Road rage
Some weeks ago, I was working late, and so cycling home after the usually flurry of commuter traffic.
Coasting one of the downhill parts, doing in the 15-20mph range, I suddenly heard this strange whirring sound behind me -- and then, suddenly, a whole flotilla of sport cyclists.
Now, when they travel solo, going along in their spray-on advertising, nose on the tarmac, arse in conjunction with the planet Jupiter, they are just subjects of merry jest. When they travel in packs, it's different.
Six to eight pairs of them streamed past me, peddling like the clappers, leaving little to no clearance, doing only the absolute minimum to move out of their straight line and pass, nearly forcing me into the verge -- much more threatening and aggressive road use than any of the buses or farm vehicles I usually have to contend with.
Between their silly outfits and bad behaviour, the sort of thing that gives cyclists a bad name, and discourages cycling as a more relaxed form of transport.
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2 comments :
Sorry to hear that.
As one of those "silly outfit(s)" wearing and jested bikers myself I tend to somewhat disagree with your overall rant and I honestly fail to see your problem.
So, a bunch of people did overtake you downhill where you where doing something around 32km/h (a normal roadbiker will do this speed alone on a flat street).
What did you excpect? Depending on the decline of the street you can do up to 50mph on a bike without a sweat.
And of course no group in training will brake for you if there is no need.
Just get fit and try yourself - maybe next year you will wear those "silly outfits" yourself :)
It's not that I expect them to slow down -- it's that I would expect the courtesy of actually moving out to overtake with a decent clearance. Buses and tractors can do that, so I don't see why people who are in effect playing games on the public highway can't.
If I had had to move out even a little to avoid a pothole, I would have collided with the stream of bikes passing within inches -- or not moved out and pranged a wheel.
As for the outfits -- this says it better than I can : http://www.velorution.biz/2005/03/embrace-the-midstream/.
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