Road Cycling - What is wrong with this picture?

On the commute home, after just leaving work this evening, guy on a very nice looking Colnago sans helmet pulls up beside me and my lowly Kona at a red light. Looks both ways without stopping then cruises through the intersection. Light turns green I catch up and draft him up to the next light which isn't that far away. Pretty much the same scenario at the next light. Only this time no lights for a bit so I catch up, pass and speed up. Colnago rider crusies past me moments later drafting a cement truck, only a few feet off the back. Now I'm not the strongest rider, and by no means consider myself to be an Ubercyclist.

I'll admit it, this guy could probably kill me on the road, but am I missing something here?

G'day,

drats...this thread has been going a few hours now.......I've been hanging out for the 1st peckerhead to reply & say ........"so wheres the picture?"

cheers,

Hitchy

I don't understand the question....

55/Rad

What's wrong? Well, the guy's an idiot for many reasons. I won't ride with people who don't wear helmets. If they don't want to that's their choice, but I don't want to be around to have to scrape their brains from the pavement, so I just avoid them. To do this and ride recklessly (running lights, drafting huge trucks) is just plain dumb. I would avoid him if I were you. Plus, it sounds like you drafted without saying anything to him, which is a faux pas in my book. He probably bought the Colnago for the pretty paint scheme, but he sounds like a sketchy rider to me.

Plus, it sounds like you drafted without saying anything to him, which is a faux pas in my book.

Perhaps I should clarify the "drafting" on my part. It was about half a block to the next light in traffic, so I didn't really push my luck and get too close nor go that fast. You are right I probably should have said something to the guy. Most of the time when I come across a fellow roadie, I'll ask if I can hang in and see if they want to take turns.

However, lately on almost all of my commutes I run across some bonehead, serious cyclist or summer commuter who cruises through reds at intersections, rides on the wrong side of the road or does some other stupid arse move. Sometimes I've said things, other times and more recently I feel like I'm bashing my head off the road. People just don't give a sh*t. So do I have to police everyone I run into? Perosnally I'd rather save my breath and concentrate on riding safe and hard at the same time. The funny thing about this guy is I caught him again in about a minute, however I was going home and went my own way. Which was probably for the best. Peace.

P.S. Hitchy - Your humour is not completely lost on me. :D

Where do you commute to/from?

So do I have to police everyone I run into?

Why do even feel the need to 'police' everyone?

What's wrong with this picture, part 2?

Was at the beach today. Saw a guy with roadie-garb riding a nice-looking Kestrel. With aero bars (armrests folded up, of course). And, finally, with TOE CLIPS!

Sorry. Totally off topic but the subject line was something I was literally thinking to myself when I saw him.

Appearance means nothing in relation to riding skill or speed. To that end, take note of the fixed gear crowd.

Drafting trucks is fun, I've got a buddy who can spin up to about 52mph while motorpacing.

I don't particularly like it, and not because of the truck. I don't like the fact that I can't see anything in the road that may be coming up.

Drafting trucks is fun, I've got a buddy who can spin up to about 52mph while motorpacing.

I don't particularly like it, and not because of the truck. I don't like the fact that I can't see anything in the road that may be coming up.

Remind me to steer clear of your friend.

I remember a situation in Bombay years ago when a motorcycle with two riders was unable to stop when the truck in front suddenly braked. The bike actually ploughed under the rear bumper of the truck, while the riders did not. Not a pretty sight! A bicycle is even less well equipped for collisions and other road hazards, so there is no margin of error in encounters with motor vehicles.

Maybe he was cooling down from a long ride, and that's why you could pass him. The absence of helmet is stupid as is drafting the truck.

Perhaps I should clarify the "drafting" on my part. It was about half a block to the next light in traffic, so I didn't really push my luck and get too close nor go that fast. You are right I probably should have said something to the guy. Most of the time when I come across a fellow roadie, I'll ask if I can hang in and see if they want to take turns.

However, lately on almost all of my commutes I run across some bonehead, serious cyclist or summer commuter who cruises through reds at intersections, rides on the wrong side of the road or does some other stupid arse move. Sometimes I've said things, other times and more recently I feel like I'm bashing my head off the road. People just don't give a sh*t. So do I have to police everyone I run into? Perosnally I'd rather save my breath and concentrate on riding safe and hard at the same time. The funny thing about this guy is I caught him again in about a minute, however I was going home and went my own way. Which was probably for the best. Peace.

P.S. Hitchy - Your humour is not completely lost on me. :D

I draft vehicles sometimes for the fun of it. I guess you get to a level where you are comfortable doing something and you do it. Some people think riding a bike is too dangerous on a road and only stick to trails. So they would tell there friends how crazy you are to be riding a bike thru traffic but you feel perfectally safe doing it. I won't dive 70mph down some of these mountains but I know people that will and they are cool with it. I would'nt say anything to the guy personally b/c it only leads to confrontation. Just let it go so what who cares. btw there are red lights around here that if you don't run you'll have to wait for a car to come up and trip it for you so I run those, all others no way I'll wait. Stop signs oth forgettabout it you can clear the intersection with your eyes well before the sign to see if it is safe to go on.



What's wrong with this picture, part 2?

Was at the beach today. Saw a guy with roadie-garb riding a nice-looking Kestrel. With aero bars (armrests folded up, of course). And, finally, with TOE CLIPS!

Sorry. Totally off topic but the subject line was something I was literally thinking to myself when I saw him.

So are you against toe clips? I happen to like them a whole lot. I won't use them racing because they are impossible to get out of when sinched down but they work great on my touring bike and fixie commuter, very comfortable and reliable with low maintenance. In fact I still use a set of Sugino pedals with metal clips from a 1985 bike and only have to replace the straps.