no decent seat until ohmygodthesaddlesores, no portable pump until I was 20 miles into the middle of nowhere with a flat.
Best not to learn the hard way.

The only thing that bothers me about any bike rider - is a seat that is way too low!

Raise your seats people!

the only thing that bothers me about any bike rider - is a seat that is way too low!

Raise your seats people!

+1