Well, what would we name a motorist who continually failed his driving test? Or who got through the test (depends on the quality, even the presence of a driving test) and, when on the road, ran stop signs, changed lanes without looking and yielding, drove on the wrong side of the road, all without recognizing that he was committing errors? Dangerous, yes, but the usual name for such behavior is related to competence. We use the same name for evaluating surgeons, or house painters, or football players, or pilots.

Furthermore, the discussions in which the phrases competent cyclists and incompetent cyclists are used are always about traffic cycling. Nobody has been applying those names to, for example, international touring skills or the ability to stretch one's endurance.

Yes, it is correct that many people object to having their skills and behavior described as incompetent. Well, so they should be ashamed of such negligence; it is shameful. But it is accurate; slippery euphemisms won't carry the same force. Bicycle transportation in America has suffered for decades from concealment of its deficiencies and promotion of its deficiencies by both government and public. We need to develop some truth-talking so that others beside vehicular cyclists can be faced with their errors.