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Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
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Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby Skexis » Fri Jan 25, 2013 6:04 pm
Did an early shift today into the city via Anzac Highway/West Terrace/King William St/King William Road and I have to say I was shocked, horrified, dismayed, aghast (take your pick) at the amount of lycra warriors out there this morning around 5-6am with no lights whatsoever. All those concerned were obviously off to do the Mutual Community bit of the TDU however I'm not sure why these people to whom I refer felt the need to be unlit.
Do you think you are so good a rider that you don't need lights? Do you think your lycra makes you somehow invincible or gives you superhuman powers? Or maybe you're delusional enough to think you are so good that the ounce or two the lights weigh really make that amount of difference to your speed.
Sad. Or pathetic. Not sure which.
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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby redned » Fri Jan 25, 2013 6:30 pm
But I would like more evidence of a correlation between no lights and lycra. IME people without lights can be dressed in many ways.
And "warriors"?
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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby Skexis » Fri Jan 25, 2013 6:41 pm
redned wrote:No lights is definitely a bad idea.
But I would like more evidence of a correlation between no lights and lycra. IME people without lights can be dressed in many ways.
And "warriors"?
Well, everyone I saw without lights today was clad in a TDU shirt, shorts and had a little red tag on their seatposts. As for "warriors", maybe substitute the word "wannabe's", "tryhards" or "desperado's". All would fit equally well imo.
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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby greyhoundtom » Fri Jan 25, 2013 7:01 pm
Skexis wrote:I'll start by pointing out I'm a cyclist as well.

Skexis wrote:Do you think you are so good a rider that you don't need lights? Do you think your lycra makes you somehow invincible or gives you superhuman powers? Or maybe you're delusional enough to think you are so good that the ounce or two the lights weigh really make that amount of difference to your speed.
Sad. Or pathetic. Not sure which.
Why so aggressively down on “lycra clad” cyclists?
So you spotted some cyclists with no lights early in the morning.........big deal........

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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby il padrone » Fri Jan 25, 2013 7:11 pm

Most notably I believe that they all have the misguided belief that "because I can see the cars and trucks, they can see me!" Roadies in the pre-dawn hours don't seem to want to burden their sleek machines with the blemish (and weight

"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby __PG__ » Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:05 pm
il padrone wrote:Most notably I believe that they all have the misguided belief that "because I can see the cars and trucks, they can see me!" Roadies in the pre-dawn hours don't seem to want to burden their sleek machines with the blemish (and weight) of a strapped on light.
Which is so stupid when you consider the size (and power) of modern USB- rechargeable LED front lights.
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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby Mulger bill » Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:26 pm
il padrone wrote:Most notably I believe that they all have the misguided belief that "because I can see the cars and trucks, they can see me!"
Umm that'd be 'cos the cars and trucks have their lights on, sometimes...

It's right up there in my WCMO list.

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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby The Walrus » Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:30 pm
Some people are just ignorant fantastic people!
EDIT - since when did our posts get moderated and changed? What I wrote is quite different to the above!
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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby find_bruce » Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:37 pm
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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby clackers » Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:00 pm
Skexis wrote: I was shocked, horrified, dismayed, aghast (take your pick) at the amount of lycra warriors out there this morning around 5-6am with no lights whatsoever.
And of course, Skexis, road bikes are sold without reflectors or bells. Lots of assumptions there!
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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby Milar » Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:06 pm
clackers wrote:And of course, Skexis, road bikes are sold without reflectors or bells. Lots of assumptions there!
Many without pedals too, but I don't see too many having problems getting those fitted...

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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby clackers » Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:44 am
Milar wrote:
Many without pedals too, but I don't see too many having problems getting those fitted...
Don't see too many taking to the road without pedals, though, Milar!

Lights and reflectors for night riding aren't difficult or expensive, but ....
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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby jasonc » Sat Jan 26, 2013 9:23 am
redned wrote:No lights is definitely a bad idea.
almost got it right. No lights = no idea.

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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby Mulger bill » Sat Jan 26, 2013 12:19 pm
The Walrus wrote:I don't go out on the roadie at night but I delayed an early morning ride because I'm yet to get a front light!
Some people are just ignorant fantastic people!
EDIT - since when did our posts get moderated and changed? What I wrote is quite different to the above!
I know, and so does the automated naughty word censor.
I may agree with your sentiment, but not your choice of words.
I'll leave it at that-For Now
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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby Cruiserman » Sat Jan 26, 2013 1:26 pm
Skexis wrote:I'll start by pointing out I'm a cyclist as well.
Sad. Or pathetic. Not sure which.
And a mighty perfect one at that. Your bike must be bristling with lights, bells, reflectors, plastic bags to pick up errant dog droppings the list goes on. If people choose to ride in lycra doesnt automatically make the a wanna be or a try hard or a warrior - maybe they find the clothing most suited to riding the most suitable. Not sure what it is on here lately if we cant have a lets crucify Armstrong thread it seems it has to be lets bag out lycra wearing cyclists. Thus I would say Sad AND Pathetic.
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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby outnabike » Sat Jan 26, 2013 4:31 pm
snippedSkexis wrote:I'll start by pointing out I'm a cyclist as well.
Do you think you are so good a rider that you don't need lights?
Sad. Or pathetic. Not sure which.
Hi Skexis,
I don't think this comes into the equation at all....Consider what it's going to look like at daylight; all lined up with the boys and displaying a light!!!!



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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby gpz1100 » Sat Jan 26, 2013 4:47 pm

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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby fatdudeonabike » Sat Jan 26, 2013 5:59 pm
Yes, some of the "lycra warriors" (of which I'm not one) are douchey in not wanting an extra 100g weight on their bikes - but I usually find that they're more serious about their riding, they do more of it and dont to be hit, and even more than that, they dont want their bikes being hit!
I tend to find that people without lights are generally commuters, operating their bikes on a smallest budget possible - and so they don't bother with things like lights or visible clothing.
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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby Skexis » Sat Jan 26, 2013 10:25 pm
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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby The Walrus » Sat Jan 26, 2013 10:28 pm
Mulger bill wrote:The Walrus wrote:I don't go out on the roadie at night but I delayed an early morning ride because I'm yet to get a front light!
Some people are just ignorant fantastic people!
EDIT - since when did our posts get moderated and changed? What I wrote is quite different to the above!
I know, and so does the automated naughty word censor.
I may agree with your sentiment, but not your choice of words.
I'll leave it at that-For Now
Shaun
Haha...maybe I'm too vulgar for BNA
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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby twizzle » Sun Jan 27, 2013 8:57 am

Sent from my iThingy...
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...
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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby Boognoss » Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:25 am
twizzle wrote:I love how people pick on the irrelevant stuff. The OP puts contextual information in a post, a bunch of people ignore the key message and bitch about the meaningless detail.
Sent from my iThingy...
+1
Nutshell version of thread: Some people regardless of who they are or their chosen method of transport are stupid.
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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby gorilla monsoon » Sun Jan 27, 2013 10:31 am
twizzle wrote:I love how people pick on the irrelevant stuff. The OP puts contextual information in a post, a bunch of people ignore the key message and bitch about the meaningless detail.
Sent from my iThingy...
My sentiments exactly, skexis makes a valid point or two. Don't shoot the messenger.
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Re: Lights on bikes, 25 Jan 13
Postby ColinOldnCranky » Sun Jan 27, 2013 2:38 pm
Milar wrote:clackers wrote:And of course, Skexis, road bikes are sold without reflectors or bells. Lots of assumptions there!
Many without pedals too, but I don't see too many having problems getting those fitted...
LOL

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