Cyclists and foam tubes [Archive]

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Woodman

4th January 2018, 18:18

neels

4th January 2018, 18:24

Sounds like an evolution of the stupid flags that cyclists used to have sticking out the sides of their bikes, I guess a foam tube is less likely to get snapped off and jammed up your arse.

I'm an occasional cyclist myself, but see no reason for such tomfoolery which is only likely to further piss off other road users, much like the oh so smug 'one less car' backpack covers.

Voltaire

4th January 2018, 18:46

Coming back from my annual Rainbow/Molesworth ride yesterday and halfway between Blenheim and Nelson I saw two cyclists that made me yell out "FUCKWITS".

They had foam rubber tubes somehow attached to their bikes that stuck out into the road about a metre presumably to fend off cars or to simulate riding two abreast. now I am not an angry person and don't suffer road rage, but this really made me want to turn around and ride over their stupid appendages.

Great review of the Molesworth/Rainbow :laugh:
I think 1 metre clearance of cyclists is law in AU now.

GazzaH

4th January 2018, 18:57

1m overhead? Needs ramps.

TheDemonLord

4th January 2018, 19:07

Coming back from my annual Rainbow/Molesworth ride yesterday and halfway between Blenheim and Nelson I saw two cyclists that made me yell out "FUCKWITS".

They had foam rubber tubes somehow attached to their bikes that stuck out into the road about a metre presumably to fend off cars or to simulate riding two abreast. now I am not an angry person and don't suffer road rage, but this really made me want to turn around and ride over their stupid appendages.

Wouldn't it be a shame if said foam attachment got caught in a rotating appendage....

WALRUS

4th January 2018, 19:16

I think 1 metre clearance of cyclists is law in AU now.

In Tassie, at least, its 1 metre on roads with posted limits up to 60kmph and 1.5 metres with limits posted above 60... Our roads are so wide, it's pretty easy to do but most people don't know how big their cars are and unnecessarily cross onto the wrong side of the road to go around them..

GazzaH

4th January 2018, 19:27

I try to give them a wide berth, regardless of the law, timing my approach to suit. Some are so wobbly that a metre is less than one standard deviation from the mean! Slowing up a bit gives them a chance to hear me coming up too, those without headphones on anyway.

As to avoiding oncoming riders while overtaking, just watch for the wide-eyed wide-mouthed look of terror!

Woodman

4th January 2018, 19:28

Great review of the Molesworth/Rainbow :laugh:
I think 1 metre clearance of cyclists is law in AU now.

Yeah well what can i say its a nice day loop from here.

Akzle

4th January 2018, 20:32

fuken peddlies

pritch

4th January 2018, 21:15

fuken peddlies
Take this brother. :finger: May it serve you well.

AllanB

4th January 2018, 21:25

The law changed maybe a year back - you must give 1m clearance for the cyclist. Which can cause issues.

Some months back heading to Tekapo there were two cyclists with big sticks taped on the back - like tree branches. That was never going to end well.

Just done a week in Arrowtown - I've never seen traffic so busy for 500 odd kms continuously, it was crazy. And among this were cyclists loaded up to the hilt peddling to some distant spot. Now they are entitled to for sure but I wondered about their decision to do this in the busiest weeks of the year and heat.

neels

4th January 2018, 21:37

And among this were cyclists loaded up to the hilt peddling to some distant spot. Now they are entitled to for sure but I wondered about their decision to do this.
I've wondered about that myself, when there are 2 wheeled machines with L-twin engines that can get you there much faster......

OddDuck

5th January 2018, 08:01

Just done a week in Arrowtown - I've never seen traffic so busy for 500 odd kms continuously, it was crazy. And among this were cyclists loaded up to the hilt peddling to some distant spot. Now they are entitled to for sure but I wondered about their decision to do this in the busiest weeks of the year and heat.

A mate went and did that, some years back. Long distance road touring on a pushbike. He reckons never again, it was simply a crazy thing to do. Narrow roads, high speed traffic etc etc... He loves his cycling but I've seen him getting visibly anti when we see a cycle tourer doing the same thing.

Busiest and hottest time of year - maybe it's the only time they can get out of the regular round of work and family?

