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| gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales Posts: 5129   
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Totaly agree.
Anyone riding a bicycle over the age of 16 gets on my nerves. Not only do they not pay any road tax nor have insurance but they don’t have to pass a test to ride on the roads. Not that this is a problem as most think it’s OK to ride on the pavement instead. They don’t stop at red lights and they view the rest of the highway code merely as suggestions which may be disregarded as it suits. They expect roads to be closed down so they can pursue their hobby thus inconveniencing proper people who actually pay for the roads in the first place. But the real clincher, the thing which gets me going is their holier than thou, condescending and completely misplaced and erroneous assertion that they are actually doing something good, something worthwhile. They think they have evolved to a higher state of consciousness and are actually saving the planet and all us un-enlightened plebs from ourselves. Wrong! You are playing around on a kid’s toy and getting in everybody’s’ way while you are about it. For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at.. http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1 |
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5th Sep 2015 5:36pm |
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| Romadog Member Since: 07 Jul 2011 Location: Powys Posts: 1750 |
I met some a few weeks ago. They appeared in pairs which was fine as there was space to over take safely. Then in the distance I saw a group.
When we reached them the road was rather than a long straight as previous it turned into a tight twisting bends. There must have been 15-20 riders or more. We, myself and passenger, approached with caution and I gently parped my horn a few short times to alert them of my presence as they were making no attempt to make space for me to overtake. Nothing..... Then one of them on a trike decided to overtake his colleagues on the outside of the bend on the wrong side of the road !! I eventually overtook this group to find more and more of them in a long line 2-3 abreast and all of different capabilities at pedalling. There was no space in the line to allow me to pull in if i did overtake. Yet on my return journey I met one who after following for approx 3/4 mile due to tight bends, slowed to allow me to pass. He was pedalling previously rather than coasting so gave him a quick toot on the horn to sy thank you. This act of common sense and good road manners by this cyclist gave me some faith in the people who do this. I would have understood if it was a tractor and trailer. These are of a certain length an do pull over in a safe place or turn off into a field et, but these cyclists created a much longer, wider vehicle, possibly a convoy with no intention of allowing vehicles to be able to pass safely. I am a cyclist myself and my neighbours are mad into it so dont think I'm an ignorant single minded 4x4 driver  |
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5th Sep 2015 6:05pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20910 
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I had to pass one of them towing last year.
Two following one another, no problems clear view the lot. I initiate overtake, they go as fast as they can and one moves out side by side at the same tine pushing me completely on. The opposite side of the road downhill. Luckily I could accelerate out of trouble and I blasted them one for it too! Absolutely oblivious....... Another annoyance is people that don't want to pay their bills / who have one issued. By this I mean not people who can't through no fault of their own but those who simply protest and try to bargain, undercut, and save some money. Basically give themselves a discount because they elect themselves to do so because they believe they have a right too. Even when paperwork and T''s & C's are otherwise and they are bound to the amount payable. 
I expect forum sellers get this as well.  |
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16th Sep 2015 4:42pm |
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| gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales Posts: 5129
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Last weekend we had bloody thousands of cyclist in my part of wales due to the Tour of Britain. The council closed loads of roads, that was not too bad as we were given plenty of notice. However loads of spectator cyclists took it upon themselves to spend the week holidaying on their racing bikes this week after watching the race. Many of them have been tearing down country lanes some four abreast, how we have not had mangled riders is a miracle. Two however did get out of the way as I was trying to pass them and rode on the grass verge at the side of the narrow lane not realising that long grass often disguises a ditch, I am not sure of the physics involved but when a cyclists front wheel hits a ditch while going at about twenty five miles an hour the cyclist shoots of his bike and sails through the air for about twenty feet, fascinating to watch.
 For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at..
http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1 |
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16th Sep 2015 5:14pm |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5893  
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Tour of Britain? Small fish compared when the big yellow one rolls into town here in France....epic scale. Personally I love it. Cycling and watching the Grand Tours. But I've being doing so since the 80s and there's not doubt that a new, self assured, arrogant, cocky, holier-than-thou, all of the above cyclist has appeared, notably since the British cycling successes of 2012. But I don't think that has anything to do with cycling, more that many people think acting like an a***hole who owns the planet is acceptable. Basically ill mannered idiots. In the 80s there were none of these cyclists, but then there was little or no road rage, anti-social behaviour, Dads punching refs at their sons Sunday league football, etc etc. It's not the cyclists per se, it's the w**nkers that have chosen to become cyclists. They'd be the same in a pub, behind the wheel of a car etc etc. Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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16th Sep 2015 5:26pm |
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| ARC99 Member Since: 19 Feb 2013 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 1831 
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Cyclists have been a source of serious discussion in the household today.
Our local council demolished a sports stadium with a cycle track with banked corners and sold the land to house builder in order to build a new one with a cycle track. This new one is at the cost of the ratepayers.Today in a press release we are told that the cycle track is only for use by elite cyclists and registered cycle clubs, as an afterthought added were the words it may be possible to run training for beginners. This facility will be open for cyclists from all over the UK. So it appears my slice of money is being used to fund the hobbies of those who wish to travel from all over the UK not local kids who want to learn. Don't make old people mad. We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to  us off.
Richard |
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16th Sep 2015 5:45pm |
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| RFT Member Since: 13 Nov 2010 Location: Yorkshire Dales Posts: 691 
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Gilarion, your right to hate cyclists is your right and I respect it, however if your story is true and you witnessed a cyclist fly 20ft off his bike then please assure us you stopped to offer aid and assistance in accordance with both the law of tort and simple common decency.
