the more I ride my bicycle, the more I hate other drivers

I have no problem with courteous bikers who follow the rules of the road, but I don't see them often around here. They are usually riding 2-3 wide, running lights and stop signs, pedaling uphill in the center of the lane at 2mph in a 40 zone, and generally not understanding that gas taxes pay for roads and they are made for cars.

Thanks to the bikers on this forum giving me a deeper understanding of bikers, I no longer want to run them into a ditch and piss on their spandex-covered corpse, but it is still frustrating. The good ones I give a wide, courteous berth to.

mad_machine wrote: ... I can't stand being tucked up like that. Now with a bad shoulder, I do not even want to think about it.

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pinchvalve wrote: ...The good ones I give a wide, courteous berth to.

you could put Bikers, runners, or CARS in front of this statement, and they all would be true...dont let the bad apples spoil the bunch. I would say the ratio of courteous cyclists to asshats is pretty good. For every richard riding on the road, there are 11 on a trail somewhere, and another 6 on the road who proactively make sure not to impede cars.

All the posturing about how yeah, I know its legal for you to ride on the streets, but who cares?!?! Youre prolly GONNA get hit, so stay the hell outta my way is old guys...can we give it a rest?

I have no problem passing bikers safely, and giving them berth - I too, used to ride a LOT on the road. I DO have a problem with waiting a long time until it's safe to pass, finally passing, and then having the rider pass all the same cars at the next red light (illegally on the shoulder) - forcing everyone to do it again.

In reply to ProDarwin:

I agree some roads are safer than others. There's a road I drive on that also ride on once in awhile, but only when I can't avoid it. I usually take the less trafficed hilly route instead (old converted canal tow paths are boring as hell).

Personally, I don't have a problem waiting a few seconds for safe place to pass. It's not really a great delay. I have more problems with drivers who get on that road and slow to a near stop when there is an oncoming car - nevermind the double yellow line and enough physical room for three cars... Unfortunately, the average person can often be an impatient....

4cylndrfury wrote:

pinchvalve wrote: ...The good ones I give a wide, courteous berth to.

you could put Bikers, runners, or CARS in front of this statement, and they all would be true...dont let the bad apples spoil the bunch.

Runners? I can't remember a time when a runner was going down the middle of the road holding everyone up....and there are more runners around here than road bikers. Cars? Not a comparison at all. Granny may be doing 45 in a 55, but she isn't doing 5 in a 55....

Cotton wrote:

4cylndrfury wrote:

pinchvalve wrote: ...The good ones I give a wide, courteous berth to.

you could put Bikers, runners, or CARS in front of this statement, and they all would be true...dont let the bad apples spoil the bunch.

Runners? I can't remember a time when a runner was going down the middle of the road holding everyone up....and there are more runners around here than road bikers. Cars? Not a comparison at all. Granny may be doing 45 in a 55, but she isn't doing 5 in a 55....

I dont know what its like out by you, but there are asshats in running shoes up here as often as they are on 2, or 4 wheels. I dont indiscriminately get sand in my hootus over every runner because 2 of the 12,289,236 in the world pissed me off last month.

Its time for people to get over themselves...

In reply to mad_machine:

That sounds more reasonable! And as gamby says, still a solid ride. Lots of cycling stuff is preset in kph because that's what's used in the more cycling crazy parts of the world.

I got out for 32 miles yesterday. Glorious. Shorts and short sleeve jersey--in Wisconsin--in March!

well.. what is funny, the batteries died over the winter.. so when I replaced them, I never gave it a second thought as it was original set to miles

mad_machine wrote: maybe.. I tried one two years ago before buying my current MB. I can't stand being tucked up like that. Now with a bad shoulder, I do not even want to think about it.

I don't care for the tucked-in position that drops put you in either, which is why I converted my road bike to a flat bar. Throw on some Ergon grips and it's pretty comfy. You'll never get the same speed on descents as guys with drops, but your back will be happier and you'll still be faster than on an MTB.

02Pilot wrote: I don't care for the tucked-in position that drops put you in either, which is why I converted my road bike to a flat bar.

A properly-fitted road bike shouldn't be all that hard on your back. When you ride with your hands on the brake hoods, it should be pretty similar to having them on a flat bar setup. A riser stem helps this, too (as previously mentioned.)

Mine stem has a slight rise to it (lulz). I have no need for a zero-rise race position.

I'll take drop bars over flats on a long ride any day of the week. More hand positions and easier to fight a headwind.

pinchvalve wrote: I have no problem with courteous bikers who follow the rules of the road, but I don't see them often around here. They are usually riding 2-3 wide, running lights and stop signs, pedaling uphill in the center of the lane at 2mph in a 40 zone, and generally not understanding that gas taxes pay for roads and they are made for cars. Thanks to the bikers on this forum giving me a deeper understanding of bikers, I no longer want to run them into a ditch and piss on their spandex-covered corpse, but it is still frustrating. The good ones I give a wide, courteous berth to.

I ride but I also can't stand the groups that ride two or more wide on public roads. Why do some riders have to go out of there way to be jerks? Makes it harder for the courteous riders.

Said with humorous intent: My Dodge Ram uses twice as much gas as most cars. I should get twice as much use of the road?

pinchvalve wrote: I have no problem with courteous bikers who follow the rules of the road, but I don't see them often around here. They are usually riding 2-3 wide, running lights and stop signs, pedaling uphill in the center of the lane at 2mph in a 40 zone, and generally not understanding that gas taxes pay for roads and they are made for cars. Thanks to the bikers on this forum giving me a deeper understanding of bikers, I no longer want to run them into a ditch and piss on their spandex-covered corpse, but it is still frustrating. The good ones I give a wide, courteous berth to.

I pay PLENTY of gas taxes. That's a nonissue.

Maybe the cyclists around here are more courteous. I've literally NEVER had occasion to get pissed at a cyclist. They stay on the shoulder (as do I when I ride).

gamby wrote:

02Pilot wrote: I don't care for the tucked-in position that drops put you in either, which is why I converted my road bike to a flat bar.

A properly-fitted road bike shouldn't be all that hard on your back. When you ride with your hands on the brake hoods, it should be pretty similar to having them on a flat bar setup. A riser stem helps this, too (as previously mentioned.) Mine stem has a slight rise to it (lulz). I have no need for a zero-rise race position. I'll take drop bars over flats on a long ride any day of the week. More hand positions and easier to fight a headwind.

It's less about my back than it is about just not caring for the tucked position. If I'm not going to use it, I'd rather have my brakes up where my hands normally are instead of having to drop down to grab them. I've got the Ergons with the integral barends, so I've got some options for hand positions. My bike is old and thus has a quill stem, which is zero-rise. I could go to one with a rise, but I'm pretty content with it the way it is.