Cycle messengers - manna from heaven for cycling detractors?

[John the Monkey]

PS. You're opening statement was one of the funniest things I've read in ages.

Didn't do much for me, personally, but then I'd recently re-read some of the "Jeeves" stories, so the bar was set high.

In other news, I was nearly flattened by an RLJing bus today (he'd got the arse with a car that hadn't let him out, and floored it through the lights). Fortunately I was able to remember that green means "Go when it is clear" not "Go regardless, while adjusting the cd player/air conditioning". Still, those naughty cyclists eh? tsk.

 

[4F]

and this vid has been done before on here a few times.

Agreed, whilst they may ride like nutters I still enjoy the video

 

[XmisterIS]

I ride like that on a regular basis ...

... only I do it on a mountain bike and in an environment where:

1) The large, solid obstacles are made of wood and tend not to move.

2) When I crash it is only my own stupid self that I injure! That being said, I have been known to leave the odd chainring-shaped gouge in the odd tree (see point 1).

3) It can be muddy. Very, very muddy. Which makes for a nice, soft landing

 

[Sittingduck]

These geezers are the chit
Irresponsinble and dangerous - maybe but it's nice entertainmant to watch this.... especially after a few beers

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Exactly, it is superb entertainment (though not as good as the New York alleycat vids on youtube) Stop being so po-faced the rest of you...!

 

[Keith Oates]

Entertaining, yes - Frightening, a little bit - enjoyable to watch, definitely - sensible, not really!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ComedyPilot]

Nothing to do with me. I don't/can't ride like that.

BUT, I don't want to be tarred with the brush by short-sighted idiots that think all cyclists ride like that.

 

[bauldbairn]

I agree - no helmets or hiViz -shocking!!


On a serious note - I admire their speed / bravery / bike handling skills etc, but FFS so many near misses with pedestrians / other cyclists / other road users, they must be living on borrowed time!

Surely all couriers / messengers can't be as careless as these guys?

 

[paddy01]

I might just be me but I see no 'skill' in what they're doing, simply they're prepared to take far greater risks with their own and other peoples safety.

It's like riding motorbikes very fast. I know a fair few who ride very quickly (way in excess of the speed limits) on the roads. The reason they're fast on the road is that they're prepared to run the risks of getting killed or seriously injured when it all goes tits up, getting caught and spending some time at her majesty's pleasure etc..

When you get them onto a race track for a trackday, you find they're actually not that fast after all.