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 Doug Haynes on August 22, 2013 at 4:11am

How could they not know they are doing it?  If you don;t realize you are passing, and then being passed by, the same person time and time again you are not paying enough attention to the world around you to safely bike.

Mickeal Teague said:

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 Davo on August 22, 2013 at 4:19am

Its super lame to do this when people are stopped at a red light. That being said I have no problem doing this when I am timing the lights but I always pass on the left. So technically thats not shoaling, right?

Permalink Reply by John Wilson 6.0 on August 22, 2013 at 5:59am

So...you started a thread to complain about cyclists who do something you admit doing yourself?

Gotcha.


Tim said:

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 Tricolor on August 22, 2013 at 6:14am

I think I saw her on Lincoln (or maybe Damon; I was on both) last Tuesday doing the same thing.  Did she have a death grip on the drops?

Tim S said:

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.   

Permalink Reply by prof.gfr on August 22, 2013 at 6:23am

I had Cap'n Commuter do this to me repeatedly along Lincoln Avenue between Belmont and Irving Park yesterday. He was riding an upright hybrid with panniers, wearing a flourescent yellow jersey, and a helmet so he was obviously a frequent rider. But his bike was poorly tuned (squeak squeek squeeky chain), he was slow as hell, and despite my politely passing him with a bell ding and an "onyerleft" three times he kept shoaling me and everyone else at the friggin' intersections...including cars, which is really really dangerous. He kept creating these situations where other cyclists had to pass him in order to maintain their accustomed speed (and I'm not that fast) and he was annoying a lot of cars.  I was gonna talk to him but he would shoal so far out into the intersection I would've had to yell at him.  

Permalink Reply by Sarah D. on August 22, 2013 at 6:23am

I just think the intersection is not the place to play position-shifting, even if you'll pass me or another cyclist later; stop at the stopline, don't take over the crosswalk, look orderly and visible to cars, and be a decent human being. It's this weird newbie cyclist behavior that bugs me, along with the people who pull all the way to the right curb at intersections just to put their foot up. But I can be cranky. 

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on August 22, 2013 at 6:40am

Some guy was doing this a few days ago headed out Elston.  Three of us were moving along at a pretty good pace.  We'd pass him just beyond the intersection.  He'd catch us at the next light, then roll out as far as he could in the intersection.  Lather, rinse, repeat for a mile or two.

Permalink Reply by Tim on August 22, 2013 at 6:50am

Actually John, you sort of look like the guy that I'm complaining about here!!! Makes sense.

John Wilson 6.0 said:

So...you started a thread to complain about cyclists who do something you admit doing yourself?

Gotcha.


Tim said:

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 Scott on August 22, 2013 at 7:27am

I think a lot of the problems with "shoaling" has to do with a misunderstanding of drafting (most riders under estimate the advantage).  I don't do the commuter thing quite as much, but if I ride a trail I see the same kind of thing.  Usually its where you are riding along at a comfortable but not ridiculous pace, pass someone you've been riding faster than, they ride behind in your draft and think "this is feeling easy", try to pass you up and unknowingly slow down, you have to pass them again, rinse repeat.  It feels jerky and to some it probably comes off jerky but i've learned to just pass riders going slightly slower than me with a great deal of conviction so they can't get get in my draft.  It solves a lot of those problems.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on August 22, 2013 at 7:28am

They shouldn't be unknowingly drafting you anyway.

scott stevens said:

I think a lot of the problems with "shoaling" has to do with a misunderstanding of drafting (most riders under estimate the advantage).  I don't do the commuter thing quite as much, but if I ride a trail I see the same kind of thing.  Usually its where you are riding along at a comfortable but not ridiculous pace, pass someone you've been riding faster than, they ride behind in your draft and think "this is feeling easy", try to pass you up and unknowingly slow down, you have to pass them again, rinse repeat.  It feels jerky and to some it probably comes off jerky but i've learned to just pass riders going slightly slower than me with a great deal of conviction so they can't get get in my draft.  It solves a lot of those problems.

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on August 22, 2013 at 7:43am

Love, love being able to put my foot up on the curb.  More comfortable.  Why would anyone care?  I'll let you take off first . . . 



Sarah D. 1-3.3 said:

I just think the intersection is not the place to play position-shifting, even if you'll pass me or another cyclist later; stop at the stopline, don't take over the crosswalk, look orderly and visible to cars, and be a decent human being. It's this weird newbie cyclist behavior that bugs me, along with the people who pull all the way to the right curb at intersections just to put their foot up. But I can be cranky. 

Permalink Reply by Scott on August 22, 2013 at 8:00am

Unfortunately not a lot of riders understand drafting and I think many don't realize they're doing it.  There's a decent advantage from even 4-5 ft off a persons wheel.  Though I suppose the other explanation for people picking up speed after I pass them is that they're just jerks :-).

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

You shouldn't be unknowingly drafting the person in front of you anyway.


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