flipping cyclists again!
- Thread starter 8866nk
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If EVERYBODY obeyed the rules there wouldn't be a problem, in my teens I was a very keen cyclist, lycra and all, we didn't have helmets back then just the little cap that you all wore. I used to do 70+ miles a day at the weekends and often 20-30 miles on an evening after school.
I guess we're talking back in the mid 80's here, I only ever had one accident where a driver (female) turned right in front of me, I went straight over the top of the car and landed on my feet, bike was totalled though frame badly bent. Of course it was the "didn't see you" excuse.
The roads are a totally different place now, and driving standards are far lower than they used to be, also I believe riding standards are lower, I never rode through lights, or filtered traffic or rode on and off the pavement, I took my place and obeyed the rules, avoided riding in the dark but had lights on if I did, maybe that's how I stayed safe ! But as a driver, how hard is it to watch out for cyclists ? and give them plenty of room ? you should be watching for all road hazards anyway, nothing special about cyclists.
I must say though, an unlit bike in the dark with rider wearing dark clothing is very hard to see, you can get a high vis vest from the pound shop if nothing else.
I guess we're talking back in the mid 80's here, I only ever had one accident where a driver (female) turned right in front of me, I went straight over the top of the car and landed on my feet, bike was totalled though frame badly bent. Of course it was the "didn't see you" excuse.
The roads are a totally different place now, and driving standards are far lower than they used to be, also I believe riding standards are lower, I never rode through lights, or filtered traffic or rode on and off the pavement, I took my place and obeyed the rules, avoided riding in the dark but had lights on if I did, maybe that's how I stayed safe ! But as a driver, how hard is it to watch out for cyclists ? and give them plenty of room ? you should be watching for all road hazards anyway, nothing special about cyclists.
I must say though, an unlit bike in the dark with rider wearing dark clothing is very hard to see, you can get a high vis vest from the pound shop if nothing else.
Anyone who wishes to participate in cycle racing, be it in criteriums or point to point road races have no alternative but to train on the open roads. Riding on a velodrome is fine if your desire is to be a track rider, but that type of training won't help you to improve as a road rider.
Riding away from built up areas is by far the best way in which to train, but when this is not possible then choosing a route that will allow as much freedom as possible whilst at the same time minimising exposure to large volumes of traffic will be helpful.
I have attached a 3 minute you tube clip of a classic cycle race..."Paris Roubaix" that has been running snce 1896. It runs on a Sunday in April each year, and is for professional cycling teams only. Covering a distance typically not less that 260km, the riders will cover it at an average of just under 45km/h.
Professional Cycle Sport,..the hardest and most beautiful sport that there is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buQGibzq8Sg
Ron.
Riding away from built up areas is by far the best way in which to train, but when this is not possible then choosing a route that will allow as much freedom as possible whilst at the same time minimising exposure to large volumes of traffic will be helpful.
I have attached a 3 minute you tube clip of a classic cycle race..."Paris Roubaix" that has been running snce 1896. It runs on a Sunday in April each year, and is for professional cycling teams only. Covering a distance typically not less that 260km, the riders will cover it at an average of just under 45km/h.
Professional Cycle Sport,..the hardest and most beautiful sport that there is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buQGibzq8Sg
Ron.
trying to work out whats beautiful about cycling??
the most boring sport there is!
i'd even rate basket ball as more interesting!
i've been checking on what the most popular participant sports in the world are and there is conflict of opinion there too
soccer seems to be no1
no2 seems to be volley ball?
i was al;ways told fishing was no1 in this country
but i'll give you that cycling as a sport is no2.
the most boring sport there is!
i'd even rate basket ball as more interesting!
i've been checking on what the most popular participant sports in the world are and there is conflict of opinion there too
soccer seems to be no1
no2 seems to be volley ball?
i was al;ways told fishing was no1 in this country
but i'll give you that cycling as a sport is no2.
Kman1600
Member
Hi,
I expect your dislike for cycling as a sport is just a reflection of your lack of knowledge of what is going on. Road racing is in fact a highly tactical team sport and the whole time there are decisions being made plans and counter plans formulated. If all you see is a big group of cyclists charging down the road you’ve rather missed the point.
Same can be said of many sports, if you watch F1 and all you see is a blue car in front of a red car then it isn’t exactly going to excite you. You need some level of knowledge to understand the finer nuances of any sport.
Tim
I expect your dislike for cycling as a sport is just a reflection of your lack of knowledge of what is going on. Road racing is in fact a highly tactical team sport and the whole time there are decisions being made plans and counter plans formulated. If all you see is a big group of cyclists charging down the road you’ve rather missed the point.
Same can be said of many sports, if you watch F1 and all you see is a blue car in front of a red car then it isn’t exactly going to excite you. You need some level of knowledge to understand the finer nuances of any sport.
Tim
webmaster
New Member
However the comment about requiring a certain level of knowledge to fully enjoy a sport stands, I know nothing about football, who's who, etc etc and generally would prefer to what black paint dry in the dark. I also find Touring car racing fairly dull, mainly because I don't know who's who and what position they are in the championship etc.
I follow F1 fairly closely and am always keen on finding out the latest tech changes etc, I generally prefer watching the lead up coverage over the race, depending on how much action there is, but knowing a lot about the cars and teams, gives you a better understanding of there relative performance and hence how well a particular driver is doing relative to the other cars.
I do confess to watching the Tour de France every year, for which I get abuse from the rest of the family, but I do find it quite entertaining and it's great fun trying to follow the team tactics.
