hally

This is Long Island, not a closed course where you are racing. Would it kill you to shout out "large group on your left" ? Me and my friend were going up a hill when your pack passed us with no warning. She was behind me but could have easily passed me and had she pulled out to do so one of you would have plowed right into her since we did not hear you coming. Use a little courtesy out there will you?

billyymc

Does not compute.

Lightingguy

Sounds like the Tuesday/Thursday Westbury High ride that goes up Wheatley - 7'ish ? (can;t remember if it was 7 or 5, and they might have changed the start time)

Not 'gonna say which club it is, but essentially it's 20 or more riders going by at 25mph. And, no, they have no etiquette and is an every-man-for-themselves ride, as they run stop signs at speed, hop thru lights hoping the rear riders get caught at the light, race to the end kind of ride.

Fun time for all

SB

hally

If it is a club I'd like to know the name so I can contact the board if they have one. You can PM me. I saw them last Thursday going the opposite direction as I was crossing by the Brookville PD, yes at least 20 and not riding single file. This is not a race course. It's no wonder motorists hate us.

exRunner

I was in that group last night. We passed you at about 31 mph, in case you are wondering. I would appologize, but it wouldn't make you feel any better. All I can say is that I was near the back and although I saw you coming up, there was nothing I could do to be more polite and safe. If I had been pulling at the time it would have been different.

They are a bunch of guys (and last night 2 women) with big engines and even bigger attitudes, and there is probably nothing that can be done about it. As Lightingguy stated, they do far worse things than that, and far more dangerous. I don't like riding with them, but it is difficult to find a group that rides that fast. For me they are simply a means to an end, so I suck it up once in a while.

And in case you are wondering, no I do not jump lights, dodge traffic, and cut through shopping centers with them, but then neither does the majority of them either. I can ride conservativly and still close the gap back up after the stupid parts.

exRunner

Most of them belong to a single club, but it is not a club sanctioned ride, as far as I know. I don't belong to the club so I am not sure. I am not sure the board can or would do anything.

hally

31 going UPhill? This was between Whitney and Wheatley. And of course it's up to the lead riders to do the calling out.

At any rate I hope they don't hurt someone innocent, as for one of them crashing and getting hurt I guess it won't harm them any since they have no sense to begin with.

Lightingguy

exrunner is correct.

The Tues /Thurs rides as I remember them, consisted of some core members from a north shore based racing club - and that's all I'll say, as it's not an official team ride and often the club leader doesn't participate. So who do you complain to when the club/team leader probably doesn't even know most of the riders ?. It's simply a well know show-and-go with a lot of folks who are not club members.

That said, I would maybe ask exrunner that if he see's Billy at any point, let him know what happened.

As to the OP, if you are in the area at the same time and feel up to it, maybe make a polite comment to some of the group, and if you get attitude, then inform them that the next conversation you will have is with the Old Westury Police Dept.

THAT will change things in a hurry as the OWPD is simply looking for an excuse to shut this ride down, as I KNOW that there have been complaints about this ride over the years. Trouble with the OWPD is they are (were) a bunch of goons and will take the opportunity to hassle every group of riders that rolls thru their jurisdiction.

Sigh

SB

Lightingguy

"31 going UPhill? This was between Whitney and Wheatley"

I was being conservative when I said 25 and have myself gone up the steeper part of Wheatley - past the golf course, at 27mph+ (been a few years though - now I'm good for 15), but it gives you an idea of how hard everyone's riding.

SB

exRunner

We may not have been going that fast right then, but we did enter that area a 30+. I can ride up a 2% grade at 30+ mph for quite a while. Like I said, very big engines.

To give you an idea, I rode the Gold Coast 100 and did not come off the 53 until Avery Hill, and then only for the part after the tracks. It was an "easy" ride in 5:15 and change. On most rides I never use the 39 ring.

But, I would like to believe that I am not like the people that the OP is really complaining about. I will ride at the level of the group I am with, I will help people with problems, and I will patiently wait for people to catch up.

Someone once told me that bikers start out friendly, then as they get better they become more and more arrogant, then they reach a point where they are back to being friendly. I try very hard to be in the last catagory.

hally

I would never make a police complaint against another rider. That's all we need is to not be allowed on those roads. Though we can't all pump out the speeds we still truly enjoy cycling and are blessed to have the areas between Glen Cove Road and Oyster Bay to ride, cool, shady, rolling hills and little traffic.

Lightingguy

"I would never make a police complaint against another rider"

Nope, neither would I , but I might threaten to, if I got attitude from a group known for arrogance and being unsafe.

