Elbie
Well-Known Member
I get annoyed by the cyclists that creep up behind you, silent as ninjas then overtake as a car is passing in the opposite direction.
They all whinge about riders...
- Thread starter Auslander
- Start date
Snow Falcon
Looking for the light
Don't come to the New Forest when there is a wiggle event on then. You get stuck behind them for miles. I followed them for 7 miles when towing home from a show one day.
My pony is quiet (and virtually bombproof) but he was startled at the weekend by someone whizzing past from behind us. In contrast I was leading my son on his pony the previous weekend and a cyclist asked if it was ok to pass. I thanked him for asking and said could he ask others to do the same!
It's all about common courtesy to fellow humans, something that seems to lack in all areas of life.
My pony is quiet (and virtually bombproof) but he was startled at the weekend by someone whizzing past from behind us. In contrast I was leading my son on his pony the previous weekend and a cyclist asked if it was ok to pass. I thanked him for asking and said could he ask others to do the same!
It's all about common courtesy to fellow humans, something that seems to lack in all areas of life.
PolarSkye
Well-Known Member
They are the target of my wrath . . . they set my blood boiling on a regular basis. And what's with the kit/gear? They're not riding a peloton in the frigging Olympics . . . if I went to do an unaffiliated dressage test in top hat and tails, I'd be laughed at. WHY do you have Team Sky plastered all over your backside?
I have not had ONE cyclist (and we get loads around here) ever lift a hand off the handlebars to say thank you for me following them for half a mile at a crawl and then swinging out WAY wide to pass them. Not once. Also, I've NEVER had a cyclist decide to pull over to let drivers past.
Every (horse) rider I meet on the roads, without exception, finds some way to show appreciation for considerate driving . . . a nod, a verbal thank you, a raised hand, a smile.
Flipping hate cyclists.
P
Indy
Well-Known Member
Don't really have too much of an issue with any cyclists but the road racing type biker do seem to be less aware of their surroundings than your mountain bike kinda guy.
An absolutely, totally hot, fit mountain bike guy went past me and my friend on a bridle path - we'd gone into single file so he could get by and as he went past I realised his sheer hotness and turned round to my mate and went ooo la la - he heard - he smiled - he made my day!
An absolutely, totally hot, fit mountain bike guy went past me and my friend on a bridle path - we'd gone into single file so he could get by and as he went past I realised his sheer hotness and turned round to my mate and went ooo la la - he heard - he smiled - he made my day!
Jsye
Well-Known Member
I have a strong dislike towards cyclists near me who insist on cycling in the left hand lane of a 50mph dual carriageway WHICH HAS A CYCLE PATH NEXT TO IT .. OFF THE ROAD
It's so annoying waiting for a gap in the traffic to pull out and around them! Use the bloody cycle lane which is provided for you!!!
It's so annoying waiting for a gap in the traffic to pull out and around them! Use the bloody cycle lane which is provided for you!!!
Auslander
Well-Known Member
I should also add that i have on occasion stayed behind a cyclist far longer than I needed to, just because he had a bottom that merited close inspection!
Meems
Well-Known Member
I heard a radio presenter describe the way they dress as 'looking like a sperm wearing tap shoes'!!!
khalswitz
Well-Known Member
In a fit of naughtiness a friend and I one day decided after a particularly attractive jogger went past and smiled 'hi', that we would trot and overtake him back... then walk... then let him overtake us again.... then trot and overtake him again. Then turn to go home and meet him going the opposite way
He was laughing at us a bit by that point, probably at the stupid grins...
Hippona
Well-Known Member
And don't get me started on the invisible '3rd lane' ...you know ...when you're que-ing in traffic and one comes squeezing down between two lanes of cars....straight through the red light...up the pavement......accross the pedestrian crossing...Grrrr
PolarSkye
Well-Known Member
risky business
Well-Known Member
I understand people have to cycle, but they really are a royal pain and wish I didn't have to share the road with them.
