http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Never change !!! en Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:01:21 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893&page=2#post-254551 Thu, 06 Jul 2017 10:53:03 +0000 chrisfl 254551@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I find that the worse the weather the more likey a fellow cyclist is to acknowledge, in below freezing/torrential downpours everyone waves or nods. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893&page=2#post-254538 Thu, 06 Jul 2017 09:15:52 +0000 fimm 254538@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I wonder if sometimes if you are a bit sensitive to comments about grumpy roadies you notice them more? The usual confirmation bias where you notice the badly driven BMW but not the three well-driven ones? So you end up thinking that everyone on the forum hates roadies, when in reality it is a couple of possibly slightly-tongue-in-cheek comments.</p> <p>It was actually a post on the Women's Cycle Forum Facebook group that prompted <a href="https://wisob.wordpress.com/2017/05/19/on-good-cyclists-versus-bad-cyclists/">this rant.</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893&page=2#post-254520 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 20:56:07 +0000 Greenroofer 254520@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>On the way home this evening on my Elephant Bike* on Gogar Station Road in reasonably normal clothes. Two roadies in matching club kit were absolutely tanking it along in the opposite direction (and I mean really giving it full beans), but they both nodded at me.</p> <p>*Did I mention that I had one? @snowy had a go at lifting it this evening,and observed that it was quite heavy. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893&page=2#post-254515 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 18:32:02 +0000 gembo 254515@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There was the very terrible time we fell out wholesale with a mountain biking forum when we criticised their very lengthy rules for length and also grammatical mistakes (turned out to be generic rules for forums). Our rules very short. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893&page=2#post-254509 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 17:32:17 +0000 I were right about that saddle 254509@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Is 'SON dynamo' prison slang? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254508 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 17:31:32 +0000 I were right about that saddle 254508@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Frenchy</p> <p>No screwdrivers, no spoon handles. Just the twelve fingers God gave us. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254507 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 17:30:14 +0000 crowriver 254507@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Interesting link here featuring a stereotypical Morningside Tory (and doubtless former private school parent):</p> <p><a href="http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/sounds/text-only/scotland/edinburgh/" rel="nofollow">http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/sounds/text-only/scotland/edinburgh/</a></p> <p>This is about accent and how one pronounces words rather than the body language referred to above in the thread... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254505 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 17:14:38 +0000 crowriver 254505@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I was startled to see a youngish lad on a road bike apparently checking my legs out as he passed, until I realised he was looking at my SON dynamo"</p> <p>That anecdote made my day. :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254504 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 16:54:36 +0000 Frenchy 254504@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Define "tyre lever". Are, for example, screwdrivers allowed, or is it bare hands only? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254502 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 16:43:34 +0000 I were right about that saddle 254502@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's only human to form groups and to have entry tests to those groups. </p> <p>No need not to be nice to all and sundry though. I dispensed loud 'alright lads?' and 'aye aye's to all the roadies and downhillers and utes that I met on my Borders ride. </p> <p>I have my own arcane tribe: Commuter bikepackers who can change Marathon Plus tyres without tyre levers. Anyone care to join? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254500 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 16:16:29 +0000 sallyhinch 254500@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I know it shouldn't bother me, but it does burn when you say hello to someone or put a hand up in greeting and the other person doesn't return the gesture. I think that's just human nature. Our local roadies will always say hello to me as they zip past me (in fact that's normally the first I hear of them - click, click, click of gears, hello, hello, hello, click, click, click and they're gone) and it always brightens my day. If someone on a bike doesn't say hello, I'm teaching myself to think well, they were probably concentrating on their cadence or something, rather than that they thought I looked like a bag lady on a bike, but it takes a little effort. But I realise this is largely my problem, not theirs.