CyclingTips - Latest Comments in Cycliquette

Re: Cycliquette

blackslk — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:13:33 -0000

Cool - Remembering that one day you will do something Uncool. How will you want others to react?
Cool - Situational awareness - knowing where you are, who you're with and thinking about what might be ahead.
Cool - Calling hazards for those in the group behind you.
Cool - Treating other road users as you would like to be treated.
Cool - Encouraging newbies.
Uncool - Getting hot headed.
Uncool - Giving the bird to a driver and then realising it was your boss.
Uncool - Forgetting that a bike is the best thing ever invented and that it is meant to be FUN.

Re: Cycliquette

blackslk — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:58:30 -0000

because it's a nice ride.

Re: Cycliquette

Ian Baillie — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:45:37 -0000

Hi, All ,
Well done to Hank for getting 'Cycliquette ' up and going.
And well done to Dave for helping to get the SAFETY RIDING message out there.Keep it up.
Something for you to consider I have recently started a campaign up in Albury using Bright Yellow Bibs with the wording down the back' JUST 1 METRE PLEASE ' with a large Black Arrow pointing to the right.
The Bib has elastic strips at both sides so that it streches over whatever you are wearing even over a small Laptop Backpack.
I realize that this concept will not appeal to all of you but having ridden on the Nepean Highway many years ago I know exactly what it can be like.
If you should be interested in more info please email me.
Stay safe
Cheers Ian

Re: Cycliquette

shocked in a good way — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:52:10 -0000

to the TOTAL RUSH rider (name might be dave, might not too. He's got the side burns!) on todays NNR. I take my hat off to you. you are the first rider to take a little control of the NNR and actually keep the pack in check. I heard and saw you all the way home yelling instructions to the working group at the front. Actually i heard you last sunday at the SKCC crits telling A & C grade to ride smarter and be safe on the pack rides in town especially NNR and i thought you were full of shit. today i saw you practicing what you preached. you are a excellent example of what a sports person should be. Keep up the great work

Re: Cycliquette

ML — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:38:01 -0000

It never ends...

http://www.news.com.au/adel...

Re: Cycliquette

Steve F — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:25:51 -0000

I didnt ride the ATB at the weekend but i witnessed red light runners galore.

Are there any rider guidelines with the packs sent out to riders?

But i have to disagree with JD - a common perception is that lycra clad roadies are less guilty than commuters - i find both are as guilty as eachother when it comes to running reds especially on the early morning rides.

Re: Cycliquette

David — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:51:23 -0000

Tim, your comment is important in that it highlights two things NOT to do with regards to cycling etiquette: 1 - riding with a personal audio device and earbuds; 2 - trying to ride in a group composed of people you don't know.

Re: Cycliquette

DP — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:31:01 -0000

Let’s take a lesson from motorcyclists.
I’ve been riding with a motor and ‘battling’ for my place on the road for over twenty years.......as a mass, motorcyclists have been around a bit longer than ‘mass’ cyclists.
Ever noticed how they will wave to each other as they pass, how they will talk to each other sitting at the lights (let them sit between your cars or go to the front of the queue as it’s the safest place, a major proportion of accidents are rear enders at lights) whilst this camaraderie would have taken years to evolve it was something that I wanted to be a part of when I got my licence, by comparison ‘mass’ cycling is in its infancy, we clearly need more time to come to terms with each other before anyone else. I can see that trying to take it up as a sport could be intimidating.
Cycling is the new golf, carbon shafts are being replaced in the shed with carbon frames, while every golf club has people at different levels, so too does cycling.
Numbers will continue to grow and for many reasons, people searching for a healthier lifestyle, cheaper transport or for environmental concerns......been to Europe, seen the numbers of cyclists in cities there, it is insane??
To the ‘aloof’ pseudo pro who seemingly hogs the road and looks down – whilst it’s your chosen sport and you have to contend with weekend hacks, you’re just a club golfer and have no greater right to the course than anyone else swinging a club, even though you’re on the equivalent of a single figure handicap.
With regard to all the quips about cycling behaviour, you can bet your life that these are the same people who when driving sit in the outside doing 90 on the freeway, change lanes without looking or indicating, push their way into traffic, inadvertently through no apparent reason or no fault of their own somehow have in sighted someone else......it’s not about the bike, people can be numb to what is going on around them!!
There just isn’t enough courtesy in the world.

