Spandex wearing bicyclers...

rival.rival. Chicago Posts: 7,775
edited July 2009 in All Encompassing Trip
alright, i moved out of NYC a few months ago and i am now currently in north jersey. what is the deal with the gaggle of bicyclers in their spandex outfits that insist on taking up the entire road blocking traffic?

on my route home from work i have to take about 10/15 minutes of back roads off the highway and EVERYDAY there are groups of about 15 people riding their bikes blocking traffic. how is this allowed? do these people have a death wish? pretty inconsiderate.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • milarsomilarso Posts: 1,280
    I have a bike, and do a considerable amount of trail and road biking. I've always really tried to pay attention to the "Share the Road" sentiment, but there is nothing worse than cyclists who take up the entire road when there are other people trying to drive by. Also I never wear Spandex when I ride... :lol:
    "The dude abides. I don't know about you, but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' her easy for all us sinners."
  • Jokertt14Jokertt14 Posts: 2,566
    thats like doggin the
    "tour de france" .... Go Lance !...
  • RiverrunnerRiverrunner Posts: 2,419
    I am a cyclist who wears spandex/lycra and also as a member of a cycling club. The group should not be riding side by side blocking traffic. The riders should move to the right (in single file) to allow traffic to pass. Of course traffic should not pass with a car coming if there is not ample room for the cyclist and two cars. That is the predicament I get in on our rural roads. If a car is coming and there is a car behind me I have been staying in the middle of my lane to prevent the car behind me from being tempted to fit in the tight space between me and the oncoming car. For sure, if I get over the car behind tries to squeeze in and guess who is in danger then? I have been grazed by side mirrors people get so close. Even though Illinois now has the 3 feet law (drivers must allow 3 feet between bike and car when passing) few people know about it or care. If there is a paved shoulder on the road then I get over unless there is trash or glass or something there.
    The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals. Ghandi
  • SawyerSawyer Posts: 2,411
    my biggest pet peeve....there are plenty of residential neighborhoods they could be riding...these dorks need to get the fuck off of busy streets.
  • rival.rival. Chicago Posts: 7,775
    I am a cyclist who wears spandex/lycra and also as a member of a cycling club. The group should not be riding side by side blocking traffic. The riders should move to the right (in single file) to allow traffic to pass. Of course traffic should not pass with a car coming if there is not ample room for the cyclist and two cars. That is the predicament I get in on our rural roads. If a car is coming and there is a car behind me I have been staying in the middle of my lane to prevent the car behind me from being tempted to fit in the tight space between me and the oncoming car. For sure, if I get over the car behind tries to squeeze in and guess who is in danger then? I have been grazed by side mirrors people get so close. Even though Illinois now has the 3 feet law (drivers must allow 3 feet between bike and car when passing) few people know about it or care. If there is a paved shoulder on the road then I get over unless there is trash or glass or something there.

    haven't seen anyone in single file since i've been here. there is always two side by side and sometimes three. so in this case you are forced to ride behind them (usually traffic on the other side of the street and you can't even pass) until you or they turn off. i am just suprised there are not stricter laws on this. backing up traffic is one thing, but the biker's safety is another. i am suprised there aren't more accidents.
  • RiverrunnerRiverrunner Posts: 2,419
    Sawyer wrote:
    my biggest pet peeve....there are plenty of residential neighborhoods they could be riding...these dorks need to get the fuck off of busy streets.

    Maybe if you are riding only a few miles. But people who ride bikes seriously ride 20-40 miles on evening rides and 30+ on long weekend rides. Kind of hard to do on a cul de sac.
    The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals. Ghandi
  • milarsomilarso Posts: 1,280
    Sawyer wrote:
    my biggest pet peeve....there are plenty of residential neighborhoods they could be riding...these dorks need to get the fuck off of busy streets.

    Maybe if you are riding only a few miles. But people who ride bikes seriously ride 20-40 miles on evening rides and 30+ on long weekend rides. Kind of hard to do on a cul de sac.

    Cyclists have as much right to the roads as cars do, but everyone has to be considerate and operate safely.
    "The dude abides. I don't know about you, but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' her easy for all us sinners."
  • ajedigeckoajedigecko \m/deplorable af \m/ Posts: 2,430
    Sawyer wrote:
    my biggest pet peeve....there are plenty of residential neighborhoods they could be riding...these dorks need to get the fuck off of busy streets.

