Oiks shouting stuff at cyclists

[nikki]

After a bit of post-processing, it may have been "shalom" and they may not have been oiks

[mattc]

This weekend I had 2 firsts:
- "you should ride single file" from a policeman
- abuse from some folks in a crapmobile towing another crapmobile (we delayed them for AT MOST 30 seconds - and then turned the other way to them at a T-junction)


I'm not sure who was the oik, or which was the lower moment. but I can't say either encounter will affect how I ride in future

[mmmmartin]

In other news, and actually in this same universe, I was on a 200k perm on Saturday and locked the bike outside a shop. While in the queue to pay for the pint of milk I'd just drunk, a little old lady walked into the shop and and said to me (as the obvious cyclist with helmet and high-viz): "Is that your bike outside? You know you left the lights flashing well if the battery goes flat you might not be able to start it. I don't know much about bikes."

Bless.

[sg37409]

Riding into Glasgow along the canal on Saturday afternoon with my son, some guy taking a lot of cider cans for a walk

"ahhh, your doin' great. Bran' new"

[Eccentrica Gallumbits]

In other news, and actually in this same universe, I was on a 200k perm on Saturday and locked the bike outside a shop. While in the queue to pay for the pint of milk I'd just drunk, a little old lady walked into the shop and and said to me (as the obvious cyclist with helmet and high-viz): "Is that your bike outside? You know you left the lights flashing well if the battery goes flat you might not be able to start it. I don't know much about bikes."

Bless.

Riding into Glasgow along the canal on Saturday afternoon with my son, some guy taking a lot of cider cans for a walk

"ahhh, your doin' great. Bran' new"

Barry!

[Gadget]

While cycling home, in London rush hour, I decided to move up the traffic on the inside. The traffic was at a standstill, and I was moving with caution. Checking all cars, it seemed safe until a driver decided to change their mind and enter the BP garage. I did we'll to avoid, and words were exchanged, but what made this interesting was the driver's claim that, "I don't have to indicate."
Have the rules changed since I did my driving test?

[toestrap]

'I can't hear you!' from the driver of a car waiting at a T junction as I went past.

Gnomic.

[clarion]

Not an oik as such, but a chap of mature years.  And not 'at' cyclists, so much as 'to' them.

This morning, at Stockwell, a chap crossed the road, stopping to shout something I didn't quite catch all of, but it certainly included the (slightly hyperbolic) suggestion that Cameron was worse than Hitler*, and calling the Cabinet 'callous murderous fucking liars' or some such, which, while not entirely accurate, wasn't so far off th emark.


* Oops, have I Godwinised the thread?  Blame the ranter...

[Efrogwr]

Not an oik as such, but a chap of mature years.  And not 'at' cyclists, so much as 'to' them.

This morning, at Stockwell, a chap crossed the road, stopping to shout something I didn't quite catch all of, but it certainly included the (slightly hyperbolic) suggestion that Cameron was worse than Hitler*, and calling the Cabinet 'callous murderous fucking liars' or some such, which, while not entirely accurate, wasn't so far off th emark.


* Oops, have I Godwinised the thread?  Blame the ranter...

The last time I saw anything like that, I realised that I was facing a mirror... but I've been in Wales all day.

[clarion]

[Kim]

I suppose it's topical to say that anyone over the age of 26 who finds himself shouting abuse at people from the back seat of a small hatchback can count himself a failure?

Anyway, this one was a surprisingly audible "Get a proper bike!" at point blank range.  This required a response, but unfortunately the first thing that came to mind was a marginally appropriate "Smash the kyriarchy!".  In light of their resulting confused expression, I followed up with some crude but inaccurate sign interpretation as they sped off into the queue for the upcoming roundabout.

[LindaG]

Kim I have no idea what that means but I wish I had said it first.

[barakta]

Kyriarchy is basically like patriarchy but accounting for multiple types of oppression e.g sexism, racism, homophobia, disablism, classism etc

I only came across it very recently but like the idea of recognising the multiple axes on which people can be oppressed at the same time and that many of us have both privileges and oppressions.

