What makes you angry?

Training
84

Lol. I mean honestly … LOL :joy:

Can I get upset if they crash into the back of me when I stop? Or is that still elitist? Should I apologize for not knowing they’re there? :roll_eyes:

This is so true. I just got done riding on the Lakefront Trail in Chicago right along the beach. I was able to knock off work a little early and I unexpectedly had the privilege of deciding between 90 minutes of Z2 on the trainer, or a (potentially) frustrating ride in the sunshine and fresh air on a beautiful spring day in the Midwest. I chose frustration. And was happy to do so :slight_smile:

Was I annoyed by all the pedestrians walking the bike lane? Sure.

Would I rather have not had to wait for the beach cruisers, the public use eBikes and and 4-person-pedal-powered-tourist-death-gondolas (photo below)? Absolutely!!

But I think the thing about these multi-use paths in urban areas is that they were meant to be safe, auto-free paths for transportation. They were not built for training and/or intervals. The way to think of them, in my opinion, is that they are parks, not paths … and there are all different kinds of recreation in a park. And I realized at some point, during a zen-like moment of clarity, that if I was on the path and getting really frustrated at beach cruisers, commuters and tourists … they weren’t the problem. I was the problem for wanting these people (for whom the path was built) out of my way.

It doesn’t mean I don’t get annoyed. But I re-direct that annoyance at myself for thinking it would/should be different, like I did today. But the trade-off for the sunshine and wind in my face was worth it🤘

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But, back to the topic at hand: what do I know? I’m an elitist dick who gets angry when someone jeopardizes my safety by riding 6 inches off my wheel when I have no idea they’re there.

I’m never going to change my mind about those unannounced wheel-sucking, inconsiderate, entitled a$$holes. So I’m not sure I’ll change anyone’s mind about anything else…

…with that in mind I’ll push all my chips further into the middle:

I think everyone who jumps on another person’s wheel unannounced should be required to emblazon a non-anodized scarlet letter on their bike so they can be publicly shamed and subjected to other’s scorn and ridicule. They should further be consigned to a life of rim-brakes, mechanical 2x groupsets, butyl tubes, squeaking bottom brackets and frame clearance for nothing more than 700x25s.

THERE. I finally got it all off my chest … whew!! :sweat_smile:

Now I’m going to sit back and watch the world burn :popcorn:

(My apologies to the OP for the thread hijack, but please take some solace in knowing that this outlet has likely made me a more patient father, a better husband and saved me countless hours working all this out in a therapist’s office. Thank you. A thousand times, thank you.)

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85

Not so much angry but more comical. There is a guy at one of our group rides that was bitching about expecting our A group to slow down for him so we don’t drop him.

So funny and if you cannot ride that fast it is time to give up the goat.

5 Likes
86

:point_up_2: This drives me nuts. Loud speakers on bikes is the worst. Part of why I ride it to clear my head and get into my zone. The good news is that the people with speakers are seldom riding as fast (unless it’s an e-bike) so you can get away.

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87

“What makes you angry?”

Lecturer’s and Scold’s.

88

Tribulus terrestris (goat heads)

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89

When people take the inside corner on blind turns… On the bike, coming out of the locker room at the gym, exiting an aisle at the supermarket… Is this how you people drive too? Is it a lack of foresight? A desire to live life in the edge?

Also, if somebody I’m not riding with sits on my wheel for more than a minute I am going to have absolutely no shame in, uhh, adjusting my air pressure on the fly. See how long they want the draft then.

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90

Honest question to all those upset about riders drafting them uninvited….why not just say to them “I was really looking to just ride by myself today, so I’ll let you go by”?

Is that so hard? I get that the announced rider is in the wrong in those situations, but jeez, just say something and let it be done.

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91
  • Older couples on e-bikes riding next to each other. First they don’t hear you ring your bell. The woman then will signal to the husband that somebody wants to pass. Instead of using his side mirror, the guy will first turn his head around, thereby moving even further to the left before he finally makes space. Every single time!
  • Cars that pass you, then block you by going crazy slowly over a speed bump or roundabout.
  • Trucks/cars that cut the corner on mountain roads.
  • Not being able to sleep after very intense trainings

Only twice time did somebody try to draft behind me. That made me very happy, hehehe, usually they pass me.

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92

I have an answer to this:

This is what I do … I sit up, wave them past and often I stop and take a long drink, etc.

BUT, my problem is I can only do this once I know they are there, if I don’t know they are there, I can’t sit up and wave them past.

I’ve only ever been hit by riders I don’t know are there … it’s happened to me 4 times. I’ve been hit by a car once. I’ve had more damage done from cyclists than a car (although I’ll admit that is just luck).

