Hey Scott, I ran into an actual arrogant pedalcyclist today.
I am waiting in a queue at a traffic light. About 6th in line, I'm in the center of the lane behind a minivan. A guy on a mountain bike passes me in the gutter and starts passing the motor vehicles ahead... the light turns green and he nearly gets right hooked twice. He cuts through the intersection in front of the minivan that I am behind. Now the minivan is slowed to his speed, and thusly so am I. In a few seconds, the minivan was able to pass, and then I got to pass mr. mountain bike.
I said to him 'lovely gutter passing', He responded with an arrogant "Whatever".
Brent P wrote:> Hey Scott, I ran into an actual arrogant pedalcyclist today. >
I am waiting in a queue at a traffic light. About 6th in line, I'm in the > center of the lane behind a minivan. A guy on a mountain bike passes me > in the gutter and starts passing the motor vehicles ahead... the light > turns green and he nearly gets right hooked twice. He cuts through the > intersection in front of the minivan that I am behind. Now the minivan is > slowed to his speed, and thusly so am I. In a few seconds, the minivan > was able to pass, and then I got to pass mr. mountain bike. >
I said to him 'lovely gutter passing', He responded with an arrogant > "Whatever".>
That guy needed about a quart of oil in front of him, then let's hear his "Whatever". He gives us MTB guys a bad name. I ride in the middle of the lane with the cars at lights, it's the only sane way to get across a light controlled intersection. Once across I can safely pull over to the bike lane and let the cars go by. The only time something went wrong was when I didn't trip the metal mass detector and got all the cars behind me stopped because of it thinking I was the last car. Sorry gas guys. Bill Baka
On Fri, 20 May 2005 19:58:16 -0500, tetraethylleadREMOVETHIS@yahoo.com (Brent P) wrote:
Hey Scott, I ran into an actual arrogant pedalcyclist today.
My condolences.
For my part, I've had an extremely pleasant week. Since I stopped driving to work, I haven't encountered any arrogant pedalcyclists, arrogant motorists, MFFYs, or other unpleasant people. ;)
Hey Scott, I ran into an actual arrogant pedalcyclist today. >
I am waiting in a queue at a traffic light. About 6th in line, I'm in the >center of the lane behind a minivan. A guy on a mountain bike passes me >in the gutter and starts passing the motor vehicles ahead... the light >turns green and he nearly gets right hooked twice. He cuts through the >intersection in front of the minivan that I am behind. Now the minivan is >slowed to his speed, and thusly so am I. In a few seconds, the minivan >was able to pass, and then I got to pass mr. mountain bike. >
I said to him 'lovely gutter passing', He responded with an arrogant >"Whatever".
I've done this many times, but will only do so when there's a bicycle lane or wide enough road that I won't be in the way of the cars I pass. One of my riding rules is "never make anything slow down to pass you twice".
Normally in a situation like this, I'll fall in behind one of the cars in line and follow the parade through the light. It's safer and less obtrusive to the cars. I always position myself so they can see me in their rear-view mirror so they know they don't have to worry about flattening me (not that all of 'em would worry).
On Fri, 20 May 2005 22:36:19 -0700, Scott en Aztlán <scottenaztlan@NOyahooSPAM.com> wrote in message <n0it8154b3iu9oac39lsm8r6ka9kc8f2jv@4ax.com>:
For my part, I've had an extremely pleasant week. Since I stopped>driving to work, I haven't encountered any arrogant pedalcyclists,>arrogant motorists, MFFYs, or other unpleasant people. ;)
Amazingly, neither have the people who live and work around you and your usual routes.
On Fri, 20 May 2005 19:58:16 -0500, tetraethylleadREMOVETHIS@yahoo.com (Brent P) wrote:
Hey Scott, I ran into an actual arrogant pedalcyclist today. >
I am waiting in a queue at a traffic light. About 6th in line, I'm in the >center of the lane behind a minivan. A guy on a mountain bike passes me >in the gutter and starts passing the motor vehicles ahead... the light >turns green and he nearly gets right hooked twice. He cuts through the >intersection in front of the minivan that I am behind. Now the minivan is >slowed to his speed, and thusly so am I. In a few seconds, the minivan >was able to pass, and then I got to pass mr. mountain bike. >
I said to him 'lovely gutter passing', He responded with an arrogant >"Whatever".>
You're waiting in a lane behind five cars - or 4 motor vehicles and a minvan. I can't even imagine such a thing. What's a gutter? You mean the area where bikes pull up to the red light to wait? I should wait in a lane so that when the light turns green they run me over?
I think I bike in a different environment than you do. Manhattan. Sometimes I'm in a bike lane. Sometimes there are so many cars and ped-cabs and pedestrians in the bike lanes that I end up in the middle of the road with cars all around.
I can't even conceive of just waiting in line with cars. I pull up to the intersection as best I can, and usually don't bother waiting for the light to turn green.
