In the past few years, I've started to become the kind of cyclist I really hate – unnecessarily aggressive, often discourteous to my fellow bikers and, I'm ashamed to say, an occasional danger. If I were to stand trial for my crimes, however, I'd make the point that I'm never completely in control of my faculties at such moments. Although I'd like to think I'm a relatively mild-mannered and polite person in my daily life, put me on two wheels on my way to work and I often turn into a maniac, ready to kick any vehicle that cuts me up, shout at any pedestrian who doesn't pay enough attention when crossing the road and desperate to race every other cyclist.
My commute home on Tuesday night was the perfect example. Eager to get home, I was pumping down Cable Street in east London as fast as I could, zipping past every cycling commuter in sight. But the Cable Street cycle path is narrow and, as I pulled out to overtake someone, I could see another bike coming towards me. Rather than do the sensible thing – pull back and wait for the oncoming bike to pass – I decided there was just enough time to pass the bike in front.
There wasn't. The oncoming cyclist smashed into my right arm with some force, before veering into the third biker, who was propelled out of his saddle and into the road.
When I got back to the scene to ask if the other two were OK, the cyclist I'd collided with was apologising profusely to the third man – who looked to have come off worst. I mumbled my own apologies and snuck away, knowing that the whole incident wouldn't have happened if I had just had some patience and waited.
I've written before about the "red mist" – the adrenalin-fuelled insanity that too often takes control of cyclists when they're pounding around town. Just as footballers and rugby players may start brawling after they've been running around a pitch for an hour, I'm sure that most cyclists are much more likely to be aggressive when they're physically stretching themselves. That's all very well if you're whizzing round a velodrome, but not if you're out on the streets of a city. This time, I'm lucky to have only a nasty bruise to show for my stupidity. But it could have been worse – especially if there had been any motor traffic coming down Cable Street at the time.
I'm making an effort to moderate my behaviour, but it's hard to fight against such a strong chemical reaction. My commute is my workout. The problem is, the harder I work, the more likely I seem to be to turn into my evil twin. Cyclists have always been rather good at finding drugs to enhance their performance – I wonder if they could develop one to tame those of us who find ourselves occasionally blinded by the red mist.
(Photo: Jaime Reina/Getty Images)
I know exactly what you mean. Until very recently I had a 6 mile ride from north London into town where I worked. I had to go over a couple of hills too, which pushed up the adrenaline levels. The same weird transformation to my normally easy-going personality took place which you write about. Luckily for me I didn't hurt anyone - just tried to burn-off other cyclists, getting offended if I was overtaken, and totally outraged if it was by a woman cyclist. But one thing I would like to point out is that cyclists are incredibly vulnerable to danger, and when their life is put in danger while they are all pumped up on that adrenaline rush, all hell can break loose! When I was cut up (cycling up the left of a line of slow-moving cars, one of them not looking in their wing mirror made a left turn forcing me to crash into them) I once took on a couple of gangsters, one of them seemed to be reaching for what looked like a baseball bat, until, luckily for me, we both noticed a police car in the queue behind us. The cop got out and told us both to shut it and go our separate ways. I could have got my head bashed in!
Good article
Posted by: russkolnikov | Thursday, 31 January 2008 at 02:41 PM
I used to suffer from the same problem, but after a few months I saw the error of my ways and learnt to control it. Now I can push hard and stay calm and cool at the same time.
Posted by: Bicycle Courier | Thursday, 31 January 2008 at 03:12 PM
You wouldn't drive a car like that, you wouldn't really even walk like that, so you should really stop before you hurt/kill somebody. I think that while many drivers are rubbish about thinking about cyclists, cyclists are - in percentage terms - worse and more dangerous users of the road. I think there should be an identification system for them, like numberplates on cars.
Posted by: Job | Thursday, 31 January 2008 at 03:20 PM
Job, how can a 200 pound user of the road be more dangerous then a 2 ton user of the road. How about you ride a bike with a numberplate attached to set the example.
Posted by: Lane | Thursday, 31 January 2008 at 04:45 PM
You say "This time, I'm lucky to have only a nasty bruise to show for my stupidity. But it could have been worse...." Well, bully for you, but what about the other two cyclists concerned? You "smashed" into one of them and caused the other to be knocked off his bike: how did they fare? Oh, of course, you don't know, do you, because you boast that you "snuck away," sneakily and in a wholly cowardly fashion.
Really, James, with your total lack of concern for others, only with what you can get away with, you are the sort of cyclist that brings us all into public contempt, and rather than going on - again - about the 'red mist,' perhaps it's time to begin to control yourself. For most of us, it's what we learn when we become adults, Time for you to grow up.