Re: Cycliquette

pmark1bike — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:59:34 -0000

Possibly a massive generalization!
How old is middle aged?
I am a BV member and perhaps middle aged but I don't run red lights.
;-)

Re: Cycliquette

Anonymous — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:52:02 -0000

They are BV crowd, not the CT crowd. Middle aged, flat bar road bike, ATB jersey... the ones I see run red lights the most on my commute.!

Re: Cycliquette

JD — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:24:11 -0000

Yeah, the round the bay highlighted (highlit?) to me the key factor that has been mentioned several times. Eloquently articulated etiquette is nice, but "spreading the word" will be the challenge.

I have been on two rides today. 1) The 545NRR, which did involve a dark orange or two, but definitely no deep reds. 2) Ride to work, during which I saw a few etiquette violations, but mainly a stack of flat out law-breaking. Red light runs galore. Curiously, none of the lawbreaking involved any lycra. The outlaws were all wearing trackies, suits, beards, hi-vis gear, panniers, or any combination of the lot.

I threw up my hands in dispair, because there are just too many people who abuse my method of transport, and there is no sensible method of controlling them.

Re: Cycliquette

Ray — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:53:11 -0000

I think that the Round the Bay ride was a terrible advertisement for cyclists. Heaven help any car driver who did show some consideration at a round-about. I saw one car left sitting in the middle of the roundabout. He had right of way, but the stream of cyclists just would not stop entering the roundabout, and he didn't want to run them over.
The list of issues continued for the whole trip.
Aall participants in the round the bay ride, should be instructed in these cycliquette tips, and they should be re-inforced at every rest stop, and at every course indicator arrow, etc.
I think that for many drivers, the event just re-inforced their opinion that cyclists are arrogant and selfish.
I saw my fair share of poorly behaved cars, but far more cyclists were out of line than were car drivers.

Re: Cycliquette

Tim M — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:29:35 -0000

Shows why it is so dangerous. And can't be too good for motorists either (though they have plenty of warning about this event and there're plenty of alternate routes).

Be interesting to see some comments on bunch etiquette.

As the NRR whizzed past 150 Beach Rd this morning, I was left scrambling to get on because I'd taken a minute too long to get the iPhone earbuds in.

On cold muscles into a block headwind trying to catch up to that train was impossible so I spun along and waited for a group to catch me.

There were spinning turns nicely and a gap opened and no one rolled forward so I rolled up to help out and do some work into the wind only to be attacked by what I thought was a squawking magpie, but alas it was a lady most intent on yelling at me for helping.

My bad.

Maybe some tips on how to spot when NOT to help people out in turns.

Re: Cycliquette

peter — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:08:05 -0000

best look yesterday for the around the bay in Melbourne....past the Clocktower beading south on the Col de Beaumaris where the road is 4 lanes wide (2 in each direction). The "bunch" was 8 to 10 riders wide, and spilled over into the oncoming lanes......so much for the keep left and lucky it was early int he morning.
Looking forward to next week where the road is returned to the more sensible "poseur" riders who at least keep their groups tight and allow traffic to pass.

Re: Cycliquette

old timer — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:44:38 -0000

What worked was old hardmen controlling the lower grade club races and teaching the new comers the basics. A larger proportion of riders back then were club members and so there was a critical mass, of sorts, of people who knew how to ride.

These days, due to cycling's increased popularity, there are a large number of people on bikes turning the pedals over, but without the benefit of an education, they don't really know how to ride.

These guys get fit and then turn up to street races like the HR or NRR and we've all seen what happens.

As for offering one-on-one advice to these riders... Will T's comment "There are so many heroes on Beach Rd now, who think because they can ride with the Tues/Thurs fast NRR..." really sums up the problem.

Re: Cycliquette

Tim — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:39:40 -0000

** language
(just a courtesy, some have been warned)

Re: Cycliquette

Will T — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:58:10 -0000

Here is why most people don't offer "tips" on the road, let's say for the sake of the argument, an A Grade rider to someone/anyone else:

Because it is a case of once bitten, twice shy. There are so many heroes on Beach Rd now, who think because they can ride with the Tues/Thurs fast NRR from start to finish, that they know all there is to know about cycling and as soon as you try to offer some advice, they swiftly tell you to @#$% mind your own business, whilst they continue to ride in the right-hand lane of beach rd desperately hanging on for dear life to the tail end of NRR giving all cyclists a bad image.

