Things your fellow commuters do that annoy you
12-30-14, 11:31 AM
#76
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Have you tried training wheels?
If you are unwilling to ride in the big lane you should slow down and give other vulnerable traffic space.
Mebbe it's just you...~15 mph is not particularly fast.
I respect hard-working professional cyclists far more than commuters who think that trackstanding is a rad bike skill.
When I shout "on your right" to signal my intentions of overtaking, they swerve over to the right
Wheelsuck without asking ... P*** off! I worked hard for this speed, so should you!
Riding against the traffic in the narrow a** bike lane ... not so much commuters as it is restaurant delivery people
Last edited by spare_wheel; 12-30-14 at 11:55 AM.
12-30-14, 11:42 AM
#77
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If you love track stands so much go hit the velodrome.
If your commute is in the city with tons of potential stops for lights and blockages - clipless are a waste.
12-30-14, 11:49 AM
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Other than the occasional salmon, I got nuthin'. My expectations regarding other cyclists are very low I admit, but major issues and even minor annoyances caused by other bike commuters are rare for me. I think I give way more than I get (if other commuters are offended by SEEING how I operate in traffic).
Joggers in the bike lane do bug me however.
Joggers in the bike lane do bug me however.
12-30-14, 11:52 AM
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I'm trying hard not to let anyone annoy me. I mean, a lot of times folks annoy you because they're there, not because they're annoying. Bad karma for me if that's the case. If they are truly annoying, their karma will catch up to them.
12-30-14, 11:53 AM
#81
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If someone is annoying but is not endangering themselves or others it's all on you, IMO. If someone is annoying because they are endangering themselves or others I make a point of engaging and/or attempting to educate.
12-30-14, 12:07 PM
#82
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On the other hand if you've mastered the walking/chewing gum skill, trackstanding while clipped in is simple.
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Stuart Black
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Days of Wineless Roads. Bed and Breakfasting along the KATY
Twisting Down the Alley. Misadventures in tornado alley.
12-30-14, 12:36 PM
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At least, this is what I learned about the principles of this country growing up. Have things changed?
Ben
12-30-14, 12:39 PM
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My post was/is in response to the content of what the OP has posted on this thread. Have you read what the OP has posted on this thread?
12-30-14, 12:41 PM
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You just want to be irritating. Ninjas and salmons endanger everyone around them.
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Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Days of Wineless Roads. Bed and Breakfasting along the KATY
Twisting Down the Alley. Misadventures in tornado alley.
Stuart Black
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Days of Wineless Roads. Bed and Breakfasting along the KATY
Twisting Down the Alley. Misadventures in tornado alley.
12-30-14, 12:44 PM
#88
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Wrong way commuters don't annoy me less than food delivery salmons. They annoy me both with equal measure, but I encounter the latter much more often. I think most commuters in NYC have enough etiquette to know that cycling against the flow of traffic is a pain the ass for all the parties involved. Re my "track stand futzing", I do it because allows me to remain clipped in and makes commuting with clipless more practical. Just like Patrick, I can't imagine riding anything but clipless. Your suggestion that I return to platforms since my antics at stoplights solicit conversation is rather ill-informed; a track stand, while a flamboyant display of balance, serves a useful purpose and just as how a woman wearing flamboyant clothing should not be required to entertain conversation from every interested male she may encounter I should not be required to entertain long conversations with every cyclist interested in learning. I have a right to track stand in peace and quiet. An argument can be made that I should become more proficient in clipping in and I do agree, except I dislike SPDs and track standing negates the need improve my proficiency. Ideally I would like to have road pedals on my commuter (I find them much easier to clip into), but I already spent money on SPD cleats, shoes and pedals so I don't see why not continue using them till they wear out.
As for me, watching the college kids use a sidewalk when there is bike lane right next to them. I mean, way to reinforce the idea that bikes belong on the sidewalk. They will go both ways on the same side of the street. I'm not sure if it is because they can't be bothered to ride in the street, or they are just afraid.
As for your pedals/trackstanding, as long as it isn't obstructing others, I don't see the reason for people being upset. People circling at a light though is completely asinine.