So yeah, I can wave them past. And I do. Sometimes I give them a lecture. Sometimes I say WTF? Sometimes I say nothing.

But, also, what if someone walked 6 inches behind you on a sidewalk? What would you do? A bike ride is not a bike race, and just because I have good kit and am moving at a relatively high rate of speed doesn’t mean I want my personal space violated. This is the mistake I think many riders make … if I’m riding with group, or I’m riding in a race … shit, even if I’m riding with 2 other friends that make it look like I’m riding with a group I can have patience for this.

But if I’m riding solo — pass me or fall back. Period. I can only imagine how women feel about this. Some have weighed in here. A ride is a ride. A group is a group. A race is a race. They’re different. Respect people’s space.

Don’t even get me started about the riders who I wave by only to watch them decelerate by 4mph and I have to re-pass then they gas it to jump on my wheel again. SMFH at those folks …

EDIT: Another thing I don’t understand: when riding solo I have a Bontrager Flare attached to my seatpost and set to the MAX daytime visibility setting at all times. This thing will make you see spots for an hour if you look straight at it from close range. If I test it in my garage and look at it the wrong way it ruins my day. I thought this would dissuade the random wheel -suckers… but, nope. I don’t know how people take it. It hurts. It definitely helps with close passes from cars, though. I’ve noticed driver behavior has changed for the better more than rider behavior since I’ve ridden with it regularly.

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93

Sure…but others are posting here saying what they will do once they know an uninvited rider is on their wheel. I don’t get those responses when you can just easily say something…or even nothing and just wave people by as you do.

Again, I’m not defending people who latch on uninvited. But I think the walking comparison is a false analogy. The sport of cycling has an entire culture built around the concept of drafting…walking doesn’t.

Again, not defending those who do it…if you are gonna jump on someone’s wheel, you should let the lead rider know you are there…or better yet, ask if it is OK.

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94

This is all I’m saying

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95

It was literally a joke about a fart.

Edit to steer this back to topic: using the provided scoop and still ending up with only a half serving left on the last use. I’m looking at you skratch horchata.

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96

I’m not going to split hairs with you because I kinda get your point. The only counter-perspective I’d offer for consideration is the following…

…to many people, cycling isn’t a sport. It’s an activity. And they don’t “get” drafting. I came into the sport this way and maybe it informs my opinion: I used to wear cargo shorts and cotton underwear on a flat pedal cross bike before I knew what clips, bibs or cross was, I also rode pretty fast, and I liked to try and ride far. And then I’d have a shadow on my wheel and I felt threatened and pissed. This was all before I was actually hit by another rider.

My wife wears TwinSix bibs and a Velocio jersey with 5Ten shoes smashed to flat pedals on a carbon fiber Liv with a 105 groupset. She’s also never watched a stage of the Tour de France in her life and all her knowledge of bike racing comes from me bitching about how I want to be faster. If someone jumps on her wheel, she’s going to feel threatened. It’s an activity for her. She’s just out for a bike ride. In this way it’s no different for her than walking down the sidewalk or taking a jog. It didn’t feel any different to me when I started riding either.

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97

Yup…totally get that. Again, not defending or endorsing people that do it.

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98

I’ve solved the problem of undesired followers by riding a high racer recumbent. Some good curses when they realize there’s no draft despite being roughly at the same height.

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99

Hilarious! Happy to help! And I’m way cheaper than a trained therapist, it will only set you back $50. DM me for details on where to e-transfer :wink:

100

This happens if I ride downhill on a rough road. Santa Rosa specifically. My bike rattles like crazy and something from my bike or pocket falls off. It sucks going down that fast and realize you gotta climb back up to go find it.

101

Yes, can’t stand wheel jumpers either. Once had a guy jump my wheel, I was not aware of him being there. Quite crowded bike line. Had to break because of a familiy in front of me. He crashed into me, derailleur hanger bent. This dude got really mad at me, insulted me. How could I suddenly break. WTF? Bike lane and little kids on balance bikes in front of me. Of course I slow down.

Since then I’m biggest dick out there when it comes to wheel jumpers. I react quite dick’ish when I notice some stranger sniffing on my butt.

Apart from wheel jumpers, I can’t stand those car drivers which try to kill me. I’m quite dick’ish about them as well.

6 Likes
102

This pisses me off even more when running than cycling: I’m coming up behind people on a wide trail and with plenty of time cheerfully shout “passing on your left”. They then wait 2 seconds and step left into my path, causing me to abruptly break stride and go half into the bushes or stop to avoid them.

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103

You clearly don’t understand the issue of consent. Riding with a friend it’s all consensual, there’s nothing consensual about an uninvited rider who clings to your wheel like a limpet.