NEPN yesterday evening was brimming with "two abreast" cyclists, including one guy who apparently didn't notice me until we nearly collided. I had to take emergency measures not unlike Beano's offroader friend!
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Today's rubbish cycling
(4503 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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Had an encounter with a very anti-social cyclist yesterday. In the space of 500m he:
1) Tried to pass me on the inside while I was stopped at lights and only failed because peds were crossing in front of us (not caught on camera)
2) Gave me a close pass
3) RLJ
4) Needlessly took to the pavement (feat. swerving round peds)
5) Blasted straight through the give-way markings on NMW, while people were waiting to cross
https://youtu.be/p4PcX6Zg1sISorry about the brake cable across the middle of the shot!
Posted 8 years ago # -
Saw a near left hook this morning at the junction of Lothian & King's Stable Roads. A coach was straddling the lanes & signalling left so I hung back. There was a delay in the coach making the turn (maybe trying to get pedestrians step back in case of the coach's overhang?).
In the meantime an absolute brain donor passed me on the inside at full pelt. I shouted for him to watch out to no avail. The coach started its manoeuvre just as he managed to get himself inside the coach's turning circle. Fortunately the coach driver spotted him either in his mirrors or maybe even through the coach passenger door, and stopped, as said idiot finally hauled on the anchors.
Same guy then jumped a red light at Fountainbridge/Ponton St. Not much learnings there...
Posted 8 years ago # -
Was me last night *and* this morning at the junction of Craighouse Road and Craighouse Gardens. Last night I was catching another cyclist as we both started up the incline prior to taking a left onto Craighouse Gardens. I slowed behind him initially and intended to hold back, but when I realised that the van behind me was also turning left and was kindly waiting for us both to take the corner, I somewhat foolishly decided to overtake the cyclist on the outside as we rounded the corner, only to then be caught again quickly by the cyclist as the road levelled out. My journey was ending at the beginning of Balcarres Street which made my impatient overtake appear that much more pointless.
As I approached the junction in the other direction this morning, a bus was gradually turning left onto Craighouse Gardens. It had created a bit of a backlog of traffic behind it, the first few cars of which were also turning left so were moving slowly behind the bus. Having spotted this, I checked that nothing was heading down the hill and set off, indicating right. By this time, one of the drivers heading up the hill had pulled out of the slow moving, left-turn queue and was now heading up the road towards me. I made a snap decision to continue going for it because I knew that there was a car right up behind me in case I suddenly braked. I made the right turn fine, although the car coming up the hill did slow a little to let me do so.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Even having reviewed the video I'm still unclear if this belongs in rubbish cycling or rubbish driving. Probably both.
Behind a bus in a single buslane, with two lanes of oncoming traffic. Bus pulls up behind other bus (at a stop, but doesn't indicate left), so I move out through the solid white line to overtake. As I am exactly level with the back of the bus and travelling at reasonable speed, the indicator comes on, and the bus very slightly moves right to improve his sightline to pull out.
With me alongside.
Which forces me into a very squeaky-bum encounter with an oncoming taxi which refuses to give me any more space.
Cyclist behind me apparently ended up in light contact with the bus.
Lack of defensive cycling/not checking mirrors/aggressive driving, I think. I'll eventually edit the footage and let the hive mind judge.
Posted 8 years ago # -
two posts. one me and one other.
Guy (pedal power lycra shorts with tartan piping) got the jump on me away from the lights at haymarket yards heading west to the NEPN (which was fine). however, he was travelling at about 80% of the speed i'd normally ride at so I hung back at a safe distance. Turns out we were both heading north-west-ish on the NEPN. As we got on to the NEPN I saw a clear gap so went for the pass. He then followed me extremely closely all the way to the five-ways intersection. I mean REALLY close; i'd say about a wheel distance back. Did I p1ss him off by overtaking? He had ample time to overtake and clearly the speed to do it so not sure why he hung/stayed there. Any ideas? maybe he is on here and can let me know...
other bad cycling was me today. Filtering up the left side of stationary cars at the 4-way temporary lights at lady Lawson street I decided to nip between two cars (as I had no room on the left) to do a bit of filtering down the right side and nearly ran into another cyclist who was filtering up the right hand side (as he was turning off to the right). Sorry about that (if your on here); no excuse really...just didn't think the move through properly.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"Any ideas?"
