Are cyclists generally worse right now?

[Brooks]

I got swore at by a pedestrian the other day, a couple were walking on the road and the woman screwed her face up an screamed "give me effing room"
I was speechless(rare for me) as I was on the road.

 

[a.twiddler]

How do you do that while being sat astride a bicycle? That's like trying not to look like a motorist while driving a Focus.

Either I have got an invisible bicycle, which leads to some practical issues (hmm now where did I park the bloody thing?) or:-
It's the difference between being clad as a Person-on-a-Bike in ordinary looking clothes which seems to be less threatening or challenging to a certain type of road user, which may lead to less close passes and more recognition of you as a human being, compared with appearing as a colourful lycra clad super hero who to that certain type of road user is "other" and somehow less entitled to consideration. It is comparable to what has been found in helmet wearers vs non helmet wearers -helmet wearers for whatever reason tend to get more close passes.
Of course you could wear anything, and some F***wits would just object to you being on the road and show their displeasure anyway.
Just to show that you don't need all the gear to enjoy bicycling that the magazines would like you to think you need.

 

[Edwardoka]

I agree with what you say. It's like when I go to Venice and the place is ruined for me with all those tourists.

When I was a youngin there were signs off the road that said "do not enter, area mined", not exactly a tourist trap. I use it as a traffic-free route to the south (where I live I am surrounded by hills on three sides)

What I failed to mention in my original post is that the fairly spacious restaurant car park adjoining the entrance to said road was full, despite the restaurant being closed. It's difficult to state conclusively that every person I encountered had driven there specifically to walk, but most of them certainly had. It was less than half a mile away from where I sit now.

I am aware that complaining about encountering too many people outside on my trip outside is hypocritical

 

[ozboz]

If I have problems on the road it’s usually other cyclists that are the problem especially on the peak commuting times here in W London, there is some attitude . As far as beer goes , I always put Aussie beer down as a type of lager , There was one Tassie brand , dearer than the others but worth it , Boags ,
Nice drink . Tooheys Old was ok too, one drink from South Australia was a bit hard to get on with but I can’t remember the name of it now , on the whole not bad at all ,

 

[stuarttunstall]

This is on the local news website....

Like a lot of us have said, new, returning and inexperienced riders... along with the minority idiot drivers who now think take off speed is the normal on the quiet roads..

 

[gbb]

It comes and goes in waves IME. I've been through periods where drivers seem like theyve got it in for me personally. They havnt of course, it's just once in a while you'll see stuff that bugs you, other times you won't. Same for everyone once in a while I suspect.

 

[Drago]

Either I have got an invisible bicycle, which leads to some practical issues (hmm now where did I park the bloody thing?) or:-
It's the difference between being clad as a Person-on-a-Bike in ordinary looking clothes which seems to be less threatening or challenging to a certain type of road user, which may lead to less close passes and more recognition of you as a human being, compared with appearing as a colourful lycra clad super hero who to that certain type of road user is "other" and somehow less entitled to consideration. It is comparable to what has been found in helmet wearers vs non helmet wearers -helmet wearers for whatever reason tend to get more close passes.
Of course you could wear anything, and some F***wits would just object to you being on the road and show their displeasure anyway.
Just to show that you don't need all the gear to enjoy bicycling that the magazines would like you to think you need.

That's just pandering to peoples preconceptions and prejudices, and we should be standing up to those, not acquiescing. Start going out in disguise because of a few bellends and you've gifted them the win, and made it that little bit harder for everyone else.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

I try not to look like a cyclist, and haven't had any real problems with traffic..... It's a difficult balance between being unobtrusive enough so that you don't make other road users have to change speed and direction, and being assertive enough so that you get noticed and not wiped out by some distracted driver.

I don't dress like a cyclist either (well, not a roadie anyway), and I also find I get very little hassle from motorists in traffic. You get the odd one pulling out not looking, but not much deliberate aggressive passing and cutting up. I put it down to the fact that a lot of drivers really don't seem to like the lycra-clad cyclist variety on fancy road bikes, but don't have the same degree of antipathy towards "normal" people who just happen to be riding a bike in casual/work clothing.

