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-   -   Swerving is condemned? (https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/517411-swerving-condemned.html)

Naterider 03-05-09 10:49 PM


Originally Posted by urbanknight (Post 8477203)
The guy was an @$$hole for not anouncing his presence, but it is a little foolish to change lines or lanes without checking your shoulder. You never know if someone could be passing you, and even if they call their pass, it's not always heard.



It's made of carbon fiber, not crystal.



All good points urbanknight. But something is still bothering me about this post...It was a little condesending. Nope that wasn't it. The creative way you spelled a-hole? Nah. That was new to me. So after many many moments of deep reflection I finally figured it out. It's your avatar picture. Something about it ain't right. (some people probably think they know where I'm gonna go with this) It's the helmet hair joined in holy union with the big $hit eating grin. Those two need to be seperated in all of your lifes kodak moments. Helmet hair+a worn out look=pure gold.

Geoff326 03-05-09 11:05 PM


Originally Posted by urbanknight (Post 8477203)
The guy was an @$$hole for not anouncing his presence, but it is a little foolish to change lines or lanes without checking your shoulder. You never know if someone could be passing you, and even if they call their pass, it's not always heard.



It's made of carbon fiber, not crystal.

+1

checking my shoulder when lane changing is a natural instinct now, even when i'm just walking :commute:

caloso 03-05-09 11:23 PM


Originally Posted by Geoff326 (Post 8477846)
+1

checking my shoulder when lane changing is a natural instinct now, even when i'm just walking :commute:

Hah! I thought I was the only one who did that.

umd 03-05-09 11:26 PM


Originally Posted by caloso (Post 8477913)
Hah! I thought I was the only one who did that.

:innocent:

urbanknight 03-05-09 11:28 PM


Originally Posted by Naterider (Post 8477783)
All good points urbanknight. But something is still bothering me about this post...It was a little condesending. Nope that wasn't it. The creative way you spelled a-hole? Nah. That was new to me. So after many many moments of deep reflection I finally figured it out. It's your avatar picture. Something about it ain't right. (some people probably think they know where I'm gonna go with this) It's the helmet hair joined in holy union with the big $hit eating grin. Those two need to be seperated in all of your lifes kodak moments. Helmet hair+a worn out look=pure gold.

I think that must have been because I knew exactly why my wife was taking that photo. Are you telling me I don't look even a little worn out? That picture was taken not more than 5 minutes after finishing a 34 mile road race with a few 8-10% grades thrown in.

urbanknight 03-05-09 11:29 PM


Originally Posted by caloso (Post 8477913)
Hah! I thought I was the only one who did that.

I do it even when there's basically no chance of someone being there. I just can't help it. I've even flinched a few times when changing lanes piloting the tandem because I see someone directly behind me! :lol:

DScott 03-05-09 11:43 PM


Originally Posted by mattm (Post 8476561)
a bunnyhop would have been sweet in that case, btw.

If you deviate from your path in a vertical direction, is that still "holding your line," or should he yell at you for that too?

Naterider 03-05-09 11:46 PM


Originally Posted by urbanknight (Post 8477936)
I think that must have been because I knew exactly why my wife was taking that photo. Are you telling me I don't look even a little worn out? That picture was taken not more than 5 minutes after finishing a 34 mile road race with a few 8-10% grades thrown in.

This needs to be settled with a vote. Helmet hair is ok as long as you have a warn out look. We all are well aware that you need at least 97 miles to reach that look required for a proper helmet hair photo.

thirdin77 03-05-09 11:51 PM

There are @@@hole roadies like the guy behind the OP. Totally uptight, indignant, as manifested by their yelling this and that.

"Hold your line"???? The OP should've started swerving all over the path to make the guy more perturbed.

And to all those "you should be looking x' ahead of you" people, well, you can't always spot the potholes well ahead. Shadows cast earlier and later in the day, having the rising/setting sun in your eyes can make that impossible.

I'm not going to go plowing through some gaping pothole just to avoid being yelled at by some pompous "@@@".

Flatballer 03-06-09 12:12 AM


Originally Posted by Naterider (Post 8477992)
This needs to be settled with a vote. Helmet hair is ok as long as you have a warn out look. We all are well aware that you need at least 97 miles to reach that look required for a proper helmet hair photo.

I always just thought that was urban's haircut. I kinda liked it. Like corn rows, but cooler.

sstorkel 03-06-09 01:29 AM


Originally Posted by thirdin77 (Post 8478008)
There are @@@hole roadies like the guy behind the OP. Totally uptight, indignant, as manifested by their yelling this and that.

"Hold your line"???? The OP should've started swerving all over the path to make the guy more perturbed.

When somebody yells at me, I generally respond with a friendly "F*** you, Road Nazi". :love:

Metzinger 03-06-09 02:05 AM

I find it comical the number of posts from riders who feel slighted by those who would dare to draft off them.

Is it because they don't know that a trailing rider actually improves the aerodynamics of the leader? Or is it that they are self conscious of how their @$$es (thanks UrbanKnight) look from behind?

Either way, while I generally frown upon people who yell at strangers, I also like to take an interest in the welfare of those around me.

