“Critical massholes” by Scott Rowan (a.k.a. The Urban Cyclist)
Here.
And my comment:
I’ve ridden a few times with the Chicago Critical Mass, and have to agree: there was a number of rather unattractive (drunk or stoned, or both) characters each time. I’ve seen few arguments with drivers stuck in the middle of the Mass. But I’ve also seen smiles on drivers’ faces and answering calls of “Happy Friday!” Come on, it’s just once a month. It happens all over the world (I saw an announcement about the Critical Mass few weeks ago in Nuremberg; I wish I had a chance to ride there, to compare it with CCM). For the majority of those who participate in the Mass, it’s a way to turn their city or town into an Amsterdam, if only for a few hours. (Do they have Critical Mass in Amsterdam? Probably not. What for? THEIR critical mass had been reached long time ago.)
. . . Anyway, as much as I respect the cycling achievements of the author of this article and the co-author of the “Survival Guide,” I think he might have found a better way to promote his book.
By the way, cyclists pay taxes, too.
Tags: CCM, CM, Chicago Critical Mass, Chicago Now, Critical Mass
Views: 3052
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Davo on -
Is it that time again. I havn't seen one of these "articles" in a while. In my 5+ years of doing CCM, I have seen (IMO) the animosity between CCMrs and cars deminish. I guess this guy needed to promote his book and came across a journal entry from a few years back. Unfortunatly I don't want to post to this guys post because that would be another thing on the web that I have to log into or let facebook know what I like.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on -
We've already had people bust through the crowd in cars, along Mi. Ave, North ave.
I'm for the tallbikes, bmx'rs trick bike riding wheelies along the raised bed planters in the median...the problem is always the ones that ride in the oncoming lane and drivers justifiably get angry.
Now this guy writing the article comparing cyclist to Jihad!? Nut case. But he's a PROFESSIONAL cyclist, yeah I know him the one that packs his bikes into an SUV and drives to ride his bike being self righteous about the laws of cycling.
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Permalink Reply by Rowbike Mike on -
"Critical Massholes are to fundamentalist terrorists what Islam is to cycling."
Not only did he butcher the analogy, but comparing what Critical Mass does to killing innocent people is a tell-tale sign that this guy is frothing way too much onto his keyboard.
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Permalink Reply by Peenworm "8 mile" Grubologist on -
Critical Massholes are to fundamentalist terrorists what islam is to cycling: totally unrelated. Unless there's some relationship between islam and cycling I'm unaware of.
Yeah this is a silly white noise troll, notable only for his conceit that he's a True Cyclist and the thousands of people on bicycles aren't cyclists, plus the "there will be blood on your hands" is adorable.
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Permalink Reply by Peenworm "8 mile" Grubologist on
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blah blah motorist taxpayers vs cycling... non... taxpayers presumably blah blah this is ultimately worse for cyclists blah blah which is why cycling in chicago has gotten so much worse as mass has grown
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Permalink Reply by Davo on
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In his responce to someone correcting what his picture was of:
Im confused, is he trying to promote a more positive image for cyclists or is it something that only the elite can do. What a douche
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Permalink Reply by Peenworm "8 mile" Grubologist on
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Cycling: it's His World!
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Permalink Reply by Peenworm "8 mile" Grubologist on
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Scott Rowan (aka The Urban Cyclist) began commuting daily via bicycle from his Lakeview condo to his office in the South Loop in 2004. Scott doesn't "do centuries" or weekend races and you won't find one expensive piece of cycling-specific clothing in his closet. Nearly 100% of his cycling is done on city streets as his daily mode of transportation.
His bike: a $450 Trek FX.
His clothes: $10 shorts/shirt.
His daily commute: 12 miles round trip.
His odometer: 15,000+ miles since 2004.Whoa... whoa... his cycling levels are... are so high, so high, he is truly The Cyclist.
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Schneider on -
A little off topic, but...
The Urban Cyclist says, "I’ve also ridden my bike all my life and been in more than a dozen accidents..."
Well, I've also been cycling quite a few years (l'm an old dog), I put in a lot more city miles than he does (5k/year), and I even ride regularly beyond the near North Side. Yet I have been in precisely ONE minor (no injury) accident.
A dozen accidents, even over a lifetime, seems like quite a lot unless you have terrible luck or really don't have a clue how to handle yourself in traffic. It makes me wonder about the value of the advice in his Survival Guide. Still, I think his intentions are good, even if he gets a little too worked up about CCM.
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Permalink Reply by Serge Lubomudrov on -
Good point.
As for his intentions . . . after reading his answer to the comments at the Chicago Now, I'm convinced: he's just trying to push that book of his. Nothing like a scandal, however small.
Jeff Schneider said:A little off topic, but...
The Urban Cyclist says, "I’ve also ridden my bike all my life and been in more than a dozen accidents..."
Well, I've also been cycling quite a few years (l'm an old dog), I put in a lot more city miles than he does (5k/year), and I even ride regularly beyond the near North Side. Yet I have been in precisely ONE minor (no injury) accident.
A dozen accidents, even over a lifetime, seems like quite a lot unless you have terrible luck or really don't have a clue how to handle yourself in traffic. It makes me wonder about the value of the advice in his Survival Guide. Still, I think his intentions are good, even if he gets a little too worked up about CCM.
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Permalink Reply by Davo on
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The best part is the poster that "happens" to have "the urban cyclist's" real name that writes in the same ignorant style just for the opposite side.
This is real lazy trolling. I thought that died out a while ago.
Still some what fun to follow that "discussion"
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Permalink Reply by h' 1.0 on -
No time to find the statistic now, but there are stats showing that every brain injury increases your likelihood of having another down the road (so to speak).
Not saying this guy is brain-injured, but it would explain a lot...
Jeff Schneider said:A little off topic, but...
The Urban Cyclist says, "I’ve also ridden my bike all my life and been in more than a dozen accidents..."
Well, I've also been cycling quite a few years (l'm an old dog), I put in a lot more city miles than he does (5k/year), and I even ride regularly beyond the near North Side. Yet I have been in precisely ONE minor (no injury) accident.
A dozen accidents, even over a lifetime, seems like quite a lot unless you have terrible luck or really don't have a clue how to handle yourself in traffic. It makes me wonder about the value of the advice in his Survival Guide. Still, I think his intentions are good, even if he gets a little too worked up about CCM.
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The image is what is what is vital - motorists have no patience for cyclists. Cycling "tourists" like you who don't live on a bike will not understand. To you "it's only a day" and that's my point - it's not a day. It's a negative attitude you have instilled in motorists. And then you've gone back to your car or bus. But for daily cyclists like myself you have caused us problems you don't ever know about because you're only in our world "for a day" but we live on bikes. You clearly are missing the entire point of the discussion. Please go spend you time avoiding work elsewhere. The adults here are busy.