Dogs & Cycle paths arrgggghhh

[hackbike 666]

My point is that yes, in an ideal world you'd be able to concentrate exclusively on the 200 yards of road in front of you; in practice, there are plenty of other things to concentrate on which conspire to hinder you doing so.

That's true though.I find in Central London im forever concentrating on the fact that a ped may be crossing between traffic which is very common and also the fact of what that cab/bus/cyclist/car/lorry is going to do next.

 

[Cab]

No, but the principle's the same (reductio ad absurdum, or something). Consider this ... last night, I was driving along the unlit B road with two pedestrians on a pavement to my left. I noticed one of them was weaving about and walking in the road, so I watched him and pulled out, then watched him in my mirror as my trailer went past. Only after I'd gone past him did I notice the unlit cyclist a bit further on. My point is that yes, in an ideal world you'd be able to concentrate exclusively on the 200 yards of road in front of you; in practice, there are plenty of other things to concentrate on which conspire to hinder you doing so. If the cyclist last night had been lit, I'd have seen him from much further back and would have been able to factor in his presence much earlier.
Anyway, it doesn't strike me as too absurd to suggest that if it's too dark to see a dog lead, it's too dark to cycle at much more than walking pace if there are dogs and people about.

That someone was unlit at night on a bike but visible to you because you were going at an appropriate speed is a good demonstration that responsible motoring trumps well lit cyclists

There is a point, however, when if an obstacle can only be determined by deduction (a string between a dog and a person) you're getting to a position where its rather bad luck to miss it, and its getting fair to put more of the blame on the other guy. Here I doubt any cyclist would make this mistake twice, but its harsh to come down on the cyclist too much for doing it once.

 

[BentMikey]

Surely the cyclist should simply be riding so he can stop within the distance he can see to be clear?

Let's just be slightly more fair than you are being, RT, and remember what I posted on this topic. I think my attitude is both fair and consistent, no?

OTOH I think it's up to us to go slow and be careful around dogs and pedestrians. If you want to go faster, use the road, not the stupid 'kin cycle path. Cycle paths are a blight on the land, and besides which, it's perfectly legal and fine for pedestrians and dogs to use them.

Given the prevalence of dog walkers, dogs, and extendable leads, their presence isn't exactly hard to predict and then avoid. Besides which, it's a general rule of good riding and driving not to pass between parent/child and owner/dog as very often the latter will run back to the former when surprised.

p.s. my posts are more general in nature, and not aimed at the OP, so please don't take it personally. I have some sympathy with the frustration!

 

[paddy01]

I'm all for inclusivity: lycra, tweed, denim, polyester, latex - whatever.

Excellent, my new outer garb for cycling shall be the latex gimp suit, with matching snooker ball and conveniently placed flaps.

 

[Origamist]

Excellent, my new outer garb for cycling shall be the latex gimp suit, with matching snooker ball and conveniently placed flaps.

I'll guarantee that people will notice you. I advised BM that he should cycle with a sex doll strapped to his back/tailbox, but sadly, he refused...

 

[John the Monkey]

Perhaps I've missed some back history here, but lycra makes sense when cycling longer distances.

The problem is that it treacherously denormalises cycling, thus undoing the sterling work done by cycling advocates on their blogs.

 

[theclaud]

. All I want to see less cars and more bikes, do you?

Fewer cars, Nipper. Fewer.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Let's just be slightly more fair than you are being, RT, and remember what I posted on this topic. I think my attitude is both fair and consistent, no?



Given the prevalence of dog walkers, dogs, and extendable leads, their presence isn't exactly hard to predict and then avoid. Besides which, it's a general rule of good riding and driving not to pass between parent/child and owner/dog as very often the latter will run back to the former when surprised.

p.s. my posts are more general in nature, and not aimed at the OP, so please don't take it personally. I have some sympathy with the frustration!

I quite agree. It wasn't aimed at you; it was a tongue in cheek reference to Cab's position on the matter.

 

[Nipper]

This is an odd post. Perhaps I've missed some back history here, but lycra makes sense when cycling longer distances.

Lycra is not the only cloth useful for long distances but my point is based on an article by MCC from Copenhegenize.

There is a more effective way to move steadily towards
a culture that can be enjoyed by everyone. It’s something
I call, somewhat revolutionarily, ‘riding your bike’. A
normal bike. Wearing normal clothes. Just like the way
that hundreds of thousands of people in Europe – from
Ferrara, Italy in the south to Trondheim, Norway in the
north – do. Will it work? Indeed it will.
Enter Joe Everyman. An unlikely superhero if ever
there was one.
Joe is an average citizen in a car-based society,
driving to work each day. Like the vast majority of
the population, he is not an environmental activist and he never, ever will be. The only thing that is likely to
force him out of his car is the increasing price of fuel.
What does Joe think when he sees a hardcore cyclist
on a specialist bike or a fixie speed past his car? He
might well think, “Hmm, I could ride my bike to work
too...” It’s unlikely, however, he’ll see himself reflected
in the image of the cyclist. What he’ll probably see is
a member of an often militant sub-culture, wearing
different clothes to anything he would wear and riding
a bike so far removed from any that Joe has ever owned.
Joe will believe that riding his bike would mean
infiltrating an elitist subculture, investing a lot of
money in specialist gear, streamlined clothes and a
fancy bike. Worst of all, Joe would find himself making
a statement by riding. Joe Everyman doesn’t wish to
make a statement. He just wants to live his life, not
climb onto a soapbox. If Joe’s route home is blocked by
a bike protest/demonstration/celebration, he’ll just
get pissed off and we’ll lose him.
Now let’s imagine Joe Everyman in traffic seeing
another chap ride past in a shirt and tie and a briefcase
on the back rack. He’s not out to break land-speed
records and the only gear on him is trouser clips and,
if you like, a helmet. Just taking it easy and practising
risk management instead of risk taking. Oh, and
the man’s bike resembles the one in Joe’s garage.
Moments later, a girl passes by on a cool sit-up-andbeg
bike with a wicker basket, wearing a skirt and
stylish shoes and listening to her iPod. Joe Everyman
might think, “I could do that. It’s only 15 kilometres. That
guy looks like me. And that girl makes it look easy...”

