Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

forum
road.cc bike forum

occasionally asked if I ride in a club.

by don simon fbpe
Sun, Oct 21, 2018 14:01
62

The answer is a resounding NO!

I've had the answer clarified over the last couple of weeks.

I caught up and rode and chatted with a couple of club riders, including a nat champ. During the conversation I was told that I should wear a helmet with anecdotes to support the argument. Assuming that I think I should have been impressed with the nat champ bit, I didn't want to tell them who I've rubbed shoulders in the past with in the world of cycling, it might have got embarrassing. But equally that mindset of club rider in not one which I could be a part of.

Today really cemented my not wishing to be a club member position, and I am aware that not all clubs are equal.

I ride a fair bit on the local greenway, which is a shared path. On joining the path at Northgate Village, I had to wait for this sea of club riders as the barrelled down the path. Not a problem.

I joined the path and was behind them. The first observation was that they were carrying a lot of speed for such a sized group on a heavily used (by pedestrians) part of the path. Pedestrians were forced, in a wave of bell ringing, to stop as this group charged through without losing any speed, or ceding any space on this shared path. I can see why pedestrians have it in for cyclists now, they're genuinely scared.

Further up, a couple of riders took a wrong turn. Remember, I was following them. Did he wait for me to pass so he could rejoin safely or cut across me? Of course he cut across me.

A little further on I decided that I wanted to pass the group ( I had warmed up and there were fewer pedestrians and this group were going quite slowly, in spite of what I said earlier) and let out a cheery "passing on your right" ( a couple of times) and was greeted with the lady of the group telling me that I wasn't the only one who was using the path. I was now caught up in the middle of the group as it was still barrelling down the path, a couple of the club riders decided to close pass and cut in front of me in order to gain positions, I guess this is the club equivalent of sticking you cock on the table to demonstrate manliness, or how big a wanker you are, I'm not sure.

I was now in prime position to see and feel what it was like riding in a large group of arrogant wankers who thought that they had greater rights than other users on this shared path, and I was embarrassed. At no point was more than 2/3 of the path given up to other users, at no point did speed drop to take other users into consideration. Oncoming cyclists were shaking their heads, pedestrians were stopping and stepping off the path for their own safety.

At Mickle Trafford I sorted myself to do a u-turn at the gate, obviously one of the group decided that he'd stop, inspect the rear wheel and ignore my request to get out of my fucking way so I could proceed. He did.

 

At no point during this 5km of hell was there any conversation beween the club and myself, except a couple of barbed comments.

I'm well aware that the members from another club in that part of the world, North Wirral Velo, are absolutely sound, courteous and a pleasure to meet. I have have met this particular club on many occasions and know that this is not unique to this particular outing. There are a couple of other clubs that seem to ride in this manner too, but I have never had the pleasure of riding as one of them.

Why the fuck would I want to join a club and ride like a wanker?

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

Add new comment

62 comments

Avatar
Crippledbiker | 6 years ago
5 likes

...As an aside, and I swear I didn't intend to triple-post, I'm just incapable of not rambling - I have no idea how you upright lot chaingang without coming acropper; We have a bit of Pi shaped metal specifically for the purpose, called a drafting bar, that sticks out from the rear of our bikes and sits just off from our rear wheels. You can just about see one on this gorgeous carbon handcycle

All "proper" handcycles have one at the back, some of the really nice ones have a loop covering the front wheel as well, which is visible in that picture. As an aside, that fellow is known for regularly getting to 60mph+ on the downhill, which is bloody terrifying.

When we get into a drafting position, it's customary to gently tap the handcyclist in front on the drafting bar with your front wheel whilst shouting "In". If the person in front loses pace, it's fine - the drafting bar will make contact with the front wheel of the person behind, not a wheel to wheel collision.

Admittedly, you can probably see a lot more than we can in a chain, so you can probably anticipate much better than we can. You can also jink sideways to a degree, which isn't so easy when you're laying down.