 

[Mike_P]

I don't find any difference whether on the road bike in lycra or the ebike with normal clothes on, or the hybrid with either. I suspect many motorists recognise cyclists wearing the correct clothing for the bike/trip they are on. Alarm bells may go off if someone is inappropriately dressed on a road bike both by motorists and any following cyclist unfortunately getting a close view of their arse crack. Getting along amicably is for cyclists taking the correct position on the road and signalling clearly; seen far too many cyclists recently who signalling for a turn could be missed in a blink.

 

[a.twiddler]

That's just pandering to peoples preconceptions and prejudices, and we should be standing up to those, not acquiescing. Start going out in disguise because of a few bellends and you've gifted them the win, and made it that little bit harder for everyone else.

Let me just turn that on its head. You are saying that we must put on some outlandish specialised riding gear just to go out and do that most ordinary of things, ie riding a bike?

When I was a club cyclist many years ago I was not a roadie. I didn't race. But I led tours and did weekend rides and it was a nice thing then to have club colours because it gave us a feeling of belonging. It wasn't lycra, in those days, but some sort of wool/synthetic mix. When I was on my own, on tour, or whatever, I wore the same stuff because it was worn in and comfortable. since then, having worn them out, I have found that I can cycle in ordinary clothes just as well, though purpose designed cycling trousers are better if you are going further, or maybe for several days, to avoid discomfort in the underpants department. I do have a pair of lycra cycling trousers for longer trips from that famous designer cycle wear emporium, ALDI, to that end (pardon the pun). I am not a club cyclist any more. I can please myself.

It was occasionally commuting to work over the years that made me realise that I could manage perfectly well for longer trips in appropriate ordinary clothes.

As far as I am concerned, if you are a sporty cyclist and the appropriate gear meets your needs, fill your boots, we can wear what we like, but I know what works for me. Lycra seems to be a hate word for the likes of the Daily Wail and its ilk but I am willing to bet that even the editor has lycra in his socks. If some other wonder fabric were to appear and be adopted by cyclists no doubt that would become their next target.

So there you go.

 

[HMS_Dave]

I choose not to wear lycra and i never will. I Just don't want to... I do however want to ride my bike and that is fine by me...

 

[Brooks]

My brother in law is always banging on about cyclists in Lycra, strange as I don't even wear the stuff. I almost live in my craghoppers kiwi strides as they are extremely comfortable on or off the bike, and they convert too shorts for the summer 😀

 

[Drago]

I choose not to wear lycra and i never will. I Just don't want to...

You don't know what you're missing - it's very sensual.

 

[Mike_P]

...aside from reducing drag in headwinds and the extent of being pushed sideways on crosswinds. Now there's a thought does baggy clothing mean you go faster in with a tailwinds?

 

[matticus]

Let me just turn that on its head. You are saying that we must put on some outlandish specialised riding gear just to go out and do that most ordinary of things, ie riding a bike?

When I was a club cyclist many years ago I was not a roadie. I didn't race. But I led tours and did weekend rides and it was a nice thing then to have club colours because it gave us a feeling of belonging. It wasn't lycra, in those days, but some sort of wool/synthetic mix. When I was on my own, on tour, or whatever, I wore the same stuff because it was worn in and comfortable. since then, having worn them out, I have found that I can cycle in ordinary clothes just as well, though purpose designed cycling trousers are better if you are going further, or maybe for several days, to avoid discomfort in the underpants department. I do have a pair of lycra cycling trousers for longer trips from that famous designer cycle wear emporium, ALDI, to that end (pardon the pun). I am not a club cyclist any more. I can please myself.

It was occasionally commuting to work over the years that made me realise that I could manage perfectly well for longer trips in appropriate ordinary clothes.

As far as I am concerned, if you are a sporty cyclist and the appropriate gear meets your needs, fill your boots, we can wear what we like, but I know what works for me. Lycra seems to be a hate word for the likes of the Daily Wail and its ilk but I am willing to bet that even the editor has lycra in his socks. If some other wonder fabric were to appear and be adopted by cyclists no doubt that would become their next target.

So there you go.

He clearly didn't say that.