top 5 things about cycling that p*** me off !!!

[HLaB]

HLab - but at about 5.13 you rode straight past the only passing place on that bit of road, with the car already clearly visible in front. Where did you expect him to go? Sorry, but from here it looks as though you were playing a game of chicken there.

PIJ

Its not the only passing place if you stop the vid at 5:30 ish you'll see there is a large passing place right where he was and on his side was and it would have been much better than me swerving to the wrong side of the road out of view but tbh it was a long time ago and I was probably caught out by the sun in my eyes, the speed of them and by the fact there is usually no cars on that road

 

[Muddy Ground]

No worries - I was feeling a bit queasy by 04.50, so didn't spot the alternative!

 

[HLaB]

 

[Dan B]

with 5, putting a wheel up on the grass at pace is a baaaad plan obv when meeting a car its daft not to but theres room for a cyclist and theres a big change in grip and resistance between grass and tarmac.

Or in other words "I have to drive carefully around other cars but cyclists are not as important".

 

[Moodyman]

Headwinds

 

[Cheule]

1 - Leaving your bike safely locked up only to return and find someone has knocked it over/on it's side hanging by your D-Lock.

2 - Leaving your bike with it's shiny new paintjob locked up only to return and find someone has unhooked their bike from the neighbouring stand and managed to chip yours.

3 - Leaving your bike locked up only to find upon your return that someone has D-Locked their bike to the same stand as yours, and not only that, they've managed to D-Lock one of your brake or gear cables, forcing you to wait for the berk to return (or cut through your cables - which if you love your bike may as well be cutting through your arm with a saw).

I think there's a theme here....

 

[zacklaws]

1. Pedestrians with their back to you who walk on the left or right side of the road, with plenty of passing room, and as your about to pass wander across the road in an unpredictable manner to the opposite side without looking.

2. Dog walkers on either side of the road with extendable leads and the dogs on the other side, who when you shout a warning of your presence, cross the road to the side of the dog, but the dog also crosses to the other side of the road at the same time.

3. Groups of ramblers, who wander aimlessly along the road, and as you come up behind them to pass, you shout a warning of your presence, they stop and turn around, look at you, create a gap through the middle and just as your about to go through it, those on the left suddenly cross to the right, and those on the right suddenly cross to the left.

4. Gypsies untethered dogs which cause's me to have that unplanned all out sprinting workout.

5. Cyclists or joggers on the cycle path with earphones in, who when approached from the rear, no matter how loud you shout to warn your going to pass, suddenly swerve into you just as your passing because they could not hear your warnings and then they jump out of there skin when they see you.

 

[oliver]

I had no.3 the other day big merc behind me on a country lane. I slowed right down pulled right to the side of the road and waved him through but he wouldn't pass. Can't say it happens that often but it was annoying.

similar story to this for me - shame she seemed to think that leening on the horn, reving engine and keeping about 2-3m behind me would help, so when i let her pass she decide to crawn past at sub walking pace and continued down the road at not much more - so i went and turned off at next junction. i was going to report her to the police (agresive driving...) but sadly i couldn't renember the exact registration number

 

[Veloscot]

My five cycling hates in no particular order:

1. Strong headwinds on the ride home (they are the work of the devil ).
2. 4x4 drivers that force you to run the ditch rather than muddy their beloved new Chelsea tractor.
3. Drivers that sound their horn just to say "look out mate I'm passing you."
4. The serious lack of visible, secure places to lock your bike up to near shops or banks.
5. When you get abuse from motorists for not using the dedicated cycle lanes only because you can't ride in them because they're full of potholes, sharp gravel, broken bottles, illegally parked cars, delivery vehicles and buses.

 

[Paul_L]

5. Cyclists or joggers on the cycle path with earphones in, who when approached from the rear, no matter how loud you shout to warn your going to pass, suddenly swerve into you just as your passing because they could not hear your warnings and then they jump out of there skin when they see you.

That is a real pet hate of mine too.

 

[Muddy Ground]

11. Spending all day reading cycling blogs about other random cyclists pet hates.

 

[slowmotion]

Wind

RLJs by cyclists

Hypocrisy from cyclists

 

[totallyfixed]

TBH I enjoy riding my bike too much to get too riled anymore, maybe I'm just getting old! These days I just mutter "numpty or wazzock under my breath and carry on regardless, I try to adopt a Zen-like attitude knowing that homicidal psychopaths live and drive among us and either they will get me or they won't.
HOWEVER, to add to your list, drivers at night who don't dip can be disconcerting and eedjuts on roundabouts who don't indicate or worse still indicate to come off on the road you are entering on then continue to the next exit then wonder why they have a cyclist draped over their windscreen.

 

[buggi]

I'm with totallyfixed. why the hell do drivers not dip their headlights just because i'm a cyclist. p*sses me off no end!

 

[Manonabike]

1.- Punctures
2.- dogs coming at me