Re: Cyclist rant: back in black

"John" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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"AndrewR" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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It was a gloomy morning today, coming in to work (York). Most cars had
their dipped headlights on.
But there were lots of cyclists on the roads, wearing black/dark
clothing, no reflective strips, no lights on.
Do they have an invisible force field?

Yeah, yeah, but wouldn't this have been much funnier if you'd
cross-posted it
to uk.rec.cycling?

Maybe they could have answered your question.

--
AndrewR, D.Bot (Celeritas)
Kawasaki ZX-6R J1, Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo
BOTAFOT#2,ITJWTFO#6,UKRMRM#1/13a,MCT#1,DFV#2,SKoGA#0 (and KotL)
BotToS#5,SBS#25,IbW#34, DS#5, COSOC# Suspended, KotTFSTR#
The speccy Geordie [censored].

And what about old people in their electric scooters with black hoods!
--

Regards

John

Don't forget 'bikers' who rarely wear anything that isn't black.

.....or black cars.

<some heavy snipping>

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It was a gloomy morning today, coming in to work (York). Most cars had
their dipped headlights on.
But there were lots of cyclists on the roads, wearing black/dark
clothing, no reflective strips, no lights on.
Do they have an invisible force field?

I'll answer for everyone else in u.r.c. Yes, the unlit cyclists in
black ARE idiots, but it's highly unlikely that any of them are
sufficiently interested in cycling per se to read an Internet newsgroup
devoted to the subject. So it wasn't us, guv.

Temp3st said:

Don't forget 'bikers' who rarely wear anything that isn't black.

Yeah, but we're wild rebels on the last train out of oblivion city ...
cyclists all eat quiche and think Mr Blair is a lovely man.

--
AndrewR, D.Bot (Celeritas)
Kawasaki ZX-6R J1, Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo
BOTAFOT#2,ITJWTFO#6,UKRMRM#1/13a,MCT#1,DFV#2,SKoGA#0 (and KotL)
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The speccy Geordie [censored].

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It was a gloomy morning today, coming in to work (York). Most cars had
their dipped headlights on.

Most -- so some didn't? Sounds like the conditions were marginal.

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But there were lots of cyclists on the roads, wearing black/dark
clothing, no reflective strips, no lights on.

So you could see them clearly enough? If they were invisible you would only
have detected them by the crump as they hit your bonnet.

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Do they have an invisible force field?

Unlikely. But being York you cannot claim that a cyclist is such an unusual
sight and should have learnt to drive anticipating that they will be there.

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Yeah, yeah, but wouldn't this have been much funnier if you'd

cross-posted

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it
to uk.rec.cycling?

Yeah -- we just love plonkers complaining.

Last time I was knocked off my bike I had two fully operational rear lights,
two fully opperational front lights, enough reflective tape on the bike to
be seen from the dark side of the moon and a hi-vis tabard. Plonker's first
words (all together now)

"Sorry Mate, I Didn't See You".

FFS

Tony W said:

Yeah -- we just love plonkers complaining.

Last time I was knocked off my bike I had two fully operational rear lights,
two fully opperational front lights, enough reflective tape on the bike to
be seen from the dark side of the moon and a hi-vis tabard. Plonker's first
words (all together now)

"Sorry Mate, I Didn't See You".

FFS

What do you expect? You obviously dazzled him.

Halmyre

Tony W said:

Last time I was knocked off my bike I had two fully operational rear
lights, two fully opperational front lights, enough reflective tape
on the bike to be seen from the dark side of the moon and a hi-vis
tabard. Plonker's first words (all together now)

"Taste police! You're busted!"

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AndrewR, D.Bot (Celeritas)
Kawasaki ZX-6R J1, Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo
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The speccy Geordie [censored].

"JackH" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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You won't be muttering that, as you lay there in a crumpled heap, after a
car has taken you roughly from behind, will you...

Getting rammed up the jacksey is a rare cycling accident (<3%). Mostly [censored]
head cagers kill cyclists by turning across and through them.

