Idiots in the sun

[screenman]

Isn't that what most clubs do to novice riders, try to put them off by tearing their legs off or making them hill climb inappropriate terrain? Or is it just thta the clubs I've had the misfortune to have joined all tended to behave like they want to keep cycling to themselves and new members have to earn their place?

In 45 years of cycling clubs never have I come across one like you describe here. Scaremongering.

 

[summerdays]

The other option is simply to add a new award such as the KoM... any section on a cyclepath above 12 mph should be awarded a Muppet award

But some sections of cycle path are safe to do over 12, so it isn't quite that simple. In the middle of a wet winter day I have done a couple of miles on it and met a total of under 10 cyclists and pedestrians. It is the sheer volume of cyclists and pedestrians using it about 8:30 am that really becomes a problem closer to the town centre. The idiots do not adjust their cycling to the conditions, other than swerving around pedestrians and slower cyclists.

I do think the lower sections could do with being widened, especially the extremely narrow bit.

 

[pauldavid]

In 45 years of cycling clubs never have I come across one like you describe here. Scaremongering.

In approx. 5 years of cycling I've come across 2 clubs just like this, he's not scaremongering.

 

[screenman]

In approx. 5 years of cycling I've come across 2 clubs just like this, he's not scaremongering.

Which clubs, also did you pick the wrong group to ride with. Ours is not a large club as only 176 members, makes you wonder how they all got as fast as you talk about, seeing as some riding regularly on the club runs are in their 70s.

 

[BigAl68]

But some sections of cycle path are safe to do over 12, so it isn't quite that simple. In the middle of a wet winter day I have done a couple of miles on it and met a total of under 10 cyclists and pedestrians. It is the sheer volume of cyclists and pedestrians using it about 8:30 am that really becomes a problem closer to the town centre. The idiots do not adjust their cycling to the conditions, other than swerving around pedestrians and slower cyclists.

I do think the lower sections could do with being widened, especially the extremely narrow bit.

You have got it spot on. This morning I passed two cyclists and had four pass me coming towards Bath. Everyone was happy doing a fair pace and there are no issues. One of the worst places is the Devon Road junction where the school kid's cross and you see people flying down from fishponds and paying no regard to the crossing or the slow down signs. My journey home takes 10 to 15 minutes longer as I slow my general speed and dawdle past dog walkers, mums with buggies etc and it doesn't ruin my day. Some people either need to leave more time to get where they need to be or get on the roads and keep up with the traffic.

 

[summerdays]

Don't know why I've never seen a policeman on the path at that time, though I have at other times throughout the day. Then they could be warned or even fined for cycling recklessly or whatever the phase is.

 

[BigAl68]

@summerdays I don't think I have ever seen a policeman on the path ever in the past 4 years I have been trundling along it. I have called the police on a number of occasions to report stolen motorbikes normally dumped at the fishponds end of the tunnel and once to report a car driving erratically along the stretch from Avon Valley railway to Saltford.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

In 45 years of cycling clubs never have I come across one like you describe here. Scaremongering.

I'm afraid you'll just have to accept that other people's experience is different to yours. Life is like that.

 

[Mugshot]

The other option is simply to add a new award such as the KoM... any section on a cyclepath above 12 mph should be awarded a Muppet award

Nonsense. It is not a prerequisite that you have to be running strava before you can go out and ride quickly, or try to beat a PB or ride irresponsibly around others.

But some sections of cycle path are safe to do over 12, so it isn't quite that simple. In the middle of a wet winter day I have done a couple of miles on it and met a total of under 10 cyclists and pedestrians. It is the sheer volume of cyclists and pedestrians using it about 8:30 am that really becomes a problem closer to the town centre. The idiots do not adjust their cycling to the conditions, other than swerving around pedestrians and slower cyclists.

I do think the lower sections could do with being widened, especially the extremely narrow bit.

The B&B path is down with me too. There is an 8 mile section which I use regularly, jumping on and off depending on how I'm extending my commute. If we split that into the two 4 mile sections which I use the most, on the first section it is unusual to see more than 3 people total no matter what time of day it is, the second is a bit busier, but it still feels really busy when you start getting above around 15 people. In a few months it will not be unusual to see nobody at all, on the whole 8 mile section. I will regularly go through the whole 8 miles at various times of the day and not see a soul.
12mph when you're the only one on the path with clear line of site for at least 1/4 mile? Do me a favour!