Avatar
henryb replied to Crippledbiker | 6 years ago
1 like

Crippledbiker wrote:

...As an aside, and I swear I didn't intend to triple-post, I'm just incapable of not rambling - I have no idea how you upright lot chaingang without coming acropper; We have a bit of Pi shaped metal specifically for the purpose, called a drafting bar, that sticks out from the rear of our bikes and sits just off from our rear wheels. You can just about see one on this gorgeous carbon handcycle All "proper" handcycles have one at the back, some of the really nice ones have a loop covering the front wheel as well, which is visible in that picture. As an aside, that fellow is known for regularly getting to 60mph+ on the downhill, which is bloody terrifying. When we get into a drafting position, it's customary to gently tap the handcyclist in front on the drafting bar with your front wheel whilst shouting "In". If the person in front loses pace, it's fine - the drafting bar will make contact with the front wheel of the person behind, not a wheel to wheel collision. Admittedly, you can probably see a lot more than we can in a chain, so you can probably anticipate much better than we can. You can also jink sideways to a degree, which isn't so easy when you're laying down.

To be honest, that sounds like a good idea for bicycles to have as well!

 

(On the original post about clubs: some people are arses, most are not; clubs are made up of people; some clubs will be arse-like in culture, most will not. It's wrong to generalise about all clubs from one experience)

Avatar
JohnnyRemo replied to henryb | 6 years ago
1 like

henryb wrote:

Crippledbiker wrote:

...As an aside, and I swear I didn't intend to triple-post, I'm just incapable of not rambling - I have no idea how you upright lot chaingang without coming acropper; We have a bit of Pi shaped metal specifically for the purpose, called a drafting bar, that sticks out from the rear of our bikes and sits just off from our rear wheels. n.

To be honest, that sounds like a good idea for bicycles to have as well!

Better to learn not to touch the wheel in front as it'll probably result in a spill. Unless you are our club sprint champ  - on winter rides you'd find scrapes on your rear mudguard as he geot as close as he could.

Avatar
Crippledbiker | 6 years ago
5 likes

As a counterpoint to the above, I've had plenty of good encounters with groups of cyclists -
Most of the time, all I get are positive remarks, surprised comments on my speed, or genuine questions about how it all works.

On my upright, I've even had offers from them to join their chaingangs for a stretch, which is mutually beneficial - I'm about as aero as a housebrick on that, but that also means I'm great to draft off, considering the hole I leave in the air, which is great for them, and it gives me a chance to do a little less work, and make people more aware that yes, we exist, how it works, and y'know, have a chat about the whole thing.

Honestly, that Stoke Mandeville encounter is the only really negative one that springs to mind in, oh, five years, nearly four years of daily cycling - most other "bad" encounters with groups have been through them not anticipating how I need to move (wide turns, for example), which is understandable, or them not realising they've blocked my path, which is also understandable, or bloody tourists not knowing how to ride a bike in traffic, not paying bloody attention and meandering all over the road because they're gawking, particularly on Westminster bloody Bridge - which is particularly bad for me, since I'm heavy enough that I have a massive stopping distance, and I can't swerve without rolling on my upright - can't swerve full stop on the recumbent, simply can't get enough turn on the front wheel before my feet hit the ground.

The only other thing I can think of is people asking questions about the handcycle and how it all works, which I'm actually really happy to talk about, or people asking about my disability, which is often less welcome.

I've been invited to join a few clubs but I don't feel like I'm able to make the time commitment - I've got to make time for the adaptive cycling coaching stuff I do, and it almost invariably ends up with a clash, which is a pity. I've also got the whole "forgetting I'm disabled and overdoing it" thing going on!

Avatar
Crippledbiker | 6 years ago
4 likes

A couple of years back, I was in a group of handcyclists near Stoke Mandeville.

Now, for context - we're all on decently specc'ed track and road recumbents - Quickie Sharks, Top End Force 2/3s, a couple of Force RX, one lady on a beautiful full carbon thing with a ground clearance roughly equal to the width of a gnaff's chuff (possibly a GMT Blackbird, or a CarbonBike?)- and we're all doing a decent lick down the country lanes, since we're all about as aero as is possible without wearing funny shoes, hats, and suits - and as more sporty wheelchair users, we're all quite strong, and a recumbent allows you to bring more core to bear, which is what we're all about. We tend to tick along at about 20mph, and that's accounting for the slowest.

