RAGE

[thunderlips76]

Out last night on a steady 40 ker with 5 of the lads. one of the guys is brand new to cycling (roadie wise) and was really excited to be out. This unfortunately lasted about 10k into the ride, when we were subjected to multiple close passes and shouts of " f**king dicks" from some gentlemen in vans from the travelling community. This led to us circling the wagons around our new rider to try and keep him confident. He has already mentioned that he'll probably stick to off road stuff from now on. Seems like its cool to hate anyone on a bicycle nowadays. read a recent article about Evans trying to get back to the highs of commuting back in the 50's, where a wave and a tip of the cap was standard procedure. What is happening to the world?

 

[martint235]

So there's some idiots on the road.

I once (and I mean once) went out with a cycling club in SE London. Approaching a roundabout as a car entered from our right meaning that we had to slow. The barrage of abuse hurled at the woman driver by the cyclists for not allowing them to cross the roundabout first (including some particularly vicious stuff from one of the women cyclists) is one of the reasons I gave up trying to join a cycling club.

You just can't let it affect you. I've decided that my future commutes will be calm and along the lines of waving and smiling at as many people as I can. The vast majority of road users are reasonably decent people.

 

[thunderlips76]

agreed, people usually give way to us, i respond with a cheers and thumbs up. i believe in karma haha.

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

Out last night on a steady 40 ker with 5 of the lads. one of the guys is brand new to cycling (roadie wise) and was really excited to be out. This unfortunately lasted about 10k into the ride, when we were subjected to multiple close passes and shouts of " f**king dicks" from some gentlemen in vans from the travelling community. This led to us circling the wagons around our new rider to try and keep him confident. He has already mentioned that he'll probably stick to off road stuff from now on. Seems like its cool to hate anyone on a bicycle nowadays. read a recent article about Evans trying to get back to the highs of commuting back in the 50's, where a wave and a tip of the cap was standard procedure. What is happening to the world?

If I had been in that situation I just might have shouted back in a very very loud voice - AT LEAST THEY ARE F*****G PAID FOR.

 

[Hugh Manatee]

The ultimate irony would have been if the scumbags had accused you of not paying road tax!

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

The ultimate irony would have been if the scumbags had accused you of not paying road tax!

Even if they had have done - the obvious retort would then be YES BUT AT LEAST I PAY MY INCOME TAX,you know - the one that goes towards CLEANING THE shoot THAT SOME OF YOU LOT LEAVE BEHIND.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I wonder if the pikey vans were taxed and tested? Probably not!

 

[bianchi1]

My last few days of riding have been unusually full of idiots, close passes, abuse and near death experiences. Strangely I have found the same when I've been out and about in my van as well. Everyone just seems so on edge...pushing to overtake or not letting people out a gridlocked junctions.

It got me thinking that maybe it's the time of the year...kids on holiday driving parents mad, bank holiday with all the associated traffic and the fast approaching winter making people angry and aggressive. Mainly (and I'm serious here) I think the lack of sunshine this year has left people feeling robbed of a summer and got them a bit crazy.

They want to get out on a bike and work off some of that anger!