Wibbly Wobbly
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- Joined: 20 May 2011, 11:23am
- Location: South Birmingham
Wibbly Wobbly
It isn't just car drivers that cut too close - I've had my elbows "brushed" by several cyclists recently, and been told off twice for wobbling!
It's the faster guys on quicker bikes riding quickly - so please guys if you are overtaking, give as much room to the cyclist your are passing as you would expect a car/van/lorry driver to give you!
The wobbles - well, one was on my first outing with my new bike and its unfamiliar STI gearchanges, around an island. Where at the time I was swerving a bit to avoid a car coming onto the island from my left ...
The other was having just swopped onto my Brompton. Now anyone who rides such a bike, especially if you've just swopped from a relatively stable Tourer, will know how "jittery" these can be ... (and when you first get back on the tourer it just won't go around corners!)
So to reiterate, cyclists need to give other cyclists room. Set an example?
Thankyou kindly - Richard
It's the faster guys on quicker bikes riding quickly - so please guys if you are overtaking, give as much room to the cyclist your are passing as you would expect a car/van/lorry driver to give you!
The wobbles - well, one was on my first outing with my new bike and its unfamiliar STI gearchanges, around an island. Where at the time I was swerving a bit to avoid a car coming onto the island from my left ...
The other was having just swopped onto my Brompton. Now anyone who rides such a bike, especially if you've just swopped from a relatively stable Tourer, will know how "jittery" these can be ... (and when you first get back on the tourer it just won't go around corners!)
So to reiterate, cyclists need to give other cyclists room. Set an example?
Thankyou kindly - Richard
Brompton, Condor Heritage, creaky joints and thinning white (formerly grey) hair
""You know you're getting old when it's easier to ride a bike than to get on and off it" - quote from observant jogger !
""You know you're getting old when it's easier to ride a bike than to get on and off it" - quote from observant jogger !
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Re: Wibbly Wobbly
Just goes to show, just as many cretins on bikes as in cars! You can't fix stupid.
Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity
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Re: Wibbly Wobbly
My copy of The Highway Code printed 1946 states " Do not wobble about the road"
"It takes a genius to spot the obvious" - my old physics master.
I don't peddle bikes.
I don't peddle bikes.
Re: Wibbly Wobbly
I think it's just the good weather bringing them out. I've noticed locally over the past few weeks an increase in the number of "lycra-louts" on shiny carbon-fibre confections, wearing all the "correct" kit, and riding their bikes in the same fashion as they drive their SUVs*. It has been quite scarey on several occasions.
*ie with an almost-total lack of awareness of what's going on around them and showing no consideration for any other road-user.
*ie with an almost-total lack of awareness of what's going on around them and showing no consideration for any other road-user.
What manner of creature's this, being but half a fish and half a monster
Re: Wibbly Wobbly
Quite agree Richard. I've had a few people undertake me on bikes, brushing my elbow as they do, which is even more disconcerting. This mainly happens when starting off from traffic lights, and my concentration is on what the vehicles behind me are about to do, when suddenly a cyclist flashes past between me and the kerb.
Incidentally, when I worked at the post office many years ago, one of my colleagues who drove one of the Royal Mail vans came up to me one day to say they often found themselves driving behind me when I was cycling off to my round, and could never get past because I was wobbling too much. I didn't tell him that was the point. (not that I was deliberately wobbling, but I wasn't going to make efforts at not doing so just to appease him)
Incidentally, when I worked at the post office many years ago, one of my colleagues who drove one of the Royal Mail vans came up to me one day to say they often found themselves driving behind me when I was cycling off to my round, and could never get past because I was wobbling too much. I didn't tell him that was the point. (not that I was deliberately wobbling, but I wasn't going to make efforts at not doing so just to appease him)
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Re: Wibbly Wobbly
Now we're back in the realm of cultivating a deliberate wobble, and, wearing a blonde wig
Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity
Re: Wibbly Wobbly
rmurphy195 wrote:It's the faster guys on quicker bikes riding quickly - so please guys if you are overtaking, give as much room to the cyclist your are passing as you would expect a car/van/lorry driver to give you!
Please ring your flaming bell and pass on the right with caution if you're passing within 1.5m!
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
Re: Wibbly Wobbly
If your bell is flaming then please stop and extinguish it before continuing...
A shortcut has to be a challenge, otherwise it would just be the way. No situation is so dire that panic cannot make it worse.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those can extrapolate from incomplete data.
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Re: Wibbly Wobbly
Dunno, maybe a flaming bell would be a good idea. Thinking again about putting a version of one of those reflectors on an arm on the bike. Moved onto a very sharp pointy stick! So perhaps further mod with a flame coming out would work wonders!
Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity
- tykeboy2003
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Re: Wibbly Wobbly
I had a good idea for close overtakes.
Mount a proximity sensor linked to a can of spray paint (florescent green would be nice) so that any cyclist or vehicle coming too close would get a nice go-fast stripe.
However, the inevitability of accidentally decorating other things and people makes it impractical.
Mount a proximity sensor linked to a can of spray paint (florescent green would be nice) so that any cyclist or vehicle coming too close would get a nice go-fast stripe.
However, the inevitability of accidentally decorating other things and people makes it impractical.
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Re: Wibbly Wobbly
Re MJR's suggestion - when I used to cycle with a club, we'd have a few key phrases to say to people we were passing , or to communicate - one of which was "On your Right" (or left as the case may be) just before passing another cyclist. Even "Good morning" will do!
Brompton, Condor Heritage, creaky joints and thinning white (formerly grey) hair
""You know you're getting old when it's easier to ride a bike than to get on and off it" - quote from observant jogger !
""You know you're getting old when it's easier to ride a bike than to get on and off it" - quote from observant jogger !
Re: Wibbly Wobbly
I much prefer someone approaching from behind to ring their bell than shout 'on your right' or whatever.
A bell means 'bike' and I then expect a bike to pass.
A shout is just a shout - by the time I've registered what has been said I've usually got a shock from a bike whizzing past.
A bell means 'bike' and I then expect a bike to pass.
A shout is just a shout - by the time I've registered what has been said I've usually got a shock from a bike whizzing past.