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Keep your hands and advice to yourself - a brief rant

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Keep your hands and advice to yourself - a brief rant

Old 01-24-17, 02:27 PM
  #1  
Giant Doofus
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Keep your hands and advice to yourself - a brief rant

I was riding along a short section of bike path today when I saw glass from a smashed beer bottle strewn across the trail. I slowed down to see if I could thread my way through a clear patch. There was no one ahead of me or coming towards me, and no one behind me that I was aware of, so I moved into the center of the path. Next thing I know some guy is half-wheeling me on the right and saying "Just relax!" As he passed, he forced me into the thick of the glass along the left side of the path, rolled his own wheels over the second thickest patch, and worst of all PATTED ME ON THE BACK while saying "relax, relax!"

Several lessons here (for him):
1. Announce yourself before you are half-wheeling another rider.
2. Do not make arrogant assumptions about how you can help nervous newbies (I am not, by the way, new to this, nor was I nervous). Instead, consider the possibility that the other rider has a reason for slowing and changing lane positions.
3. Do not begin a pass until you have given the other rider sufficient time to become aware of your presence.
4. Do not pass on the right unless you have clearly communicated what you are doing.
5. Slow down on the MUP. I might have realized he was behind me on the path if he hadn't been flying.
6. DO NOT TOUCH OTHER RIDERS without their consent, especially while the are IN MOTION!

Okay, rant over. Thanks for the space to vent.
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Old 01-24-17, 03:14 PM
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Yeah, I had a guy half-wheeling me on a narrow bridge the other day. Pedestrian walking toward us on the correct side. Even with a helmet mirror I didn't notice the other cyclist behind me half-wheeling, riding the center of the narrow bridge. Most bridges on the local MUP also have bollards to discourage vehicles. So riding the center of the bridge between a pedestrian and another bike makes zero sense.

The cyclist half-wheeling me probably assumes I'm going to turn right at the foot of the bridge toward the main section of the MUP. I'm not. I'm planning to turn left toward the levees to get a higher view for some photos, since I brought my camera gear.

So as I approach the end of the bridge and glance in my mirror before turning left I notice the other cyclist on my left just behind me about to pass me as soon as we exit the bridge.

I yelped "WHOA!"

Speed Racer says in a condescending voice "You're okay, you're okay."

So I just cut left in front of him. At that point I don't care if I cut his front wheel out from under him. If he french fries when he's supposed to pizza he's gonna have a bad time. I suppose he braked or swerved. No contact. I didn't look back to see who it was.
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Old 01-24-17, 03:33 PM
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Is half-wheeling when you're only a half a wheel length behind the other rider?

No matter what it is, I would have been quite angry if I had been touched and told to relax while being forced to take a different line as the OP describes.
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Old 01-24-17, 03:40 PM
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Strange... sorry. Chivalry and chauvinism have a lot of overlap
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Old 01-24-17, 04:08 PM
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Get a t-shirt or sign that reads, "Crop Dusting in Progress!" or perhaps, "I Only Look Contagious!",
or maybe: "Go Ahead...Make My Personal Injury Lawyer's Day!"
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Old 01-24-17, 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Squeeze
Is half-wheeling when you're only a half a wheel length behind the other rider?
Not a half-wheel's worth of gap, but a half-wheel's worth of overlap. I.e. their front axle is right next to your rear axle.

OP, that is pretty annoying. I'm glad he didn't slap your butt though.

One time on a group ride, I was way lagging up a hill, and this one guy was nice enough to hang back and chat with me (although with my huffing and puffing I wasn't much for conversation). Then all of a sudden his hand was on my back and he was helping push me up the hill! I didn't mind much because it helped, but it did seem odd. I'm sure I would have been more alarmed if I was a woman.
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Old 01-24-17, 06:03 PM
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Totally annoying for sure. That list you made are just common sense things that we reasonable people do. It doesn't apply to arrogant DB's who presume they know everything.
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Old 01-24-17, 06:58 PM
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No.5 and No.6
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Old 01-24-17, 10:03 PM
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or get one of these and not worry about it: The World's Loudest Cycle Horn | Hornit dB140
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Old 01-24-17, 10:16 PM
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A wave of the hand behind the seat, and friendly "sorry about that" should take care of things.
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Old 01-24-17, 10:28 PM
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Sorry I don't see the problem. If someone is half wheeling you and you don't like it, why not simply take him out with a jog in his direction?

With the least amount of skill, the front rider is virtually assured to stay up while the rear rider wipes out every time.
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Old 01-25-17, 03:59 AM
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Originally Posted by FBinNY
Sorry I don't see the problem. If someone is half wheeling you and you don't like it, why not simply take him out with a jog in his direction?

With the least amount of skill, the front rider is virtually assured to stay up while the rear rider wipes out every time.
I like this one!
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Old 01-25-17, 06:28 AM
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Originally Posted by FBinNY
Sorry I don't see the problem. If someone is half wheeling you and you don't like it, why not simply take him out with a jog in his direction?