Last run in with a cyclist was him trying squeeze between my car and a parked car.. Then I heard him bang my car! Didn't go down well!
Last run in with a cyclist was him trying squeeze between my car and a parked car.. Then I heard him bang my car! Didn't go down well!
Ibblebibble
Well-Known Member
stealth cyclists we call them, and hubby swears that all lycra wearing cyclists are just cross dressers!
my yard is on a cycle route but 9 out of 10 of the groups that go by are lovely, shout out 'bikes behind' to us if the approach from behind, call' horse ahead' back down the line of cyclists so they are all aware, never caused us any problems. yes sometimes it is a bit of a pain to get past them on the narrower lanes but an extra 2 minutes on my journey isn't going to kill me, whereas if i act like a twit and and try and overtake unsafely I could possibly kill them or myself. Most road users need to chill out and remember that they are not the only person on the roads! that includes car drivers, cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists!
Lexi_
Well-Known Member
We quite often come across large groups of cyclists when we're out hacking at weekends - I think it's some sort of organised club ride because they do all go in for the v. tight lycra. Perfectly pleasant though. The leader of the pack will usually give us a wave and we all do the "morning!" "morning!" to each other. I honestly can't say I've ever had a problem with them but then the two horses we take out are both pretty bombproof and now I think about it, the pelotons have always been coming towards us. The effect might be a little different from behind!
The individual cyclists we meet are always nice too. Must be something in the water around Rainford/St Helens We do see loads of them though - to get to most of our hacking routes we have to go down the A580 and that means sharing the footpath/cycle lanes (grass verge is usually dangerously full of litter) with the cyclists. They're much better than the peloton groups for decking themselves out in hi-viz.
By contrast, the eejits who cycle round Liverpool really get on my nerves. I can't work out the sheer stupidity in cycling on dark roads at night whilst wearing all black clothing and not bothering to put any lights on your bike.
The individual cyclists we meet are always nice too. Must be something in the water around Rainford/St Helens
We do see loads of them though - to get to most of our hacking routes we have to go down the A580 and that means sharing the footpath/cycle lanes (grass verge is usually dangerously full of litter) with the cyclists. They're much better than the peloton groups for decking themselves out in hi-viz.By contrast, the eejits who cycle round Liverpool really get on my nerves. I can't work out the sheer stupidity in cycling on dark roads at night whilst wearing all black clothing and not bothering to put any lights on your bike.
Gazen
Well-Known Member
There are regular road races and club events here in Noth Beds so I get to see a lot of cyclists. The biggest problem I have is when I am on my horse, who is not the bravest mare on the planet, and the peleton comes past. Cycles are quiet and they come upon you pretty fast and we have frequently ended up spinning on the spot with me desperately trying not to collide with any cycles as they come past on one side or falling into a ditch on the other. I don't know what the solution is, they have as much right to the road as I do. Now, unless I am hacking to an event I just don't go hacking on a Sat / Sun morning. It is far too traumatic for us.
Alfiemoo
Well-Known Member
I have a cyclist by me who is always on a country road at 6 am and I drive past him every morning he has no hi vis, lights or helmet. It's not so bad now as it is lighter, but he does it in the middle of winter when it's dark and you can't see him at all. I can time it well enough now that I can guess where he is. I have no idea how he hasn't been killed!
dappyness
Well-Known Member
zaminda
Well-Known Member
I have said before when people are complaining about rude riders on here about how much worse cyclists are on the whole.
I remember one incident when on an endurance ride a few years ago. There was also a cycle race in progress using the off road areas. One bunch tried to pass me on a seriously narrow area, and got very arsey about the whole thing. I pointed out that I was about to go faster, they retorted they were time trialling. They did not like it when I pointed out that I was too, and that as they were in a more vulnerable situation than me, maybe some manners wouldn't go amiss.
I also remember when I used to ride in Epping forest how bad the cyclists there were. They used to wiz past at speed, and often only just missing us. My friends horse became very frightened of bicycles, and we used to have to go out very early to miss them.