The secret, as far as I can tell, is to be considerate. I don't cut off cars, bikes, or pedestrians. Or even those stupid ped-cabs. I leave the bike lanes and get into traffic to avoid the unpleasantness of cars turning across the bike lane. I even try not to startle pedestrians by doing things that they don't expect. But I'm sure not waiting in line with cars. That's half the fun of biking in the big city.
I can't even conceive of just waiting in line with cars. I pull up to> the intersection as best I can, and usually don't bother waiting for> the light to turn green.
Actually, it's better to follow the rules of the road. It makes it much easier for drivers to predict your next move.
If you're located in nonstandard positions at an intersection, or go through one when the light is red, then other drivers are less likely to see you and are more likely to hit you.
Please follow the rules of the road. They apply to every vehicle, motorized or not.
In article <k4a491the7k33m1etgq7h2br0q7f9bd2m4@4ax.com>, dgk wrote:> On Fri, 20 May 2005 19:58:16 -0500, tetraethylleadREMOVETHIS@yahoo.com> (Brent P) wrote:>
Hey Scott, I ran into an actual arrogant pedalcyclist today. >>
I am waiting in a queue at a traffic light. About 6th in line, I'm in the >>center of the lane behind a minivan. A guy on a mountain bike passes me >>in the gutter and starts passing the motor vehicles ahead... the light >>turns green and he nearly gets right hooked twice. He cuts through the >>intersection in front of the minivan that I am behind. Now the minivan is >>slowed to his speed, and thusly so am I. In a few seconds, the minivan >>was able to pass, and then I got to pass mr. mountain bike.
I said to him 'lovely gutter passing', He responded with an arrogant >>"Whatever".
You're waiting in a lane behind five cars - or 4 motor vehicles and a> minvan. I can't even imagine such a thing.
It's illegal in IL to pass on the right in that situation unless there is 8 feet of available road width. There wasn't.
What's a gutter?
The curb, where the sewer grates are.
You mean> the area where bikes pull up to the red light to wait? I should wait> in a lane so that when the light turns green they run me over?
I take the lane and take my turn. I haven't been 'run over'.
I think I bike in a different environment than you do. Manhattan.> Sometimes I'm in a bike lane. Sometimes there are so many cars and> ped-cabs and pedestrians in the bike lanes that I end up in the middle> of the road with cars all around.
I do not know NYC traffic law. If lane splitting is legal there, it's a different story.
I can't even conceive of just waiting in line with cars. I pull up to> the intersection as best I can, and usually don't bother waiting for> the light to turn green.
So you are part of the problem.
The secret, as far as I can tell, is to be considerate. I don't cut> off cars, bikes, or pedestrians.
You aren't being considerate when you force people to pass you again.
Or even those stupid ped-cabs. I> leave the bike lanes and get into traffic to avoid the unpleasantness> of cars turning across the bike lane. I even try not to startle> pedestrians by doing things that they don't expect.
Bike lanes are simply crap IMO. They exist as a feel good measure for people without the skills to ride in traffic.
But I'm sure not> waiting in line with cars. That's half the fun of biking in the big> city.
My fun is moving fast enough that I can use any lane of my choosing.
Mon, 23 May 2005 20:30:48 -0700, <gs75919l8hc60d9kd767gmh573eqm6v70c@4ax.com>, nobody, Scott en Aztlán <scottenaztlan@NOyahooSPAM.com> guessed wrong again:
Lemme guess: FREDs drive SCUDs, right?
Wrong.
FREDs are more highly evolved than scud jockeys. At least FREDs ride bicycles. They just look poor compared to Fabrizio so he wishes they'd drive and become nobodies instead. -- zk
Scott en Aztlán 24 May 2005 17:41:06 [ permanent link ]
On Tue, 24 May 2005 00:02:20 -0700, Zoot Katz <zootkatz@operamail.com> wrote:
Mon, 23 May 2005 20:30:48 -0700,><gs75919l8hc60d9kd767gmh573eqm6v70c@4ax.com>, nobody, Scott en Aztlán><scottenaztlan@NOyahooSPAM.com> guessed wrong again:>
Lemme guess: FREDs drive SCUDs, right?>
Wrong.>
FREDs are more highly evolved than scud jockeys. >At least FREDs ride bicycles. They just look poor compared to Fabrizio>so he wishes they'd drive and become nobodies instead.
Ah, so FREDs are the guys who ride bikes but don't wear spandex?
On Mon, 23 May 2005 15:47:15 -0500, tetraethylleadREMOVETHIS@yahoo.com (Brent P) wrote:
But I'm sure not>> waiting in line with cars. That's half the fun of biking in the big>> city.>
My fun is moving fast enough that I can use any lane of my choosing.>
I've always that driving in Manhattan is more akin to water flowing in a pipe than driving in lanes. A big consideration is that most of the streets are one way. So you always try to flow away from the side that might turn.
I do not feel safe biking at the speed of cars. Frankly, I don't like going over 20mph on my bike, which I rarely manage to reach. Pothole, pedestrian, cab, messenger. Nope, too much chance of going flying.
