Bicycle Rant

[swsig]

Not much gets under my skin, but the last 4 or 5 times I have driven into New Albany the roads have been clogged with bicycles. ...

Have you no respect for the Peloton? These are people who are demonstrating their physical, intellectual, and moral superiority over the rest of us, and we must respect that superiority by deferring to them at all times.

If you want to view some very humorous barbs directed at the spandex bike rider crowd, check out the comic strip, "Pearls Before Swine". Occasionally, it features a guest character, "Jeff the Cyclist". Here's an example:

 

[Kurusu]

Have you no respect for the Peloton? These are people who are demonstrating their physical, intellectual, and moral superiority over the rest of us, and we must respect that superiority by deferring to them at all times.

If you want to view some very humorous barbs directed at the spandex bike rider crowd, check out the comic strip, "Pearls Before Swine". Occasionally, it features a guest character, "Jeff the Cyclist". Here's an example:

That's more like "Jeff the jerk". They come in all sizes and combinations. And can wear any type of clothing, from spandex to suit and tie. It's jus a "human thing" I guess.

 

[glenwolde]

My only adult use of a bicycle was during our temporary relocation to New Orleans. I found that between the side streets and bike lanes I could get most places that were within five miles quicker by bike given the problems with traffic and more importantly....parking.

So I got me a cruiser, mounted a rear rack and zip tied a milk crate to it. I had a small soft-side cooler that fit in it perfectly.

I went everywhere on that bike. Grocery, liquor store, restaurants, hardware store. Just about everything I needed was within two miles. It was great.

 

[Bill Bates]

I'm one of those spandex wearing Lance Armstrong I'll never be road bicycle riders. I'm also an automobile driver. I understand the frustration some people feel having to slow down for us bicycle riders. What bothers me is some how we are seen as terrible for being out on the road because we take precious time out of some car drivers day.

Those same drivers will wait to safely pass gramma driving her 1980 Buick Electra. They won't crowd her or give her the "your number one finger". They do the same for a tractor or semi going up hill. In my part of the world they won't blast through a herd of cattle being moved or out on open range. Yet it is okay to crowd bicyclists, flip them off and blow smoke in their I've got a small unit jacked up pickup.

With that said, I also hate bicyclist that hog the road riding two or more abreast. I might ride two abreast but when I hear a car coming it is back to single file. with that said in a steep narrow canyon you might find me more out in the lane. That is because a wobble on the edge can put you off the edge. Also, it forces drivers to stay back and not crowd me until I can safely move over and let them go passed. Here in Utah the law says a driver when passing a bicyclist most give the rider at least 3 feet.

On to bike paths. I won't ride on them if they allow skate boarders and pedestrians. It is a bad combination with road bikes. There is nothing worse coming up on a mom with stroller, a toddler and dog on the extend-a-lead. Little kids dart as do dogs. Even passing at a slow speed can lead to bad crashes. Been there done that.

I ride the road and I try to stay darn close to that white emergency lane/ parking strip line. I have been doored when riding in the parking lane and that is no fun.

In Utah you can roll through a stop sign on a bike. I said roll not blow through at 25 mph. Here we can even go through a red light after a reasonable wait as can motorcycles if they can't trip the weight sensor.

So it comes down to wether I'm in my vehicle or on my bike I try hard to be safe and courteous. I hope others do as well.

I do wish Utah had a law like Colorado...no blowing smoke on bicyclist.

So everyone just be nice and safe out there.

 

[Inusuit]

I ride an old Diamondback Mountain bike for cardio. We're in a rural area, so I have access to gravel roads and two tracks, but must negotiate a busy two lane highway with 65 mph limit to get to them.

The local municipality has almost 40 miles of greenway. I agree with Bill Bates that I would rather deal with semi trucks and traffic at arm's length than ride the greenway. Dogs, strollers, etc. The last time I rode there, a guy on a bike came very close to hitting me head on because he was looking over his shoulder at a girl in running shorts.

I can spend an hour or so on the country roads and may never meet or be passed by a vehicle or other bicyclist.

Yup, some cyclists are jerks but none deserve the threats in previous posts.
Thump, thump. Really?

Just for the record, I ride in Carhartt shorts and a brew pub tee shirt.

 

[delcrossv]

Know your state laws.

In IL (and across the river in MO too I believe) bicycles are vehicles with the same rights - and obligations - as motorized vehicles.

And that's it right there. As a life long cyclist (bicycle and motorcycle) I respect the law and expect others to do the same.
So, Onomea,et al. if you do decide to play that game, I hope you're prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, just like this ******* in Michigan: Kalamazoo bicycle crash - Wikipedia

The illogical and to me dangerous part of IL law is that the bicycles are required to ride WITH traffic; not against it. I'm a lifelong motorcyclist but think if I were into peddling a bike, I'd want to see whats coming at me.