12-30-14, 12:44 PM
#89
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Yes and a whole lot of trackstand envy as well.
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Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Days of Wineless Roads. Bed and Breakfasting along the KATY
Twisting Down the Alley. Misadventures in tornado alley.
Stuart Black
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Days of Wineless Roads. Bed and Breakfasting along the KATY
Twisting Down the Alley. Misadventures in tornado alley.
12-30-14, 12:59 PM
#90
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12-30-14, 01:21 PM
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12-30-14, 01:26 PM
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12-30-14, 01:45 PM
#94
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Depends on how fast they're going to be moving. I'll cop to sometimes stopping in front of people, because I KNOW I'm going to be quicker through the intersection than they are. Though usually, I don't. Still, even though I sometimes have people stopping in front of me who end up being slower, I try not to let it get to me. Being the city along with everyone else means you're surrounded by people who's every move isn't going to be maximally convenient for you. Rather than get bent out of shape about that, it's much healthier to recognize that there's no reason other people's behavior should revolve around you and your needs and maybe realize that you're probably annoying people without knowing it all the time. Obviously, I still do get annoyed at people, but that's down more to MY flaws (impatience, grouchiness) than theirs.
12-30-14, 01:51 PM
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I feel like this is a huge thing. If you are not on some sort of geared bike complete with a rack, panniers, full fenders and more lights than an airport landing field, you are almost not worthy of being a commuter. There seems to be this commuter elitist attitude that if you don't have that stuff at a minimum, you are not worthy. I get this quite a bit when people see what kind of bike I commute on.
12-30-14, 01:55 PM
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Depends on how fast they're going to be moving. I'll cop to sometimes stopping in front of people, because I KNOW I'm going to be quicker through the intersection than they are. Though usually, I don't. Still, even though I sometimes have people stopping in front of me who end up being slower, I try not to let it get to me. Being the city along with everyone else means you're surrounded by people who's every move isn't going to be maximally convenient for you. Rather than get bent out of shape about that, it's much healthier to recognize that there's no reason other people's behavior should revolve around you and your needs and maybe realize that you're probably annoying people without knowing it all the time. Obviously, I still do get annoyed at people, but that's down more to MY flaws (impatience, grouchiness) than theirs.
12-30-14, 01:55 PM
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. . .
It's hardly my place to tell anybody what should or shouldn't annoy them, but I think annoyance is largely a self-inflicted condition, often savored. The more you* accept how people are rather than how you'd like them to be, the lower your blood pressure. Keep your wits about you and there's very little you can't handle; then you can pat yourself on the back for your excellent roadcraft. It's win-win.
Or what grolby just said, as he was posting while I was typing this.
As for earbuds, as much as I enjoy a good earbud-wearer-bashing thread, this isn't it, so I'll confine myself to expressing my appreciation for the earbuds-are-like-sunglasses post. That's a good one (and I personally hate wearing sunglasses).
* speaking generally; this isn't aimed at anybody
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Last edited by 905; 12-30-14 at 05:59 PM. Reason: annoyingly unable to say what I want to say exactly how I want to say it the first time
12-30-14, 02:17 PM
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12-30-14, 02:29 PM
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I've been known to ride with earbuds. Just one, on the side opposite traffic. Sometimes, I just need that extra push of rock to get me onto my bike. I also live out in the 'burbs where coming across another cyclist actually using a bike lane is a very rare thing indeed. I tend to see people on bikes once I get into the city, but as stated above, I have yet to come across one using the bike lane right freakin' next to them.
I don't know how people can ride without sunglasses. Even if it isn't sunny, it gives me some sort of eye protection from flying debris and wind. It also doesn't help that my commute is west to east in the morning, and east to west in the evening. To each their own, there.
I don't know how people can ride without sunglasses. Even if it isn't sunny, it gives me some sort of eye protection from flying debris and wind. It also doesn't help that my commute is west to east in the morning, and east to west in the evening. To each their own, there.
12-30-14, 02:56 PM
#100
Prefers Cicero
