Militant Cyclists ...

[XmisterIS]

I wonder if it's just me that attracts them (possibly just me!) but the thread about clipped elbows makes me think about the seemingly increasing number of what I would call "militant cyclists" on the road.

This particular breed can be identified by their "veteran" appearance, full kit for everything, and an attitude towards other road users (be they motorised, pedalised, or footised) of "I'm am an important cyclist, can't you see by the kit that I have for absolutely everything? Now you! You impudent moton/ped/amateur-cyclist, you must give way to me under all circumstances!! Ha! I see you ride a road bike with flat bars! How very dare you!" etc ...

Yes, I've been virtually punted out of the way by more than one of these lovely, seasoned (in more ways than one) gentlemen on a seemingly increasing number of occasions!

Typical behaviours include just blasting past and blanking you when you give way to them out of courtesy. I usually shout a loud "THANK-YOU!" at them (or even "THANK-YOU, YOU £$"£&*!!!!"). This has been happening much more frequently over about the last six months!

Your experiences?

 

[John the Monkey]

I tend not to let on to people as I pass - quite a few damn near bunny hopped their bikes in surprise/shock when I used to, so I stopped doing it unless I was sure they'd seen me.

I've not seen what you describe in Manchester/Crewe, fwiw.

 

[snorri]

Funny, I was just thinking to myself today as I powered along at 10mph with a following wind, you don't see these guys with the gear at this time of year, it's just cyclists like me on the road in sensible clothing, but I'm not aware of any cyclist being rude to me.

 

[XmisterIS]

I tend not to let on to people as I pass - quite a few damn near bunny hopped their bikes in surprise/shock when I used to, so I stopped doing it unless I was sure they'd seen me.

I've not seen what you describe in Manchester/Crewe, fwiw.

Perhaps Northern salt-of-the-Earth types are less snooty than some of us Southern Poofs! (not that I am, infact, a "poof" in the literal sense of the word, I have a true Neanderthal instinct for ladywomen ... ug! Woo-man!)

 

[benborp]

It seems to be getting a bit more cut-throat between cyclists in London. I think it's just increased competition for space. The reality is that there are now far more cyclists on the road and it's not possible to make progress in the same way as might have been possible a couple of years ago. That said, when I've seen guys on bikes bullying their way through and past others they haven't given the impression that their arrogance has developed from years of hard graft and experience in the saddle.

 

[gaz]

I see them in all forms.
I challenged a guy the other day because he passed me on several occasions on several days far too close. Talking a few inches between handle bars at +20mph.
He wasn't wearing all the gear.

 

[Bicycle]

In my generally happy experience, riders older than I am seem almost always to be courteous and smiley.

They tend to offer greetings, be chatty if met during a rest stop, generally be nice and like to see others enjoying their riding. They also usually have bicycles that are in extraordinarily good condition... I have never met an inconsiderate or ill-tempered 'veteran' cyclist.

In rural France this is so to the n-th degree. veteran road cyclists there are just saintly, smiley heroes.

Among 'serious' cyclists, the only rudeness I've ever encountered has been from the 25-40 year-olds on carbo-fantastic bikes with full-team lycra and a Garmin toy that even measures the density and colour of their urine. I have barely experienced rudeness of 'I own the road' attitudes from any cyclists, but when I have it's been from such as that. I get the impression (but have no evidence) that these road-owners were not riding five years ago and will not be riding in five years.

Broadly though, I think that meeting other cyclists while riding is one of the fabutastic things about riding for fun.

 

[John the Monkey]

Funny, I was just thinking to myself today as I powered along at 10mph with a following wind, you don't see these guys with the gear at this time of year, it's just cyclists like me on the road in sensible clothing, but I'm not aware of any cyclist being rude to me.

I have all the (cycling) gear - just warmer gear for this season The nicest bunch I see on my commute are the team (I assume) from Will's Wheels - full team kit, some nice bikes, and everyone of them will give you a nod, wave or a "Mornin'" when you say hello.

Perhaps Northern salt-of-the-Earth types are less snooty

I think different areas probably foster different cycling & motoring cultures. Be the change you want to see, and so forth

 

[addictfreak]

Perhaps its a southern thing, I have very few issues with other riders. I have no problem in being passed by anyone whether wearing lycra or not. If they choose to acknowledge me that's fine, if not I certainly don't use any sleep over it. I have far more important things to concern me.