I think you find this is why most guys, no matter what grade they ride, are happy to offer advice when approached, but rarely go looking to help others out unless said advice is requested.

Cycliquette, or whatever you want to call it, is about doing the little things that makes everyones journey on the road safer and happier, and if cyclists themselves are not open to advice/constructive criticism from their own, then how can we expect to improve relations with other road users...

Re: Cycliquette

bonesx — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:39:40 -0000

All true pmark1bike, certainly i know i have = human nature i guess. until you realise that same guy/gal in the stack-hat is keeping pace with you, and even though you lift the tempo, you can't shake them. Or heaven forbid they give you a wave and power off into the distance!

For me that's one of the best things about our sport, no matter what the equip/experience level, it's the "engine", or heart doing the driving! It's certainly a great leveller at times, and motivates you to improve, and spread the love, so to speak.

Re: Cycliquette

pmark1bike — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:52:58 -0000

I have on an occasion stopped and helped an "A" grade rider with a flat tyre or other problem. They are always happy to talk to you then! I find some of the guys who like to think they are semi pros can act a little aloof when you ride with them. But in saying that, who hasn’t looked down at the guy riding next to him with the ice cream bucket helmet and a pair of runners?

Re: Cycliquette

bonesx — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:42:37 -0000

Great Blog, valid posts by all, and on the whole good to get a feeling of common sense prevailing.
RE: "the wave". Whenever a vehicle actually stops on a side-street instead of thinking they can make that gap and pulling out in front of you on the road, i always try to give them a quick wave, or a nod. Most of the time the driver will nod back, or acknowledge you've thanked them for "waiting". (which in fact was them just obeying the road laws - but i digress) I guess i'm hoping my little courtesy makes them stop everytime in the future?
"Anonymous October 8, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I am not too proud to accept tips and suggestions from more experience riders out there. In fact i like it when someone gives me a few pointers on how to improve. Big problem is most (i use that term loosely) A grade riders in Melbourne are too cool to talk to someone in C or D grade. I frequently see new riders on the road doing silly things and not knowing they are doing them because no one has ever told them. Give friendly advice guys and deliver it in a way that beginners / intermediate rides won’t take offence. "
Amen Anonymous. When i first moved to the darkside of road cycling from MTB, an "old salt" passed me a compliment about some aspect or other. 4 years on, and i haven't forgotten it and i try to concentrate on that aspect of my style whenever out. If i see someone struggling, or the opposite, i'll try to encourage them as well.
If we as cyclists, and i mean everyone from the daily rider to the once a year commuter can't get on, how can we expect to bridge this perceived gap with motorists?
BTW WW, your term ‘Cycliquette’ (TM) should be emblazoned on your upcoming Team Kit ;)
cheers

Re: Cycliquette

AJS — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:52:42 -0000

It is interesting to note the problematic relationship between cyclist and motorist is not unique to Beach Road, nor indeed Australia. The link below is about a debate being had in Toronto, Canada about cyclists needing to be licensed, registered and insured.

http://bicycling.com/blogs/...

Re: Cycliquette

NB — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:02:46 -0000

Sorry AS, I just thought that writing a comment threatening to 'run cyclists off the road' to a cycling blog, was a wee bit inflammatory and was forum troll-like behaviour. Your entire comment is abusive. You're clearly very angry, but if you've reported it to the police, then you really need to repair the damage and get on with life. That's what insurance is for. If it helps, the other party sounds like he has some serious emotional issues and is probably very miserable. You weren't hurt, so you'll soon forget about the whole thing but he'll still be a loser!

Re: Cycliquette

AS — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:13:53 -0000

Comments regarding the aformentioned are niether "false or made up" and are not to "stir a reaction". They were meant bring to notice visitors to this site who may be able to to assist Moorabbin and Caulfield Police in their investigations in identifying the vogue cyclist, putting an end to his behaviour, and having him reimburs me for willfully damaging my vehicle.

Re: Cycliquette

AS — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:01:55 -0000

Perhaps rightly or wrongly, I ought to have rephrased and better articulated my anger over the rogue cyclists indiscretion by choosing words more befittingly. But having read the previous comments from some contributing bloggers and not necesserily those from CT editorial, the general thrust of the debate gave the impression of insighting an "us versus them" mentality - "us" being innocent cyclists versus "them" being negligent motorists.

Re: Cycliquette

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:18:48 -0000

Great idea about the teams being role models and marshalling the rides !