Mikael Coleville Anderson, from an article in issue 1 of the ride
Read more on copenhagenize.com

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Lycra is not the only cloth useful for long distances but my point is based on an article by MCC from Copenhegenize.
... article ...


Mikael Coleville Anderson, from an article in issue 1 of the ride
Read more on copenhagenize.com

Fair enough, but it's hardly a reason to have a go at those who choose to wear lycra to commute. I do myself.

 

[Arch]

I wear some lycra on my commute, I can't help it, it's woven into my bra and pants...

 

[Rhythm Thief]

<goes off for cold shower>

 

[Norm]

<goes off for cold shower>

If it helps dampen your ardour (or 'arder), RT, my underwear also contains lycra.

 

[Crankarm]

Lycra is not the only cloth useful for long distances but my point is based on an article by MCC from Copenhegenize.

There is a more effective way to move steadily towards
a culture that can be enjoyed by everyone. It’s something
I call, somewhat revolutionarily, ‘riding your bike’. A
normal bike. Wearing normal clothes. Just like the way
that hundreds of thousands of people in Europe – from
Ferrara, Italy in the south to Trondheim, Norway in the
north – do. Will it work? Indeed it will.
Enter Joe Everyman. An unlikely superhero if ever
there was one.
Joe is an average citizen in a car-based society,
driving to work each day. Like the vast majority of
the population, he is not an environmental activist and he never, ever will be. The only thing that is likely to
force him out of his car is the increasing price of fuel.
What does Joe think when he sees a hardcore cyclist
on a specialist bike or a fixie speed past his car? He
might well think, “Hmm, I could ride my bike to work
too...” It’s unlikely, however, he’ll see himself reflected
in the image of the cyclist. What he’ll probably see is
a member of an often militant sub-culture, wearing
different clothes to anything he would wear and riding
a bike so far removed from any that Joe has ever owned.
Joe will believe that riding his bike would mean
infiltrating an elitist subculture, investing a lot of
money in specialist gear, streamlined clothes and a
fancy bike. Worst of all, Joe would find himself making
a statement by riding. Joe Everyman doesn’t wish to
make a statement. He just wants to live his life, not
climb onto a soapbox. If Joe’s route home is blocked by
a bike protest/demonstration/celebration, he’ll just
get pissed off and we’ll lose him.
Now let’s imagine Joe Everyman in traffic seeing
another chap ride past in a shirt and tie and a briefcase
on the back rack. He’s not out to break land-speed
records and the only gear on him is trouser clips and,
if you like, a helmet. Just taking it easy and practising
risk management instead of risk taking. Oh, and
the man’s bike resembles the one in Joe’s garage.
Moments later, a girl passes by on a cool sit-up-andbeg
bike with a wicker basket, wearing a skirt and
stylish shoes and listening to her iPod. Joe Everyman
might think, “I could do that. It’s only 15 kilometres. That
guy looks like me. And that girl makes it look easy...”

Mikael Coleville Anderson, from an article in issue 1 of the ride
Read more on copenhagenize.com

RoFL...........Nipper has revealed himself to be......... a PETROLHEAD.

And buying a car and wearing a suit and tie and brogues isn't a statement ?

Perhaps the reason why Lyrca is worn so widely by cyclists is because it happens to be the best fabric to wear for cycling. It's light, wicks away sweat, and dries quickly in comparison to other materials such as cotton. If you wash it it can be dry in 5-10 minutes or less on a warm day. Cotton takes a lot longer to dry. Is it just the bright colours of Lycra that racing road cyclists tend to wear that causes you a problem or the material itself? You can get subdued colours such as black and grey to match the colour scheme of a suit. Cycling in a suit and tie and smart shoes would really knacker them and to be honest would be rather uncomfortable and unpleasant after a short distance IMHO. Ok one could cycle in smart casual light linens but Lycra is very functional. Lycra and other man made materials happen to be used a lot in hiking and climbing clothing as well as in field and track clothing. I suppose next you'll be arguing that 10,000m runners should be wearing suits or smart shirts and trousers or skirts as the case may be .

 

[Nipper]

RoFL...........Nipper has revealed himself to be......... a PETROLHEAD.

And buying a car and wearing a suit and tie and brogues isn't a statement ?

Not sure how you get there from my post FYI I don't own a car never have, I don't know how they work.

So if lycra is so good why don't all the millions of European cyclists wear it? I tend to wear what ever clothes I happen to be wearing, always a kangol504, sometimes with a suit, sometimes tweed (which is arguably the best material for cycling), but mostly in jeans and jumpers . I am showing those non cyclists that it is not a weird subculture but normal to ride a bicycle.

Initially I read a few threads here and thought this seems like an interesting forum. Further reading in the last few days has lead me to think that an awful lot of people here are lycra clad road warriors (or even worse weekend racers). Are there any posters here who are normal cyclists on upright bikes wearing normal clothes? Are there any people living car free?