Bikers that always cut to the front of the line, repeatedly....

I am always getting quite annoyed of those fellow bikers, whom ride much slower than you, get in front of you at intersections. This is particularly bad on the diagonal roads where they will try to shortcut the light by pulling half way across it. 

Don't these guys have a clue after the 5th or 6th time that I pass them before they even finish getting across the intersection? It's not like this "head start" is really getting them up to speed any quicker. Most of the time they are just causing a potential conflict as I pass them....

I notice that it usually are the ones that are riding fixed gear... 

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Permalink Reply by Tim on August 21, 2013 at 1:54pm

Jeff,

Hilarious link, especially this part, 

"Nevertheless, it's important to remember that you should behave at an intersection the same way you would in a public restroom, in that you should wait your turn and keep a polite distance. Shoaling is like sidling up to someone at a urinal, unzipping your fly, and "joining in," so unless you're trying to pull a Larry Craig you should do your best take your place at the back of the line."

Permalink Reply by Mickeal Teague on August 21, 2013 at 2:07pm

Even though this is the 1st I've heard of (or encountered) bikers doing this, I'm gonna play Devil's Advocate & just purpose that, maybe, they don't realize they're doing that. Maybe, possibly, potentially, uhn, uhn... 

I don't do that cutting thing but I roll, recreationaly, on a Giant mountain bike & don't do speed biking nor do I ride where many intersections are, so I just don't know BUT if they are cutting on purpose, "F" em & keep rollin' right past them' (as they're panting & prob out of breath) LOL   :)~

Permalink Reply by yaj 7.4 on August 21, 2013 at 2:44pm

I experience this pretty often too!  Yesterday someone did it at the Damen/Diversey/Clybourn six way intersection, and Damen narrows significantly just past the intersection.  So I have to be stuck behind someone I've recently passed (often multiple times, if they've just shoaled the Damen/North/Milwaukee intersection and blown the light at the highway exit) or swing out into traffic to get around them.  So annoying.  Should I say, please don't make me pass you AGAIN?? 

Permalink Reply by Maurice on August 21, 2013 at 2:46pm
Equally annoying are people who repeatedly blow past as I'm rolling to red lights and then slam on the brakes, only to be passed 5 seconds after the light turns green. Or much sooner than 5 seconds if I've timed the light correctly. Getting to the red light faster than me won't get you to your destination any faster, friend.

Both groups seemed strangely obsessed with the idea that they're faster than they actually are. As a commuter, I just want to get to my destination in one piece.
Permalink Reply by David Altenburg on August 21, 2013 at 2:51pm

Uggh, this is such a pet peeve of mine on Milwaukee. And the shoalers inevitably forget to downshift before stopping and lack the ability to ride in a straight line, so I'm forced to stay back and watch them wobble as they try to get started once the light changes. 

Permalink Reply by John C. Wilson on August 21, 2013 at 4:16pm

Fast people are not on Milwaukee. They would rather do extra distance and avoid the nonsense.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on August 21, 2013 at 4:27pm

It's called shoaling.

Permalink Reply by Minh on August 21, 2013 at 5:19pm

Either you just started riding recently or just have thin skin. I hope winter comes early this year.

Permalink Reply by Tim on August 21, 2013 at 5:37pm

it's funny because I admit I do it too. Only thing is, I actually have a reason to do it, I ride fast. The thing that I don't do is, if someone is faster than me, I will let them go ahead of me, and that is how it should be.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 22, 2013 at 3:18am

+1

h' 1.0 said:

What's it like seeing other people on bikes on your way to work? I've always wondered.

Permalink Reply by Jaik S. on August 22, 2013 at 3:36am

I have this happen regularly...but there's one guy who bothers me a bit. I didn't notice him until I passed him one day and he started yelling names at me. I just smiled and waved, and he looked pissed. I saw him again yesterday, no helmet, wheels all out of true, mountain bike gliding over those high peaks of the Ohio overpass on Milwaukee. He's my shoaling hero.

Permalink Reply by Tim S on August 22, 2013 at 3:39am

I have, more than once, enlightened them when we are both at the red light. Some people don't know what they are doing is annoying believe it or not. 

Other day I was riding S on Damen, passed a kid SB as I got to the light he shoaled me once, light green I pass again, hit red, he shoals again. At that point I defined Shoaling and asked him to be more cognizant of the practice. That night as I rode home he approached from behind started to pass, looked at me and remembered didn't shoal. Hopefully it has stuck with him.

Now that little blonde who, I must say I did not mind having to pass on multiple occasions, shoaled me a number of times and did not take kindly to me attempting to educate her. She gave me the stink eye a few times as I re-passed her. I get it, kind of, it can be annoying when I, a 40 yo man commuting on a 27 yo bike that is probably older than you, continue to pass you decked out in lycra on that sweet Colnago.   

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