My point is, we are faster than people expect. A LOT faster than people expect. We've also got huge arses, and we're rather long and ungainly - my Force 2 is 2.2m long between axles (Not including the wheels!), so I sympathise when somebody actually is faster and wants to pass us - it's not as easy, and we're also a little intimidating to overtake (for both parties) if it's a bit tight, since our faces are roughly at the same height as your pedals are.

We were passed, rather poorly, by a group of cyclists (on normal bikes), one of whom made unkind comments about our speed, and the fact that we are not the easiest things to pass without having to cross into the other lane - which wasn't easy that day, due to traffic, and the fact that we were chainganging (which, you have to remember, takes up a lot more road on a handcycle, due to the width of our cycles - we basically take the entire lane, especially once you take into account the distance we leave from the gutter.).

Hearing this, one of our group, a rather short gentleman with poor lower body but arms like fucking popeye, decided to go and enquire exactly what he'd meant by this.

The poor chap who'd made the remark did not expect one of our group to suddenly burst from the middle of our pack, accelerate to some unfeasible speed and ask him to repeat his remark, which he suddenly couldn't recall, becoming very quiet.
Our friend decided to make a point of it, overtook their entire chaingang without joining it or using their drafting block, and disappeared up the road to our next waypoint to wait for us.
What makes this particularly funny is that, on the next downhill bit, we ended up passing them like they were standing still - even a slow handcyclist will quickly get to 30mph+, and my solo record is 43mph, which I honestly thought would kill me.

Avatar
Simon E | 6 years ago
10 likes

To suggest that all clubs must be full of arseholes because you annoyed members of a group ride (and/or didn't like their behaviour) sees pretty odd to me. It's perfectly possible to behave appropriate whether you're a member of a cycling club.

Equally, you can be a wanker without joining a club. You can ride in club kit, full pro kit, high-end kit, football kit or Sports Direct; clipless or flats; you can ride carbon, alu or steel; solo or in a group (though sheeple prefer to flock in groups and simply follow their leader). Wankers can do all these things, just like everyone else.

BTW since you're such a proud Welsh nash why were you trespassing over the border? The roads and views in north Wales are surely better than Mickle Trafford and the lack of bilingual road signs must have been disconcerting. 3

Avatar
don simon fbpe replied to Simon E | 6 years ago
2 likes

Simon E wrote:

To suggest that all clubs must be full of arseholes because you annoyed members of a group ride (and/or didn't like their behaviour) sees pretty odd to me. It's perfectly possible to behave appropriate whether you're a member of a cycling club.

Equally, you can be a wanker without joining a club. You can ride in club kit, full pro kit, high-end kit, football kit or Sports Direct; clipless or flats; you can ride carbon, alu or steel; solo or in a group (though sheeple prefer to flock in groups and simply follow their leader). Wankers can do all these things, just like everyone else.

BTW since you're such a proud Welsh nash why were you trespassing over the border? The roads and views in north Wales are surely better than Mickle Trafford and the lack of bilingual road signs must have been disconcerting. 3

The only thing that strikes me as odd is that you clearly choose not to understand what was written, and I quote, "Today really cemented my not wishing to be a club member position, and I am aware that not all clubs are equal.", and then you go on to invent something that clearly wasn't written. Unless you were there, could you point out what it was I did that "annoyed members of a group ride"?

As for the Welsh bit, yes I'm proud of my heritage and equally proud of my geographical knowledge, but I'll let you explain to the masses how much of the greenway runs through Wales. Get your fact rights before going on the attack for fear of looking like the wanker.

I'll give you a tip, play the ball and not the man. That way you don't have to invent things.

Avatar
Simon E replied to don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
2 likes

don simon wrote:

The only thing that strikes me as odd is that you clearly choose not to understand what was written, and I quote, "Today really cemented my not wishing to be a club member position, and I am aware that not all clubs are equal."

So why the rant? People behaving inconsiderately on a popular shared path is unfortunately not uncommon.

One minute they're carrying a lot of speed, next you overtake as they're going quite slowly and then you're stuck in the middle of the group of "arrogant wankers" that was now "barrelling down the path". Would it not have made sense to stay well back, take it easy and leave them to their confrontations?