As George Costanza so eloquently put it, "You know we're living... IN A SOCIETY!"

1955 03-06-09 02:25 AM


Originally Posted by bustaquad (Post 8476320)
in that case; f the guy behind you.

+1,000,000

umd 03-06-09 04:31 AM


Originally Posted by Metzinger (Post 8478316)
I find it comical the number of posts from riders who feel slighted by those who would dare to draft off them.

Is it because they don't know that a trailing rider actually improves the aerodynamics of the leader? Or is it that they are self conscious of how their @$$es (thanks UrbanKnight) look from behind?

Either way, while I generally frown upon people who yell at strangers, I also like to take an interest in the welfare of those around me.

As George Costanza so eloquently put it, "You know we're living... IN A SOCIETY!"

Drafting is tailgating, and is dangerous under the best of circumstances. Unaniunced behind a stranger many times more so. I've personally had morons run into the back of me even when signaling stops. When I ride I will signal stops but I won't point out hazards unless I know someone is with me. I almost never have someone I don't know come up behind me (I know most everyone fast enough to do so), so that leaves people who try to get on my wheel after being passed or at lights. In those situations I will gradually accelerae until I snap the rubber band and break them free of me.

fosmith 03-06-09 04:44 AM


Originally Posted by celticfrost (Post 8476525)
If anyone truly thinks that total strangers riding in front of you need to call everything out or "hold their line" no matter what, then please do me a favor a stay the f*** away from me.

And no, I won't lighten up.

-Francis

I'm with Tom G. Warrior here on this one. The guy needed to be punched out.

carpediemracing 03-06-09 06:49 AM


Originally Posted by agarose2000 (Post 8476678)
I thought you were at fault until I reread and noticed that the guy behind you wasn't associated with your ride in any way.

If you WERE on a group ride, I'd say you would have been at fault. I just did a line ride a few weeks ago, and our 5-man group was doing well, but passed by a fast trio. They unfortunately passed us right when a section of road hazard cone markers was lined up, and our front guy had obstructed view, so he couldn't signal to us, and had to swerve. I was on his wheel, and the moment he swerved out of the way at 21mph, I was running right into a cone. I barely made it, but the two guys behind me hit the next cones and went down hard. It's REALLY important for the leader of a line ride to signal and not swerve, because the guy behind you has no chance at survival if he's riding tightly on your wheel.

In your situation, I think the guy behind you was behind a rude dork. You never indicated that you knew he was there, and it's irresponsible to automatically latch onto solo riders and expect them to give you all the cues as if it suddenly became a group ride. If you're going to draft a solo rider that doesn't expect you there, it's fully in your responsibility that you have adequate visibility and response distance in case they swerve.

The only defense for the other guy is that he's probably used to riding mostly in groups, where doing the group signaling is natural and automatic. If you've been doing that awhile, you're sort of shocked when people don't do it automatically. This happens a bunch when I alternate riding between an advanced road bike racing group, then sometimes go on easy slow rides with a slow beginner-early intermediate tri group - I know most of the tri rookies don't know how to do the group signal thing, but it's still unnerving for the first 5 minutes with them.

Saved me some typing.

Group ride? You grit your teeth, bunnyhop or whatever, and go over/through the hole. If you aren't paying enough attention you deserve to break your wheel. The guy behind you should be paying attention too, so they're on their own.

Solo ride? Do whatever you like. But try not to daydream too much.

If someone not on your ride comes up behind you, you're still on a solo ride.

Bonus points for being polite, attentive, and pointing to potholes even when someone not on your ride is behind you.

Delete points for yelling at someone you're not riding with because you're absentminded.

cdr

Metzinger 03-06-09 08:39 AM


Originally Posted by umd (Post 8478439)
Drafting is tailgating, and is dangerous under the best of circumstances. Unaniunced behind a stranger many times more so. I've personally had morons run into the back of me even when signaling stops. When I ride I will signal stops but I won't point out hazards unless I know someone is with me.

Tailgating is dangerous in cars, but, other than while stopped, have you ever seen a rider taken out by someone behind them? Seems to me the unannounced drafter imperils him/herself.

Since I've been over here, I've been impressed with the fluidity and ease with which pacelines comprising of complete strangers can form and dissolve out on the bike roads. People use bells, signal their intentions, and call out/ signal warnings about hazards. I'd like to think that this sort of pragmatic comraderie is possible everywhere among cyclists. What I've been reading here suggests otherwise.


Originally Posted by umd (Post 8478439)
I almost never have someone I don't know come up behind me (I know most everyone fast enough to do so)...

You probably hear this all the time, but: You Are Awesome!

umd 03-06-09 08:50 AM


Originally Posted by Metzinger (Post 8479061)
Tailgating is dangerous in cars, but, other than while stopped, have you ever seen a rider taken out by someone behind them? Seems to me the unannounced drafter imperils him/herself.

Since I've been over here, I've been impressed with the fluidity and ease with which pacelines comprising of complete strangers can form and dissolve out on the bike roads. People use bells, signal their intentions, and call out/ signal warnings about hazards. I'd like to think that this sort of pragmatic comraderie is possible everywhere among cyclists. What I've been reading here suggests otherwise.

