A quick bit of Ride Intel for you, since it seems that your wankspangle “ride leader” forgot to include it in his pre-ride safety talk this morning: You’re not actually IN the Tour de France or the Race Across America. I am certain on this point because neither route traverses Pennsylvania or the Delaware and Lehigh Canal towpath. That being the case, there’s no reason for the eight of you to ride in a pseudo-Peloton-style line, trying to take advantage of the drafting effect that doesn’t exist when you are a) moving at around 10mph, riding b) your brand-new carbon road bikes with 25mm tires c) on packed gravel. Because you’re not racing. You’re on a fucking trail that’s used by cyclists, walkers, runners, and horses, in BOTH DIRECTIONS, and you’re managing to monopolize the entire width of the trail.
So, ordinarily, I wouldn’t give two shits about how you ride, where you ride, or how you look while riding, but I make an exception in this case because you forced me to choose between going into the drink or coming to a VERY sudden stop on the path to avoid taking you out. Trivia note: I outweigh you by a good fifty pounds and I’m riding steel that’s older than you are, and it would’ve been painful and inconvenient for you if I’d considered the THIRD option of just riding into you head-on.
Insult to injury was the vacant cow look Wankspangle Leader gave me—with a bleating “Whatdya mean?”—when I asked him if he’d made a deal with the state to rent the whole fucking path for the day. How did I know he was the “ride leader?” It was the silkscreened “RIDE LEADER” on the club jersey that solved that riddle, and gave me simultaneously a group AND an individual to hate.
It makes me want to pass you at the first opportunity and shove each of you into the actual Delaware River as I pass, and then throw things at you when you try to swim to shore. Also, it makes me want to find the person who sold you—probably in the past month—your $2000 race machines and $500 worth of Lycra (all of which advertise Italian companies whose products you likely can’t actually identify) and kick him square in the balls. Thanks for freakin’ nothing, morons. This is why motorists already hate you, and it makes it REALLY hard for me to blame them.
Better yet is when I'm driving my truck up a twisty mountain road that has a 35-45 mph speed limit and come around a blind corner to encounter these ass goblins doing barely 5 mph in the middle of the frikin road. If they at least displayed common courtesy or basic human decency people wouldn't hate them so much. A pox on mankind they are.
Excellent rant, and the term "wankspangle" made me laugh.
The county to my south spent a fortune putting bike trails in everywhere, paved and dirt. Assholes come up here instead, to take up the entire lane of county highways with loads of blind curves. Only a matter of time before one of them gets turned into a greasy spot.
They ride in single file, until a car gets close, then spread out across the entire lane. I guess to prevent passing?
Lots of bike paths locally here too but I see all kinds of pedalers on our county roads, keeping company with logging, mining and other tandem semi rigs. That has to make for an exciting ride!
End of Earth: 2 Miles Upper Peninsula: 4 Miles
Posts: 16468 | Location: Marquette MI | Registered: July 08, 2014
For the many years and millions of miles I have driven, I cannot get bent out of shape on cyclist.
It is not that much effort to dodge them, pass them with plenty of berth and far enough behind and in front of them.
Because a hazard they may need to dodge is likely too small for me to see and I rather not squash them.
Out of all I have encountered, a very few of them have been out of bounds in their operation on the roadways.
Now, the people on bikes that are on bikes because there DUI card is a winning coverall BINGO, another story. Riding on the right sidewalk going "leftbound" is really foolish and I have almost bagged a couple more times than I can recall.
Often hidden and that "last glance to my left" as I pull out, and up pops the weasel.
If they come from my left, I have less trouble with them, and can often see them and wait for them to amble by.
"the meaning of life, is to give life meaning" ✡ Ani Yehudi אני יהודי Le'olam lo shuv לעולם לא שוב!
Posts: 44578 | Location: ...... I am thrice divorced, and I live in a van DOWN BY THE RIVER!!! (in Arkansas) | Registered: December 20, 2008
Drivers, golfers, boaters, all have selfish +/or oblivious types. Even we gun owners have our fair share. Spent a career in cycling, and never considered cycling enthusiasts to be any better or worse than other groups. Yahoos do not get a pass when they share a sport or interest, they're still rude, or worse.
------------------ The plural of anecdote is not data. -Frank Kotsonis
Posts: 2102 | Location: Berks Co PA | Registered: December 20, 2006
Theirs a plague of them that infest Boulder county down to the south. One of them got taken outta the gene pool recently. Now they are complaining to the county to widen the roads, etc. why not just avoid the dangerous roads. I understand trying to live healthy..etc. But at what expense?
"Someday I hope to be half the man my bird-dog thinks I am." FBLM LGB!
Posts: 11029 | Location: Commirado | Registered: July 23, 2009
I have come to hate all bicyclists. We have a "bike path" that runs through town that is used by runners and walkers too. The runners and walkers are most likely to be on the right edge on the path in the direction of travel; inevitably, all the assclown bicyclists feel compelled to ride up behind and yell, "on your left!" So now when I'm driving and encounter bicyclists, I feel compelled to hit my horn and yell out the window "on your left!"
___________________________ Originally posted by Psychobastard: Well, we "gave them democracy"... not unlike giving a monkey a loaded gun.
Originally posted by MWC: I have come to hate all bicyclists. We have a "bike path" that runs through town that is used by runners and walkers too. The runners and walkers are most likely to be on the right edge on the path in the direction of travel; inevitably, all the assclown bicyclists feel compelled to ride up behind and yell, "on your left!" So now when I'm driving and encounter bicyclists, I feel compelled to hit my horn and yell out the window "on your left!"
Huh. That's the opposite of my experience. When I'm on a bike, I encounter plenty of runners and walkers in groups of 2 or more, spread out across the entire path. Inevitably, walkers and runners are either talking amongst themselves, staring at a phone, or wearing headphones - entirely oblivious to their surroundings and the crazy possibly that other people may be using the trails too. So that "on your left" is usually my (polite) way of saying pay attention, get out of the way, and stop taking up the entire trail width. It may sound rude, because it usually has to be shouted multiple times at increasing volumes due to that total unawareness thing. For the solo walker/runner on a narrow path, it's also a courtesy, in case you decide to step out into my path. Guarantee that will hurt the oblivious pedestrian more than me.
What is mind-numbingly astounding is that this happens as I am approaching walkers and runners from the FRONT nearly as often as approaching from behind. I have had to ride off the side of a path on more than one occasion when I get within 10-20' of a group of pedestrians, from the front (!!!), who never saw me until the last second.
Now, that said, as a mountain biker, I completely share everyone's disdain for the road/gravel bikers. If I'm on pavement, it's only out of necessity to get from one dirt path to another. This message has been edited. Last edited by: Aquilon,
Posts: 967 | Location: Virginia | Registered: May 16, 2007
