CyclingTips - Latest Comments in Friday Etiquette Rant

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

Shoot goal — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 02:20:55 -0000

Spot on mate

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

melbin_rider — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 04:52:01 -0000

actually, the passing thing i've only just begun to see from the other side of the fence (as the passee). am getting a work colleague of mine back into cycling (he was into it big time as a youth, now mid-30s, you know the story) and as such we'll often be moving along at only 25-30 km/h (and yes i can hear the jokes now, like 'if you call that moving') on beach road and the close range some people feel the need to pass you is simply ridiculous. from what i can see it really comes back to their ability (legs), because nine times out of ten they are really struggling to hang on and god forbid they catch even the slightest amount of air (especially if the pack is single file). i'm the first to admit that i've grabbed onto the back of packs that were well beyond my fitness level and tbh it's fun and challenging, but now that i have been passed by many a fast moving pack within centimeters i'll always make to give plenty of room on the inside. basically if you need to resort to cutting people off just so you don't snap the elastic band of the pack you're in, it's probably the wrong pack for you anyway. shame this post is still relevant 2 years after it first went up, but i guess there are always new cyclists out there.

@chester love the drops and straight bars analogy ... very funny

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

Andy — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:43:27 -0000

And one more thing... when 100 guys (and 2 or 4 women) fly past a lone rider, don't clip their wheel. Give them enough room. Remember that they person behind you will probably follow you line and cut them off too. This is just safety for everyone behind you. I saw about 5 guys go down this way recently.

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

Chester — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:54:40 -0000

OK here are the group rules for the modern man

All farting will be done at the back of the pack prior to pulling turns
Magnesium loading is for the pros and should never, never, ever be combined with a pair of white knicks
No nose clearing while moving will be tolerated, you can actually breathe through the thing you shove your coffee down
An obstacle on the road is just that an obstacle not an excuse to pull a move with more g force than an F18
I know you are behind me repeadidly touching me on the ass is just plain weird
If everyone is wearing the same colours but it is different to you, give up and go do some intervals
Commuting is not group riding these are wackey races and the two should never be confused. Just because you rock at one does not make you an expert on the other
Bars that curve and bars that are straight do not mix. It is like cats sleeping with dogs it can be done but it is not right
If you are in a group and telling single cyclists to get on the bike path you should be there yourself, as your bike handling skills are crap
If you spent the entire ride at the back of the pack with 100 riders in front of you. Absolutly no bragging rights are avaliable. Pull a turn ya lazy bastard

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

Chester — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:38:46 -0000

None till yo get to a light open ya mouth and breathe through that for half a block

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

Twoeee — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:40:47 -0000

I agree with all the comments with people jumping into training bunches. Whats with people jumping on to the back of people motor pacing. Obviously they are out training.

And please if you are told to nicely remove yourself from the group do it. Don't wait until people tell you F@#f off. We have obviously paid for the session and want to enjoy it safely.

Ok rant over. have a good day.

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

GG — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:15:35 -0000

Sorry, that should be, "I DON'T join in with groups"....

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

GG — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:14:50 -0000

I think it's more a safety issue. I've seen guys busting a gut to keep up with a group that's obviously not anything to do with them, and they obviously don't know how to safely ride in a group. I join in with groups and only ride with a couple of mates when I'm out and I certainly wouldn't want these guys belting along, out of control right behind me.

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

Beloki — Fri, 15 May 2009 22:53:52 -0000

I agree with James. I don't care how new you are to cycling, the state of your knicks, or how expensive your bike is, it's great that you are out enjoying this awesome sport. BUT please realise, that you share the road with other riders and vehicles and that riding in the middle of the lane as far away from the gutter as possible puts not only other riders passing you at risk BUT yourself at risk too with regard to passing traffic. This is compounded by you not being able to ride in a straight line yet, with the bike rocking from side to side (you obviously didn't bother to read cyclingtipsblog's articles on ankling or technique, but took the articles "Classic Obsession" and "Compression garments" a little too seriously ;-) ).
You are an accident waiting to happen, so please take care to ride straight (maybe practice at an oval before getting onto the road), and perhaps try and ride closer to the gutter.

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

erik — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:45:34 -0000

as someone reasonably new to (serious) road cycling, I enjoy when you share these tips. I'm a little confused by your description of how to signal that you need to blow your nose. maybe a new post with photos would help elucidate the mysteries of hand-signaling. I'd be interested to know about the regional differences in signaling too. Just a thought.

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

James — Fri, 15 May 2009 09:00:26 -0000

Its also interesting these days that people riding feel they can take a single car lane. For me at least (it might take a while to work itself out) there are at least three cycling 'lanes' within one car lane, but this is never respected or acknowledged. It means that quite often, a group riding you pass, or even a single line of riders, may be so far out that you have to encroach on the other lane (car lane) to pass - way uncool. Whats with forcing another cyclist to run the gauntlet with a car? Whats wrong with 20 cm off the gutter? way uncool.