I never have understood the attitude towards the lycra wearers on carbon bikes. I recently returned from a cycling trip to Italy, where almost ever rider was on a beautiful carbon Roadie wearing their favourite team kit. My only thoughts were that it was fanatic to see so many bikes out on the road. Perhaps it not the lycra clad roadies who are the snobs

 

[TheSandwichMonster]

I've experienced it, though mostly from people on forums, rather than other cyclists on the road. In fairness, if I've had a rubbish day then I'll even turn into a bit of a militant myself, albeit only towards our motorised brethren and only then in a swearing under my breath kind-of a way.

In all honesty, I don't know if we cause some of this ourselves? I got my road bike and started my commuting in earnest back in July. Before that, I'd done loads of reading up on forums to brush up on knowledge, etc, and every other (commuting-related) post seemed to be someone posting a helmet-cam video and giving it, "Look at what this **** did to me today!". I fully expected to be roadkill in the space of a week. Beyond that, I also learned about "Silly Commuter Racing" and other such daftness...

The actual reality of the situation is that most other road-users are entirely benign, though occasionally misguided. I can count on (less than) one hand the number of incidents I consider myself to have had at the hands/wheels of others and only one of those incidents (just yesterday in fact) resulted in a raised voice. There have been far more occasions where *I'VE* been the one putting myself at risk because I've misjudged a situation and I've been fortunate enough to avoid and learn from them. Yes, I've also done the commuter racing thing, I can't help but being competitive; but I also don't "race" at the expense of my safety. The trouble with calling it a race is that some people actually believe that it is.

 

[addictfreak]

I've experienced it, though mostly from people on forums, rather than other cyclists on the road. In fairness, if I've had a rubbish day then I'll even turn into a bit of a militant myself, albeit only towards our motorised brethren and only then in a swearing under my breath kind-of a way.

In all honesty, I don't know if we cause some of this ourselves? I got my road bike and started my commuting in earnest back in July. Before that, I'd done loads of reading up on forums to brush up on knowledge, etc, and every other (commuting-related) post seemed to be someone posting a helmet-cam video and giving it, "Look at what this **** did to me today!". I fully expected to be roadkill in the space of a week. Beyond that, I also learned about "Silly Commuter Racing" and other such daftness...

The actual reality of the situation is that most other road-users are entirely benign, though occasionally misguided. I can count on (less than) one hand the number of incidents I consider myself to have had at the hands/wheels of others and only one of those incidents (just yesterday in fact) resulted in a raised voice. There have been far more occasions where *I'VE* been the one putting myself at risk because I've misjudged a situation and I've been fortunate enough to avoid and learn from them. Yes, I've also done the commuter racing thing, I can't help but being competitive; but I also don't "race" at the expense of my safety. The trouble with calling it a race is that some people actually believe that it is.

Cracking post and spot on. I often think that some cyclists who have daily incidents and confrontation need to be looking at the way they ride.

 

[John the Monkey]

The actual reality of the situation is that most other road-users are entirely benign, though occasionally misguided. I can count on (less than) one hand the number of incidents I consider myself to have had at the hands/wheels of others and only one of those incidents (just yesterday in fact) resulted in a raised voice.

I can only speak for a Manchester commute, obviously, but "indifferent", rather than "benign" would be my view.

I don't give a monkeys how other cyclists behave, for the most part - in 5 years of 30 miles a day, I've been seriously worried about avoiding them precisely twice.

As for drivers... The majority are indifferent - they'll give you space if it's expedient to do so, if not, they'll make that close pass unless you prevent them doing so. A small minority are actually good (read the road ahead, allow you room when passing &c) and a small minority poor (no sense of what's around them, no perception of the speed of other traffic). A smaller minority still are actively malicious.

The huge shock of coming back to the UK after riding in France or Belgium for a week always brings this home to me.

One acclimatises to close passes &c, and I've no doubt I'm less sensitive to them than I was. However, it's a rare day that at least one driver doesn't give me cause for concern. I'd expect to be seriously worried about once every fortnight or so, on current form. I'm genuinely concerned by the seemingly ever larger number of people who think it's ok to text or phone while driving.

 

[2pies]

I can't think of a time when I've had any rudeness from other cyclists in SW London. Much of my commute has heavy traffic so its very much cyclists sticking together. Just last week a motorbike brushed against me when passing which caused me to wobble a little. I had a go at him at the next set of lights and two other cyclists who saw it backed me up and told him where to go!

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

I often think that some cyclists who have daily incidents and confrontation need to be looking at the way they ride.

As has been said before, it depends on where and how far you ride. I probably encounter over 100 motor vehicles per day, so if 1 in 100 is a plonker, that's one per day.

 

[Norm]

I doubt I have one in 10,000 who are plonkers.

If I had one in 100, that would probably be even more cause for turning the mirror on my own riding.