If they can stay off the public roads (Otago Rail Trail anyone?) it could still work out. Unfortunately NZ doesn't have a network of cycle trails paralleling main roads yet, there are a few but there's no way it's nationwide.

Dadpole

5th January 2018, 09:20

There a an ever-increasing number using the Pahiatua Track too. With the Gorge closed we have high traffic numbers along with truck and trailer units on a skinny, windy country road. Can they be charged with attempted suicide?

ellipsis

5th January 2018, 09:54

...I've seen at least half a dozen fuckwits over the last couple of years towing their babies on HW75, one 'caring' family were even struggling up to the Hilltop with their 'precious' cargo... fuckwits need to be shot for being so idiotic...

jellywrestler

5th January 2018, 10:08

Coming back from my annual Rainbow/Molesworth ride yesterday and halfway between Blenheim and Nelson I saw two cyclists that made me yell out "FUCKWITS".

They had foam rubber tubes somehow attached to their bikes that stuck out into the road about a metre presumably to fend off cars or to simulate riding two abreast. now I am not an angry person and don't suffer road rage, but this really made me want to turn around and ride over their stupid appendages.

how easy is it to ignite, maybe get two bikes with passengers, the first has a spray bottle of meths or soemthing, the second drops a flame, that'll make them peddle hard i reckon

merv

5th January 2018, 10:11

The law changed maybe a year back - you must give 1m clearance for the cyclist. Which can cause issues.

No, the law has not been changed yet. The Road Code recommends 1.5m clearance but it is a recommendation, not the law. The current Government says it will look at it. Read this http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/11/fines-possible-for-driving-too-close-to-cyclists.html

If you search NZ legislation the using the words 'passing cyclist' the closest you get is the Road User Rule and the specific requirement for clearance is not mentioned http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2004/0427/latest/DLM302188.html?search=qs_act%40bill%40regulation%4 0deemedreg_passing+cyclists_resel_25_h&p=1&sr=1

Banditbandit

5th January 2018, 10:20

I haven't seen this - but it sounds very stupid ...

No matter how soft the foam, if a car driver misjudges the distance, there's a good chance the cyclist is going to be eating dirt ..

Dumb fuckers ...

I have been known, on the open road, to come up behind a group of cyclists who are all over the road - drop it down a coupe of gears and open the throttle - misjudging the 1.5 metre distance as I pass ... They look awfully wobbly in my rear view mirror ...

T.W.R

5th January 2018, 10:30

When I was at Chappies, one day just on closing we had a German pull into the shop with one of these paraglider/tricycle thingys looking for a spare set of spark plugs. Had a 500cc Rotax motor and he reckoned it'd tap out @ 75km/h and when in the air roughly 90km/h. Probably a good thing there aren't many tourists bring this sort of gizmo into the country to get about on. Would be a bit of fun though :rolleyes:

https://www.americanparagliding.com/images/flyke04.jpg

jellywrestler

5th January 2018, 11:34

I haven't seen this - but it sounds very stupid ...

No matter how soft the foam, if a car driver misjudges the distance, there's a good chance the cyclist is going to be eating dirt ..

foam bends doesn't it?

Woodman

5th January 2018, 11:40

foam bends doesn't it?

Yes and the foam on these two wankers bikes was flopping around all over the place.

Problem is if anyone did hit the foam and caused an issue these fuckers would claim the moral high ground.

oldrider

5th January 2018, 12:29

Yes and the foam on these two wankers bikes was flopping around all over the place.

Problem is if anyone did hit the foam and caused an issue these fuckers would claim the moral high ground.

That moral high ground is probably a bigger problem than the foam! :shifty:

pritch

5th January 2018, 12:47

Problem is if anyone did hit the foam and caused an issue these fuckers would claim the moral high ground.

So they should. If the idiot car driver couldn't miss the bikes they shouldn't have a licence. There are a lot of drivers here have no real idea of where the left side of their car is. If you doubt that note the damage to the left front wheel on a lot of cars. Some have no precise idea of where the right hand side is either.

I like the Dutch idea. If a car hits a cyclist the driver is in the shit. Full stop. Therefore cars don't hit bikes much at all.