[Kim]

Kim I have no idea what that means but I wish I had said it first.

Neither did the oik.  I think he was trying to work out whether I'd insulted him.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Kyriarchy is basically like patriarchy but accounting for multiple types of oppression e.g sexism, racism, homophobia, disablism, classism etc

I only came across it very recently but like the idea of recognising the multiple axes on which people can be oppressed at the same time and that many of us have both privileges and oppressions.

I'm not sure quite what's so oppressive about Andy Gates...

[Kim]

Basil and I got a "Hi you cunts!" from a passing hatchback as we struggled with the moist headwind on the way back from Tamworth earlier.

[clarion]

Friends of yours?

[Basil]

Oh yes.  I'd forgotten about that.

[ian]

Got the good old beep, beep, beep, BEEP from the car that pulled up behind me at the lights yesterday. I had the temerity to be in primary and to be doing nothing other than waiting for the lights to change. No one was going anywhere. Goes without saying that a bullet-headed buffoon then stuck his head out of the window to utter a stream of abuse (I'm still puzzling over 'gay cunt'). I just ignored it, life is too short, and I'd be better off trying to communicate with an amoeba. He probably missed by back wheel by millimetres taking the left turn behind me while I went straight on.

OK, it was Nottingham, which is a shit hole, but that kind of thing gnaws when you think about it. I don't get random abuse shouted at me for walking for the pavement, nor would I expect to. I can half understand it when tempers get raised after an interaction, but really, for just being there, patiently occupying a piece of uncontested road space?

Driving in general up there makes London seem positively friendly, you forget how used drivers are to cyclists in the capital. It was nice to get back and scoot (headwind willing) through the big smoke. Bonus homecoming points for the large lady taking a very public piss outside Peckham library and yelling "I don't fucking care" (which she evidently didn't).

[L CC]

In contrast, we got a clearly very friendly "toot toot" and wave from a patient girl inna hatchback who had waited for us to gain the rise and the road to be clear ahead, before passing us wide and slow (like a horse, maybe she had misconstrued my arse as something more equine).

Everybody loves a tandem.

[Auntie Helen]

Sounds like tandems and recumbents have a similar effect on motorists ("hey, that's sick!" rather than "get outta my way NOW!").

[Kim]

OK, it was Nottingham, which is a shit hole, but that kind of thing gnaws when you think about it. I don't get random abuse shouted at me for walking for the pavement, nor would I expect to. I can half understand it when tempers get raised after an interaction, but really, for just being there, patiently occupying a piece of uncontested road space?

For reference, this is what's known as 'privilege'.

[Kim]

Sounds like tandems and recumbents have a similar effect on motorists ("hey, that's sick!" rather than "get outta my way NOW!").

Indeed.  Also, heavy-looking trailers, at least in utility mode rather than touring mode, seem to provoke an unexpected amount of empathy from WVM.

[Marmitegeoff]

In contrast, we got a clearly very friendly "toot toot" and wave from a patient girl inna hatchback who had waited for us to gain the rise and the road to be clear ahead, before passing us wide and slow (like a horse, maybe she had misconstrued my arse as something more equine).

Everybody loves a tandem.

I really wish I had taken a photo of the pink tandem on Sat.  It would have done wonders for the club publicity dept.

Glad you all enjoyed the day.  See you in Sept ?

Geoff

[caerau]

I had a good one of these on Friday last week.  I took a long route home to get some exercise and was riding quite a busy rat run  from Cardiff heading north to the Valleys.  Some joker in a bright blue chavmobile drove past whilst either him or one of his esteemed passengers gave it a reasonably high pitched (but still blokey).  "AAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH" which never stopped as they passed with the front window wound down.

Of course it was a usual pointless rush hour overtake as we hit some traffic lights soon after whereupon I passed them again and got an identical scream.

When the lights changed they passed me one more time, hit a big queue and I passed them again (and for the last time).  Same thing each time 

I dignified it with not even acknowledging their presence on any of the occasions.  I do hope they enjoyed themselves