Perhaps if you hadn't ended the post with "Why the fuck would I want to join a club and ride like a wanker?", or even changed "a club" to "a club like that", then it would have been interpreted rather differently.

don simon wrote:

As for the Welsh bit, yes I'm proud of my heritage and equally proud of my geographical knowledge, but I'll let you explain to the masses how much of the greenway runs through Wales. Get your fact rights before going on the attack for fear of looking like the wanker.

I'll give you a tip, play the ball and not the man. That way you don't have to invent things.

What ball?

And who is the wanker am I supposed to be looking like?

There's a wink smiley too. What's that for?

I thought the section known as the greenway only went as far as Deeside. Also, you said you were at Mickle Trafford, which is some way into England. I clearly recall your one-eyed attack on English people visiting Wales so if you want to keep the English out of Wales then shouldn't you do likewise and turn back at the border? I'm proud of my heritage too but I'm not xenophobic.

Do you ever ride in the other direction along Route 5? Nicer views, the air smells better and I suspect the ice cream tastes better too. I'd expect the path to be less crowded. Is it? I've been meaning to ride along there to Bangor for ages, I should stop making excuses and instead make it happen. If I do then what bike and clothing should I be looking out for? Just so I know it's you.

Avatar
don simon fbpe replied to Simon E | 6 years ago
0 likes
Simon E wrote:

don simon wrote:

The only thing that strikes me as odd is that you clearly choose not to understand what was written, and I quote, "Today really cemented my not wishing to be a club member position, and I am aware that not all clubs are equal."

So why the rant? People behaving inconsiderately on a popular shared path is unfortunately not uncommon.

One minute they're carrying a lot of speed, next you overtake as they're going quite slowly and then you're stuck in the middle of the group of "arrogant wankers" that was now "barrelling down the path". Would it not have made sense to stay well back, take it easy and leave them to their confrontations?

Perhaps if you hadn't ended the post with "Why the fuck would I want to join a club and ride like a wanker?", or even changed "a club" to "a club like that", then it would have been interpreted rather differently.

don simon wrote:

As for the Welsh bit, yes I'm proud of my heritage and equally proud of my geographical knowledge, but I'll let you explain to the masses how much of the greenway runs through Wales. Get your fact rights before going on the attack for fear of looking like the wanker.

I'll give you a tip, play the ball and not the man. That way you don't have to invent things.

What ball?

And who is the wanker am I supposed to be looking like?

There's a wink smiley too. What's that for?

I thought the section known as the greenway only went as far as Deeside. Also, you said you were at Mickle Trafford, which is some way into England. I clearly recall your one-eyed attack on English people visiting Wales so if you want to keep the English out of Wales then shouldn't you do likewise and turn back at the border? I'm proud of my heritage too but I'm not xenophobic.

Do you ever ride in the other direction along Route 5? Nicer views, the air smells better and I suspect the ice cream tastes better too. I'd expect the path to be less crowded. Is it? I've been meaning to ride along there to Bangor for ages, I should stop making excuses and instead make it happen. If I do then what bike and clothing should I be looking out for? Just so I know it's you.

What rant?

Avatar
Yorkshire wallet | 6 years ago
5 likes

I had a bunch of lemmings (think it was Tadcaster's Cycle Sense) come bombing down a blind hill almost into me one day.

I was nearing the top of a short but sharp climb with a blind bend entrance if you're coming from the top and heard shouts of "gravel! gravel!" and then this group of twats  hitting the 16% descent are all coming towards me on my side of the road at full pelt, now shouting some other signal so they don't all run me over.

It's generally a pretty dead road but if I'd been in a car I'm pretty sure they'd have been collected on my bonnet. It would have been entirely their fault as well.

 

Avatar
andyp | 6 years ago
3 likes

What a bunch of arseholes. Not all clubs are like that...

Avatar
CXR94Di2 | 6 years ago
2 likes

The club chairman should be issuing reminders of good cycle behavoiur and language.  Our club doesnt tolerate poor behaviour and club members especially the senoir one are quick to remind those who do make the odd error

Avatar
davel | 6 years ago
5 likes

@ds - fair dos.