    Maybe if you are riding only a few miles. But people who ride bikes seriously ride 20-40 miles on evening rides and 30+ on long weekend rides. Kind of hard to do on a cul de sac.
    what are you talking about...........i ride 20 miles on my cul de sac, i have become immune to dizzy.
    live and let live...unless it violates the pearligious doctrine.
  • ajedigeckoajedigecko \m/deplorable af \m/ Posts: 2,430
    i think spandex is great on women...............i do not wear it because, well i probably do not need to explain.
    live and let live...unless it violates the pearligious doctrine.
  • rival.rival. Chicago Posts: 7,775
    ajedigecko wrote:
    i think spandex is great on women...............i do not wear it because, well i probably do not need to explain.

    what's the point of the spandex get up? why can't people ride in shorts?
  • ajedigeckoajedigecko \m/deplorable af \m/ Posts: 2,430
    i think it has do with compression, feels good on the legs.........not sure though.

    and i must come clean..........i do wear riding shorts with another pair over the top, for junk purposes.
    live and let live...unless it violates the pearligious doctrine.
  • RiverrunnerRiverrunner Posts: 2,419
    ajedigecko wrote:
    i think spandex is great on women...............i do not wear it because, well i probably do not need to explain.

    what's the point of the spandex get up? why can't people ride in shorts?

    Bike shorts whether form fitting spandex/lycra or baggies have padding in the nether regions - no seams. Try riding a bike in jeans or jean shorts or any type of shorts for that matter that have the normal seam right down the middle of the crotch. After 20 miles it starts to hurt. After 40 it becomes unbearable. It is hard enough to ride a long distance in 90 degree weather with state of the art bike shorts. Anything else is almost unbearable. Also, these hi tech fabrics dry quickly. I live in high humidity area and are pretty much wet after the first 10-15 miles. And if you get caught in a rain shower you want something that dries quickly. As far as the tight spandex, if you want to ride fast or with a group it is easier without baggy shorts flapping in the wind - or a baggy, loose top. Aerodynamic is the word for cyclists and we pay big bucks for aerodynamic bikes, parts, clothes as well as parts and clothing that weight as little as possible and still can get the job done.
    The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals. Ghandi
  • ajedigeckoajedigecko \m/deplorable af \m/ Posts: 2,430
    personnally........i like somewhat loose clothing, for resistance purposes.
    live and let live...unless it violates the pearligious doctrine.
  • RiverrunnerRiverrunner Posts: 2,419
    ajedigecko wrote:
    personnally........i like somewhat loose clothing, for resistance purposes.

    Sometimes in the spring or fall when it is cool I'll make the mistake of wearing a jacket. When I warm up I unzip it and the flapping in the wind drives me crazy. I have to stop, take it off, and somehow tie it on my bike or just ride on flapping away. That's why I like arm warmers. I can just push him down like a bracelet. Or those bolero (I think that's what their called) things that is just a neck piece with long sleeves that you can wear under a ss jersey to get long sleeves.

    As far as resistance..... I need all the help I can get so I avoid it. I am slow on the bike despite all the $$$ I spend on high tech equipment. But then no telling how slow I would be if I was still riding my 1984 steel bike.
    The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals. Ghandi
  • ajedigeckoajedigecko \m/deplorable af \m/ Posts: 2,430
    good work on owning a steel bike..........i have been thinking about buying one.
    live and let live...unless it violates the pearligious doctrine.
  • RiverrunnerRiverrunner Posts: 2,419
    ajedigecko wrote:
    good work on owning a steel bike..........i have been thinking about buying one.

    I bought a new road bike at the end of 2007. Before that I had a carbon fiber Giant, and before that the steel Gitane. I also have a Cannondale cyclocross - aluminum. So anyway, I made up my mind I was going to buy steel again, but then I found a decent priced titanium. So I ended up with Titanium. I love it. I am not crazy about aluminum or carbon fiber. From now on it will be steel or titanium.
    The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals. Ghandi
  • ajedigeckoajedigecko \m/deplorable af \m/ Posts: 2,430
    my cross bike is aluminum and carbon............mountain bike aluminum and steel.

    i do not have the funds for titanium.
    live and let live...unless it violates the pearligious doctrine.
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