I remember one incident when on an endurance ride a few years ago. There was also a cycle race in progress using the off road areas. One bunch tried to pass me on a seriously narrow area, and got very arsey about the whole thing. I pointed out that I was about to go faster, they retorted they were time trialling. They did not like it when I pointed out that I was too, and that as they were in a more vulnerable situation than me, maybe some manners wouldn't go amiss.
I also remember when I used to ride in Epping forest how bad the cyclists there were. They used to wiz past at speed, and often only just missing us. My friends horse became very frightened of bicycles, and we used to have to go out very early to miss them.
Spot_the_Risk
Well-Known Member
I'm lucky, although we're close to national cycle trails we meet very few, our quiet country lanes tend to have occasional leisure cyclists but the hills are steep and I'm sure that would put some off! I hacked Tinner alone on Sunday for the first time in months and met a couple on bikes, baby on the back, two well behaved dogs off the lead. Bless them, they stopped for my whilst going up hill and it was good for Tinner to meet them. I'm more likely to meet trial bikes, quad bikes and tractors towing large agri machinery...
JCW
Well-Known Member
I find that the cyclists I meet whilst out riding are very polite and courteous however the majority on the main roads are not and are a danger to themselves. I do not understand why they do not cycle in the cycle lanes and why they insist on driving in the middle of the road or why it is okay for them to go through red lights. Reading this thread has made me realise that i have never had a thank you or acknowledgement or wave whilst driving my car from a cyclist, whereas as a general rule I would say they are very polite when I am on horseback.
Hoof_Prints
Well-Known Member
I've had a few bad experiences with cyclists when out riding, creeping up and speeding by so close I thought I'd clip them with my stirrup. Thank god my horses are so well behaved! we could have all ended up seriously hurt if they weren't. Today as it happens, I encountered the most lovely cyclist ever while out hacking as he approached he shouted "girls, watch out- I am overtaking and don't want to spook the horses- I have bright shorts on" the way he said it was hilarious, we thanked him as he passed and said how nice it was to tell us. Just thought it was worth a mention as it shows how just a short few seconds of politeness can make a difference.
as he approached he shouted "girls, watch out- I am overtaking and don't want to spook the horses- I have bright shorts on" the way he said it was hilarious, we thanked him as he passed and said how nice it was to tell us. Just thought it was worth a mention as it shows how just a short few seconds of politeness can make a difference.Tobiano
Well-Known Member
I've had a few bad experiences with cyclists when out riding, creeping up and speeding by so close I thought I'd clip them with my stirrup. Thank god my horses are so well behaved! we could have all ended up seriously hurt if they weren't. Today as it happens, I encountered the most lovely cyclist ever while out hacking
What a lovely story!
I HATE coming upon cyclists when driving - I always give them at least 6 feet of space to overtake in case they fall off! but it really terrifies me when (a) you only see them at the last minute because of no hi viz and those pathetic little lights some have or (b) you have to pass a cycle race taking place on a dual carriageway. I really dont think that should be legal!
pip6
Well-Known Member
Now you mention it they do look like it!
Personally find mountain bikers absolutely fine & considerate bunch. Seem to appreciate you are a fellow enjoyer of the countryside. On roads I pull over reguarly if there is traffic, it's manners. Do find cyclists get stupidly close up behind horse (get warning when horse starts to spook to see what's up her ar5e), & have to warn them to stay back or get kicked (it really doesn't seem to have ever dawned on them the horse is not a bike with legs), then pass wide as they would wish to be passed by other traffic. The bunches of soory blokes in lycra are the pits. Rude, ignorant & totally without care for anyone else, car or horse. Feel sorry for anyone on olympic route with the lycra wannabes living their fantasy.