@CXR94Di2 - the path runs to the North of Chester out to the A56, to the East. The main road route goes through Hoole and crosses the A55 via a few less-than-pleasant, but negotiable for experienced cyclists, roundabouts.

On a sunny Sunday like today the path will be full of peds, dog-walkers, kids on bikes. It's perhaps a strange choice to route a club run down the path and not the road. I've had a few club runs out of Chester back to Warrington myself, and have never used the path, but if it's a social run, fair enough - avoid the nasty roads, but chill out. A club is nothing but a collection of individuals, and if a few of them behave twattishly, the club comes across like a bunch of twats.

 

Avatar
don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
6 likes

@davel no, no names. The riders and club will know who they are and will out themselves if they read this. You could start with trying to find out which bunch of muppets mungecrundle rides with, I suspect that he/she was there. Or at least he/she seems to think that disrespecting other users of a shared path is acceptable.

@CXR94Di2 the riders represent the club when they are wearing club colours and are out on a club run. But yes, you're right it is the individual, I had a conversation with another club who have since modified their behaviour after certain individuals in club colours  made tits of themselves.

Avatar
CXR94Di2 | 6 years ago
2 likes

Its nothing to do with the club, but individuals.  

Avatar
Mungecrundle | 6 years ago
5 likes

Sounds like you made a right arse of yourself. Well done.

Avatar
don simon fbpe replied to Mungecrundle | 6 years ago
4 likes

Mungecrundle wrote:

Sounds like you made a right arse of yourself. Well done.

How so?

Avatar
davel | 6 years ago
1 like

I've regularly used that section of the path. Even on my own, I take it easy - all sorts of users, sharp joining angles, couple of tightish chicanes. Seems like a few pricks in that club : mind I ask which one it was? 

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
5 likes

Good shout, exactly my feeling too regards to clubs/weekend warriors these days.

It's a long time since these groups riding was for the most part courteous, safe and had any thought towards others. This is why most if not all sportives have people saying they won't do another because the wannabe racers ride like wankers. This is why I will confront tossers who think it's okay to do shit like filter at speed right into my path when I'm lined up on my side of the road about to make a right turn and they call me out because they're too impatient - the red light ahead of him and why I could turn around and have words with the noddy hat wearing knobjockey.

Basically these people have been brought up driving and it's atypical moton attitude/mentality, the plastic hats are most definitely part and parcel of the attitude/rider behaviour and indeed from that why the hats have not had the desired effect, so makes those that wear them and crash more often calling out others who don't, fucking hilarious ...not! 

Avatar
Rapha Nadal replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
3 likes

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Good shout, exactly my feeling too regards to clubs/weekend warriors these days.

It's a long time since these groups riding was for the most part courteous, safe and had any thought towards others. This is why most if not all sportives have people saying they won't do another because the wannabe racers ride like wankers. This is why I will confront tossers who think it's okay to do shit like filter at speed right into my path when I'm lined up on my side of the road about to make a right turn and they call me out because they're too impatient - the red light ahead of him and why I could turn around and have words with the noddy hat wearing knobjockey.

Basically these people have been brought up driving and it's atypical moton attitude/mentality, the plastic hats are most definitely part and parcel of the attitude/rider behaviour and indeed from that why the hats have not had the desired effect, so makes those that wear them and crash more often calling out others who don't, fucking hilarious ...not! 

Prove it. Or is that just you in your echo chamber?

And what does somebody's choice to wear a helmet have to do with this?  Honestly, do you ever check yourself before spouting off such shit?

Avatar
don simon fbpe replied to Rapha Nadal | 6 years ago
2 likes

Rapha Nadal wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Good shout, exactly my feeling too regards to clubs/weekend warriors these days.

It's a long time since these groups riding was for the most part courteous, safe and had any thought towards others. This is why most if not all sportives have people saying they won't do another because the wannabe racers ride like wankers. This is why I will confront tossers who think it's okay to do shit like filter at speed right into my path when I'm lined up on my side of the road about to make a right turn and they call me out because they're too impatient - the red light ahead of him and why I could turn around and have words with the noddy hat wearing knobjockey.

