Bloody Cyclists

[pervert]

guys, remember these are RACES that are held infrequently and if you cant/dont want to SHARE the road for a one off race then doesnt that say more about yourself than that of the cyclists.

What a crock of shit.

It's a issue of one rule for one, one rule for another...

[sunhuntin]

guys, remember these are RACES that are held infrequently and if you cant/dont want to SHARE the road for a one off race then doesnt that say more about yourself than that of the cyclists.

bs...around here, i dont realise im riding in to a racing area till its too late...there are no signs up or anything, and yes, they ride in clusters. same with the lake taupo "run". if id known about that, i would have left a day early when going to paeroa...instead, i got caught in deadlocked traffic, while myself and my bike overheated before giving up and splitting the rest of the way. it wasnt the runners causing the blocks...it was there supporters! i got squirted with water pistols and all the rest....not much fun.

[Rashika]

We don't race on public roads, unless they are closed, and the participants that do all hold race licences.

Tui moment there.... no we NEVER race on public roads

But yup you are correct, we have to fly through hoops to get a road closed for an event like the st races, nothing like the same for cyclists it seems, tho that may be changing... The Le race event a couple of years ago had a bit of conflict when cyclist was killed crossing the centre line on an Unclosed road.
Any event on the road really should have the roads closed, whether it be motor vehicles or pedal.

We actually came apon a cycle road race the other day whilst out on the bikes, the only clue we had was the numerous vehicles crawling along at 30km, which we slowly passed....only to find cyclists at the front racing. This is a moderately popular unclosed road, but at least they were behaving and unlike dyers pass road there is not a 100m drop on the side of the road

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

[QUOTE=The_Dover;806663]crackhead alert.

No it doesn't, these cunts want to race then let them fuckin hire a racetrack or piss of to a velodrome.

We don't race on public roads, unless they are closed, and the participants that do all hold race licences

big races like the one you encountered on the weekend is an annual event that is a very big deal for cyclists and they have the backing and support of local police because it is a SPORTING EVENT. You need to keep that in perspective that it is sport and you cannot compare sport with MOTORSPORT.

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

What a crock of shit.

It's a issue of one rule for one, one rule for another...

apples vs oranges mate

[Paulus]

I do a bit of road cycle racing and so feel qualified to make these points:

- when most races are on there are signs out on the course warning other road users
- most weeks there will only be one race on in any given area and it will usually only be 1-3 hours in duration
- when you do pass a race it only takes a few seconds unless it's a big event like Taupo or Le Race in which case it may be best to stay off that road on that day
- most racers own cars and motorbikes and so do pay ACC levies and road user charges
- most events require a competition licence (just like motorcycle racing)
- some events are held on race tracks (there is an evening series held out at Ruapuna)
- some motorists take delight in trying to run cyclists off the road (especially boy racers)
- some cyclists are just plain wankers
- it's actually bloody good fun, physically demanding and very tactical - you should try it

[Swoop]

If we rode motorcycles in a bunch that spilled onto the other side of the road at speeds 40-50km/hr slower than the posted limit and then claimed it was an organised race, there'd be a bunch of motorcyclists in court losing their licenses on the MOnday.

They have no license, they have no registration, they have no WoF, they pay no ACC levies and yet we're the bad guys when they wobble in front of powered traffic and get killed, or ride around a mountain bend with no clear view of what's coming, at least six abreast, and we have to take avoiding action.

That dadgum Road Code thingy says they can only ride two abreast. But they have no license, they have no registration, they have no WoF, they pay no ACC levies, so there's no comeback. There's not even a vehicle seizure clause for bicyclists behaving badly.

An excellent post Jim!!!

[The_Dover]

I couldn't give a shit if it was an annual event, a daily event or the cyclists equivalent of winning lotto.

They should follow the same rules as everyone else.

We may go out on group rides and ride a little quickly on occasion, we pay the price when caught.

We pay ACC levies for EVERY vehicle we use on the road, they don't.

AND THEY LOOK FUCKING GAY IN LYCRA.

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

When they block people's driveways and they haven't knocked on the door a month earlier to negotiate then they don't have a leg to stand on. They are also far from infrequent, as unorganised training rides of 30 or more people happen every couple of weeks in the Wellington/Wairarapa region. These are just cycle club rides and the literally do block the road and they don't move over.

thats not on at all and very inconsiderate. My main point is, chill out, so you may be inconvenienced for 10 minutes, its not a big deal really, is it?? And if you do think it is such a big deal, then god help ya.

[McJim]

AND THEY LOOK FUCKING GAY IN LYCRA.

And you love it! :

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

- some cyclists are just plain wankers

thats true. cycling seems to attract or breed arrogance and wankery

[pervert]

apples vs oranges mate

No way, they're all road users, they all should come under the same rules.

[Squeak the Rat]

This thread is funny considering most people participating at one point or another have complained bitterly about Helen Clarke and her "nanny state" banning stuff and curbing peoples freedom and enjoyement because their activities inconvenience some people.

Eg Banning Fireworks Thread

[Swoop]

thats true. cycling seems to attract or breed arrogance and wankery

Much like all the cyclists who choose to cycle across pedestrian crossings.
The law states that this is not legal, and they must walk their bikes across.

[Ixion]

If the roads WERE closed for these races, as they are for motorcycle or car races, it would be less of a problem. If you are out on bike or in cage, and you come to a "Road Closed", there will always be detours posted , and usually , it is no more than a minor hassle, and perhaps some annoyance at the extra time to go a longer way round.

But the cycle races , they seldom (if ever?) DO close the road. So everyone just gets caught up and trapped . I suspect they do not apply to have to road closed becasue they would not be approved. So, they SHOULD , in theory, be obeying all the road rules - just as a similar group of motorcyclists out on a ride (and lets face facts, most KB rides are really races in disguise) must do.

I don't say that motorcyclists always obey the law strictly (especially the one about speed, eh). But , they usually maintain reasonable consideration for other road users. Those that don't will be considered prats by their peers. And if caught by Mr Plod rulebreaking they must expect tickets or worse.

But, the cyclists never do obey the Road Rules, or even make any attempt to do so. And appear to regard their failure to do so as other peoples' problem.

Personally , I don't too much mind them riding abreast, so long as they stay on the correct side of the road. It's not any more of an obstruction than a slow cage or truck.

It is when the take over BOTH sides of the road, or become belligerant when overtaken, that I object. Or deliberately weave back and forth to try to prevent one overtaking them. Or the other stupid tricks that they play.