In this particular area, the OWPD has been known to hassle riders (over the years), though I think they calmed down a bit with certain officers hitting retirement. Still most cyclists who've been riding on the north shore for a few decades are aware of the OWPD often stopping riders for running stop signs, (and not putting a foot down) as well as riding in large groups in a cluster and not single file. I was on a triangle ride that got pulled over one Saturday morning and got lectured for 20 minutes, as well as being personally lectured for not stopping at Post and Wheatley. Often what the cops are stopping riders for is somewhat justified, but in the two instances where I had encounters with the OWPD, the officers had inappropriate attitudes towards cyclists in general, as opposed to being helpful while getting across a message of being safe. This was pre-911, mind you.

That said, just the mention of a call to the cops might inject some calming and etiquette to the ride, as many are aware that they do not want the cops after them.

Steve B.

hally

UM, I didn't actually get to speak to any of them except for shouting "an on your left would have been nice" and I highly doubt they heard me. It's not like we met at a stop sign or anything. Shall I throw a water bottle between their spokes next time so maybe one will fall and I can threaten them? (just kidding of course)

I was hoping that some of them might see this and pass the word along that no, you are not really cool because you ride like you are in the TDF side by side with no regards to road rules. Instead you are inconsiderate and are making a bad name for cyclists.

exRunner

Please, no water bottles, my wheels have carbon spokes

I will pass the thoughts of this thread along to these guys the next time I ride with them, if there is a next time, since I only ride with them once in a while. I really really really think no one will care, but I suppose it will be worth a try.

Papa Tom

Rudeness among cyclists seems to be approaching peak levels right now. Perhaps it's that so many of us are out of work or underemployed and the bikes and roads are becoming channels for anxiety and frustration.

I've been cutting riders a lot of slack lately when they fail to return my customary nod of the head or even when they zip by me unannounced and nearly rip my left ear off. (Enter violins...) So many of us feel so helpless right now that I'd guess pumping up the volume on empty roads and bike paths is about all that makes some cyclists feel in control. And dissing other cyclists along the way is sometimes the only way to redirect anger that should be directed elsewhere.

Based on the books I've read about cycling eras dating back to the late 1800's, there have always been self-absorbed, arrogant people within our ranks. I doubt they will ever go away. But for those good people among us who are only ACTING like jerks until the economy comes back and a new set of tires is affordable again, please don't become so schmucky that it's irreversible later on!

Stray8

Buzzcut by them on a motorcycle! That'll learn them some consideration! LOL.


.

hally

Thanks ExR, and yeah it will probably fall on deaf ears but worth the breath I think.
Better yet pass it along to their wives

island rider

Based on my one interaction with you, I'd say you fit in there. Was looking for you in Huntington last Sunday...

exRunner

Ahh, Sunday. I ran that day because on Saturday the HBC S&M group rode from Port Jefferson to Orient Point and back. 109.5 miles in 5:20:30. It would have been faster, but we were screwing around for the first hour (14.3 miles total) trying to fix the ride leader's bike.

That group is a bunch of guys you can be proud to ride with. They are all like me, take no chances, wait on each other, and follow the basic road rules. I love to ride with them. You should go for a ride with us some time.

TeleJohn

To the OP,

It was you who was surprised.

Why?

Because you were not aware of your surroundings. That is nobody's problem but your own.

hally

Since you live in Syracuse and have absolutely no idea what you are talking about I will excuse your ignorance

TeleJohn

No one here gets bent out of shape from being passed.

The LI'ers that show up for SU certainly are not any good examples of intelligence.

But then again, my daughter graduated from Cornell, so I have high expectations.


As far as not knowing what I am talking about?
I picture you and your "friend" weaving down the side of the road on hybrids with socks pulled up to your knees, when a paceline whizzes by you. You become enraged and full of righteous indignation. Upon arriving home you jump on Bikeforums with a post about "TDF Wannabees".

It is a pathetic picture. Again, it is your fault for not being aware that the group was behind you.

hally

Like I said, NFI
Obviously from the other responses from people who actually LIVE AND RIDE HERE this group is a known problem.
Go back in the hole you came out of please.

exRunner

Since I was there...

We closed on the OP at twice his speed, we were making no noise except for the normal mechanical bike sounds, and we did it in a place that you would not expect any of that to happen.

I can understand the OP's surprise and indignation. I would suggest that you refrain from drawing conclusions based solely on a spur of the moment post on a public forum. We were certainly in the wrong. No question about it.

Now be nice, or go over to 41 and start an argument with PCad.

chipcom 

This thread is utter BS. Wheatley Rd is here in NE Ohio and trust me, nobody rides UP it at more than 8 or 9 mph. You are just all trying to make me think I am crazy...BUT I FOOLED YOU...I AM ALREADY THERE!