Cyclists

This is a good one, pity we don't have guns over here?


Man pleads guilty to shooting at cyclist

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ASHEVILLE
A former North Carolina firefighter pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill after shooting at a man riding a bicycle with his wife and 4-year-old son because he was concerned for the child's safety.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that 42-year-old Charles Alexander Diez was sentenced Thursday to 120 days in jail. Diez shot at cyclist Alan Ray Simons after stopping his car to confront Simons about the safety of riding his bike on a busy road with his child on the back.

Police say that when Simons turned to walk away, Diez fired at his bike helmet, narrowly missing his skull.

Diez served with the Asheville Fire Department for 17 years.





120 days for shooting at someone's head
ForteanTimes2009-11-25 09:20:07

That blows only getting 120 days in jail for attempted murder.  Sickos.  Did you hear about this one in Wellington?

No, but I've heard about it and seen it on youtube before and the kids responsible were arrested and done for it. Having gone paintballing before, I certainly not like to get hit when on my bike.

edit: the kids arrested were from the USA who did a similar thing to these knobs from wellington.
ForteanTimes2009-11-25 10:53:22

hopefully they got those knobs from Wellington. 

Started cycling to work and feel absolutely filthy inside as a result.

Edit:  As an aside, would not be at all against some type of licensing thing come in for cylists.  The amount of near misses I've seen (not to mention numerous accidents I haven't seen) surely calls for it.  While it wouldn't stamp the problem out the less retards* on the road the better imo.

Just the other day I saw a girl who looked about twenty cycling on a two-laned road in the middle of the lane closest to the centre of the road.  The road in question, for those familiar with Christchurch, was Memorial Avenue - a very busy road.

*When I say retards I don't mean all cyclists.  I mean the arrogant, selfish douchebags amongst the population (which is probably about 30%, maybe just under).
loyalgunner2009-11-26 19:13:43

Why do some cyclists dress up like they are racing in the Tour de France?

They look like c**ts.

^^^
This is truth.

OOOh but these tight pants feel sooo good!!

Bike pants = Padding for the nuts (a must have if you've got a racing seat) and way easier to cycle in.

Then if you were a t-shirt on top of that you look like a fool so you have to get a cycling top...

Two things that would look good:

ForteanTimes2009-11-28 14:14:57

They're all very good points.  Wouldn't mind seeing some of the above things (for want of a better word) in those pictures introduced to more parts of NZ.

With the licensing idea I kind of took the approach that if less complete clowns were biking on the road then the overall perspective on cyclists could change (for some at least) and a few more would be inclined to cycle.  I know with me that I was put off cycling after seeing numerous absolute idiots (and I maintain that I'm the only reasonable cyclist in Christchurch ).  I realise that effect would be quite small, though, and there would be literally nothing to stop any old person picking up a bike and riding round the city.

And lol at London.

Just wondered if Alison Shanks retired and decided to go into making bikes she could call her line "Shank's Pony".


I'll get me coat.

lol indeed at London

Get cycle skills training back in schools and the result will be less idiots.

 I know you are still feeling filthy and freakish from taking up cycle commuting, you may want to take it a step further, when I actually joined up with the local cycling advocacy group, I found people pretty normal, the women too, no hairy armpits to be seen anywhere.

If you are interested in what local cyclists are doing around Christchurch, check out the local cycling group Spokes. http://spokes.org.nz/ This is a well organized group trying to make your community a nicer place to live.

 I see also the amazing Phil Darnton is speaking Christchurch on the 30th, (see above spokes link), if you want to see what cycling can achieve in a city go and see him, very funny English bloke. I saw him at the recent national cycling conference. His basic goal is to turn the image of cycling away from the lycra brigade and just get normal people in normal clothes cycling for the good of their health and the good of the economy.

Also as a new commuter if you need tips on stuff try bike forums, has taught me a lot: http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?20-Commuting

Mental cyclist!!