</p> <p>I was startled to see a youngish lad on a road bike apparently checking my legs out as he passed, until I realised he was looking at my SON dynamo </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254496 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 16:13:13 +0000 chdot 254496@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh we're SO judgemental! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254491 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 15:55:40 +0000 crowriver 254491@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@cb, don't forget the New Town types, golfers and Christmas tree sellers.</p> <p>Other bêtes noires are available... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254488 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 15:36:22 +0000 chdot 254488@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"probably only selected threads to be fair"</p> <p>That's alright then... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254486 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 15:30:55 +0000 cb 254486@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<em>But many more on 'taxi driver' and other road users generally.</em>"</p> <p>And could possibly extend that to dog owners, private-school parents, Tory voters, UKIP voters, people from Morningside (well, perhaps not that one - maybe stereotypical Morningside types)</p> <p>I am only some of these (actually only one) but sometimes wonder how some people from some of these other categories might feel if dipping their toes into CCE (probably only selected threads to be fair). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254483 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 15:16:02 +0000 gembo 254483@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I wear lycra on a sunday ride. I have a sort of lycra top on today in bright orange. I detect absolutely no bias against lycra wearers like myself, merely some banter.</p> <p>obviously if someone is a little grumpy that day they may percieve such banter as Over The Line Smokey. I make no comment on which tribe is the grumpiest :-)</p> <p>I had a friendly wave off lycra roadie I see on my commute today. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254481 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 15:12:09 +0000 crowriver 254481@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have been known to lycra up and ride bikes with drop handle bars (whether these are 'sporty' is another question). I have noticed that this does change how people behave towards me, compared to when I'm cycling a more upright bike in civvies.</p> <p>Other lycra clad types will nod or put a hand up (not exactly a wave) if we pass going opposite directions on a stretch of road (other than in the city centre, where everyone is too busy watching out for HGVs, taxis etc. to bother with cheeriness). </p> <p>When I'm in civvies on an old clunker or cargo-tastic steed I sense I'm not part of the lycra set (ie. a cyclist) but just a bloke on a bike. </p> <p>I will wave or smile at folk as appropriate regardless of steed / attire, but the reciprocation varies accordingly. </p> <p>Humans are social creatures and we instinctively reach out to others we perceive to have something in common. We also sometimes try to distinguish ourselves from other groups. So it's hardly surprising to observe different behaviours based on attire and vehicle type... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254480 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 15:06:54 +0000 chdot 254480@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Sadly there seems a growing bias on this forum against 'lycra' wearing people who happen to ride 'racing' bikes."</p> <p>I don't think that's really the case (hope not).</p> <p>There are occasional observational comments on (stereotype) roadies.</p> <p>But many more on 'taxi driver' and other road users generally. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254479 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 15:04:09 +0000 chdot 254479@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"the stereotype of the grumpy lycra-clad roadie snob is as accurate as that of the red-light-jumping cyclist..."</p> <p>Good analogy.</p> <p>I think on one level 'roadies' are even more of out group than 'utility' ones so sometimes feel they are a persecuted minority! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254477 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 14:56:12 +0000 fimm 254477@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Sadly there seems a growing bias on this forum against 'lycra' wearing people who happen to ride 'racing' bikes.</em></p> <p>I feel this too, sometimes. Like you, I am both a utility and a sports cyclist (however you want to interpret that categorisation - in my case it is triathlon that I take part in).</p> <p>I'm sure it is not intentional, but it can get annoying - and the stereotype of the grumpy lycra-clad roadie snob is as accurate as that of the red-light-jumping cyclist... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254476 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 14:24:02 +0000 deckard112 254476@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sadly there seems a growing bias on this forum against 'lycra' wearing people who happen to ride 'racing' bikes. </p> <p>I ride with a club and compete but I also commute and ride a bike every day for fun. This is the one place I don't expect to get judged simply by what I wear and what I ride. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254451 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 11:12:45 +0000 barnton-to-town 254451@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>When you wave to someone, &amp; they wave back (or vice versa), you feel a bit better about the world.