bikers = bad < inline skaters? (Read 1134 times)

Why all the biker hatred? I log about 10k per day on a bike ( with my dog ) and never have runner issues. Likewise, when I run I never have biker issues. Of course, I do have a somewhat psychotic look to me, so perhaps that helps. I do get annoyed when people go three abreast on trails though, regardless of whether they are biking or running. That's just stupid rude, really. I've found the best way to deal with it is, if they are running or walking I aim myself directly at the one closest to me and when we get close enough that we can see one another's face I close my eyes, stick out my tongue and start swaying my head side to side as I run in kind of a Stevie Wonder homage. I'm not sure what the reaction is to this because, well, my eyes are closed, but I've yet to have my target fail to clear me some space. Then again, I'm built like a fire plug and will usually win most of those collisions anyway. When I see bikers riding 3 abreast, or, even worse, just riding down the middle of the trail for no apparent reason, I will usually pick up a stick from alongside the trail and run with that stick in the hand closest to the biker at spoke height. We're not talking about a tree limb here, just whatever you see on the ground that is going to be slightly longer than the distance from handlebar to wheel on the approaching bike. It's not a threat so much as it is an insurance policy. It allows the biker to recognize that coming too close, even without actually hitting you, will result in a situation where their body continues moving forward at pace even while their bike experiences a dramatic decline in forward momentum. Again, this is only for used when people are just being codsmacks. If it's a really crowded trail and there really is just the narrowest path to pass one another then you have to play nicely with others. At least that's what my lawyer said.

Some people have biker issues. i have never had an issue. I run in a well populated area of runners and bikers and we all get along nicely.

Hmmm, maybe a call to the Letterman Show...

Alright, so I guess I do hate bikers. I even hate myself when I suit up

That's the spirit!

October through March I generally have zero problems with bikers. I've never met a biker on a cold December day that wasn't courteous and understood how to share a trail. It's once the weather gets nice and every fool that can afford a $100 Target bike gets out on the trail that I have a problem. I would even grudgingly tolerate them if they wouldn't insist on cramming into spandex or riding with no hands while talking on their cell phones or crouched out on their aero bars on high traffic pedestrian trails. I heard a joke once...how do you make someone on aero bars wipeout? you look at them. If I started running in bike lanes or on dedicated mountain biking trails then I would expect some hate, especially if I were wearing a race bib at the time.

bad dog walkers> inline skaters, bikers

No. No, no, no. There is nothing in the universe that equals the unmitigated evil of a biker. This is not to say that bad walkers strolling eight abreast and taking up a path that's a quarter-mile wide are not worthy of righteous smiting. They truly are. In fact, I keep hoping to witness some speeding chubby spandex warriors come flying down a hill at five times the speed limit and run smack into a gaggle of those goofballs. Matter meet anti-matter. It would be beautiful. But the problem with your analysis is the question of speed. Until annoying, wide-load, gossiping, cell-phone addicted dog walkers start whipping around blind corners at forty miles per hour, they will never approach the pure evil of the biker. They'll also need some spandex.

I don't mind most bikers but I do mind the ones that think they are Lance and are working on their times on trails. Example of point. Here I am with about 100 other people and children doing a charity walk on the 'family trail' in our town. At some point some maniac on a bike comes flying by - ugly spandex and all= and nearly clips one of the kids. DH was pissed and planned on clotheslining the guy if he came back = he didn't. Clearly if there are over 100 people walking together there is something going on. I realize that a large group like that puts others at a disadvantage for their regular run/walk/etc but clearly it was something organized and all the runners that passed us were friendly and commented to the kids about how they were doing a good job, etc. The guy is simply a moron!!!!!!! A rude moron.

We have a nice paved rail trail next town over where I take my kids to bike, there are always both inline skaters and bikers. The bikers range from families to men in packs traveling at racing speeds. For the life of me I can't see why these men are on this trail. But I guess we all pay taxes. So far no colissions except when I was showing off with my duel suspension mountain bike on the side of the path and smashed the handle bars into my scabbed over running boo-boo (fell up a hill the week before). Was a bit embarrassing with all the blood gushing down my leg.....