crazy drivers of the two wheeled kind

There's not much worse than getting cut off from another cyclist (usually male, wearing no or a smashed up helmet, and looking all around like they don't know what they're doing). They speed up to pass you, then cut you off with no warning and then slowdown right in front of you forcing you to pass them.

Today I had two men do this. One I passed again and that was that, the other decided to pass me in this fashion no less than 5 times. I got out for a ride today, and in total went about 30km. Good ride, kept my average speed around 22km/hr while rifing a mountain bike with knoby tires.

I went out on the highway that follows Halifax harbour (senic, wide enough lanes, cars are pretty fast though and it's a busy road). I'm on around kilometer 17 when there's this fellow in from on me on a road bike (reasonable condition), wearing turquoise nylon pants and his broken helmet pushed back on his head. He's going sloow so I pass him. When I slow down for lights he passes me which forces me to pass him again. He then makes another sprint to pass me, and of course I need to pass him again. On the third time he passes me (no warning, and I'm amazed that he didn't get hit going wide around me on this busy highway) I yell at him that if he passes me then he better keep up his pace.

I need to pass him again.

The next time he insists on passing me (in a busy intersection where I slowed down) I pull up to the sidewalk with the intention of waiting for him to get a head start so we could stop this stupid game. He then gets off his bike and walks up the hill. I go by him one last time, he hops on his bike and with I'm sure all his effort swings around me again. Finally I get to a turn off and sneak off with out him seeing me.

So what was up with that? So this guy can keep up with me while he's on a road bike and I'm on a mountain bike, good for you buddy. Why would he insist on continuously passing me (in a dangerous area), and force me to pass him because he then slows down. I had to deal with that crap for almost 10Km, on a road with very few turn offs, and the ones there were would take me way out of the way.

Gah!! This *** ruined the last part of my ride. And you know that it's folk like this that gives any of us that commute a bad name.

Talking about crazy drivers of the 2 wheeled kind! I normally mountain bike but last month I took part in my first triathlon. There were 2000 women taking part in the largest triathlon ever held in New Zealand. Anyway, I was having a great time and about halfway through the cycle leg when a male roadie, cycled onto the course, ignored three Marshall's requests to stop and rode right across my path. I smashed right into him, ended up in an ambulance and with hundreds of dollars worth of damage to my bike! Luckily I didn't break any bones but was pretty bruised and sore. And to add insult to injury, he's refused to pay for the damage to my bike, so I'm taking him to court! Careless cyclists like him (and there's lot of these guys about) give all cyclists a bad name.

yikes, both these stories sound horrific. And the guy who passes then stops then passes gives me the creeps. If he has any sense he's thinking "this gal keeps up with me on a mountain bike, I won't mess with her."

Craziest thing I've seen lately was downtown Oakland this guy riding with a chair on his head. This is no dining room chair or folding chair I'm talking about a HUGE overstuffed armchair, almost a love seat.

Sensible thing if he's using a bike for transport like in third world countries is to brace the chair on the bike and use the bike like a cart or roller, or still better get one of the many brands of wonderful of bike trailers available for sale or rent in the area.

But nooooo, it's upside down on his head ;-)

The entire chair surrounds his field of vision, the high back of the chair is right in front of his face and he's riding across Grand and Lakeshore heading for blocks of diagonaly parked cars totaly unable to see traffic.

No helmet of course unless you count the chair as one.

That is too funny. So you're in the Bay Area also. I just had a thought that it would be fun to get together as a group and do a ride. It seems like there are quite a few of us.

Veronica

That'd be great. I haven't been riding as much as I'd like (never enough but this is rediculous) due to a combo of mandatory OT and my other workout (Aikido, I have a test soon). But I could bring up the rear on some easy no drop ride.

Have a good 4th.

After I posted before I turned to my hubby and asked if he'd SAG for a bunch of Team Estrogen chicks. But of course. His suggestion for a ride was The Delta. It's flat (totally flat). But it's beautiful this time of year with all the crops and follows the river. There's a great place to meet on the river, with real bathrooms. Ir's a State Park and we could do a BBQ/picnic after the ride. It's only about an hour from Alameda on the weekends - Thom's work.

We're away for the weekend at a tandem rally so I'll give it some thought.


Veronica

Count me in too (is it okay to invite oneself?).

Are there any good rides around Alameda (maybe even *around* Alameda)?

I reserve the rear spot, though. If we slip Veronica enough Red Bull she can pull a whole paceline all day. :D

I got Thom drinking Red Bull too. We were flying through both of the rides at the tandem rally.:p

Yeah I pull really well when it's downhill and we have a tailwind. And of course you're invited. You have to bring the cold Red Bull!

Veronica

Anyone have a favorite century or metric century around the area that way no one person has to sag?

As long as it's not the Tour de Peninsula. It's oversold, waaay too crowded, full of riders who when you say "on your right" they GO right and traffic cones??! Pleease, Just tell me to stay to the right.

Also can't think of one particular ride around Alameda. The island is flat and drivers seem bike friendly. Grissley Peak Cyclists had a training ride there, I forget the exact route. The west side following the beach is pretty.

Hey, assasin. I think the road biker thought he was being cute and was trying to pick you up. heh heh

Good ditch, btw,

Namaste,
~T~

For me--I can't get past making a judgement call-on people here--who cycle at Night-No helmet-No reflectors on the wheels-no back and front reflectors-or Any lights--and wearing Dark clothing....add roads slicked with rain.......so--if Mr Bozo-or Ms--gets thrown and hurtled 30 feet-because some fast moving car-just didn't see this person--What are they proving to me? They can be 'free'?