Personally find mountain bikers absolutely fine & considerate bunch. Seem to appreciate you are a fellow enjoyer of the countryside. On roads I pull over reguarly if there is traffic, it's manners. Do find cyclists get stupidly close up behind horse (get warning when horse starts to spook to see what's up her ar5e), & have to warn them to stay back or get kicked (it really doesn't seem to have ever dawned on them the horse is not a bike with legs), then pass wide as they would wish to be passed by other traffic. The bunches of soory blokes in lycra are the pits. Rude, ignorant & totally without care for anyone else, car or horse. Feel sorry for anyone on olympic route with the lycra wannabes living their fantasy.
NellRosk
Well-Known Member
Once I was out hacking and had reached the bottom of a massive hill, Roski started flicking his ears backwards like he'd heard something but I couldn't see anything and then all of a sudden 2 cyclists whooshed past me silently, they must have been going at about 30mph. Poor Roski s*** himself!
Frosty89
Well-Known Member
Thankfully I don't get many cyclists where I keep my horse. On my old yard I used ride in some woods where people often built huge dirt ramps over the edge of large drops. Quite often I'd be riding along and someone would coming flying in the air out of no where.
As for road bikes I find them very ignorant. A few weeks ago (when it was still dark at 6am) I was pulling out of my road when a cyclist whizzed past me with no Hi-Viz, no helmet, no lights, wearing dark clothing. I very nearly knocked him off his bike because I had not seen him. He went crazy, shouting at me and making hand gestures. I often see large groups riding sometimes even four a breast, with no consideration to the cars queuing behind them.
My OH is road biker. I have no idea what he's like when he's out on his bike, I just hope he's not as ignorant as the rest of them.
As for road bikes I find them very ignorant. A few weeks ago (when it was still dark at 6am) I was pulling out of my road when a cyclist whizzed past me with no Hi-Viz, no helmet, no lights, wearing dark clothing. I very nearly knocked him off his bike because I had not seen him. He went crazy, shouting at me and making hand gestures. I often see large groups riding sometimes even four a breast, with no consideration to the cars queuing behind them.
My OH is road biker. I have no idea what he's like when he's out on his bike, I just hope he's not as ignorant as the rest of them.
olivia x
Well-Known Member
I have read horses might have strong reaction to cyclists in part because of how they move-- no legs! Rather they sort of slither along in a way that must seem similar to another legless creature-- the snake. All in all, for prey animals, horses do a remarkable job of overcoming their instincts in our modern world.
RunToEarth
Well-Known Member
The irony in this thread - swathes of horse riders who are constantly complaining that we all get "bunched" into one stereotype due to a small amount of idiot riders on the road, and here we are doing exactly the same to another group of road users.
Road cyclists are no more of an "ignorant bunch" than we are - every village has an idiot.
Road cyclists are no more of an "ignorant bunch" than we are - every village has an idiot.
Honey08
Waffled a lot!
No, I think generally on the roads 90% of cyclists that I come across don't use the road well, pulling out to overtake without signalling or looking round and never thanking drivers or giving them the chance to pass them rather than block them at a slow speed for miles. The ones that generally are polite are the pensioner types. Horsey types are about 50/50 polite and impolite, in my experience.
When I've been out on my horses I've always found cyclists to be very good, usually slowing and asking to come past. I don't have to ride on main roads unless I want to around here, and certainly wouldn't if there was a race due.
When I've been out on my horses I've always found cyclists to be very good, usually slowing and asking to come past. I don't have to ride on main roads unless I want to around here, and certainly wouldn't if there was a race due.
OldNag
Wasting my time successfully....
This... I often end up sitting behind cyclists for quite a distance, often two abreast, up hill and they never pull over to let traffic past. On a horse , I wouldn't dream of blocking the traffic like that.
There are - of course - plenty of courteous ones but the less courteous ones seem more and more prevalent. And don't get me started on hi viz and lights.... I can't understand why they don't want to be seen! I would say that the majority are properly attired, but some of them just blend into the hedgerows.
It's not just in the villges though... I drove through Oxford the other night, late, and the number of cyclists along Cowley Road who didn't have lights on... I couldn't believe it.