The lights are timed for cars, not me. If I don't take move past cars when they're stopped and ease through red lights then a one hour commute is going to take at least half an hour longer.
I have never seen a bike waiting in a line of cars in Manhattan, or anywhere else in NYC for that matter.
In article <faq691plgorftooa649726dc12bs0ui3bi@4ax.com>, dgk wrote:
The lights are timed for cars, not me. If I don't take move past cars> when they're stopped and ease through red lights then a one hour> commute is going to take at least half an hour longer.
I accelerate faster than most drivers, but will get passed mid block even if I am at or exceeding the posted speed limit unless the shear number of cars prevents it.
I have never seen a bike waiting in a line of cars in Manhattan, or> anywhere else in NYC for that matter.
Scott en Aztlán wrote in message <6lb691h4lopgnon060g349l7mv6f34v1c4@4ax.com>...>On Tue, 24 May 2005 00:02:20 -0700, Zoot Katz <zootkatz@operamail.com>>wrote:
Ah, so FREDs are the guys who ride bikes but don't wear spandex?
No. The way it works is that anyone who either has a cheaper bike or doesn't ride as fast as me is a Fred. Everyone who has a more expensive bike or rides faster than me is a Poser. This definition may be used by any cyclist at any ability level or price of bicycle and will remain universally true.
Claire Petersky wrote:> Scott en Aztlán wrote in message> <6lb691h4lopgnon060g349l7mv6f34v1c4@4ax.com>...>> On Tue, 24 May 2005 00:02:20 -0700, Zoot Katz>> <zootkatz@operamail.com> wrote:>
Ah, so FREDs are the guys who ride bikes but don't wear spandex?>
No. The way it works is that anyone who either has a cheaper bike or> doesn't ride as fast as me is a Fred. Everyone who has a more> expensive bike or rides faster than me is a Poser. This definition> may be used by any cyclist at any ability level or price of bicycle> and will remain universally true.
"fbloogyudsr" <fbloogyudsr@nwlink.com> wrote> "Claire Petersky" <cpetersky@mousepotato.com> wrote>> Scott en Aztlán wrote>>>On Tue, 24 May 2005 00:02:20 -0700, Zoot Katz <zootkatz@operamail.com>>>>wrote:>>
Ah, so FREDs are the guys who ride bikes but don't wear spandex?>>
No. The way it works is that anyone who either has a cheaper bike or >> doesn't>> ride as fast as me is a Fred. Everyone who has a more expensive bike or>> rides faster than me is a Poser. This definition may be used by any >> cyclist>> at any ability level or price of bicycle and will remain universally >> true.>
Ahhh. So my good friend Louise Taylor, now age 67 and riding a> Conalgo, who had #1 bib on last year's RAMROD (20th or so straight> years doing RAMROD) and who still holds several Triathlon Masters> records around the NW, is a poser? I'm sure she will be glad to know > that!
Forgot the smiley ;->
Also, forgot to mention that it's good to see your posts, Claire; they're very refreshing and cheery.
In article <429505db$0$79460$14726298@news.sunsite.dk>, Claire Petersky wrote:
No. The way it works is that anyone who either has a cheaper bike or doesn't> ride as fast as me is a Fred. Everyone who has a more expensive bike or> rides faster than me is a Poser. This definition may be used by any cyclist> at any ability level or price of bicycle and will remain universally true.
This thread is the first I've heard of the term 'FRED'. However, posers to me have always been people on expensive bicycles who can't ride them well. I used to embarass these people rutinely years ago when I was riding my POS raliegh. Of course now I have a good bicycle and still go fast. Although I don't think Im as fast as I was years ago.
Fabrizio Mazzoleni 26 May 2005 06:30:00 [ permanent link ]
"fbloogyudsr" <fbloogyudsr@nwlink.com> wrote in message news:119a5s4f7447608@corp.supernews.com... true.>
Ahhh. So my good friend Louise Taylor, now age 67 and riding a> Conalgo, who had #1 bib on last year's RAMROD (20th or so straight> years doing RAMROD) and who still holds several Triathlon Masters> records around the NW, is a poser? I'm sure she will be glad to know that!
No, doing stuff like lame Ramrods and triathlons make her a geek. I don't like geeks.
She should start doing Cat 4 crits and road races.
In article <Gc8le.9315$h86.1155@tornado.socal.rr.com>, "Bill Sornson" <nospamsorninospam@san.rr.comnospam> wrote:
Claire Petersky wrote:> > Scott en Aztlán wrote in message> > <6lb691h4lopgnon060g349l7mv6f34v1c4@4ax.com>...> >> On Tue, 24 May 2005 00:02:20 -0700, Zoot Katz> >> <zootkatz@operamail.com> wrote:> >
Ah, so FREDs are the guys who ride bikes but don't wear spandex?> >
No. The way it works is that anyone who either has a cheaper bike or> > doesn't ride as fast as me is a Fred. Everyone who has a more> > expensive bike or rides faster than me is a Poser. This definition> > may be used by any cyclist at any ability level or price of bicycle> > and will remain universally true.>