I and many other cyclists would not ride on grass at 24mph unless pushed off the road by a t**t in a vehicle. GROW UP!!!!!! Richard 130 Puma HCPU with an Artica 240LR Demountable Camper |
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16th Sep 2015 7:12pm |
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| Happyoldgit Member Since: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3471 
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No aggro on the roads, anti social behaviour etc in the '80's? Surely you jest? Steve. Owned numerous Land Rover vehicles of all shapes and sizes over the decades. Current Defender: A non tarts hand-bagged Puma 110 XS USW. [Insert something impressive here such as extensive list of previous Land Rovers or examples of your prestigeous and expensive items, trinkets, houses, bikes, vehicles etc] http://forums.lr4x4.com I used to be Miserable ...but now I'm ecstatic. |
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16th Sep 2015 7:20pm |
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| Martin Site Admin Member Since: 02 Apr 2007 Location: Hook Norton Posts: 6681 
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Guys, a reminder again that grumpy is fine, insulting is not.
 1988 90 Td5 NAS soft top
2015 D90 XS SW |
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17th Sep 2015 11:56am |
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| jimbob7 Member Since: 06 Jul 2013 Location: uk Posts: 2055 |
Simple fact is there are way too many cars on the road,you HAVE to encourage people to use alternative transport methods.
Including dairy deliveries in LONDON over 20 years ago,i've probably been inconvenienced for nearly several minutes by cyclists in 27 years of driving.....moaning about tax and insewerence,seriously?? BOT.Moaning car drivers who think they should only be allowed on the roads . Pov.spec,ftw. 2006, 110,TD5. |
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17th Sep 2015 12:33pm |
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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10383
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I've been a 'cyclist' (a word which I don't like) forever...I raced BMX and Cycle Speedway Nationally from 10 up to the age of 17, I've raced 24 hour mountain bike races, solo. I've raced road too, I ride dirt jumps..I even rode in work today.
I've worked in bike shops and for online cycle stores for many years. I know my stuff. I also know that there are a LOT of IDIOT cyclists about, it's a law of averages, like idiot ramblers, off-roaders etc. I know why drivers get irate. I see dumb cyclists every day. I know where you 'haters' come from, I see and acknowledge your frustration. But PLEASE just don't treat EVERY cyclist like an idiot, there's some good guys out there too. |
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17th Sep 2015 12:46pm |
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| gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales Posts: 5129
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Of course I stopped to check the cyclist was OK and luckily he was in fact he was doubly lucky for had he been injured it would have been difficult to call for help as there is no mobile signal in this area, happily the guy was fine though a little shaken
And before you start I did not force anyone off the road. The facts are I was about a hundred meters behind the cyclists and travelling at ten miles an hour, which if you knew the lane in question is about the right speed to take action if you meet a vehicle oncoming. As both cyclists were travelling at a greater speed than I was there was no need to try and move over to allow my vehicle to pass, though maybe they thought I was one of the other breed of mad tourists who drive our lanes in cars as if they were rally circuits. I do not know if you have much experience in narrow lanes, by narrow I mean just wide enough to allow a vehicle to drive on. The rule of thumb round here is to drive these lanes slow and carefully and to try to anticipate what might be round the next bend. The rule that some cyclist adopt in my area is to tear down them, often two or more abreast, and as many are travelling at a speed that is much faster than the motorised vehicles that use them, sadly this often results in death. To back this statement up: The number of cyclists seriously injured or killed on roads in Wales has risen by 38 per cent from 2013 to 2014, according to the latest figures released by Road Safety Wales there were 138 cyclists killed or seriously injured in Wales in 2014, this figure is expected to rise for the 2015 statistics. The safest way for any cyclist on these lanes who wishes to allow a vehicle to pass them is to stop and stand as close to the hedgerows with their bike as possible, those who do get a smile a wave and a mouthed thank you. However those who do this are usually those who ride bicycles that have panniers on the back and are on a camping cycling holiday, the type of cyclist who are on racing bikes, lycra clad, very rarely give way to anyone in my experience. As for being called a a t**t in a vehicle and to grow up, I am afraid Richard that you are showing as a cyclist the type of manners and attitude that many recent posters in this thread are alluding to. For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at.. http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1 |
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17th Sep 2015 2:46pm |
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| jimbob7 Member Since: 06 Jul 2013 Location: uk Posts: 2055 |
Delivered and collected to any number of farms down the same narrow roads you mention (down south anorl) with a 45 ft trailers,exactly can be said for car drivers,blindly hooning round like they own the roads.Make way for those that are smaller than you or kill people in the mad rush,your call!!Like I say too many cars on the road.I really don't want to kill people for just being on the road,it really isn't worth it,what do you say?? Pov.spec,ftw. 2006, 110,TD5.
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17th Sep 2015 2:58pm |
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| shaggydog Member Since: 12 Aug 2012 Location: Kent Posts: 3347 
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I think really we just need to build bigger wider roads with more space for everyone so that cyclists can ride about and people can move past them safely without all the agro. But that's just my 2 cents
On a separate grumpy subject, why are we as a race of humans trying so hard to make humans redundant? Every day this week there has been an article on the BBC about a new type of AI tech which will replace your job or a human role. Why? The worlds population is booming and we are trying to think of less things to do for them all? Yes, there are some jobs which will always be done better by a robot, I fully understand that. But do we need robotic musicians? robotic artists? I can't see the logic in replacing as many humans as possible with robots. What are we all going to do for work? How will we live? Can we tax a robot so we can fund ourselves? I'll get my tin foil hat and coat..... Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197 Self confessed mileage hunter  |
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18th Sep 2015 10:37pm |
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