Sounds like he might be some sort of turnip. Did you try glaring pointedly at him, then shouting something along the lines of "either decelerate until you're a safe distance back or just go past, when it is safe to do so, optionally bleating some sort of weak excuse for why you were clinging to my mudguard in the first place", with swearing/volume tailored to your preference according to the degree of turnipicity?Posted 8 years ago # -
@Beano, No 1 sounds like your typical wheelsucker getting an aerodynamic advantage. Generally considered bad form to do this to people you don't know.
I personally would leave at least 3 bike lengths behind so as to ensure non drafting, but others of this parish have different ideas on what wheelsucking looks like, some futher than others.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"I mean REALLY close; i'd say about a wheel distance back"
If anyone gets that close I just stop pedalling.
Never had it on the NEPN (rarely there at commuting time) but have up the hill from Tollcross to Bruntsfield.
If they don't pass at least you can start a conversation with "do I know you"!
Posted 8 years ago # -
I am sometimes reticent to pass on hill from Tollcross to Bruntsfield - the buildout outside the electricians at the base of Whitehouse Loan (and the oft-parked car outside the hairdressers) are a major deterrent. Not that this excuses wheelsucking. I generally just hang back about 3 lengths; similar to Condor.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Unannouced wheel-sucking is getting worse on the NEPN. I had two numpties on my tail tonight. I blame the Tour.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Failing to give way is my bug bear at the moment. It only takes a sec to slow down and give way but it seems to be too hard for some folk.
At least one of the two cyclists tonight said sorry after a FFS give way exclamation from me going home.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Was me, optimistically planning a 25 mile cycle yesterday on my newest bicycle (which hasn't done very many miles), wearing a rucksack that I have never used for cycling. As it turns out, the rucksack limited my movement and rubbed to the extent that today I have a very tender upper spine.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I'd noticed him fifty metres or so behind me when I glanced behind to check on the passenger. I could hear him draw up behind very close behind on the bend before the tunnel, but he did not overtake when it became safe to do so after the path straightened out. When prompted he made what was presumably a jocular remark about childseats and windbreaks and went past, but due to the presence of small ears he could not be effectively complained at.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Proper racing turnip on the Pinkhill path.
I was out walking the dog. I'm very responsible: she's on a short lead and I take her over to the side of the path and have her sitting if cyclists pass. Most say thank you.
However an idiot in full racing lycra came shooting up behind us, didn't ring his bell and then passed ridiculously close to the dog. He could have passed on my side, could have slowed down, could have rung his bell. Absolutely no need.
If I see the guy again he'll be getting an earful from me.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Windy today so some racers going too fast with a wind assist?
Posted 8 years ago # -
This morning I sensed a presence on the Innocent Railway. Glanced over my shoulder to find a gent on my tail. Said "I'm just drafting for a bit". I was only a bit annoyed at the poor etiquette, but what really bugged me was that he half-wheeled.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I always worry on one section of the Innocent that people are going to think that about me. As I'm heading west, as the path starts to turn uphill people naturally slow a bit more, but because of the curve you can't see if there's anyone hurtling down the other way, so I hang back a bit, but not too far as I'd like to pass as quickly and safely as possible when it straightens out.
But no-one queried me this morning when I did it, and I certainly didn't explain that I was drafting, so all good! Phew!
Posted 8 years ago # -
Turnip in full Important Professional Racing Bicycle Team costume heading swiftly east along the Restalrig path yesterday evening, bent down over his drops, whizzing along at well over twenty. I encountered him just before the slope up to Findlay Avenue and hopefully bellowed sufficiently loudly and clearly at him to persuade him to slow down a bit before he encountered the several distinct groups of several types of people all over the path between the Pirniefield steps and Portobello spur.
Posted 8 years ago # -
No - I'm fine with it on narrow bits of path. This was weird as I was approached pretty quickly, then he must have slowed to draft.
I'm totally stuffed up with a cold, so was taking it at a leisurely pace.Posted 8 years ago # -
Not too much mega-impatience on the NEPN yesterday, but quite a few people doing really embarrassing heads-down-drops-clutched-pumpy-legs stuff, mostly amongst those heading uphill. In the West Maitland ASZ this morning a turnip hove to slightly ahead and to my left, then tried to cut across my front, despite his slow start, despite me preferring to go a bit further along before turning across the tracks. After this manoeuvre he then did some weaving through some imaginary fellow-pretend-racing-bicyclists before doing some very inefficient-looking side-to-side honking in order to get past the person who had been at the front of the ASZ.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@wingpig: I'm honestly not stalking you, but I was directly behind you in that ASZ this morning and shook my head at that guy's cycling. I try to stay at the extreme left at that ASZ in order to prevent people cutting me off from my preferred crossing of the tram lines (like you, further on)
Posted 8 years ago # -
Yesterday - the 'bellow and act aggressively towards anyone in his way rather than slowing down and being careful' roadie pillock between the crossing at South Gyle Access and the end of the Balgreen Tram path around 4.10pm. I do hope it's not someone on here.