I know it wasn't you who came up with the 12mph thing btw.

Don't know why I've never seen a policeman on the path at that time, though I have at other times throughout the day. Then they could be warned or even fined for cycling recklessly or whatever the phase is.

I've seen a policewoman once on our bit of the path. I caught her up, she was praticing riding no handed so I sat behind her for a bit, she was very when she eventually turned around after hearing my freewheel I did congratulate her on a job well done though

 

[summerdays]

@summerdays I don't think I have ever seen a policeman on the path ever in the past 4 years I have been trundling along it. I have called the police on a number of occasions to report stolen motorbikes normally dumped at the fishponds end of the tunnel and once to report a car driving erratically along the stretch from Avon Valley railway to Saltford.

Generally when I've been on the path during the middle of the day, rather than either end of the day.

 

[summerdays]

Nonsense. It is not a prerequisite that you have to be running strava before you can go out and ride quickly, or try to beat a PB or ride irresponsibly around others.


The B&B path is down with me too. There is an 8 mile section which I use regularly, jumping on and off depending on how I'm extending my commute. If we split that into the two 4 mile sections which I use the most, on the first section it is unusual to see more than 3 people total no matter what time of day it is, the second is a bit busier, but it still feels really busy when you start getting above around 15 people. In a few months it will not be unusual to see nobody at all, on the whole 8 mile section. I will regularly go through the whole 8 miles at various times of the day and not see a soul.
12mph when you're the only one on the path with clear line of site for at least 1/2 mile? Do me a favour!

I know it wasn't you who came up with the 12mph thing btw.

I've seen a policewoman once on our bit of the path. I caught her up, she was praticing riding no handed so I sat behind her for a bit, she was very when she eventually turned around after hearing my freewheel I did congratulate her on a job well done though

The Bristol and Bath path can be sufficiently busy that you get little chains of cyclists weaving in and out, I've certainly been on the end of one that has contained 6 people or more, but I never stay with them long as the weaving and overtaking isn't safe, so then the next one catches me up and I'm with it for a bit. It would be interesting to count just how many cyclists I could see at any one point but I suspect you could get 30+ if you stood still for a minute, perhaps more, hard to guess when you are moving. And not as many pedestrians but still more than a handful passing the same point in a minute I would guess (if it is near the schools then a lot more).

 

[Mugshot]

The Bristol and Bath path can be sufficiently busy that you get little chains of cyclists weaving in and out, I've certainly been on the end of one that has contained 6 people or more, but I never stay with them long as the weaving and overtaking isn't safe, so then the next one catches me up and I'm with it for a bit. It would be interesting to count just how many cyclists I could see at any one point but I suspect you could get 30+ if you stood still for a minute, perhaps more, hard to guess when you are moving. And not as many pedestrians but still more than a handful passing the same point in a minute I would guess (if it is near the schools then a lot more).

It's such a stark difference. Most of the time, and certainly through the winter months, it feels like my own personal path. I'll probably see one person a week perhaps even a fortnight when the warm weather goes.

 

[BigAl68]

It's such a stark difference. Most of the time, and certainly through the winter months, it feels like my own personal path. I'll probably see one person a week perhaps even a fortnight when the warm weather goes.

It is all to do with what stretch of the path and what time of day. The Bath to Mangotsfield section can be very quite or seem so but if you do stop and watch there is a steady stream of cyclists most days between 7am to 9am and again from 3pm to 7pm. In winter however I also feel I ride alone most of the time but then again I ride in all weathers and also head off into the dark and cold at 5am.

 

[screenman]

I'm afraid you'll just have to accept that other people's experience is different to yours. Life is like that.

Maybe it is you and not the club, seeing as most seem to have a lot of happy members. As you say alluded to, we are after all, all different. Your name gives off a message in itself.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Maybe it is you and not the club, seeing as most seem to have a lot of happy members. As you say alluded to, we are after all, all different. Your name gives off a message in itself.

Sorry to disappoint but, to the best of my recollection, it hasn't happened to me in the last thirty five years.