Ten cycling gripes that cause grief (From Oxford Mail)

Ten cycling gripes that cause grief

4:32pm Monday 11th June 2007 in

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People often suggest to me that it's not cars, buses or pedestrians that give them the biggest problem on the road, but other cyclists.

To a certain extent, I can sympathise. Everyone's got their own story of how fellow cyclists seriously annoyed them with their cycling misdemeanors. Here's my top 10 of annoying things that cyclists do.

At number 10, cyclists who go out in the wrong gear. For me, basics are helmet, gloves and lights. Number nine goes to those cyclists who seem to think it's OK for them to manoeuvre without checking behind them first.

At number eight is cycling in dark clothing at night - it's not just motorists who can't see them, we can't either.

Straight in at number seven are people using their bikes badly. Every journey in Oxford will take you past a cyclist with a bike which is too low for them, too big for them or just being ridden badly. The most common offence in this area is probably using the wrong part of your foot on the pedals and getting a lot less power to your bike.

I too used to commit this crime until someone pointed out the error of my wasteful ways. I had half toe caps fitted and my riding changed overnight. Now there's much more power getting to my bike from my legs and my cycling posture is much better as well.

Number six is a bugbear for cyclists and pedestrians alike - not warning people that they're approaching. Gone are the days when using your bell was seen as aggressive - it's just downright useful. Cycling up quietly behind someone and frightening the life out of them is not. Neither is cycling behind some and hoping that they'll somehow telepathically realise that you're there and move out of the way.

Number five goes to the cyclists who park their bikes inconsiderately. Ever had to yank your bike out from behind someone else's and got yourself covered in oil and broken a couple of nails on the way?

Fourth place has to be cycling on pavements. You might think this is only annoying for pedestrians - wrong! Cyclists on pavements are the most erratic of road users - they hop on and off when you least expect it so cycling alongside them on the road can be nerve-wracking.

Now we come to the top three - in third position, it's talking on a mobile phone while riding. How can you concentrate on the road in front of you or behind you if you're gassing on the phone? You can't.

In second place is the overtaking issue. If you're not considerably faster than the person in front, don't bother overtaking - what's the point if you're just going to sit in front of them? The other area of overtaking etiquette is to make sure you can be overtaken. Being stuck behind a slow cyclist is frustrating, especially if they then commit crime number nine.

Which brings me to the reason I started thinking up this list - cyclists who jump red lights. Definitely top of the 'annoying things cyclists do' charts. It's a basic rule of the road not to go through a red light, so why do something that gets us all a bad name and gives people perfect ammunition against cyclists? It may seem a little thing, but it has a huge impact, so please, stop at red.