Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
At the weekend I drove into town to see a friend who's cat had died. Most inconsiderate for him, but very useful to me as he'd just gone banzai and bought a cupboard load of cat food that he now had no use for and my cats were to he the lucky beneficiaries.
Anyway, c.10 mile journey, country roads, no hurry. Sunny day, I started to encounter the odd roadie, then the odd 'cycle event' warning sign, then hapless chaps sat on grass verges in fluorescent tabard, before I finally came behind the main pack, the peleoton if you will.
Now, I was in no hurry, the roads are narrow and windy with few safe spots to overtake, and being a rider myself was quite happy to hang back, even if the growing queue of cars behind me were not.
But after a few miles of this I was struck by how terrible their roadcraft was. I've no objection to them being 2 or even three abreast, so long as their behaviour is steady, consistent and predictable, but this lot were weaving and wobbling all over the place like a one legged cat burying a turd on a frozen pond. Despite being on a live carriageway with dangerous stuff like cars all around, not one lifted their heads to look behind, or to scan left and right as they approached junctions etc. They really were a pith poor shower and I was becoming quite embarrassed watching them. To be so safety conscious that they wear a helmet (not having that debate here) only to be so casual with other aspects of safety seems utterly ridiculous.
All in all, a terribly poor show. These guys are serious enough about cycling to invest serious money in their rides and kit, but seem oblivious to the most fundamental techniques of using them safely. Considering how vulnerable we are on the roads you'd think that people so seriously into it would pay more heed to their own safety. They were, quite frankly, fools, and as a user group we will continue to struggle to be taken seriously while people like this don't bother to get their own house in order. I was quite angry by the time I arrived at my free Whiskas.
Anyway, c.10 mile journey, country roads, no hurry. Sunny day, I started to encounter the odd roadie, then the odd 'cycle event' warning sign, then hapless chaps sat on grass verges in fluorescent tabard, before I finally came behind the main pack, the peleoton if you will.
Now, I was in no hurry, the roads are narrow and windy with few safe spots to overtake, and being a rider myself was quite happy to hang back, even if the growing queue of cars behind me were not.
But after a few miles of this I was struck by how terrible their roadcraft was. I've no objection to them being 2 or even three abreast, so long as their behaviour is steady, consistent and predictable, but this lot were weaving and wobbling all over the place like a one legged cat burying a turd on a frozen pond. Despite being on a live carriageway with dangerous stuff like cars all around, not one lifted their heads to look behind, or to scan left and right as they approached junctions etc. They really were a pith poor shower and I was becoming quite embarrassed watching them. To be so safety conscious that they wear a helmet (not having that debate here) only to be so casual with other aspects of safety seems utterly ridiculous.
All in all, a terribly poor show. These guys are serious enough about cycling to invest serious money in their rides and kit, but seem oblivious to the most fundamental techniques of using them safely. Considering how vulnerable we are on the roads you'd think that people so seriously into it would pay more heed to their own safety. They were, quite frankly, fools, and as a user group we will continue to struggle to be taken seriously while people like this don't bother to get their own house in order. I was quite angry by the time I arrived at my free Whiskas.
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