60K in fairly cool conditions this morning. It was about +2C when we started and I think it was about 5C when we finished. Two flats - mine( clincher) was changed in fairly quick order but another guy flatted on his tubulars. Because it was so cold the glue was really hard. Took forever to get the flat tire off. It took three of us working all out to get that sucker off. It did not happen in the best spot on the road but we tried to get as far off the road as best we could.
Many cars passed - none stopped to see if we were OK. Several cars honked car horns loudly. One guy gave us the finger and another rolled down his window and told us to *&^%-off!! Nice. There is a lot of stress out there folks. How do people live with that amount of stress and anger, that getting slowed slightly on your Saturday morning drive causes them to boil over? Wow! Be careful.
I had my 3rd ride today, today was the first group ride, - did the donut ride, some of those guys are in pretty solid shape for this early.
Group was pretty sizable starting out, must have had almost 40 people.
We had the same thing happen to us, a group of us were echloning down one of the roads past king city, we were very organized, tight group (i thought) probably about 15 of us - this van passes us, pulls in, and then slams on the brakes in front of us! We almost had a few guys smash into him!! Then he pull ahead, pulls off the road, and starts yelling at us!! Apparently it was in “revenge” for us taking up the entire road!! I couldn’t believe it, a few of the guys had to be held back from destroying his van (I sorta wished I had a camera/phone to call the cops) I wonder if it was the same guy? First time I’ve ever had that happen!!
Met up with a small group jumping off from Woodbine & Elgin Mills. I actually drove to the start, which is normally against Fleck policy for - in Aurora the nice roads start right away! There were 6 of us. Kept a double or single line pace line rolling - except for the stoppage for the punctures. Glad I got my once-a-year flat out of the way early!!
Feel sorry for the other guy - nice new set of deep Fulcrum carbon rims with Conti Competition Tubulars. That was an expensive flat.I don’t know him, but it did seem like an odd choice of wheels. There is still a huge amount of crap on the roads from winter. This is probably for us the most flat prone time of the year - until we get some good rain to wash all the junk off the roads.
I went out for two hours today. Riding down a rural 55 mph road, there were two lanes available on my side, and I was on the inside of the white line, closest to the edge of the road.
Some a-hole chose not to move over to the lane away from me, and zoomed past, while honking and flippin’ me a bird… for what?
I couldn’t believe it; things are getting rough out there!
The Donut seems to be getting sketchy - if it’s not confrontations with car drivers, it’s some idiot rider not knowing how to ride or what to do. Some nut-bar nearly took about 10 of us down last year - and this was right near the front where supposedly the better riders are. I like the ride. It can be a good hard ride with great efforts and good group dynamics, but I am starting to have mixed feelings about it
I haven’t been in Toronto alot in the past 6 years (due to school) but it didn’t seem any worse then last year (though I only did it twice).
I do agree that some riders don’t know what they are doing, I feel those are all the guys who come out in the summer - I’m not one to talk, as this is my first ride, but I felt the group today was competent then usual because they are the hardcore guys!
I plan on doing the ride more this year, but I also spend all my time at the front anyhow because once the speed goes up, its better to hurt more and be in control then be at the back!!
Lovely to share the road with drivers with such charming attitudes. I often think I should have a set of cards printed up with the same message I was given when I got my hire car at Konu airport the first time I went:
Tips for motorists
Always watch for cyclists and runners Cyclists have the same right to the road as cars and obey the same traffic laws Please do not harass or endanger a cyclist or runner at any time Make the road behind you is clear before opening your car door Pass cyclists with at least three feet of clearance Check and recheck side and rear view mirrors before turning Take an extra look when passing through an intersection or exiting a driveway
That sucks about the road rage incidents. In my area, I’ve tried a few different group rides, even riding with small groups of my friends. I’ve always found that when I’m with 2 or more others, the number of car-related incidents goes WAY up. People are constantly honking, yelling, etc. A lot of it is due to the fact that some people in the groups get a pack mentality and start to become oblivious to being courteous to the drivers, a lot of it is due to the fact that drivers see a pack and for some reason are more prone to yelling.
I’ve pretty much stopped riding with groups, and although sometimes I get quite lonely, my rides are much more pleasant. I think riding all of last year I only had 1 car honk at me when I was solo. Much more peaceful for me that way. I do love groups, but was too frequently seeing the negative side of group riding.
Edit: I just remembered an anecdote: Today I went to visit my parents in a very popular cycling area. I turned down a one-way street near their house and was surprised to see a pack of 10 team riders coming right at me in the wrong direction. I realize their shortcut saved them a half mile or so, but it didn’t look very good in my opinion.
Some a-hole chose not to move over to the lane away from me, and zoomed past, while honking and flippin’ me a bird… for what?
As I said there seems to be a whole lot of stress out there. I am curious as to what these sorts of folks do when they confront somethng really stressful. It seems their being driven almost over the edge for having to move to the left 5 feet and maybe slow down 5 - 10mph. Wow!
You’re lucky no one did anything. I was on the Donut last year, and some guy did that pull in front of us thing a few times, and would pull off to the side to swear at us when we went by. He pulled up at a light and we pulled up next – it very nearly came to blows between a few of us and him.
Here’s the concern for me – up there, you’re in farm country. No telling what some of those boys have in their trucks.
Was your incident on Leslie coming back in, south of Stouffevlle road? That’s usually where the nonsense happens.
