Cycle Girl (InGear - Sunday Times)

[thomas]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/cycling/article6796382.ece

hmm, well, she can't signal and expects other people to read her mind. Sounds like she sets a good example for the rest of us

This bit did make me laugh though:

“Use a f****** hand signal”. At which point, I’m afraid I did use a hand signal.

The truck remark I thought was a bit out of order:

(because killing cyclists, as every truck driver knows, is such an effective way of teaching them a lesson).

I wouldn't of minded so much if it was just "some drivers".

 

[downfader]

I've read her stuff before and even offered advice that she should be practising somewhere quiet if she does struggle that much with signalling. Falls on deaf ears sadly, and her blog/column mearly adds to the selfish cyclist mythos.

 

[MajorMantra]

She sounds like a right pain in the arse on the roads. And why does a certain category of cyclists always feel the need to mock people who actually have proper cycling kit?

Matthew

 

[gavintc]

I read it this morning and was very unimpressed. A dizzy journo typing copy without really engaging her brain.

 

[hackbike 666]

As for the slightly plump girl on the racer, I’ll bloody have her. I’ll beat her to the next set. You see if I don’t.

This reminds me of a few threads on here.

 

[cannondale boy]

Cycle Stupid girl should stop cycling as she will not only cause herself harm on the roads but others. The first post is right get some lessons before endagering yourself. Bloody hell its not rocket science.

 

[Downward]

Why can she not signal ?
If she can't take one hand off her bike for 5-10 seconds should she be riding busy roads ?

 

[akaAndrew]

Is there any way that she is, perhaps, just... writing in character? Perhaps even basing it on the kind of road use she sees? Perhaps CycleGirl is merely a comedy piece and the butt of the joke is the inept cyclist? No no no, of course not. It's all real isn't it?

In all seriousness I have no idea, not being a reader of the column nor of the ST.

 

[semislickstick]

Why can she not signal ?
If she can't take one hand off her bike for 5-10 seconds should she be riding busy roads ?

Texting her editor with the other hand, that's why.

 

[thomas]

Is there any way that she is, perhaps, just... writing in character? Perhaps even basing it on the kind of road use she sees? Perhaps CycleGirl is merely a comedy piece and the butt of the joke is the inept cyclist? No no no, of course not. It's all real isn't it?

In all seriousness I have no idea, not being a reader of the column nor of the ST.

InGear always has a cycling piece so it's not just mocking cyclists, even if it makes a fool of us.

I could understand not signalling if it was for the entire corner, and on some roundabouts I struggle due to the camber (always signal and position myself well before hand) - If I don't hold on, on the bend I'd just come off....but that's probably because I don't want to loose much speed on them.

 

[hackbike 666]

Take it easy dude and take your time.

 

[HJ]

Just another good reason not to buy the Sunday Times, the writing is rubbish...

 

[hackbike 666]

Yeah Screws of the World is definitely better.

 

[bennytheegg]

Can't signal and cycle at the same time?! But woman are supposed to be multi-taskers aren't they? Let's show 'em lads.

Tonight I'm going to multi-task. I shall have sex AND cheat on my girlfriend at the same time. Hurray!!

Not really. Me and the girl I'm seeing aren't official yet. We're waiting until she's a teenager.

*Please note I am not really a love-rat paedo*

But whoever writes next in this thread is...

 

[Wheeledweenie]

Oh God, just what we ladies need, yet another example of a ditzy idiot who will ruin our reputation.

A girl at work wanted to start cycling into work but knew she wasn't very road-aware so asked if I would take her in. We practice signalling and looking behind on the off-road section and I show her the safe way of negotiating junctions and things. Why can't that woman practice?