Given the number of complaints about 'stealth cycling' that appear on cager
sites we can only presume that they can, actually, be seen quite well -- it
just gives [censored] cagers something to complain about while stuck in a
traffic jam.

Have a nice day.

T

Untaxed, unfettered but insured.

"Tony W" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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"JackH" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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You won't be muttering that, as you lay there in a crumpled heap, after

a

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car has taken you roughly from behind, will you...

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Getting rammed up the jacksey is a rare cycling accident (<3%). Mostly

[censored]

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head cagers kill cyclists by turning across and through them.

I guess you're talking about 'real' cyclists...

Not the ones I see on a daily basis, skipping through red lights, hopping up
on the pavement when it suits them, no lights, or even reflectors to speak
of, and cycling at speed through the main pedestrianised areas of where I
live.

Even if a kid joyriding in a stolen car knocked them off, you'd still be
referring to '[censored] cagers' as a whole, rather than allowing some
distancing between the miscreant in question, and the more law abiding
majority, I'm sure.

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Given the number of complaints about 'stealth cycling' that appear on

cager

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sites we can only presume that they can, actually, be seen quite well --

it

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just gives [censored] cagers something to complain about while stuck in a
traffic jam.

*sigh*

I don't generally complain... but whilst we're here, I will... the amount of
near misses I've had over the years, due to a cyclist of sorts not wearing
sufficiently bright clothing, together with a general lack of lights or
reflectors.

When I ride a bike, be it motorised or otherwise, if I reckon I'm going to
be out after dark on it, I make sure it has lights, and they're working. I
make sure it has reflectors... and I wear something bright, and preferably
reflective; if nothing else, should the worst happen, I have more of a case
against any eejit that's knocked me off, than I would do if I adopted your
friends attitude above.

I've had cyclists pull across my car a few times in the past, when I've
started edging forward in traffic - it's patently obvious they've not
bothered to look properly before changing direction without a care or
warning to others.

Or how about the time I was sitting patiently at a T junction... a cyclist
came along the pavement from my right, went to turn left into the road I was
sitting in, still on the path I hasten to add, and not so it transpired, in
full control of his 'vehicle', as he lost his balance and dropped it down
the side of my front wing, causing a nice big dig to appear in my paint...
oh, and this was a single carriageway road, he had to pass me on the path to
get up, and it was one way... something else he chose to ignore.

Do I therefore now refer to all cyclists as 'fecking eejits'? No... it's
the displays of arrogance as above that get my back up, and those who utter
such [censored], and actually act in that way, cannot moan when they get knocked
off, especially after dark.

HTH

--
JackH

.:\:/:.
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On Wed, 2 Mar 2005 01:41:27 -0000 someone who may be "JackH"
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

Even if a kid joyriding in a stolen car knocked them off, you'd still be
referring to '[censored] cagers' as a whole,

Not a term in common use.

Quoted message said:

I don't generally complain... but whilst we're here, I will... the amount of
near misses I've had over the years, due to a cyclist of sorts not wearing
sufficiently bright clothing,

Why is it that there are not similar whines about black cars?

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

David Hansen said:

On Wed, 2 Mar 2005 01:41:27 -0000 someone who may be "JackH"
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

Even if a kid joyriding in a stolen car knocked them off, you'd still be
referring to '[censored] cagers' as a whole,

Not a term in common use.

Quoted message said:

I don't generally complain... but whilst we're here, I will... the amount of
near misses I've had over the years, due to a cyclist of sorts not wearing
sufficiently bright clothing,

Why is it that there are not similar whines about black cars?

And black ice. Perhaps we should stain all water with something which
will glow under UV light. It's for the safety of everybody!
--
Jesus was apparently betrayed by 8.3% of his disciples.

Temp3st wrote:

<snip>

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Don't forget 'bikers' who rarely wear anything that isn't black.