You must have missed the important parts of my post... unannounced... ran into me...

Bottom line is that coming up on someone behind them and sticking on their wheel is rude and dangerous to all involved. A paceline, group ride is different because everybody expects it and there is an implicit contract between the riders. A solo rider has no expectation that any given moment there is someone behind them that they should signal obstacles to. It is the responsibility of the person behind to maintain a safe following distance.

Edit: I have gotten into impomptu pacelines with random people on the road, but the key is that it is a shared experience. Both riders (or more than 2) are mutually cooperative and involved. On the other hand drafting a stranger is one-sided.


Originally Posted by Metzinger (Post 8479061)
You probably hear this all the time, but: You Are Awesome!

I simply mean that I know the fast guys in town. There are plenty (tons) of people faster than me but I know them or ride with them all the time. Once and a while an out of town person will come up on me, but they won't just suck my wheel, they will come up and pass me or work with me.

Metzinger 03-06-09 09:11 AM

I've no affinity towards reckless, or inattentive riders. And it's a shame that guy hit you.

But I must have a different concept of rudeness.
And I've been recently socialized into the habits of always shoulder checking, always signalling, and always trying to look out for the other guy, or at least check if he's there. Even if he's too slow, old, fat, or sugar depleted to do his share of the pulls.

But maybe this populous little country wouldn't work so well if people didn't make such efforts to be sociable.

And that other bit: I was just having a bit of fun. I remember what it was like to be fast. You do get to know who everyone important is, even from a distance.

urbanknight 03-06-09 09:29 AM


Originally Posted by Naterider (Post 8477992)
This needs to be settled with a vote. Helmet hair is ok as long as you have a warn out look. We all are well aware that you need at least 97 miles to reach that look required for a proper helmet hair photo.

Having grown up around a velodrome, I can tell you that the minimum requirement to look worn out is 1km. But yeah, if you wish, I'll post a poll with a full size photo when I get the chance. (I accidentally resized the original and need to see if my wife kept the full size version).


Originally Posted by Flatballer (Post 8478079)
I always just thought that was urban's haircut. I kinda liked it. Like corn rows, but cooler.

I'm a band nerd who grew up to be a middle school music teacher. If I thought anything I was doing was cool, I'd change it immediately. :thumb:

umd 03-06-09 09:32 AM

Don't get me wrong... I do know when people are there. In this case I knew someone was behind me, I signalled a stop at a stop sign, and the guy behind me decided to run the stop through me. If someone wants to come up to me and be social while I'm riding that's fine, I will reciprocate (and have done so). But coming up on my wheel and sitting there is not being social. And sitting on a stranger's wheel, you have no expectation that they know you are there, will signal, etc. I prefer not to deal with it so I will usually just ride away.

schnee 03-06-09 11:47 AM

I've had people hit me from behind, get their wheel tangled between my wheel and the derailleur/frame, and almost take me down. Only excellent reactions from both of us prevented a spill.

The only time I expect random people to grab my wheel unannounced is when I'm part of a large group ride, like the local club or the recent Grand Fondo. Then, it's sort of implicit. Otherwise, if I feel someone on my wheel I'll say something.

On my end, I'll usually leave a few bike lengths in front of me or pass. I haven't really drafted strangers.

Busta Quad 03-06-09 11:56 AM

Next time, drop the a-hole behind you, and yell "you've been swerved!" as you ride off his wheel.

MDcatV 03-06-09 12:43 PM


Originally Posted by San Rensho (Post 8476274)
First of all, if you had to swerve, you weren't looking. You should be able to see the pothole and as you slowly move over a little, point at it.

If the pothole is not that big, just ride over it, it won't hurt you or your bike. Or just unweight your bike, a semi bunny-hop as you go over it.

Now I will rant about the idiots that swerve wildly at the slightest imperfection in the road because they don't want to hurt their precious little bikes.

this is the correct answer.

my team has some new members who cant ride in a straight line, and nearly smack into every roadkill, pothole, whatever on the side of the road. amazes me to watch a smooth double paceline clipping along, start to move out of the way of something, and then to watch the 2 or 3 guys who dont see the group movement and then have to do something twitchy to miss an obstacle. reason is that they're staring down at their computer, the wheel in front of them, or otherwise not focusing on where their vision needs to be. I cant imagine how they drive.

lesson you should have learned, this isnt a who was right issue, it's a PAY ATTENTION to where you're going issue.

chipcom 03-06-09 01:08 PM


Originally Posted by scr660 (Post 8476289)
I think if I were on my old aluminum bike, I wouldn't have cared, but the Madone deserves to be handled with a gentleman's touch.

A Madone on a path? That ain't a gentleman's touch, it's totally poseur.

Changing position without a head check is a bit of a rookie move too...you are lucky that schmuck wasn't passing you. Perhaps you need to stay on the path...not checking before changing position while on the road will give you and your Madone a really bad day.

The guy was a dweeb for saying something though...you meet those kinds when you ride Madones on the path. :p


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