Posted by: Richard Carter | Thursday, 31 January 2008 at 04:56 PM
Job; i'm guessing that you rarely or never cycle anywhere, are middle/old aged and drive a Range Rover. Anyone who pushes themselves towards their physical limit, which I do a lot, knows that the adrenaline fired round their bodies alters them completely. As well as adrenaline, other hormones are released causing a severely heightened proneness to violence. This is called 'exercise' and these are its immediate effects - you should try it sometime. As for putting number plates on bikes; in the unlikely event that it ever becomes law, i'll have to break it.
Posted by: David Metcalf | Thursday, 31 January 2008 at 05:00 PM
Interesting blog, particularly the comment about recognizing that the gap was closing, but deciding to go for it anyway. This is exactly the sort of behaviour often exhibited by car drivers, who will not slow down to let a cyclist pass a through restriction, but prefer to accelerate so they can get through first. The world is not divided into car drivers (bad) and cyclists (good), but into selfish and aggressive people (bad) and careful and considerate people (good). Admittedly cyclists are more vulnerable than car drivers, but that still does not give cyclists the right to act like selfish hooligans. Anyone, whether a car driver or cyclist, who uses busy commuter roads to get their kicks, whether it is an adrenaline high from hard cycling or from driving a car fast, is selfish and stupid. I have no axe to grind here - I both cycle and drive (much more cycling than driving), and jsut want to do both activities as safely and pleasantly as possible.
Posted by: Neil Harris | Thursday, 31 January 2008 at 05:21 PM
I have been following a few lawsuits between cyclists. Another aspect of this behavior you are not talking about is the growing trend of cyclist neglect leading to the courtroom.
Check it:
http://cyclejerk.blogspot.com/2008/01/cyclist-vs-cyclist.html
Also, red mist or not, everyone is ultimately responsible for themselves. The evil twin you are using as a scapegoat is still YOU so man up.
Posted by: Cycle Jerk | Thursday, 31 January 2008 at 05:25 PM
Richard. Thanks for your comment.
I did stop to ask how they both were. And the one who came off his bike told me he'd survive, although he was limping a bit.
You're right though - I do need to be more considerate. But I still think it's worth discussing this issue honestly. I know that I'm not alone in acting like this, so perhaps by writing about it, I can help other people to examine their behaviour.
I'm sure you've done things you're not proud of in the past, but the question is, did you learn from them?
Posted by: James Daley | Thursday, 31 January 2008 at 05:34 PM
Thanks, James, for your response, and it is indeed better out than in, as the saying goes. In answer to your question, yes, I have done things in the past that I'm ashamed of (I wonder who hasn't?), but I hope I've learned from them. One of the things I now know is, as David Metcalf posted, that there are good and bad people both on bikes and behind the wheel. I started out cycle commuting in London (more years ago than I care to admit in public) with a sort of notion of the freemasonry of the (cycling) world. Sadly, it was never really like that (maybe it was in the 1930s and before?) - and increasingly, I see cyclists adopting the same selfish bad habits as car drivers. Rather a shame...
Posted by: Richard Carter | Thursday, 31 January 2008 at 05:57 PM
Russkolnikov - I'm a mad keen cyclist, have never owned a car, hate the things - but if you were cycling up the inside of a moving lane of traffic I'm afraid getting cut up is your fault. One blessed day the car will be in the graveyard and we'll have the streets to ourselves - until then we have to follow the Highway Code, as much for our own preservation as anything else.
Posted by: A St.J | Thursday, 31 January 2008 at 06:02 PM
Surely there are two things going on here, both emerging largely from London's traffic culture, which is largely, dare I say it, driven by machismo. One, the agressive nature of London driving, to be first out of the lights, to nip into spaces, and to intimidate the novice driver/cyclist with crowding, makes cycling in London more like being inside of a computer game - mind as well as pulse and pedals racing. That's the kick isn't it? Certainly little chance to admire the view!
But cycling culture is also unbelievably macho in London too. Perhaps if Lycra and carbon-fibre were kept for the weekends, there would be less temptation to treat the street like the gym and to top some personal best on the way home. An old 1-speed push-bike would also be eminently less thieve-able, while little less high-tec Lycra and all the latest clobber on the streets might also make the idea of cycling as a practical means to get around, seem a more accessible, realistic possibility to current non-cyclists, put off by it's expensive, fetishistic style of dress and accouterments - particularly us women, who seem decidedly fewer in number on the roads, and certainly un-enamoured of being pushed around by arrogant blokes on bikes at 8 a.m.
