Posted on 06/19/2008 9:32:28 PM PDT by george76
One thing that always strikes me about so many of my "fellow" cyclists that Roenfeldt is apparently not cognizant of, is how rude and arrogant cyclists tend to be.
I mostly ride the metro area's extensive trails and paths and I try to extend every courtesy to others. I rarely encounter fellow cyclists with the same view, though. Rather, I see them rocketing silently out of darkened underpasses causing elderly strollers to leap into the brush alongside the path and rushing in silence up behind unsuspecting families with pets and small children, never uttering a word of warning
From my own experience, their attitudes are, if anything, even worse on the streets.
There's a very, very good reason so many view those of us who are cyclists as rude, arrogant jerks. Most of us are.
(Excerpt) Read more at rockymountainnews.com ...
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From Page 36 of the "Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws" ( http://www.bmv.ohio.gov/pdf_forms/HSY-7607.pdf ) (Emphasis added):
When passing to the left, the law requires that a driver overtaking another vehicle do these things:
1. Sound the horn to warn the driver of the vehicle being overtaken that he/she is about to be passed.
2. Signal the intent to pass.
3. Pass to the left of the vehicle being overtaken at a safe distance and return to the right side of the roadway only after the overtaking vehicle is safely clear of the vehicle being overtaken.
4. Return to the right lane as soon as the pas has been safely completed and before coming within 200 feet of any approaching vehicle.
The law must be different where you live.
I agree with you. I don’t think the guy was saying that cyclists have a monopoly on jerks, it’s more that people have gotten more jerk-ish. He was pointing out what’s happened with cyclists. But you are right to point out that in general there are more jerk drivers out there as well.
It is one reason I haven’t been on the road for years on a bike.
Bush’s bike looks just like mine! Handlebars are exactly the same...
Does anybody actually do that? I mean really, honk every single time you pass a car on a one by one? Don’t know what the law is here but I do know I have never once had anybody do that when passing me, not here in AZ, not visiting the in-laws in NM, not visiting my friend in CA, not when passing through parts of TX, OK, KS, IL or WI for a funeral.
Every Sunday since I got the new bike. The old bike couldn’t cruise at better than 18 1/2, the new bike is smoother. Oddly enough while the new bike cruises faster it hasn’t beaten the downhill top speed of 24.3, of course I haven’t goosed it before an underpass yet either, maybe this week. Dirt is really where the speed gets scary, over 13 or 14 all steering seems to cause at least a little skid, never really feel in charge. Kind of fun actually.
“Does anybody actually do that?”
In the modern age of air conditioned cars with radios, CD players and closed windows it’s kind of hard to tell. :)
Many but not all used to do so—on two lane roads of course, not freeways or multi-lane city streets.
I think some still do when they are passing bicycles on narrow roads. Some of those aren’t being courteous though.
Exhibit 1.
Mine is toed with a brass horse hame. The other day a silent bikepsycho brushed my arm with his as he went by. I just missed.
I spent 10 years in a car with a non-functioning AC, plus I’m an on again off again smoker, windows are open all the time. Never heard it once. Don’t think it happens.
I’m a very polite rider, I stick to my lane so I’m easy to pass, I give good clearance when I pass, and the only person I’ve ever yelled at on the trail was an idiot who wouldn’t control his little dog which then ran right in front of my tire and almost got run over. And I yelled at him for putting me in a situation where I would have felt bad (I don’t want to run over anybody’s dog) for his stupidity. I don’t see why you need to yelp at every single person you pass, if everybody keeps good lane control everybody can be passed easily silently.
I'm a roadie myself (did the MS 150, Duluth MN to Blaine, 2 weeks ago with my wife & "The Cubs"), but my wife prefers the fat tire world.
What kind of bike, if you don't mind my asking?
Cheers!
Just a Giant Boulder, I’m not a rider junkie, just enjoy my weekly 26 miles. Get some air get a tan burn some calories, come home and marvel at how much more comfortable my couch is than the bike seat. Started when I was working on losing weight, wanted some variety in my exercise, running on the elliptical and walking the river was getting boring fast, got a bike to ride the river, see more sites and have some fun. But I’m never going up over 30 miles in a ride, too much bike butt for me... of course I few years ago I said I’d never do more than 100 miles in a week and I now blow by that every time I take vacation (26 miles every day adds up fast). So who knows.
I suggest fishing line. 100lb. test. Strategic height.
im training 20miles 4 times a week for my endurance rides,a kid launches and passed me on his high speed bike and i tried to get patient about his disrespecting...but like i was expecting,the kid pull over after a minute catching his breath...i yelled at him “run out of breath aye! SUCKS! thats all you got”...and if he passes me again on my training...il tail him till he blows his lungs this time...
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