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

Pad Pad — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:11:35 -0000

Good one Wade , Yes the etiquette is important and more so the safety aspects of " gatecrashing " a well ordered group BUT boys and girls how about a bit of humour ! Most of us actually work for a living and find the escape from the dreary aspects of our lives on the bike a welcome distraction . We're not riding for sheepstations and generally a bit of humour coupled with some friendly advice will see the offending rider try to comply .

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

Anonymous — Fri, 15 May 2009 05:45:06 -0000

+1 to Brycer. If you're at a party, manners dictate you don't bust into a conversation being held between a group of people - you stand on the outer and wait to be invited in.

Nothing like RC riders declaring "we've won more races than you've had hot breakfasts" when you politely ask them to NOT join your disciplined bunch of rolling turn friends who have been riding together for years and sharing the pace into the wind for the last 2 hours. If RC riders are so damn hot then take your 4 mates and show us - ride off the front or something. Wankers.

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

brycerider — Fri, 15 May 2009 05:11:09 -0000

Dont confuse good manners and elitism. If a group is out training then dont just join in. You wouldnt just roll up to a footy team practice session and get stuck in would you?

If it looks like just a bunch out for a cruise hop on the back and ask if its ok to join in.

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

cyclingtips — Fri, 15 May 2009 04:31:22 -0000

SJ and CP,

I completely agree with you guys. I'll never rid cycling of the elitism that it exudes, but by creating this site hopefully it's helping beginner and intermediate cyclists learn some of the subtleties (and unwritten rules) of the sport to fast track years of "learning the hard way"

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

SJ — Fri, 15 May 2009 04:21:51 -0000

I'm totally sick and tired of all the "road etiquette" and so called "rules". As a MTB'r new to road cycling I can't believe how much everyone thinks they are pro's and all full of their own self importance. Who cares if you wear white, Oz National or World Champ kit as long as you are happy, if it was so important to earn these colours then they would not sell them to the average jo. Maybe they are just supporting there country or there hero's. Who cares if your riding a $10,000 bike and can't ride, you buy what you can afford. You don't have to be a good driver to own a porsche so whats the problem. I can't believe all the possers so caught up in all this crap! Race day is one thing but on a weekend ride just relax! We seem to be our own worst nightmare, what do the drivers think of us if we road cyclists all hate each other? Think About it!

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

Nikolai — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:47:30 -0000

I get really frightened when people all of the sadden yell "hole!" or "lights!", is this an Australian thing? Because I haven't seen it happening anywhere else I've been to, and I've been around a bit... Just showing a hole with your hand or even just fingers is enough, why yell?

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

Anonymous — Fri, 15 May 2009 01:44:35 -0000

WAH WAH, really you guys.
I know there are some tools out there, who knows maybe I fit some of these descriptions too.
But be fair, very few of you are pro riders and riders all need to get there experiance somewhere.
If you choose to ride a big bunch ride then you need to expect it.
Be a little more tolerant, we sound like car drivers.
Some polite words of encouragement might be the best answer.

Cheers
CP

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

Simon — Fri, 15 May 2009 01:24:28 -0000

Totally agree Wade, but can someone pass these rules onto the Pricks at Toatal Rush. They ride like tools every Sat morning and push everyone into the gutter when they pass. Not a good look for the shop!

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

Lee — Fri, 15 May 2009 00:47:20 -0000

Whites ok if youv'e got good fake tan on!

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

David Heatley — Fri, 15 May 2009 00:07:59 -0000

Can't agree with you more about this Wade. I lose count of the number of people that regularly think it's cool to gate crash our Team Time Trial training up Beach Road in the morning. For some reason they think that anything is fair game? I had a guy stick his whole arm out in front of my face in this week indicating that he intended to pull into our train. What was he thinking? That I was going to let a total stranger roll turns with us at 50+km/h. A few weeks ago I got so pis*ed that I gently nudged one guy out of the way using my hand on his hip as he tried to force his way in... Only to be confronted with abuse from him and his fellow riding mates for dangerous riding... Sorry what? I just shock my head. Yep, touched a raw nerve here Wade. See a row of riders tightly swapping track turns then ride in front of them a few meters or behind them but don't try to crash their train. Not good cycling Etiquette.

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

James — Thu, 14 May 2009 23:40:45 -0000

Rant is an appropriate description for this post, better left for Monday.

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

Tommy P — Thu, 14 May 2009 23:30:47 -0000

Wave an open hand, in a tissue like manner around your face... Make sure you do this at the right height as too low can mean "I need food" in the case of an inwardly gesture, or "I am about to throw up" in the case of an outwardly gesture. I thought this was all common knowledge, no?

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

Thu, 14 May 2009 22:53:13 -0000

What's the signal for clearing your nose?

Re: Friday Etiquette Rant

c.dawg — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:52:29 -0000

Spotted a girl with a lovely bottom cycling down beach rd at st kilda with very worn knicks the other day. No complaints here....