I follow F1 fairly closely and am always keen on finding out the latest tech changes etc, I generally prefer watching the lead up coverage over the race, depending on how much action there is, but knowing a lot about the cars and teams, gives you a better understanding of there relative performance and hence how well a particular driver is doing relative to the other cars.
I do confess to watching the Tour de France every year, for which I get abuse from the rest of the family, but I do find it quite entertaining and it's great fun trying to follow the team tactics.
its what you fancy really
i find cycling tedious to the extreme but its my opinion
i've nothing against cycling
my original point was not understanding why people put themselves in danger cycling on our roads.
especially in the dark with no lights !
i took care of a blokes bike back in february i think it was
he fell off on ice
we got the ambulance, did trafic control etc and he was carted off to hospital
i took his bike home and he collected it later
didn't say thanks at all just checked it for scratches??
it did cost 4 times what my van did mind!
his retirement pressie to himself!
i find cycling tedious to the extreme but its my opinion
i've nothing against cycling
my original point was not understanding why people put themselves in danger cycling on our roads.
especially in the dark with no lights !
i took care of a blokes bike back in february i think it was
he fell off on ice
we got the ambulance, did trafic control etc and he was carted off to hospital
i took his bike home and he collected it later
didn't say thanks at all just checked it for scratches??
it did cost 4 times what my van did mind!
his retirement pressie to himself!
For that i'd say that that makes you someone who does the right thing. Thing is these days so many dont. And a thank you really does cost nothing and sounds like you really deserved a bottle of wine for your efforts (thats my standard thanks a lot pressie :O))
The person who knocked me off stopped but then left me on the kerb with a knackered bike because she was 'late for work'. as a nurse. i was dazed, shocked and had a broken shoulder.
The person who knocked me off stopped but then left me on the kerb with a knackered bike because she was 'late for work'. as a nurse. i was dazed, shocked and had a broken shoulder.
thats the problem, you get hurt!
i know its not right but its a dangerous occupation riding a bike
in the right or not you still come off worse
i went straight into the back of a mini van once on my bike!
right over the top and split my lip
bit embarrasing as it was parked!
my mum always said the roads a dangerous place
so i'll not be riding a bike on it for 'pleasure'??
with old idiots like me about??
i know its not right but its a dangerous occupation riding a bike
in the right or not you still come off worse
i went straight into the back of a mini van once on my bike!
right over the top and split my lip
bit embarrasing as it was parked!
my mum always said the roads a dangerous place
so i'll not be riding a bike on it for 'pleasure'??
with old idiots like me about??
webmaster
New Member
Agreed - The most important thing my instructor drummed into me was (and I note it is the most important guideline listed) "Only drive so fast as to be able to stop well within the distance you can see to be clear"
I also have my own saying - "Most people only find the limit of their vehicle 1/2 a second before they crash"
I think driving has been relegated to the point where it's now just something you do to get from a to b, whereas I was always taught that when driving, that's all your doing, if conditions dictate that your going to be 1/2 and hour late, then your going to be 1/2 an hour late, you don't rush, you just concentrate on driving, watch for hazards and give yourself plenty of room.
I'm not saying I obey these lessons all the time, but I try my best to and It's been fairly effective to date.
I also have my own saying - "Most people only find the limit of their vehicle 1/2 a second before they crash"
I think driving has been relegated to the point where it's now just something you do to get from a to b, whereas I was always taught that when driving, that's all your doing, if conditions dictate that your going to be 1/2 and hour late, then your going to be 1/2 an hour late, you don't rush, you just concentrate on driving, watch for hazards and give yourself plenty of room.
I'm not saying I obey these lessons all the time, but I try my best to and It's been fairly effective to date.
i quite agree
But are there no articles anywhere about cycling safely?
would any cyclist read them??
i took a proficiency test as a nipper
does this still exist?
my mother made me do it if i wanted to cycle to school!
which consisted of a 100 yard stretch of open road in a village 35 years ago otherwise it was on tracks.
do you need a bell anymore?
do you need tread on your tyres??
do you need a brain?
it helps not to i reckon!
But are there no articles anywhere about cycling safely?
would any cyclist read them??
i took a proficiency test as a nipper
does this still exist?
my mother made me do it if i wanted to cycle to school!
which consisted of a 100 yard stretch of open road in a village 35 years ago otherwise it was on tracks.
do you need a bell anymore?
do you need tread on your tyres??
do you need a brain?
it helps not to i reckon!
yes there is a cycling proficiency equivalent the kids do at school. I'm not sure why there's a need to say all cyclists are terrible. They (we) arent. There are far more bad drivers than bad cyclists. A car is a lethal weapon hence drivers have a greater responsibility including looking out for other bad drivers and that includes some(not all) cyclists, pedestrians, bus drivers(generally the least observant drivers in my experience) horse riders(who seem to get similar undeserved abuse from motorists) lorry drivers. Do you get angry waiting behind tractors and caravans or drive agressively behind them like so many people do with horses and cyclists? Or overtake on blind bends? This idea that cyclists are all bad is wrong. Think about it.
Dave3066
Well-Known Member
rockdemon said:
While we're on the subject of horse riders........
Why is it that if a dog owner lets his/her dog foul the pavement/road/park etc they get a fine, yet it's ok for horse riders to let their horses do likewise?
I think horse owners should be made to clean up after their animals too.
Discuss :twisted:
Dave