Lime green Lycra menace

[sadmansteve]

Here in North Yorkshire we have some fantastic roads but unfortunately high accident statistic for bikers. After yesterday's and today's ride out there is a new danger! Not only having to cope with pot holes, agricultural vehicles, caravans etc, the new danger is cyclists. Mostly middle aged men dressed in lurid lime green Lycra, riding two, three abreast down the country lanes. With the Tour De France starting in the UK this year and the Grand Depart kicking off in Yorkshire it's brought out this menace on a huge scale. Leave it in France and not in North Yorkshire! /posting.php?mode=post&f=5#

[alextrx850]

The cycleists can ride two abreast here and cars now have to allow a metre minimum to pass...even to venture into the oncomeing traffic lane and over double unbroken lines...gotta space one meter. When are the authorities going to register the bikes ?...that way they can claim personal injury insurance in a fail to stop accident with a motor vehicle.?

[Yoozy]

Yup, its bad round our country lanes these days and getting worse week by week. It was bad this weekend round Settle and in the Trough They don't give a shit about road safety, and have no concept what so ever about anyone else on the road. You can give them 2 yards, 3, 4, don't make any difference, they still just pull out and wobble everywhere. Sometimes their seems too be hundreds all in a line.
I treat them like horses and give them as much road as I can. They all seem to be nob heads though with no respect for anyone else imho. Tell you what though, this is definitely one instance where loud cans do save lives,, sometimes,, I've actually seen them look back to me or other bikes and then ignore them I blame Bradley Wiggins

Not as bad as the Hardly Movingson boys out on a cruise though. Jeebus, don't get me going about them buggers

[ekoja]

The cycleists can ride two abreast here and cars now have to allow a metre minimum to pass...even to venture into the oncomeing traffic lane and over double unbroken lines...gotta space one meter. When are the authorities going to register the bikes ?...that way they can claim personal injury insurance in a fail to stop accident with a motor vehicle.?

Isn't it up to 60kph?









then it's open slather.

[Red Rex]

You can't get near our local coffee shop at the weekends for pensioners in lycra and a bum bag full of bananas.
Best remedy is to point at them and giggle

[coxylaad]

oof.

Its funny how peoples perspective of things is tainted by their viewpoint.

I have been a cyclist on the roads for about 6 years now, and being a motorbiker I am well aware of the dangers of whats out there. Yes there are a few cyclists out there that don't help the cause, however I have to say it irks me somewhat when other road users use broad sweeping statements like 'they are a menace and wobble around the road'

I have been out on my bike on the road and have been buzzed by a motorbike doing well in excess of 100mph. That guy was clearly a bell end, but it doesn't mean all motorbiker's are idiots.

Motorbikers tend to all get tarred with the same brush, lets not do it to everyone else eh ?

[coxylaad]

but horse and karts, my god what a bunch of road hogging, slow moving, horse sh1t spreading muppets they are.

[drix]

I see tons of cyclists daily on my central London commute… I’ve stopped counting how many I’ve nearly hit/swore at, best ones being when you cruise down an empty road after setting of first at a set of lights and getting green lights at the following lights/junctions… there’s always one that comes from a side road at full speed, iPod headphones on… some do look but still carry on!
They also rarely stop a pedestrian crossing so as I pedestrian, I take great please at going straight in their path, kicking the rear wheel as they drive by being the cherry on the cake! J

To be fair, I’ve cycled to work as well recently and it is quite tough in town as a cyclist so I’m a little more understanding as to the challenges they face! My view is that, road traffic rules are to be followed by everyone who uses them… cars, bikes, bicycles, tricycles, horse carriages, electric mobility scooters, wheelchairs, pedestrians etc.
Common sense being the key on roads but that is quite a lot to ask to some people…

[phil108]

coxylaad and drix totally agree with you both.

I too have been a keen road race and time trial cyclist for most of my life, and believe that the cyclist gets an unfair rep. There are certainly idiot cyclists out there, as there are bus drivers (ever been on one of those journeys!!! never been in a bus since), lorry drives, car drivers, tractors, motorhomes and caravaners and numpty pedestrians who have a death wish and cross without thinking/looking. I believe its more about peoples attitude, and the "I am more important than you so I don't care" this type disregard for other is what pisses us off. imho.

[coxylaad]

I don't doubt there are some complete mongs riding cycling around the country, I just don't like being lumped together with them

[Red Rex]

Agreed , there must be some sensible and considerate cyclists out there.
It's just that I've not seen one yet.

[coxylaad]

That's because they blend in. No one notices the motorcycle passing with the muted factory exhaust, but everyone notices and complains about the guy with the aftermarket exhaust booming through the small village upsetting everyone.

[sadmansteve]

Didn't mean to cause offence Coxy, but there seems to be a lot of Bradley Wiggins wanabee's! If they want to emulate their hero they should stick to growing their sideburns wear the Lycra in the confines of their own homes and not ride our roads.

Section 66 of the highway code, which many cyclists don't adhere to.

You should

keep both hands on the handlebars except when signalling or changing gear
keep both feet on the pedals
never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends
not ride close behind another vehicle
not carry anything which will affect your balance or may get tangled up with your wheels or chain
be considerate of other road users, particularly blind and partially sighted pedestrians. Let them know you are there when necessary, for example, by ringing your bell if you have one. It is recommended that a bell be fitted.

[coxylaad]

None taken Steve, I am just trying to add balance to the conversation

keep both hands on the handlebars except when signalling or changing gear
keep both feet on the pedals
never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends
not ride close behind another vehicle
not carry anything which will affect your balance or may get tangled up with your wheels or chain
be considerate of other road users, particularly blind and partially sighted pedestrians. Let them know you are there when necessary, for example, by ringing your bell if you have one. It is recommended that a bell be fitted.

Any man caught free wheeling along the road with his feet off the pedals should be shot anyway lol

I agree with all of those things, except perhaps point 3. Reading between the lines that says if the road is really narrow please make sure you are riding single file so cars can push past you and suck you into their jetwash [top gun stylee]. Whenever possible I position myself so as to affect the traffic around me as little as possible, however sometimes you just have to apply common sense, and make it so other vehicles cant put you in danger by forcing their way past in tight situations with potential oncoming traffic. After all, most car drivers are absolutely useless.

To be honest though round where I live if its not cars chopping past us and forcing me into the gutter its random screaming out the window and the odd beer can being flung at us!

[sadmansteve]

Link to local news article.

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/1116405 ... year_high/