Woodman

5th January 2018, 13:22

AllanB

5th January 2018, 13:37

I like the Dutch idea. If a car hits a cyclist the driver is in the shit. Full stop. Therefore cars don't hit bikes much at all.

Do they apply the same to motorcyclists if a car hits one?

Is it Japan where a nose/tail accident is automatically the following cars fault?

Voltaire

5th January 2018, 13:45

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/GlitteringAcidicAuk-max-1mb.gif

https://d36tnp772eyphs.cloudfront.net/blogs/1/2012/04/2All-in-one.jpg

Grumph

5th January 2018, 14:19

In rural NZ in the 1920's all that would have been crammed onto an Indian and sidecar....

What happens if the foam ring gets hooked on a wingmirror ? Bonus points for distance the cyclist is dragged ?

AllanB

5th January 2018, 14:24

If they just cycled naked people would notice them.

Banditbandit

5th January 2018, 14:37

foam bends doesn't it?

Yeah - but if you are doing 100klicks I wouldn't count on the foaming bending quickly enough - it will mess up a bike balance ..

jellywrestler

5th January 2018, 14:47

jellywrestler

5th January 2018, 14:48

Yeah - but if you are doing 100klicks I wouldn't count on the foaming bending quickly enough - it will mess up a bike balance ..

wellm then they've chosen the wrong foam, surely if they're that worried about their safety they would hear anything coming and be ready for it, is that you cassina?

Woodman

5th January 2018, 14:55

or an animal or a walker or a rock slide, use ya fucking brain

Oh I get that, but my impression of the foam rubber apendage utilising cyclists is that the foam rubber is actually less safe than without the foam rubber, which they fail to comprehend.

pritch

5th January 2018, 17:40

So on any winding road where their is no shoulder to speak of, and to be completely safe we need to all drive at 50 km/h or less just in case there is a cyclist with a long foam tube hanging into the road that may possibly get caught up and cause the cyclist harm.

No. But if you catch up to one and can't pass - you just fucking wait a few seconds. The average driver is much less important than they think they are, a few seconds out of their day will cost them and the country nothing.

When I'm on the pushbike I try and avoid the road as far as is possible, but there is a stretch of a few hundred metres with a few parked cars that bothers me. Motorcycling experience suggests it isn't the worst place in town to be, but it can be seriously uncomfortable on a pushbike. Partly because I'm not being overtaken by drivers of dubious ability (or otherwise) when I'm on the Triumph? :devil2:

GazzaH

5th January 2018, 18:08

R650R

5th January 2018, 19:31

The law changed maybe a year back - you must give 1m clearance for the cyclist. Which can cause issues.

Don't remember that part but they did change a law making it LEGAL to use a painted median to overtake a cyclist.
I'm still trying to work out why an overtaking move on a painted median strip is safe when passing a bike but not safe/legal when passing any other vehicle.....

R650R

5th January 2018, 19:34

Coming back from my annual Rainbow/Molesworth ride yesterday and halfway between Blenheim and Nelson I saw two cyclists that made me yell out "FUCKWITS".

They had foam rubber tubes somehow attached to their bikes that stuck out into the road about a metre presumably to fend off cars or to simulate riding two abreast. now I am not an angry person and don't suffer road rage, but this really made me want to turn around and ride over their stupid appendages.

These free thinking liberal dreamers don't realise they've just made them selves targets for generation jackass... Theres an unregistered/no wof rustmobile Sylvia with four RTD bourbon drinking hoodie wearing ferals that wont be able to resist with disasterous consequences....

Woodman

5th January 2018, 19:37

Funny how many of us motorbikers complain about other idiots putting us in danger, yet endangering others (even the foam snake charmers) is OK.

Dual standards or wot?

We're all sharing the road. We all need a bit of latitude (literally).

I think the point is that the foam snake charmers are putting themselves in danger. no special effort required by a third party.

Voltaire

5th January 2018, 19:41

These free thinking liberal dreamers don't realise they've just made them selves targets for generation jackass... Theres an unregistered/no wof rustmobile Sylvia with four RTD bourbon drinking hoodie wearing ferals that wont be able to resist with disasterous consequences....

Has Axley upgraded from the Mangina?

