Does my attitude stink?

[Cubist]

It's definitely one of those "easier said than done" things, but have you tried turning it around?



Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things that I can
And the wisdom to know the difference.

You mangled the last verse. It's:

Grant me the serenity to accept things that I cannot change
The courage to change the things that I can
And the wisdom properly to conceal the corpses of those that really piss me off on my way to work.

 

[Norm]

Hmm... I thought it was:
And the strength to dig up the patio to hide the bodies... etc

 

[d87francis]

im in much the same boat ,iv reently started riding a fixed gear to work(im in glasgow)and post on a forum up here ,its local so most of the peeps on it are prob gona meet at some point ,anyway ,i dont know wether its to do with people trying to b cool and a rebel or the whole fixed gear/hipster/student thing but theres people on there that actually condone riding like a knob(rlj ,pavements gen riding the way that gets cyclists a bad name ),i try and ride responsibly (im 43 maybe its an age thing as most iv met up here are a good bit younger ,20-30?) i just dont wanna b associated with the rljs cos its not my bag
i posted about riding standards in gen and was subject to loads of abuse and gen derogatory comments ,with some people saying things like "ride it like u stole it",every ride is an adrenaline rush"and "on the edge"!now im no fuddy duddy but i cant see any sense in behaving /thinking like that
i was stopped at a red the other nite at a busy city centre junction ,who came flying by ,a fixed gear rider with trouser leg rolled up ,skip hat and big baggy cardigan ,no doubt a student ,no wonder a lot of peeps have a neg image!

I'm sorry to hear you received so much abuse for posting about riding standards, the impression I get is that much of the current fixie craze is inspired by bike couriers (as opposed to track cycling or for training), and having seen a few videos of how they ride it doesn't look like many want to live long.

Thanks all for your advice - I think I shall try to concentrate on the better cyclists and not get so wound up. @Hip Priest - I'm totally with you, my grumpiness is only being caused by those that directly affect me daily (those who pull out in front, or overtake me at lights), if I were to pay attention to all the other stupidity/naivety that doesn't affect me I think I'd just go live on an uninhabited island somewhere.

I don't know how Oxford stacks up against other places for levels of silly cyclists, but it must be fairly high. I did find relievement temporarily when I bought my airzound

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck1_jjSxtok&feature=related

using it to stop cyclists pulling out, but I feel like a bit of a Fred using it now and somewhat anti-social, so just save it for vehicles about to run me over and students who like to step out into the road without looking - it tends to wake them up in the morning (with some very funny reactions).

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I observed one the other day there at a busy road junction in Clydebank. Two roadies wearing CHAS jerseys (CHAS - Children's Hospice Appeal Scotland) came to the red lights. The first one did stop, but then managed to gradually move further and further forwards whilst at the same time doing semi trackstands, and waited for his buddy behind. Once the other had caught up, they then just continued through the red light.

I very nearly shouted at them

'DO YOU THINK THE RULES DON'T APPLY TO YOU??!!'

Or something to that effect.

I didn't, but I wish I had now.

If you see two Idiots in CHAS jerseys in West Central Scotland, steer WELL clear!

CHAS is a big charity too, so not a very good piece of PR!

 

[BikeLiker]

I lose count daily of the cyclists that ... pointlessly filter along the gutter past me at a narrow junction to get ahead of two cars or even a bus only for them to hold me up 200 yards later.

You seem to assume other peoples' progress is only judged relative to your position. Perhaps others want to filter to shorten their journey times and have no interest in whether you are in front of them or behind them. Perhaps they are irritated by you obstructing what is obviously a viable route, as demonstrated by the fact that they pass you.

 

[Linford]

The problem is that we only remeber the behaviour of the bad ones. I can guarantee that every time I come home from work, I see total farktards on 2 wheels who ride on and off the pavements at junctions and think they are this amazingly quick and cool being, as they can weave amongst the pedestrians in thse spaces.
What I've not noticed unless I actively look for them are the riders who understand the rules of the road, and observethem - they fall off the radar as they blend in with the traffic. What I will say is that there are easily as many on the commute who do ride sensibly, as I see behaving like total tools (and I'm not cycle commuting ATM)

 

[400bhp]

You seem to assume other peoples' progress is only judged relative to your position. Perhaps others want to filter to shorten their journey times and have no interest in whether you are in front of them or behind them. Perhaps they are irritated by you obstructing what is obviously a viable route, as demonstrated by the fact that they pass you.

And they would be wrong.

 

[400bhp]

[QUOTE 1775030, member: 9609"]... ... You're heading towards a depressive illness.[/quote]

It's called getting old.

 

[dandare]

If you are not careful all this preoccupation with other road users just spoils the reason for being out there riding. There is nothing you can do about the way others treat the road other than get on with your own ride. Ride confidently,safely but dont let the other idiots intimidate you.

 

[Psyclist]

It's definitely one of those "easier said than done" things, but have you tried turning it around?

Rather than focusing on the crap cyclists, which seem to be making your commuting a nightmare, look out for those who you think are good. And, more than that, engage with the good ones, even if it's just a friendly wave or a "good morning" as you pass. It might help to redress the balance over time and it will stop you being "continuously annoyed" with the idiots.

This. But all of the roadies in my area are ignorant.

 

[d87francis]

Cheers for your thought's guys, I think I should've made it clear that I only feel like this when I'm cycling in Oxford, as soon as I head out of Oxford I don't get so caught up. It doesn't stress me at all, I still enjoy my cycling a great deal, but it just annoys me greatly at the same time.

@BikeLiker - with the obviously viable filtering route, I know it's viable but dangerous if the lights change. If I'm far from the lights I filter, but if I only have a couple of cars or a bus in front of me and there is no ASL and it's a narrow junction i don't filter and instead take a primary behind them.