The Chainlink

1) Nu-Fred blows by me in bike lane; 2) Nu-Fred comes into corner too hot; 3) Nu-Fred crashes self in crosswalk. Must be Bike Month.

Tis the season for watching out for more riders now that winter has taken a break.

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I don't know if it's "nu-fred" but some of the "lance armstrongs" trying to go full-out on LFP on nice Spring/Summer days

a. crack me up when they get frustrated 'cause everyone else doesn't realize this is their path.

b. create havoc; do they realize this and just don't care, or are they just that clueless?

c. are in way better shape than me, so maybe I'm just jealous.

d. like to ride in packs with a few of them coming at me in my lane; that's going to hurt someday...

 

Those guys are the LFP only Lycra D-bags. This breed is rarely seen on the streets.

in it to win it said:

I don't know if it's "nu-fred" but some of the "lance armstrongs" trying to go full-out on LFP on nice Spring/Summer days

a. crack me up when they get frustrated 'cause everyone else doesn't realize this is their path.

b. create havoc; do they realize this and just don't care, or are they just that clueless?

c. are in way better shape than me, so maybe I'm just jealous.

d. like to ride in packs with a few of them coming at me in my lane; that's going to hurt someday...

 

Cars or Bicycles -it doesn't matter:

 

Is there a proper way to call out a nufred?
Get their phone number and call them in a quiet moment and see if there's anything you can do to help support them towards years of safe and enjoyable bicycle commuting.

Eric Stuck said:
Is there a proper way to call out a nufred?
You do know that nobody forces you to read BSNYC, right?

Peenworm Grubologist said:
Yeah, there are some norms hat are good to enforce but so much of the bike snob content is silly fashion bullshit.

Dr. Doom said:
I don't know, since there isn't formal cycling education it's down to cyclists to enforce norms, some of which are silly and some of which aren't. Making fun of Nu-Fred because he likes knickers, messenger bags and single speed bikes is silly (I like all that stuff myself anyway). Making fun of him because he doesn't use lights, rides against traffic at night, beats pedestrians with U-locks, etc. really isn't. Most mockery as far as I can tell has to do with the latter rather than the former; cyclists tend not to care too much about other people's style choices but to care a lot about whether they're safe and conscientious. Even as a helmet skeptic, for instance, I think it's healthy that riders will poke fun at someone who shows up for a social ride without a lid even if they don't know him. Not all peer pressure is bad.
You don't know that.

Duppie said:
You do know that nobody forces you to read BSNYC, right?


Peenworm Grubologist said:
You don't know that.

Duppie said:
You do know that nobody forces you to read BSNYC, right?
Yes.

Dr. Doom said:
I don't know, since there isn't formal cycling education it's down to cyclists to enforce norms, some of which are silly and some of which aren't. Making fun of Nu-Fred because he likes knickers, messenger bags and single speed bikes is silly (I like all that stuff myself anyway). Making fun of him because he doesn't use lights, rides against traffic at night, beats pedestrians with U-locks, etc. really isn't. Most mockery as far as I can tell has to do with the latter rather than the former; cyclists tend not to care too much about other people's style choices but to care a lot about whether they're safe and conscientious. Even as a helmet skeptic, for instance, I think it's healthy that riders will poke fun at someone who shows up for a social ride without a lid even if they don't know him. Not all peer pressure is bad.

I have to admit, I was one of the speeders the other day on the straight stretch of the LFP from Monroe to the Shedd.  For whatever reason, I just decided to drop the hammer on my mtb and when I looked back there was a guy on a Klein road bike drafting me out of nowhere.  I thought "screw it" and just kept going, and we were going along just fine until he passed me (at 24mph according to his speedo).  I slowed and gave him some room and sure enough, he almost took out a teenager up ahead who was just walking along talking with his friend.  I'm ok with people going fast and having fun, but they really need to pay attention and try to anticipate every possibility, whether they're riding near pedestrians, cars, or other bikes.  My philosophy is "if the situation looks unpredictable, slow down and give it lots of room".

 

 

in it to win it said:

I don't know if it's "nu-fred" but some of the "lance armstrongs" trying to go full-out on LFP on nice Spring/Summer days

a. crack me up when they get frustrated 'cause everyone else doesn't realize this is their path.

b. create havoc; do they realize this and just don't care, or are they just that clueless?

c. are in way better shape than me, so maybe I'm just jealous.

d. like to ride in packs with a few of them coming at me in my lane; that's going to hurt someday...

 

Ah yess! the allure and danger of the LFP yo! Been there also.

El Gecko said:

I have to admit, I was one of the speeders the other day on the straight stretch of the LFP from Monroe to the Shedd.  For whatever reason, I just decided to drop the hammer on my mtb and when I looked back there was a guy on a Klein road bike drafting me out of nowhere.  I thought "screw it" and just kept going, and we were going along just fine until he passed me (at 24mph according to his speedo).  I slowed and gave him some room and sure enough, he almost took out a teenager up ahead who was just walking along talking with his friend.  I'm ok with people going fast and having fun, but they really need to pay attention and try to anticipate every possibility, whether they're riding near pedestrians, cars, or other bikes.  My philosophy is "if the situation looks unpredictable, slow down and give it lots of room".

 

 

in it to win it said:

I don't know if it's "nu-fred" but some of the "lance armstrongs" trying to go full-out on LFP on nice Spring/Summer days

a. crack me up when they get frustrated 'cause everyone else doesn't realize this is their path.

b. create havoc; do they realize this and just don't care, or are they just that clueless?

c. are in way better shape than me, so maybe I'm just jealous.

d. like to ride in packs with a few of them coming at me in my lane; that's going to hurt someday...

 

The LFP is just a madhouse in the summer. I'm a year round biker and always (perhaps naively) try to give bikers the benefit of the doubt, but the other day I got cursed out by a biker for not jumping out of his way fast enough while crossing the path  WITH A BABY STROLLER!! This is after he saw me make a start at it, with plenty of time to stop his bike. I just think bikers should expect to go slow and make stops while riding the path, particularly through the loop area. If I want to go for a good ride, I either head south or avoid the LFP entirely. It seems like it should be common sense that the path was not built exclusively for bikers, as it is only 4 feet wide over by Navy Pier. GrrR!

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