M_S

I love internet tough talk.

Carusoswi

Uhm, I don't disagree with you about the practical and aerodynamic points you raise, and I'm not certain I can agree with the OP's remarks about super-hero outfits. But, most of the kit-decked groups about which he/she rants are not racers. They probably benefit quite a bit from the comfort their outfits provide . . . less so from the aerodynamic advantages.

If we were talking racers, here, I doubt there would that much of an issue.

Caruso

Treespeed

Sounds like someone is projecting.

filtersweep

That is a hilarious analogy. I guess all the time I have spent driving to work somehow qualifies me for a Formula 1 race?

Speaking of "angry ****wads," have you driven on the freeways lately? They seem to be a magnet for "angry ****wad" motorists.

I find it astounded that on a cycling forum, there is so much bile piled on to cyclists riding legally on the roads.

CB HI

And with such ignorance of cycling/traffic laws.

charles vail

I've encountered these types of cyclists too.......out on a "training ride" all decked out in their tight undies, fantasizing about riding the TDF, all the while their chain going, squeak, squeak, squeak!!! ( I actually saw this once, hilarious)
I'm all for riding hard if you want to and if you actually believe that the Lycra helps, fine but it still looks goofy. I have some Lycra bib shorts but honestly prefer wicking athletic undies and cheap regular hiking style shorts. No pad necessary since I ride a solid leather saddle. The speed gain by wearing skin tights only amounts to mere seconds or a few minutes in miles of riding. Comfort is arguable since I have found an alternative that works plus, lets me walk around off the bike and not feel like a circus act.

As far as hogging the road, I think we all know what the O.P. was trying to say. Some of us have been that type of cyclist and some still are. These guys are the same no matter how many wheels they roll on.
If the O.P. and his neighbors recognize these types of cyclists as inconsiderate lycra wearing roadies from the city, then I can see why he wants to avoid being associated with that.

donnamb 

And if not wearing a costume is what it takes for the O.P. to live peacefully with is neighbors and still ride a bike with pleasure, I can understand that. We have lots of members on Bike Forums in similar communities.

JavaMan

Is the OP jealous? I dress like a "superhero" because the clothing is functional. Now if I could only ride like a superhero...

Sixty Fiver

Holy over generalizing Batman !

For example, the fixie crowd is all about being different and counter culture. But why do they then all look/dress the same? To fit into a group - that's why. Your road racers and wannabees wear tight kits - group again.

I ride everything except a unicycle or a recumbent and dress the same whether I'm riding my road bikes, fixies, mountain bikes, or old cruisers. I don't wear my sister's pants (another generalization btw) and have tape on my bars.

Being considerate does not mean that you have to give up your right to having a safe space on the road but blocking traffic on single lane roads is a bad practice and increases the risk to everyone.

Your typical roadie kit makes you really stand out and if you do things to annoy other riders or cagers then make it hard on folks who enjoy wearing the same kit and ride in a considerate manner as they get labeled.

barba

Give it a try sometime (unless this little rant is actually about personal comfort wearing tight clothes). Lycra shorts are nice for longer rides. I don't think you gain much conflating behavior and dress.

rando

I apologize for my post above. I should have said "inconsiderate, rude ****wads." It's not really about what they are wearing, it's about behavior. And how they act and treat other road users makes an impression. rude riders do deserve the scorn they get.

joejack951

I think the OP needs to fess up and let us all know how long he was delayed for.

San Rensho 

Uhm, OP, last time I checked there were no bicycle Nazis enforcing a spandex only rule. Wear what you want, I'll wear what I want.

You've got a lot of time on your hands to rant about spandex.

-=(8)=-

I think the posting got off-track here.......
The OP was griping about club training riders moreso than the lycra.
I dont care what someone wears but my opinion stated previously, remains...
non-yielding club riders have hurt efforts to integrate bicycling further up in the
heiarchy of transportation ladder than any other negative element within our ranks.
Do they have a right to the road ? Of course.....should they hold cars up when they
can singe-file up or move over ? Definately not.

cc_rider

Today I saw a guy on a mtb wearing street clothes riding on a sidewalk in downtown Baltimore clip a pedestrian and ride off without an apology or stopping to see if they were ok.
Guess that make ALL cyclists NOT wearing kit ****wads.

joejack951

Should people whine and complain about cyclists hogging the road because they don't know that cyclists are actually allowed to ride two abreast? Should they whine and complain when they would need to use the oncoming lane regardless of where the cyclist is riding thus necessitating waiting behind the cyclist for some amount of time for a good spot to pass? Definitely not.