</p> <p>But if they don't wave back ... does it really matter in the big scheme of things? You don't think less of yourself, I doubt they think less of you, and you really shouldn't think less of them. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254436 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 09:53:37 +0000 neddie 254436@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Welcome back splitshift </p> <p>I guess half the problem on the roads is that cars, trucks, etc. can't easily communicate with one another. Flashing lights, horn not a great way to say something. How many times have you wanted to say "sorry mate, I misjudged your speed there"?</p> <p>Like you say no one's perfect, mistakes get made. The important thing is that minor mistakes should not lead to bad stuff happening...</p> <p>Bring back CB radio for trucks? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254433 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 09:20:54 +0000 splitshift 254433@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I still drive it 3 days a week roughly, stupid overtakes are definitely more prevelant, a truck will sit happily at approx 50, a large powerful car can easily drop a gear and overtake easily when safe, BUT the small engined economy type cars, have much harder job at 50 ishmph. Drop a gear in a small engined car and the noise changes but the speed doesn't really, it takes much longer for them to gain enough speed to get past, I have to brake , let them in and re accelerate up to 50 , only to find the car doing 50as well !!!!! Still it did get in front of the lorry which is absolutely neede !! It's not just cars, law abiding truckers are much harder to overtake by the cowboy outfits ! Truckers arnt infallible either, I pulled out of a layby on the A9, could see a truck coming up behind, bout quarter of a mile away, I was heavy going up a hill, he caught me fairly quickly, sat on my back bumper flashing his many extra lights, his twin stacks bellowing smoke( real proper trucker !!!! ) I had impeded his journey, I pulled into next lay by to let him past, he came in too to explain how much of an idiot I was !! I am not a confrontational type of person , but my weapon was ready , I explained that this was a dual carriageway section and he could have passed anytime ! Head down shaking the old guy apologised and kind off slinked off !!<br /> Hey we're all perfect ? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254427 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 09:06:01 +0000 chdot 254427@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@ splitshift, ah yes the A9.</p> <p>Any update on this?</p> <p><a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13014" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13014</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254425 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 09:01:00 +0000 splitshift 254425@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thank you algo. Possibly my least successful attempt at comms is on the A9, I wave at cyclists on the sustrans path crossing the drumochter, or drumochder pass, I am in my truck and give a wave and thumbs up to many who stop at the top, understandably for a breather, looks of confusion and derision ensue !! :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254422 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 08:47:59 +0000 algo 254422@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I attempt to say hello to people at the lights very often - usually I find something cool about their bikes. With roadies I often sense I am just an annoyance trying to befriend the cool kids, but I wonder if perhaps they are in deep concentration. </p> <p>I bumped into Stickman the other day and had a very pleasant exchange before we recognised each other - that was pleasingly affirming of CCE etiquette.</p> <p>Nice to see you back posting - I echo chdot's comments about your specialist input. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254414 Tue, 04 Jul 2017 21:38:31 +0000 splitshift 254414@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ah greenroofer , clearly I am falling foul of those specific rules, i.e. Outside the city limits!! For I am clearly a redneck country bumpkin who actually talks to cows and sheep !! While ,<br /> your onner, it is no excuse surely mitigating watsits ?<br /> Scott </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254411 Tue, 04 Jul 2017 19:29:33 +0000 splitshift 254411@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Chdot, thanks and yes still there, burning diesel at an unfeasable amount while eating yorkies, escaping the law, and running moonshine across several states with my good friend the bandit !! Hope all s well on here, saw a few posts I was going to comment on but just kept quiet ! One still awaiting police finality, involved fatality on Dumbarton road, was very impressed by apparent balanced comments on here. Can't publicly discuss though ! Wasn't me !<br /> Scott </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17893#post-254409 Tue, 04 Jul 2017 19:28:12 +0000 Greenroofer 254409@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The thing about this tribal thing, though, is that you can change tribes. When I'm in MAMIL mode, I wave at everyone, and the roadies wave back. When I'm in utility cycling mode I wave at everyone and the roadies ignore me.</p> <p>Of course, it's only appropriate to wave at people when you're outside the city limits (or at least in a rural area) </p>