Sir, if you see someone up ahead with a dog, SLOW DOWN. Don't continue at full-pelt, dinging your bell relentlessly and then bellowing at the young woman owner when the dog - as is almost always the case - suddenly cuts across in front of you.
I suspect he wouldn't be so aggressive to a burly, tattooed male owner. I also think he's the same guy I once saw do the same to a pedestrian walking on the bike side of the path, although he added an elbow-banging punishment close-pass as his piece de resistance on that occasion, despite the other side of the path being completely clear.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Ended up behind Mr Bellowy-Get-Out-Of-My-Way again yesterday. Still refusing to slow when there were people/dogs/kids ahead and shouted at a couple who were attending to their baby in a buggy on the Balgreen Tram path for daring to be in his way.
What a dreadful example of a selfish pillock, living up to the media stereotype of the aggressive, entitled, angry 'lycra lout'.
If you ever find yourself between the Gyle and the far end of the Balgreen tram path and in the way of a Castelli-bibbed, white Focus-riding, red bar-taped MAMIL - beware. You're in his way and you're in for a very public demonstration of his ire...
Posted 8 years ago # -
Classic case of indecision clouding the vision this morning. Coming down the A90 path just before the lights at the slip road before the Brig, chap riding up the way spotted me and first took the left line (his, correctly in my view) then veered right, into my path. Cue quick braking from me to avoid a collision. Think I may have suggested he make his mind up but as he had earphones in not sure he heard.
In fairness, the overgrown bushes have made that bend into a blind spot whilst reducing useable path space.
Posted 8 years ago # -
^ I don't want to be contentious, but why not use the bus lane? You can rejoin after the lights at the dropped kerb if you don't fancy joining and then leaving the A 90 at the slip road. The path is so narrow it seems a shame not avail yourself of a nice wide bit of road which is normally completely empty.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Not sure I should have to use the bus-lane when it's a pretty good shared use path that doesn't have lights or having to mix it up with rush hour traffic (it's usually busy when I pass). I generally don't have a problem on this section. In any event the path isn't that narrow, it's the overgrowth causing the issue. No doubt made worse by the warm damp weather we've had lately.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@deckard112
Overgrowing vegetation is a problem in 3-4 parts of my commutes, in particular (A8, Bug Alley, Maybury footpath and the area you describe).
Actually glad I wear a h****t because I've hit my head on growth several times in the last couple of weeks...
But my main point is on lack of visibilty- crossing Gogar Stone Road at the minute is a nightmare- you can see about 5-10 yds up the road from the pavement and cars do not come to that junction slowly...
@Hankchief said the west team is the one to contact for getting the vegetation cut back. I'll try to find a link for them...
Posted 8 years ago # -
Not as visible to the camera as they were to my eyes, there was a small swarm of twerps doing two-abreast swervey-tube other-people-inconveniencing stuff going north along the Roseburn at yesterday hometime:
[+] Embed the video | Video Download Get the Flash Video Their tubularity is nought compared to this impatient whizzing selfish chump, who unfortunately elicited some coarse language, which may be audible:
[+] Embed the video | Video Download Get the Flash Video He appeared to be looking over as he turned off to Blackhall, having slowed down, despite his earlier desperate whizzingness, so he almost definitely heard me then, even if he hadn't earlier.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@stiltskin - on reflection I decided to take your advice on trying the bus lane next to the A90 path before Crammond yesterday. My immediate thought was the quality of the tarmac wasn't as good as the path...this was quickly confirmed when I hit a previously unseen pothole whilst taking a swig from my bidon (how I managed to stay upright is beyond me!). After composing myself and turning off towards the dell, quickly noticed I also had a pinch puncture from said pothole encounter. Pulled over to change the tube only to discover I didn't have any tyre levers in my saddlebag (unusually!). Did manage to get the tyre off, a quick change and I was underway again.
Believe it or not...I did actually manage to see the funny side! (no cursing whatsoever)Lessons learnt though -
1. Keep your eyes open when taking a drink
2. Always have tyre levers in your life
3. Roll with the punches, they happen.Posted 8 years ago #
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