FBinNY 

The only thing that my fellow commuters do that annoys is get involved in other people's business.

The chief "complaint" (not really complaining, just giving an example of the conduct) is the "where's your helmet", but there are other examples. This thread is too much of a whine about others.

I don't know about elsewhere, but it's very crowded here in metro NYC, and if you get bothered by other people's conduct, you'll never have a nice day. Ride your bike, staying focused on having a pleasant ride to your destination, and let other people do what they will because they will anyway, no matter what you think or do.

spare_wheel

I cannot recall a single instance of a ninja being involved in a serious injury accident in Portland. And while we don't have a lot of salmon in Portland, even in NY they appear to be more of an annoyance than a major public safety problem.

905 

Sunglasses tame the sun; earbuds tame unnecessary noise (at least they do for me; not trying to make anybody else wear them). They help filter out aural 'glare'. Oh, I could go on.

sandieganLA

Red light running, no lights at night, riding against traffic

joeyduck

I let my son call them out. He'll say something along the line of look daddy you're passing the guy who got in front of you. Sometimes he will ask why they shoal.

I did yell at a guy a few weeks ago. He shoaled me then took to the right side. I started to pass on the left then he suddenly turned hard left almost clipping my wheel. I gave him an earful. To my fault I was passing in the five lane intersection since he was that much slower but still don't always assume the person is slower and stop in front.

Sometimes when I get shoaled and they are accelerating really slow and i can't pass my son will notice and yell, "what's going on buddy?"

cyccommute 

Not one? Either Portland is special or you haven't been paying attention.

And salmon that force a cyclist out into traffic are more than an "annoyance", especially at night.

TenSpeedV2

I don't know that I have ever shoaled in my life. If I come up to a light, and there are other cyclists there, I either take my place in line, or get next to them depending on the amount. This rarely happens on my commute, could probably count on both hands the times there has been a cyclist at the light. I don't care if it is Nibali or your 90 year old grandma ahead of me. I will get around them if I am faster than them. Eyeball me all you want at a light, and if you think you are faster, go ahead, get in front of me. We will see if that is true or not, or if you get passed before we get across the intersection. I probably won't notice them, as I will be practicing my track stand. Sorry, had to go there.

spare_wheel

OK...I can see that. As I said we have very few salmon here.

spare_wheel

I love being shoaled.

vol

Not necessarily commuters but anyone on the bike:
Spitting, or blowing nose.

spare_wheel

My list of things fellow commuters do that annoy me:

1. Drive a sport utility vehicle.
2. Drive a sedan.
3. Drive a hatchback.
4. Drive a sports car.
5. Drive a truck.
6. Drive a van.
7. Drive a station wagon.
8. Drive a coupe.

TenSpeedV2

You forgot convertibles.

caloso

I'm annoyed that I never seem to encounter a salmon on my beater. I'd be tempted to play chicken. But not on my good bike, of course.

wolfchild

You're not even car-free are you ??

bicyclelove

Ok I know what a salmon is. What is a Ninja? A rider without lights at night??

caloso

In dark (usually black) clothes.

bicyclelove

Ok thanks. For me it's light runners. And people without lights at night

FBinNY 

Just what the name im plies, dressed all in black (figuratively) at night. Or in other words -- invisible.

They leave the swords home.

bicyclelove

I suppose the swords are too hard to carry on a bike.

JoeyBike

I can go a year without touching a foot to the ground during my commute WITH clips. And I have never even owned a fixed gear bike. Been clipping in since the dawn of time (or invention of clip-less pedals) and I don't even think about it. My feet go in when I start my commute and my feet snap out at the end of the commute. Sometimes I have to track stand for ten seconds or so. No biggie. Easy. Just takes practice like everything else in life.

onfloat

Just the guy who feels the need to attach a light as bright as the sun on the MUP and lives by the light n+1 rule. Damn near blinds me every time I come across him on the ride home.

I-Like-To-Bike

Apparently some Dudley-Do-Rights like aural noise/glare and are afraid that earbuds might filter out the nuances and meaning of cat calls and/or curses from passing motorists and other strangers.

TerraCottaGamer

I was not scoffing at others for not conforming. I was making a very justifiable point. If your commute is less than 10 miles, and it is through a heavily populated area with lots of lights and other potential stops, then you simply don't need the clipless systems.
1. Are they nice? Possibly - if you bought the right system for your needs and you know how to use them.
2. Do they help? Certainly, but again if you know what your are doing. And when you consider the trade off of having to unclip 20 times in a single commute - they have become more of a hindrance than a help.
3. Do you need them? NO.

Heck, I could make a very strong case that, unless you are doing long distance rides (over 20-30 miles at a time) you don't need the clipless at all. I am not saying they are useless. They can be a very useful tool if you know what you are doing and how to use them. But for the average rider - the guy commuting 5-10 miles each way or the gal riding 10 miles a day 4 days a week they are most certainly NOT a necessity.

If you use them and like them - for whatever reason - fine. But I still maintain that the average rider does not need them and, in fact, is probably better off without them.

Corben

Not acknowledging me. A "howdy", a wave, or even a nod would be nice once in a while.
i dont know. Perhaps if I waved or said hello first...

Corben

Not to piss anyone off again when it comes these ninja nite riders, but I still belive they're up to no good. Cruzing up and down the streets to snag anything of any value that was left out in yards and decks under the cover of the evening darkness. Peering into parked cars and garage windows. I know! They took my power drill and vintage handlebars! Along with the stem!!
Anyway that's off subject. Time to move on.