Pet Peeves Among the Pedals

Not about pedestrians, not about motorists, just about our fellow cyclists. We are all so different that stuff is bound to frustrate when we approach riding in such different ways, explain to those we think are less experienced, etc. Ok, tell us your stories, tell us your pet peeves, we're all friends! 

I'll start out with a pet peeve of mine... The cyclist that blows past me so close to me I felt the wind of their SWOOOOOSH as they fly past me but they say nothing to warn me. We're in tight quarters in the bike lane. Buy a bell and/or tell me you are there! 

p.s. sure, your pet peeve may be the forum post that's been done before but I kinda feel like this tucks into other topics so this time I'm giving the pedal pet peeve front and center.

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Permalink Reply by John Greenfield on July 27, 2017 at 4:43am

Yeah, with an old-school leather saddle, like a Brooks, if you let the leather get soaked and ride on it, it loses its shape and doesn't work as well. But it's worth the extra step of covering the saddle because they're very comfortable if you take care of them (and they look sharp.) I use shower caps to cover mine, which looks pretty ridiculous but does help deter theft.

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on July 1, 2017 at 2:37am

Take a DEEP breath... :-) Hopefully that felt good to get it off your chest. 

p.s. what's "H"? Dying to know!

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on July 14, 2017 at 5:54am

Sideway lockers are my favorite ones to gripe about.

Permalink Reply by Ernesto Lube on July 14, 2017 at 5:57am

Oh yes! I remember going to the public pool with my daughter in Highland Park a few years back... someone parked their bike like that... making whose who needed to lock their bikes to lock then against the chainlink (no pun, I swear) fence next to it. 

A solution, park your bike to theirs. 

Permalink Reply by DerferMark on July 14, 2017 at 6:08am

Or riders/friends who "forgot" their lock (on a group ride with a brief food stop or whatever) and want you to share yours. Generally this means you can't properly lock your bike, securing both wheels.

Permalink Reply by Sarah D. on July 14, 2017 at 6:25am
+1!
Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on July 20, 2017 at 9:54am

Following up on the other comment, I completely agree this sideways-parked cyclist missed the memo.

Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on July 20, 2017 at 9:53am

Regarding bike rack etiquette, you are supposed to lock bikes sideways/parallel to the street so the bikes aren't sticking out and blocking the sidewalk. Especially on narrower sidewalks you need to be mindful of ADA access.

These days we have spaces that were custom designed expressly for bike racks, such as Divvy stations, so it's gotten a bit more confusing.

Permalink Reply by JB17 on July 1, 2017 at 4:59am

I am a recreational Divvy rider and I bike mostly on the Lakefront path around Oak Street Beach. Now that we are in beautiful weather season what drives me crazy is cyclists who seem to think it is their right not to slow down when it gets to the beach areas and intersections on the Lake Front Path. We are in the season of clueless tourists, clueless parents with toddlers who walk erratically on the Lakefront Path. I cannot say how many times I have seen cyclists just whiz by missing me and just barely missing a person.

I understand what it is to be in the zone, to be in the middle of a workout or ride but it is completely irresponsible not to slow down and be wary and careful around places like Oak Street beach on and off areas. Of course, there becomes such a critical mass of people in the summer it becomes impossible. But I am talking about early morning and cyclists seem to think it is their right to not slow down.

I personally think the Park District needs to create walk your bike zones in the summertime. So this is my pet peeve become these cyclists give bikers a bad name, they usually are rude, they seem to think they own the road, they look at it as an obstacle course to show how good at biking they are. A lot of Divvy riders do not know what "on your left" means. There are tons of responsible bikers, and people who are racers that train on the Lakefront that are responsible. I seem to come across the "A-hole" bikers a lot in these areas. I really think bike accidents and deaths would be avoided if people walked their bikes at intersections and congested people, car areas. 

Permalink Reply by Mary T on July 1, 2017 at 9:18am

It seems to me that a lot of our problems could be alleviated if we communicated more. One of the joys/perils of being on a bike is that you can be heard. Maybe the peeved thoughts wouldn't linger if we tried to empathise more. I'm an older rider and it's safe to assume that I'm slower than you. But I'm not invisible. It would be lovely if you could give me an acknowledgement as you shoal me.   

Permalink Reply by Paul Lazzaro on July 5, 2017 at 3:31am

1) Passing on the right.  You give me nowhere to go if a driver gets too close.  Being wedged between you and a bus is not my idea of fun.

2) Not signalling.  I don't need a wildly flailing arm - just a little finger pointing would be great, especially if you are planning to turn across my path.

3) Not yielding right-of-way, just because...you don't feel like it.  If my signal is green and yours is red, it would be a nice gesture not to make me hit the brakes to avoid hitting you.

I've given up worrying about shoaling.  It's a losing battle.  So I just relax and try to be amused by it.

Permalink Reply by Waymond Smith on July 5, 2017 at 7:39am

What about the cyclists who suddenly stop on the LFP and will not pull to the side? What about the who will stand in the middle of the path to have a chat? They become indignant when you call them on it also! 

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