Basically these people have been brought up driving and it's atypical moton attitude/mentality, the plastic hats are most definitely part and parcel of the attitude/rider behaviour and indeed from that why the hats have not had the desired effect, so makes those that wear them and crash more often calling out others who don't, fucking hilarious ...not! 

Prove it. Or is that just you in your echo chamber?

And what does somebody's choice to wear a helmet have to do with this?  Honestly, do you ever check yourself before spouting off such shit?

I think it was a reaction to the OP and that a rider in club colours having split from the club ride mentioned that a helmet should be worn and supported the position with anecdotes with no option for debate.

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds replied to Rapha Nadal | 6 years ago
1 like

Rapha Nadal wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Good shout, exactly my feeling too regards to clubs/weekend warriors these days.

It's a long time since these groups riding was for the most part courteous, safe and had any thought towards others. This is why most if not all sportives have people saying they won't do another because the wannabe racers ride like wankers. This is why I will confront tossers who think it's okay to do shit like filter at speed right into my path when I'm lined up on my side of the road about to make a right turn and they call me out because they're too impatient - the red light ahead of him and why I could turn around and have words with the noddy hat wearing knobjockey.

Basically these people have been brought up driving and it's atypical moton attitude/mentality, the plastic hats are most definitely part and parcel of the attitude/rider behaviour and indeed from that why the hats have not had the desired effect, so makes those that wear them and crash more often calling out others who don't, fucking hilarious ...not! 

Prove it. Or is that just you in your echo chamber?

And what does somebody's choice to wear a helmet have to do with this?  Honestly, do you ever check yourself before spouting off such shit?

lol, you make me laugh, you're incapable of actually reading and understanding basic concepts, keep spouting shit in your own echo chamber, oh hang on you have one with your plastic hat, keep shouting into that sonshine, it might save your life.

Helmet wearers take more risk, this is a fact that we know, just as seatbelted drivers take more risks than unbelted ones, the wannabe racers mentioned by the OP were wearing lids, the OP was also accosted by a plastic hat wearing wanker who couldn't mind their own business or be civil. Riders on a sportive take more risks because they feel more protected from a helmet so act like the morons many see them for. You deluded types want to hide away from facts, what actually happens when you wear a helmet and come from a motor based background.

The courtesy of cycling clubs of old is disappearing, the new wave of strava noddy hat wearing wankers with their piss poor attitude and moton MGIF blindness is everywhere.

Here are just a couple of examples where those that have taken part or simply come across a sportive have had bad experiences, I read about them on various fora over the years, friends who ride them and report back how there are hundreds of fucktards who ride like twats endangering others, if you don't think this is common place then you're a head in the sand idiot.

https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=chteu0r549ndodlucds84umjv3&...
https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?t=109399

Avatar
Rapha Nadal replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
4 likes

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Rapha Nadal wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Good shout, exactly my feeling too regards to clubs/weekend warriors these days.

It's a long time since these groups riding was for the most part courteous, safe and had any thought towards others. This is why most if not all sportives have people saying they won't do another because the wannabe racers ride like wankers. This is why I will confront tossers who think it's okay to do shit like filter at speed right into my path when I'm lined up on my side of the road about to make a right turn and they call me out because they're too impatient - the red light ahead of him and why I could turn around and have words with the noddy hat wearing knobjockey.

Basically these people have been brought up driving and it's atypical moton attitude/mentality, the plastic hats are most definitely part and parcel of the attitude/rider behaviour and indeed from that why the hats have not had the desired effect, so makes those that wear them and crash more often calling out others who don't, fucking hilarious ...not! 

Prove it. Or is that just you in your echo chamber?

And what does somebody's choice to wear a helmet have to do with this?  Honestly, do you ever check yourself before spouting off such shit?

lol, you make me laugh, you're incapable of actually reading and understanding basic concepts, keep spouting shit in your own echo chamber, oh hang on you have one with your plastic hat, keep shouting into that sonshine, it might save your life.

Helmet wearers take more risk, this is a fact that we know, just as seatbelted drivers take more risks than unbelted ones, the wannabe racers mentioned by the OP were wearing lids, the OP was also accosted by a plastic hat wearing wanker who couldn't mind their own business or be civil. Riders on a sportive take more risks because they feel more protected from a helmet so act like the morons many see them for. You deluded types want to hide away from facts, what actually happens when you wear a helmet and come from a motor based background.