Anyone here cycled in York? That's meant to have a pretty strong cycle culture - but I bet it's not as aggressive as London. Anyone know?
Posted by: Kitty Hawk | Friday, 01 February 2008 at 12:22 AM
Not middle-aged, do cycle quite a lot, drive a Scenic, never get so mad I would hurt somebody. Sorry, but if this is how people are starting to cycle, then it's time the police stepped in. If you want to fire up your adrenaline, don't do it near innocent bystanders or drivers/cyclists. What you're doing is not exercise, it's passive/aggressive bullying.
York is a great place to cycle. Cyclists are not as aggressive as in London, you're right, and they (largely) keep to the laws of the road.
Posted by: Job | Friday, 01 February 2008 at 11:58 AM
What nonsense! It sounds like you're trying to rationalize your aggression. Cycling, if anything, should get it out of your system. Face it - you're aggressive. Stop blaming the bike.
Posted by: Steven | Friday, 01 February 2008 at 06:02 PM
Everyone else has to put up with everybody else's inflated ego at some time or other, read an Eckhart Tolle book & get over it you sad losser!!!
Posted by: Andy | Friday, 01 February 2008 at 11:33 PM
Quote: "My commute is my workout. The problem is, the harder I work," can I stop you there... if, when you're 'commuting' to work, do you at any time feel as though your legs are on fire, your lungs are on fire & you feel physically sick, then, & only then, do you know you are working hard!
Posted by: Andy | Friday, 01 February 2008 at 11:43 PM
Ride a slower bike, e.g. a fixed gear/single speed with a relatively low gear (42 x 16 or lower). That should calm you down.
Posted by: jack | Monday, 04 February 2008 at 12:35 AM
A St. J: "you were cycling up the inside of a moving lane of traffic I'm afraid getting cut up is your fault."
Sorry, not so, when you learn to drive you are told to check your mirrors for cyclists on the inside when turning - people get out of these good habits. Cyclists go on the inside because that's an efficient place for us to be (rather like we get accused of 'weaving in and out', or making economic use of road space as I'd call it). If a cyclists passes a car driver on the inside, time to get out of your slow car!
And yes Kitty Hawk, London cyclists are really macho and extremely fond of passing and then pulling into your stopping distance/cutting you up on corners/when you're wanting to move out to pass a stationary vehicle.
Bet the same lot are rubbish drivers on the motorway too.
Posted by: MD | Monday, 04 February 2008 at 09:27 AM
A St. J: "you were cycling up the inside of a moving lane of traffic I'm afraid getting cut up is your fault."
Like the above poster, I believe the driver of the car making a left turn should have looked in his wing mirror. The line of cars were travelling at about 10-15mph. As a cyclist what was I supposed to do? Weave in and out? Cycle on the right past the cars and into oncoming traffic? Use the pavement? Or perhaps travel at the same speed as the traffic, not passing any car? And what if the line of cars stop? Should I stop too? Anyone who has cycled in a busy place like London knows that cycling up the left of a line of slow-moving cars is about the best thing you can do (short of giving up cycling and driving to work). The trouble is you run the risk of being cut up, or 'car-doored'. It happens all the time. As a cyclist, I am responsible for my own safety though, and should have been aware of danger pretty much everywhere.
Posted by: russkolnikov | Monday, 04 February 2008 at 06:24 PM
When the traffic's moving at the same speed as you, the safest thing to do is take up a position in the middle of the road. That way, you can see what the cars in front are up to, and the cars behind can't miss you. It's perfectly legal too.
Posted by: James Daley | Tuesday, 05 February 2008 at 12:56 PM
I used to ride too fast until I switched to a fixed gear bike, and stopped wearing cycling gear, which has become something of a fetish among London commuters. Now I have to ride slowly enough not to arrive in a sweaty mess when I get to work (chiswick to soho). Unless you're some sort of freak a fixed gear bike will never be as quick as well-ridden geared bike so you can't really race; you've just got to get over it. I get your point about your journey being your workout but if you're endangering yourself and others, and generally being an arse, perhaps it's no longer appropriate - if London does become a cycling city, there will simply be too many people on the road to behave like that.
Posted by: peter wright | Tuesday, 12 February 2008 at 01:43 PM
For God's sake, a column in a national newspaper about cycling should be doing something to promote cycling to everyone and encourage all kinds of people onto their bikes. Your kind of male, aggressive, Lycra-clad attitude will just put people off and confirm their prejudices. When I lived in London I used to cycle daily with my child on the back of my bike, and I would have been furious if you had cut me up like that.
Posted by: Lydia | Thursday, 13 March 2008 at 11:57 PM