One Irish cyclist has taken up the Farmers Journal logic and applied it to the farming community.
Farmers Journal cycling article shamed by this response
A few days ago we brought you news of an opinion column about cyclists in the Farmers Journal.
Penned by RTE broadcaster Damien O'Reilly, it argued cyclists were disliked by other road users because of the way they dressed.
O'Reilly makes the point he had been in France and Denmark and the cyclists there were sophisticated and were dressed smartly rather than in cycling gear.
"Before he puts his leg in Lycra over the crossbar, the Irish cycling outfit arrogantly screams to the rest of us: ‘Get out of my way’. And yes, it is mainly male cyclists I am talking about," he wrote.
"The next time a cyclist returns home from work wondering; ‘why me?’, they might have a look at themselves in the mirror. (That is) before they begin the laborious process of peeling off the garb, for their answer.”
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You can read our story on the column by following this link: Irish cyclists dress too aggressively – Farmers Journal column
Stickybottle reader Niall Bleeks left a message on our story that was so sharp and to the point we just had to bring it to you here.
Bleeks starts off by taking up Damien O'Reilly's logic and applying it to the farming community.
And with his point made beautifully, Bleeks explains the problem he has with the Farmers Journal printing columns like O'Reilly's.
By Niall Bleeks
Whilst holidaying in the Normandy countryside recently I was struck by how well turned out the country gents were in their tweed suits.
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It really got me thinking about the contrast between those I have come across on my travels and those I see out around town every day in my own country - manure stained overalls, wellington boots covered in mud and a fragrance one could only describe as 'fruity'.
Often on the drive home in the evening, particularly through the summer, I am caught behind a tractor or some other farming vehicle.
Travelling along at 15mph, taking up the whole road whilst a queue of traffic slowly grows behind.
Ample opportunities to pull in are casually ignored and often I think someone should have a word with the 13 year old allowed to drive this heavy machinery that perhaps they should think of other road users.
Most charming of all is the notion that seems to be prevalent in the country that the rule of law, or at least the inconvenient parts of it, does not apply.
Fly tipping? Illegal turf cutting? Few scoops at the pub before driving home? Not a problem to the farmer, and yes, it is mainly the male farmers I am speaking about.
See, sweeping generalisations about people are wrong.
This is of course untrue and in fact many of my family are involved in the farming industry.
The problem is that the public discourse regarding cyclists is becoming increasingly toxic and unfortunately this ends in cyclists being injured or worse.
Trying to demonstrate how 'real' you are by throwing around insults just makes one look like a fool who doesn't really have anything intelligent to say and so writes stupid articles to help others confirm their bias against cyclists.
I don't care about someone laughing at my lycra. What I do care about is the spreading of a very dangerous idea that cyclists are somehow asking for it.
A half hearted 'that doesn't mean there is any excuse for road rage' doesn't quite cover remarks such as “But the next time a cyclist returns home from work wondering; ‘why me?’ they might have a look at themselves in the mirror."
Unfortunately there are people who don't get to come home and don't get to ask 'why me' as too many cyclists are aware.
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