Not illogical at all. Statistically, riding against traffic is considerably more dangerous. Passing a bike is just like passing any other slower moving vehicle. There are such things as mirrors for bikes- I use em.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Carts have only two wheels and are usually drawn by just one animal. 4 wheel wagon were very seldom seen.



The common sight was(in more rural areas you'll stil find them) more like this.



Classic wooden wheels.

Or upgraded to rubber tires.

Oh, okay, never knew the nuance. Like my favorite from "The Quiet Man". "No pattyfingers if you please!"

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Too many drivers with their Bluetooth in their ear, Smartphone in their hand-and pill popping.

 

[rubiranch]

Quite the opposite, to pay for those $10,000 bikes you so resent.

New ATV's cost well over $10,000 so why am I having to pay for the trails that I ride on and not them?

So the rich shouldn't have to pay for the bike paths because they pay more in taxes than others??

 

[Old_Cop]

What a great country, people get to ride bikes, just for fun.

 

[Camster]

I used to be an avid bike rider, both solo and in clubs. (in my club at the time, most obeyed our single file rule, but there was always someone who had to double up to talk or ride out of formation to show off their superior skills.
I shake my head when I'm out driving now.
Two abreast seems to be the rule. Zero concern for cars coming up behind them or at stop lights. Chitchat with their bud is more important than their safety.
... And do cyclists and joggers go out of their way to use busy roads without shoulders, and rush hour or twilight as their prime time?

 

[Absalom]

New ATV's cost well over $10,000 so why am I having to pay for the trails that I ride on and not them?

So the rich shouldn't have to pay for the bike paths because they pay more in taxes than others??

I have no idea how Utah finances its recreation infrastructure, so if you find it unfair, do something about it politically or put up with it.

In Oregon, the state-constructed bike trails or their access parking lots are pretty much all in fee parks, so it’s pay-to-play. An ATV public land permit is actually cheaper than a state park permit. Personally I’d have no problem with requiring a bike tag fee to finance local or county trails, but I suspect that’d be a nightmare to administer and enforce, so nobody does it.

 

[llowry61]

No problem, I have big shoulders!

Have you no respect for the Peloton? These are people who are demonstrating their physical, intellectual, and moral superiority over the rest of us, and we must respect that superiority by deferring to them at all times.

If you want to view some very humorous barbs directed at the spandex bike rider crowd, check out the comic strip, "Pearls Before Swine". Occasionally, it features a guest character, "Jeff the Cyclist". Here's an example:

That is great and captures what I am talking about. I have no issue with someone riding a bike, but consider your fellow citizens. I agree with the driving comments as well.

 

[CH4]

Some of us hoard more than guns - I have 8 bicycles, 4 in the USA and 4 in the Philippines. Here are 5 of them:

Colnago MXL
Colnago CT1
Colnago C50
Salsa Mukluk
Surly Krampus...

 

[rubiranch]

I have no idea how Utah finances its recreation infrastructure, so if you find it unfair, do something about it politically or put up with it.

We are. We are working on requiring people to register their bicycles based on cost, just like we do on our OHV.

Except for the rich who already pay a lot in taxes.

 

[Muddyboot]

So let me get this strait, bike riders don't like bike paths because people walking or skate borders may slow you down and possibly cause accidents.

But you're good with being on a narrow road and slowing cars down and possibly causing accidents.

So you've created the some conditions on public roads as you don't like on bike paths.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Here in NJ bike riders are expected to follow, the rules of the road, in my town an adult riding a bike on the sidewalks will be ticketed.
The phrase I heard in my family was "You're not the only pebble on the beach!" If I am driving, stop at a light, a bus or other large makes a turn facing me, I will back up or pull over to give them clearance. If I see a tractor trailer backing in or pulling out I will stop and let them proceed. What's so hard about that ?

 

[delcrossv]

Some of us hoard more than guns - I have 8 bicycles, 4 in the USA and 4 in the Philippines. Here are 5 of them:

Colnago MXL
Colnago CT1
Colnago C50
Salsa Mukluk
Surly Krampus...

Hah, you're just a tyro. Between mine, the wife's and the kids we re up to 24 IIRC. About half of them are 'bents, bunch of French kid sized road bikes,couple of trikes and one streamliner.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The local bike shops have reported a nice uptick in business, with a lot of the malls and shopping centers barely open, the movie theaters, amusement parks, sport stadiums closed, people are finding two wheels a good way to get out of the house, the kids away from the computers-and actually do things as a family.

 

[pawngal]

So let me get this strait, bike riders don't like bike paths because people walking or skate borders may slow you down and possibly cause accidents.

But you're good with being on a narrow road and slowing cars down and possibly causing accidents.

So you've created the some conditions on public roads as you don't like on bike paths.

My feeling exactly. My county has over 60 miles of hard surface bike paths, some on old railroad right of ways, some next to a street. There are some places where the streets are too narrow to add a bike lane but most places are close to a bike lane.