Today I realised why I do my long rides on Fridays, when there are virtually no other cyclists around. Some cyclists really irritate me, as they did today when I did a shorter ride. When Graham gets home from his rides, we normally discuss the same sort of behaviour as I experienced today as we both feel the same way. So for the record…
- When you pass me, don’t then slow down and start to natter to your mate.
- When you hear me free wheeling behind you (or blowing snot out my nose), how about pulling over and going single file to allow me a chance to pass, especially on a busy road.
- When you glance behind and realise I’m there, don’t suddenly speed up for a whole 50 metres, only to slow back down to start nattering again.
- When I finally get a chance to pass, don’t then draft off me. If I’m going too slow, then pass me and maintain some semblance of pace! If I’m going faster than you could go unaided, then piss off and do your own work!
- When I glance behind to check for traffic and find you RIGHT UP MY ARSE, and I tell you to RACK OFF, you know what? I BLOODY MEAN IT! Don’t then proceed to draft off me for the next several kilometres. ”Rack off” is my polite way of saying “F**k off” and if you don’t, you may fall victim to my Tourettes Syndrome.
- I train on my own. I don’t see the point of drafting or sitting in a bunch as that doesn’t make me stronger or fitter. I don’t want to socialise with you – I’m focussed on doing my own thing. How dare you enter my personal space and draft off me. Why don’t I just give you a spare key for our house so you can come and empty out our pantry?
Why do some cyclists detest being overtaken, or bust their gut to catch you, only to slow down once they do? Are they id-jits or what?
Rant over. I can’t wait until Friday morning when I can do my next ride away from the id-jits.
I’ve got to agree with your list. Those things really p me off too. And if I approach someone riding in front of me I make a good effort to get around them as soon as I can so I’m not seen as drafting off them.
How did you feel with your ride (aside from the drop kicks you encountered)? Has the bod recovered fully?
By: Neets on October 7, 2009
at 6:53 pm
The body doesn’t FEEL like it’s recovered!! I was a bit wary heading up the hill, but the legs were fine. Unlike yesterday at the pool – I winced every time I pushed off from the wall! I did a good job of the quads on Saturday!!
By: Rachel Harris on October 7, 2009
at 7:07 pm
ha ha ha that is so funny. It’s just really funny.
I have done some of those things before…speed up to pass someone, then I slow down again, and they have passed me….but truly I think it was because they sped up because they didn’t want to passed by a GIRL.
I like catching a free ride behind other commuters at times! So shoot me…..go on!
By: Becs on October 7, 2009
at 7:26 pm
They are probably the same people who drive at like 70-80km/hr on the open road, then speed up when they get to a passing lane, then slow down again!!!
(and not that’s NOT me!)
By: Becs on October 7, 2009
at 7:29 pm
I think it’s a ChCh thing… I think it so funny just riding along the flats around Sumner having a trail of roadies drafting behind me… and then ‘attacking’ me… and then looking annoyed when I don’t join in with their stupid games and try and chase them down.
Yes I don’t know why people who are supposed to be out training feel the need to draft random strangers… but then I guess they don’t know how to train.
By: paul on October 7, 2009
at 10:08 pm
oh to be a cyclist!!!
By: catherinedrew on October 8, 2009
at 4:52 am
Haha, I can relate to most of these however I have some ways in which I deal with them without getting peeved, it might work for some but might not. I also like to do my long rides on my own, I enjoy that time by myself, so when people do catch me I usually just give them a cheery hello, they then either say hi back (funnily enough Rach, most folk on bikes are decent people) and have a quick natter, eg nice day for a ride and then they ride off, or if they are the snobby type they will have their ipods on and won’t hear and will then just cruise off into the distance. As for the wee buggers who sit on my wheel, I don’t worry about them, I just smile to myself and know that while they are taking the easy option by sitting on my wheel I am making myself stronger both mentally and physically for my next race. Try it next time and see how you get on, I pretty much guarantee you’ll have a much more enjoyable ride
By: Nades on October 8, 2009
at 6:01 pm
Oh I agree with you Nades, and I always say ‘Hi’ etc when passing or being passed. But these two yesterday didn’t say a word, they just hung off the back, didn’t take a turn (not that I wanted them to though) and when they eventually pulled up alongside to turn off, there was no “Thanks” or “See ya!”. It was just rudeness really. I tend to find the ones who play silly buggers like that rarely are the friendly ones – they’re just weird (as Paul said, why would they want to draft off random strangers?).
By: Rachel Harris on October 8, 2009
at 7:03 pm
Oh looks I don’t know how to train. Ah well. What to do
BTW I don’t hang off random strangers all that often….in fact very rarely 
By: Becs on October 9, 2009
at 7:17 am