With the least amount of skill, the front rider is virtually assured to stay up while the rear rider wipes out every time.
^this. Toughen up...
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Old 01-25-17, 08:27 AM
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Different strokes. I prefer a hand on my back or hip to let me know someone is there rather than yelling.
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Old 01-25-17, 08:48 AM
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Originally Posted by FBinNY
Sorry I don't see the problem. If someone is half wheeling you and you don't like it, why not simply take him out with a jog in his direction?

With the least amount of skill, the front rider is virtually assured to stay up while the rear rider wipes out every time.
While that would have been gratifying, I wasn't out on a group ride. I was on the way to work and couldn't risk taking a tumble myself. Besides, it happened so fast that there was little time to react. He's very lucky that I didn't startle in a way that caused an accidental wipe out.

Originally Posted by Phil_gretz
^this. Toughen up...
Oh, Bull. I'm plenty tough. The guy was a smug jerk who had no idea what was going on, made stupid assumptions, and probably ended up with a flat tire.

Originally Posted by caloso
Different strokes. I prefer a hand on my back or hip to let me know someone is there rather than yelling.
That's your preference. I'd advise you not to assume that you are welcome to lay your hands on others without their consent.
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Old 01-25-17, 09:11 AM
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What kind of a d^ck move is half wheeling? Either pass me or hang back, but don't ride slightly back from me unless we know each other and have been talking for the last 7 miles. And I don't know that I would want someone close enough to me to be able to touch me while I am riding a bike. That means you are too damn close.
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Old 01-25-17, 09:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Giant Doofus
While that would have been gratifying, I wasn't out on a group ride. I was on the way to work and couldn't risk taking a tumble myself......

My post was facetious, and not a serious suggestion. However, I class things like this in the "compost happens" category and forget about them entirely within minutes. IMO certainly not worth writing about when I get home.
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Old 01-25-17, 09:12 AM
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Lot of jerks in the world. Too bad he wasn't on his way to a job interview. With you! :-)
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Old 01-25-17, 09:26 AM
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Originally Posted by FBinNY
My post was facetious, and not a serious suggestion. However, I class things like this in the "compost happens" category and forget about them entirely within minutes. IMO certainly not worth writing about when I get home.
I normally do the same, but since this one got under my skin I decided to indulge in a rare internet forum rant.

Originally Posted by CrankyOne
Lot of jerks in the world. Too bad he wasn't on his way to a job interview. With you! :-)
Ha!
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Old 01-25-17, 10:29 AM
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wtf sorry to hear that
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Old 01-25-17, 03:44 PM
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I see posts on facebook about how men break women's reasonable boundaries often. It's pretty dismaying and surprising. I'm sorry this happens, and obviously, I don't do that.
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Old 01-25-17, 03:46 PM
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Originally Posted by FBinNY
My post was facetious, and not a serious suggestion. However, I class things like this in the "compost happens" category and forget about them entirely within minutes. IMO certainly not worth writing about when I get home.
I would also be annoyed, perhaps to the point of writing about it, if someone touched me inappropriately. He touched her thigh. Not cool.
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Old 01-25-17, 03:59 PM
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Originally Posted by noglider
I would also be annoyed, perhaps to the point of writing about it, if someone touched me inappropriately. He touched her thigh. Not cool.
Her?
Thigh?


Are we talking about the same event?

I have no idea of the OP's gender, though "Giant Doofus" doesn't sound like a lady. In any case the OP said "PATTED ME ON THE BACK".

BTW - I never said I wouldn't be annoyed, just that it's the kind of thing I don't think about for long.

I have a fairly simple rule that if I let people get to me to the point that I'm annoyed or angry for more than a minute, then they've won. I ride for pleasure, and don't let people detract from that. Someone annoys me, I let them know what I think on the spot, then move on as if it never happened.
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Old 01-25-17, 04:20 PM
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Oops, I don't know where I got the "thigh" part, but yes, she is a woman.
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Old 01-25-17, 04:28 PM
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Originally Posted by FBinNY
Her?
Thigh?


Are we talking about the same event?

I have no idea of the OP's gender, though "Giant Doofus" doesn't sound like a lady. In any case the OP said "PATTED ME ON THE BACK".

BTW - I never said I wouldn't be annoyed, just that it's the kind of thing I don't think about for long.

I have a fairly simple rule that if I let people get to me to the point that I'm annoyed or angry for more than a minute, then they've won. I ride for pleasure, and don't let people detract from that. Someone annoys me, I let them know what I think on the spot, then move on as if it never happened.

Yep, Giant Doofus is a woman. I took my username from the brand (Giant) and name (Doofus) of the bike I was riding when I joined this forum. It's funny that you think the name suggests a man. Huh.

I think the practice of letting these things go is generally a good one. It's what I usually do. But, like I said, this one stuck with me, so I decided to indulge in a little rant. No harm.

Originally Posted by noglider
Oops, I don't know where I got the "thigh" part, but yes, she is a woman.
No, not my thigh. That would have earned him a kick to the crotch, even if I had to crash the bike to do it. Not joking. Still, the "pat on the back" was not the harmless between-friends sort of thing you might imagine. First, I've never met this guy. Second, it was more like he was steering me by pressing his hand to the small of the back. It was creepy, especially combined with instructions to relax.
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