The courtesy of cycling clubs of old is disappearing, the new wave of strava noddy hat wearing wankers with their piss poor attitude and moton MGIF blindness is everywhere.

Here are just a couple of examples where those that have taken part or simply come across a sportive have had bad experiences, I read about them on various fora over the years, friends who ride them and report back how there are hundreds of fucktards who ride like twats endangering others, if you don't think this is common place then you're a head in the sand idiot.

https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=chteu0r549ndodlucds84umjv3&...
https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?t=109399
 

I mean, please do point out where I've sung the virtues of wearing a helmet at any point in this thread.  Or this forum now I think about it.  I'll wait.

You say that the courtesy of cycle clubs is dying but yet refuse to join one - or, more likely, they ask you to leave shortly after. Do you vet every club in the UK or just go by random forum posts every now & again to build your belief system?

As for the rest?  Keep banging that drum.  Somebody will listen one day.

Fucking gammon Daily Mail readers.

Avatar
alansmurphy replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
6 likes

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

 

Helmet wearers take more risk, this is a fact that we know,
 

 

I don't.

 

 

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to alansmurphy | 6 years ago
2 likes

alansmurphy wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

 

Helmet wearers take more risk, this is a fact that we know,
 

 

I don't.

Oh great! I thought this thread was calming down a bit and I thought I'd throw in a drunken squirrel to defuse things, but now you're just stirring it up again!

Avatar
brooksby replied to hawkinspeter | 6 years ago
1 like

hawkinspeter wrote:

alansmurphy wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Helmet wearers take more risk, this is a fact that we know,

I don't.

Oh great! I thought this thread was calming down a bit and I thought I'd throw in a drunken squirrel to defuse things, but now you're just stirring it up again!

So was that a picture of That Very Squirrel (feeling a bit tired and emotional, I guess...)?

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to brooksby | 6 years ago
4 likes

brooksby wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

alansmurphy wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Helmet wearers take more risk, this is a fact that we know,

I don't.

Oh great! I thought this thread was calming down a bit and I thought I'd throw in a drunken squirrel to defuse things, but now you're just stirring it up again!

So was that a picture of That Very Squirrel (feeling a bit tired and emotional, I guess...)?

I doubt it - the squirrel was caught and thrown out of the window, so it probably didn't stop for any glamour shots.

However, I've found this image which seems very authentic:

 

Avatar
nigerian prince replied to Rapha Nadal | 6 years ago
4 likes

Rapha Nadal wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Good shout, exactly my feeling too regards to clubs/weekend warriors these days.

It's a long time since these groups riding was for the most part courteous, safe and had any thought towards others. This is why most if not all sportives have people saying they won't do another because the wannabe racers ride like wankers. This is why I will confront tossers who think it's okay to do shit like filter at speed right into my path when I'm lined up on my side of the road about to make a right turn and they call me out because they're too impatient - the red light ahead of him and why I could turn around and have words with the noddy hat wearing knobjockey.

Basically these people have been brought up driving and it's atypical moton attitude/mentality, the plastic hats are most definitely part and parcel of the attitude/rider behaviour and indeed from that why the hats have not had the desired effect, so makes those that wear them and crash more often calling out others who don't, fucking hilarious ...not! 

Prove it. Or is that just you in your echo chamber?

And what does somebody's choice to wear a helmet have to do with this?  Honestly, do you ever check yourself before spouting off such shit?

 

check himself?? He's BehindTheBikeSheds! Don't know what he does behind there. Talks to himself mostly I guess.

But BehindTheBikeSheds doesn't need to check himself cause:

1- he thinks that is shit.

2- you don't know what you are talking about.

3- the one he has is much better!

 

(apply in numerical order to any review or opinion that is posted on this page). 

Avatar
longwayround | 6 years ago
7 likes

To be fair, you have found a reason not to join one particular club. I like to think the club of which I'm a member is made up of friendly and considerate types. 

 
Avatar
vonhelmet | 6 years ago
4 likes

Some clubs are full of nobs. Round our way there’s some that have very strong reputations at either end of the scale.

Pages

Latest Comments