Yes, but they would look silly in Lycra :-)

Tony Raven wrote:

<ASCII art clipped>

That's rather good, Tony. Did you draw that yourself?

--
Dave...

AndrewR said:

Richard said:

AndrewR wrote:

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Yeah, but we're wild rebels on the last train out of oblivion city

The last train out of oblivion city has been cancelled, due to the
wrong sort of apocolypse on the line.

OK then, I'll be a wild rebel on the last bus out of oblivion city (via
golgotha retail park).

That's OK, then. Exact change only, please.

R.

"David Hansen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 2 Mar 2005 01:41:27 -0000 someone who may be "JackH"
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

Even if a kid joyriding in a stolen car knocked them off, you'd still be
referring to '[censored] cagers' as a whole,

Not a term in common use.

Quoted message said:

I don't generally complain... but whilst we're here, I will... the amount

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

near misses I've had over the years, due to a cyclist of sorts not

wearing

Quoted message said:

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sufficiently bright clothing,

Why is it that there are not similar whines about black cars?

It's, funnily enough, called 'surface mass'.

That, and a decent light on each corner... reflectors... and the noise it
makes in general, as well... but above all, 'surface mass' is King [censored], on
this one.

And how many matt black cars do you see, vs people who, when choosing to
wear black, wear shiny black (which is more likely to reflect light+ than
the more usual matt textile finish, that absorbs it.

A moot point on your part, anyway.

--
JackH

David Hansen said:

Why is it that there are not similar whines about black cars?

Because they are bigger ie block out more of the background and have shiny
bits that reflect light and purpose designed reflectors even if the lights
are not lit.

ie they are easier to see and do not blend into the background as much as a
small, non-reflecting cyclist.

pk

"pk" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

David Hansen said:

Why is it that there are not similar whines about black cars?

Because they are bigger ie block out more of the background and have shiny
bits that reflect light and purpose designed reflectors even if the lights
are not lit.

ie they are easier to see and do not blend into the background as much as

a

Quoted message said:

small, non-reflecting cyclist.

Or motorcyclist, for that matter... and I still ride those, (and bicycles,
for that matter)!

--
JackH

On Wed, 2 Mar 2005 09:49:30 +0000 (UTC) someone who may be "pk"
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

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Why is it that there are not similar whines about black cars?

Because they are bigger ie block out more of the background and have shiny
bits that reflect light

Some cars do. Those that are black tend not to.

Quoted message said:

and purpose designed reflectors

Which cars have purpose designed reflectors on the front?

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

"David Hansen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 2 Mar 2005 09:49:30 +0000 (UTC) someone who may be "pk"
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Why is it that there are not similar whines about black cars?

Because they are bigger ie block out more of the background and have

shiny

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bits that reflect light

Some cars do. Those that are black tend not to.

Light reflects off any shiny surface, particularly ones where by it's
curved.

A car any colour, day or night, is a lot more likely to catch someones
attention when moving, due to the noise it makes, the better lights it
should have, and the fact that it simply has more surface area with which to
catch someones attention with, by design or otherwise, than a cyclist...
live with it, and ride accordingly - it's how eejits like me manage to
survive largely without incident when out on out motorcycles, even though
we're not exactly that much obvious in terms of mass.

Noise wise granted, we're far more obvious, as well as in terms of lights
etc.

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and purpose designed reflectors

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Which cars have purpose designed reflectors on the front?

They have sodding great big headlights spread across an area far wider that
of the frontal area of a bike and cyclist.

HTH

That, and an engine making noise, whereas a cyclist is largely silent - saw
some eejit get hit by a cyclist in London on Sunday... chap didn't look
before stepping out from between queuing traffic, and the cyclist was
hammering up the outside - not blaming the cyclist before you presume I
believe you all to be darkmen of the apocalypse... just illustrating an
example of how cycles aren't as 'obvious', to the rest of their surroundings
at times, and you need to think along these lines, rather than just branding
everyone else who strays into your path, as '[censored] heads', and the like.

--
JackH