TBF Roadies are skilled enough to be able to sit behind something really close, just look at any big cycle race, they can sit inches away from a back wheel of someone else. Stupid behaviour though cuse it gives the rest of us a bad name. ForteanTimes2009-12-04 14:02:13

Wasn't impressed to see a cyclist who, while at a red light that several cars had stopped for, slowly pulled out, looked both ways and meandered through the red.  I wish a cop had grabbed and chucked him in the slammer.  Icy showers, bread and water, guards whomping your arse round the clock.  The only way out being suicide. (Had to incorporate that Chief Wiggum quote).

ForteanTimes2009-12-04 15:12:20

Something to enhance the driving experience, distracted what syndrome?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/technology/07distracted.html

this is priceless I actually thought it was April the first but no, they actually want to put these in the dash.



ForteanTimes2010-01-16 10:19:10

No way.

I can't see it being stopped, not with the combined power of the auto and computer industry.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/technology/07distracted.html?pagewanted=2

EDIT: link for those to lazy to go back to page 5.
ForteanTimes2010-01-16 10:40:29

Don't prevent the future.Michael2010-01-16 10:44:09

Future won't last too long if those things take off.

Hehe The Rise of the Michaels!

The only good thing to come of this is when they totally remove humans from controlling cars.

Rimutaka is pretty straight forward.


That M2 is a great bike. Make it so No 1.

I was dreading the day that my progeny got to the stage where they were able to ride a bike with enough ability that we would go off-road.

I got my M2 when I was student - started off with a Diamond Back and also got into duathalons in the winter to keep up fitness levels for summer racing. Saw the M2 and sold the DB and road bike and got a loan from the bank to buy the M2.

Absolutely love it (but kinda spoiled it by putting scott shocks on the front) - but only ended up doing maybe half a season of racing before I realised I should actually be studying rather than @rsing around in lycra.

It's OK at the moment for getting around on the road, but might need a bit to get it good for off-road (oh and it's back to the original rigid forks - real old fashioned non-suspension bike, but so responsive...wish the rider was).

Junior822010-01-16 17:59:34

sounds lovely, pics please.

Oh, erm,....Oh you mean of the bike!?

OK - tomorrow. reminds me I was going to take a pic of a compost heap as well for the worm farm thread.

Junior822010-01-16 20:24:22

Yeah I'm still awaiting some pics from Capes.

As a motorist, I did a good deed for a cyclist, it was more common sense than anything else.  I was driving south along the Hutt Rd near Kaiwharawhara.  My intentions were to pull into a premises along the road.  The Hutt Rd has a cycle lane on the footpath which I needed to cross.  I passed a cyclist heading the same way near the entrance I needed to pull into.  I knew if I turned I would have cut him off & he'd hit me.  So, I signaled (as I always do) to turn left into the premises & waited until the cyclist had passed.  He saw me waiting for him to pass & waved his appreciation.

Nice one Wongo old chum!

You see - everyone can get along!

"Motorists and cy-cer-lists live together in perfect harmony*,
side-by-side on my wide road, oh lord why can't we?"

*except for the rude ones
Junior822010-01-17 09:57:21

Butchering a Paul McCartney song = not cool.

Unless it's We All Stand Together with the Frog Chorus.

TOP TEN CYCLING CITIES.

Interesting read. 

Did you see this?
Kerry Prendergast piece in the Dom Post

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/opinion/3235033/Summit-anything-but-Brokenhagen

Thanks for the link.

Not a fan of these inter govt talk fests where all the do-gooders self-flagellate and out do each other to be the most self-righteous global citizen.

And was dismissive of Kerry's trip to the land of lego, but it does seem as if she has looked at various energy saving initiatives that could work in Wgtn so kudos to her for that.

Would like to see this "Copenhagen wheel" tackle the wgtn hills. Might induce me to try biking again but if I'm truthful I'd need the bike to have two extra wheels and be enclosed in a metal body with seating for a family of four.

And one of those motor thingies.

And a few cup holders would be nice as well.