R650R

5th January 2018, 19:48

No. But if you catch up to one and can't pass - you just fucking wait a few seconds. The average driver is much less important than they think they are, a few seconds out of their day will cost them and the country nothing.

When I'm on the pushbike I try and avoid the road as far as is possible, but there is a stretch of a few hundred metres with a few parked cars that bothers me. Motorcycling experience suggests it isn't the worst place in town to be, but it can be seriously uncomfortable on a pushbike. Partly because I'm not being overtaken by drivers of dubious ability (or otherwise) when I'm on the Triumph? :devil2:

Meanwhile back in the real world... I don't think even cyclists themselves realise just how popular their sport has become. Literally there are hordes of them everywhere on all the decent backroads these days.... trouble is they are no longer backroads, with so many lifestyle blocks and small subdivisions cropping up everywhere it is a significant impact on many peoples journeys.
Then there are the constant local club 'race' events which on a monthly basis at least insist on obstructing a major state highway, two major urban routes and popular swimming recreation area with poorly done STM traffic control. On a side not how the hell is it legal to have some part timer with a stop go sign controlling only a 1/4 of a major junction.....
I pushbike to work on fine days but do my upmost not to obstruct traffic... Including NOT riding on the state highway heavy traffic bypass when there is an alternative route on cycle path that is of negligible delay. Yet a work colleague insists on riding that bypass, I just hope im not needlessly buying flowers one day....

One thing I've noticed is its ONLY MALE cyclists that ride two or more abreast and not move over. You are NEVER stuck behind an attractive female cyclist (and there are plenty of them).... now maybe that tells you cyclists aren't the problem, only MALE cyclists with no other power or control in their lives seeking their five seconds of power.

R650R

5th January 2018, 19:50

Has Axley upgraded from the Mangina?

Hey don't piss on the Magna cred... former V3000 owner here :)

Grumph

5th January 2018, 20:16

Hey don't piss on the Magna cred... former V3000 owner here :)

Did you ever work out how to change the plugs in the back row of cylinders ?

R650R

11th January 2018, 09:15

Did you ever work out how to change the plugs in the back row of cylinders ?

Yeah/Nah too long ago to remember, prob had mechanic do it when cambelt service got done. Bought it at about 159,000km sold it at 256,000km :)
5 Speed manual, towbar, one of most useful cars ive had, out of all four of them in total lol

Ocean1

11th January 2018, 10:26

In Tassie, at least, its 1 metre on roads with posted limits up to 60kmph and 1.5 metres with limits posted above 60... Our roads are so wide, it's pretty easy to do but most people don't know how big their cars are and unnecessarily cross onto the wrong side of the road to go around them..

There's a couple of wombats there that know exactly how big my car was last week.

Maybe you orta round them all up and stick a foam tube up their arse.

Akzle

11th January 2018, 11:00

Hey don't piss on the Magna cred... former V3000 owner here :)

had a couple of the old mot magpies myself. one turboed.
WOOHOO! is an understatement. wasted on a FWD but fokken quick.

magna is the 2.6 donk. heavy, thirsty, but geared a ways better than the L200s, with the transaxle...and enough cargo space for a phat pile of dead hookers

WALRUS

11th January 2018, 11:49

There's a couple of wombats there that now know exactly how big my car was last week.

Maybe you orta round them all up and stick a foam tube up their arse.

Bloody wombats.. Fuzzy concrete barrels on legs.. I've seen them write off cars and walk away into the scrub unscathed before! They're built well!

R650R

11th January 2018, 12:35

had a couple of the old mot magpies myself. one turboed.
WOOHOO! is an understatement. wasted on a FWD but fokken quick.

magna is the 2.6 donk. heavy, thirsty, but geared a ways better than the L200s, with the transaxle...and enough cargo space for a phat pile of dead hookers

What you doing driving around dead ones, they don't earn any money for you....

TheDemonLord

11th January 2018, 12:42

they don't earn any money for you....

You sure 'bout that?

https://ih0.redbubble.net/image.15212092.7190/raf,750x1000,075,t,101010:01c5ca27c6.u3.jpg

Akzle

11th January 2018, 15:43

What you doing driving around dead ones, they don't earn any money for you....

you've clearly given me too much esteem in your perception of my relationship with hookers.