re: Are cyclists the most tone deaf people on the planet?

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You have a weird sense of what is fun.

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It sounds like he organizes his life in a corporate manner. Every post he makes, it sounds like he's applying corporate strategies to his individual life.

I've been a "cyclist" for 20 years. I typically ride on the roads in order to stay in shape for my primary goal of mountain bike & trail riding. I know lots of really good people who train for other endurance sports, like Enduro, etc., by road and trail riding. As I get older it also helps me not to put as much strain and abuse on my body I get from riding trails and adding road training. It is a necessity for me to just bag mileage.

As a rule I always do everything I can to stay off of higher traffic roads and out of the way of cars. I generally ride at times when there is significantly less traffic - in the morning or after 7:30pm. That said, because BR is kind of a shite hole and barely has adequate infrastructure for even vehicular traffic, I'm forced to occasionally use slightly busier roads (35mph) or an intersection of two busy roads to stitch together longer routes. At times, I do have to move towards the center of a road to avoid what looks like bombed out craters, glass, etc on the side of the road.

I obey all the traffic laws. I'm usually as fast through an intersection as a car from full stop (even though I typically will let cars in front of me at a red light) and immediately move over to the right or get off that road as soon as practicable.

Yes, there are dildos who ride bikes. I also have to avoid them along with lallygagging walkers, invisible and unusually aggressive joggers and people who let their dogs wander about on 15ft long leashes.

But really the worst feeling I get is when somebody unnecessarily buzzes me in a vehicle at twice the speed limit because I theoretically held them up for 3 seconds. Or when somebody, who I can see is looking down at the phone in their hand, pulls out in front of me on a supposedly safe neighborhood street. I could go on, and I've actually been hit by cars twice in that 20 years (fortunately nothing too serious), but I'm so used to the unexpected that I anticipate and accept that this kind of stupidity exists.

My point is this, just try to keep in mind some of us are doing our best to not be the nuisance this site makes all of us out to be. And maybe it doesn't matter, but you would be surprised by how many cyclists are conservatives and patriots who have served in the military and LEO. A lot of lawyers, doctors, engineers, CEO's, etc are out there. These are people are needed and serve a much greater purpose to our current society who are just trying to be better. It ain't just about "exercise."

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Are cyclists the most tone deaf people on the planet?

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I know. I might as well be talking to a wall with some people. But, this is part of the reason I have contemplated carrying while I ride. I do my best to avoid confrontation, but it's getting worse here in BR...It is definitely a growing trend.

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Most bicyclists don't bother me. It's the ones that run red lights, ride multiple people wide, and ride in just idiotic locations that really piss me off.

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I hate most of that too. I don't do it, but if you see someone riding on a 45-55mph street in the city it's because (they are insane) there is a need for connective, quiet streets or well located bike/pedestrian infrastructure. There is plenty of money in most road construction budgets to do this 10x over, but the money and the effort just seems to evaporate.

I’m going to clip one before I meet Jesus. Idk who the lucky douche is yet but 4,0000 pounds is going to his back wheel at 30-40mph

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The only road rage incident I've had in the past 20 years was with a bicyclist two years ago.

I passed this dipshit and he didnt like it. Flipped me off, I pulled over and of course, he kept going like a pussy.

I suppose he's gotten away with it too often, didnt think anyone would call his bluff. He was screaming, all red in the face to go with his shitty spandex.

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I'm so sure this is a true story. Congratulations for being an internet BA!

I used to MTB so naturally took up road biking to stay in shape/train.


road cyclists are extremely narcissistic by nature. It comes with the territory. "hey wife and kids, I am going to spend 12 hours a week on my bike. have fun bye"

Its also a very selfish sport in general, full of small skinny liberal doctors and engineers with massive egos

You sound so reasonable and rational, then you start writing the truth.

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Yes, there are dildos who ride bikes. I also have to avoid them along with lallygagging walkers, invisible and unusually aggressive joggers and people who let their dogs wander about on 15ft long leashes.

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You have to avoid dildo cyclists, lallygagging walkers, invisible aggressive joggers, and dogs wandering on 15ft leashes. Try doing that, plus avoiding riders like yourself, in a 4000 pound vehicle doing the speed limit.

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But really the worst feeling I get is when somebody unnecessarily buzzes me in a vehicle at twice the speed limit because I theoretically held them up for 3 seconds.

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Or maybe you held them up longer than you think?

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Or when somebody, who I can see is looking down at the phone in their hand, pulls out in front of me on a supposedly safe neighborhood street.

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Nothing special about that. It's how fender benders have been happening since automobiles were invented. Considering that vehicles outweigh you and your bicycle by such a large margin, and you are never not paying attention, then you should never allow this to happen. Which is exactly how I rode my motorcycle. Might doesn't make right is utter bullshite when you are talking about the roadways and trusting someone else not to kill you. Sure, they may be in the wrong, but that doesn't make you any less dead.

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I could go on, and I've actually been hit by cars twice in that 20 years (fortunately nothing too serious), but I'm so used to the unexpected that I anticipate and accept that this kind of stupidity exists.

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Sure, it is stupidity, and inconsiderate to boot. But in reality it is just normal everyday traffic. The difference is it is YOUR life on the line.

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My point is this, just try to keep in mind some of us are doing our best to not be the nuisance this site makes all of us out to be.

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Of course. You do realize that your statement is an acknowledgement that some, maybe a majority, of your fellow cyclists are in fact not doing their best to not be a nuisance.

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And maybe it doesn't matter, but you would be surprised by how many cyclists are conservatives and patriots who have served in the military and LEO. A lot of lawyers, doctors, engineers, CEO's, etc are out there.

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You're right. It doesn't matter.

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These are people are needed and serve a much greater purpose to our current society who are just trying to be better. It ain't just about "exercise."

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And then you close with the most arrogant statement I've seen here, outside of AggieHank. Being better doesn't include making a nuisance of yourself to dozens to hundreds of drivers who are trying to live their "lesser purpose" lives.

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out here inconveniencing others just so you can exercise.

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you will never get that 3 seconds back

Yeah I don’t do any of that except skipping rocks is fun.

To each their own?