-=(8)=-

Should they complain ? Maybe not....but again, you and HH only deal in hypotheticals, not reality.
If one is truly interested in building a workable relationship with car drivers one must
give a little too....
I worked at MBNA in Wilmington and would get hemmed up behind large groups of roadies
who would militantly block old Rt. 100 regularly on my way back to West Chester.
Im a cyclist and felt like riding my horn the whole time I was behind them. Although I
didnt, I can certainly understand someone elses frustration at suffering such rudeness and
anti-social behaviour. It goes beyond a cycling issue into a decency and consideration
issue. If you cant be considerate of other people you cant expect them to be that of you.
That goes for bike riders too, not just cars. I am being totally non-antagonistical here...
Just for the sake of my own edification....why is it such a HUGE problem for staunch
VCers to abdicate to a car on any level ?

CB HI

In all the states I have lived and traveled, I have yet to see a road that forced motorist to wait more than a minute or so to pass any slow moving vehicle, including cyclist. Pics please of these roads where motorist must wait for 2 miles before passing a group of cyclist (or other slow moving vehicle).

pj7

A cyclist traveling 25mph will only cover 2200 feet within a minute.
I've seen plenty of 35mph country roads with double yellows and "No Passing Zone" signs posted that exceed twice this distance. Likely anyone who has driven anywhere but city streets has seen double yellow no passing zones that exceed this distance as well.
Does the "road" itself force people to not pass? No, of course not, that would be silly. But the law does make it illegal to do so.
Unless of course you consider a bicycle (or group of cyclists) in the road traveling 10mph under the limit an "obstruction" and not (a) vehicle/vehicles. But then you'd probably still get a ticket if caught doing it and have to prove in court that they really are obstructions. And we all would love for the courts to start considering cyclists "obstructions" wouldn't we?

Shavit

quote from Lem in Pa:
"... behind large groups of roadies who would militantly block old Rt. 100 regularly on my way back to West Chester. Im a cyclist and felt like riding my horn the whole time I was behind them. Although I didnt, I can certainly understand someone elses frustration at suffering such rudeness and anti-social behaviour. It goes beyond a cycling issue into a decency and consideration issue."

So, what you are saying is that a group of people on bikes were riding on the road, and you felt yourself important enough to get mad at having to be patient ... wow, i suppose you're statement from before - "you either get it or you don't" - is right.

I am interested though. How is claiming your lawful place on the road anti-social? And if i have the same right to the road, why exactly do i have to go out of my way to let you pass just because you're in a car?

the sad truth, is that the cyclists you all encounter probably (let's say 99% chance here) aren't purposefully trying to piss anyone off. They probably look at a lane and say, wow, this is one narrow lane, for the sake of myself, and the twenty people riding with me, i think we should watch out for our own safety. Complain as you must, but lighten up a tad, and consider it from their perspective. A lane that you think is wide enough, isn't necessarily seen the same way by someone on a bike.

And OP, this statement is ridiculous: "3) The road hogs do turn people against bicycle riders, and I don't care to have drivers pissed at me for something that other people did/do."

I say ridiculous because you are assuming that cyclists have the amazing ability to provoke the same reaction in all "people". Not only that, you are giving those same "people" very little credit for their ability to move on in their life ... after such a traumatic event as being forced to drive behind a cyclist for a mile (or probably less)! I'm being sarcastic, and i apologize, but let's give an example: let's say a car cuts you off, are you going to hold that against every car you see? are you going to group that car with all the other millions of cars in this country? are you going to purposefully do something to endanger the next car/driver you come across? of course you won't, that is, unless you belong in a mental institution (or are an incredibly petty person).

People move on. Those same people that were mad about being stuck behind a cyclist will find something else to be mad about 20 minutes later ...

and if this is really about your insecurities on being judged by others, i'll assume you're 15, and tell you to grow up.

-=(8)=-

^^^ Sooo typical.
Not even worth any more of a response other than to question
your reading comprehension.

pj7

Hey now! "Reading Comprehension" statements are that of the anti-facilities pro-VC group... you know better!

Shavit

real mature ... but let me spell it out for you ... you say: "it's being considerate" ... i say, "you're full of crap" ... how does this fault my reading comprehension?

why2not

+1

-=(8)=-

Ok Shavit, you win at teh internatz