Road biker snobbery - alive and well...

Nuggs

You will find nobs in every walk of life in every part of the world. Don't let it get to you.

LittleB0b

Usually by the time I have thought processed and smiled/waved/nodded in reply the person has passed and i'm just greeting into thin air. They probably think i'm rude - the reality i'm just abit slow and uncoordinated.

Lots of people do seem to smile though (or is that laughter)

flanners1

I concur with you, but I have found more rude ignorant twats in road cycling. As for the poster who said he waved to a bloke when getting his paper the other day...would'nt it be nice if we had a community where you could do that instead of the awful one we have where I live

Slow Downcp

Flanners1 wrote:

I concur with you, but I have found more rude ignorant twats in road cycling. As for the poster who said he waved to a bloke when getting his paper the other day...would'nt it be nice if we had a community where you could do that instead of the awful one we have where I live

The point I was making is that why expect someone to say hello, just because they also ride a bike. I always try to say hello or wave (or raise my hand slightly on the bars if having an off day), but I don't get hung up on it and think others are snobs or ignorant just because they choose not to.

nickwill

If a cyclist thinks you are another cyclist, he will probably acknowledge you because you are likely to have something in common. If he sees what looks like a pedestrian on a bike, he may well think that you don't share the obsession, and therfore not attempt to make contact. There seems to be a common theme developing at the moment with mountain bikers getting a bee in their bonnet about rude miserable roadies. As a roadie I've found most fellow obsessives to be pretty friendly. I rode the Dragon Ride yesterday, and had loads of conversations with people.

boneyjoe

Why are we so obsessed with greating total strangers? :? You don't go waving at people while driving your car, or walking down the street now do you?

sandbag

hehe

dodgy

Nickwill wrote:

If a cyclist thinks you are another cyclist, he will probably acknowledge you because you are likely to have something in common. If he sees what looks like a pedestrian on a bike, he may well think that you don't share the obsession, and therfore not attempt to make contact. There seems to be a common theme developing at the moment with mountain bikers getting a bee in their bonnet about rude miserable roadies. As a roadie I've found most fellow obsessives to be pretty friendly. I rode the Dragon Ride yesterday, and had loads of conversations with people.

Spot on, some people are almost getting paranoid about not being 'let on to'. I wave at MTBers and Roadies if they look like they share my passion for cycling, but if they're just wobbling along in jeans and trainers it would be a bit weird to say hi.

rally200

Met a club of few really friendly roadies the other day who were very friendly depsite me being in baggies (gasp), with a peaked lid on (horror) ,and on my frankly embarassing hybrid (oh the humanity!).

Then a few days later on my road bke I come across some twerp & his missus - flash road bikes, rapha/assos kit over pot-belly , who couldn't bring themselves to loook a me, let alone smile as ( assume because I was in baggies & peaked lid for my commute) - oh well tomorrow I could well be in my road kit, but I wont acknowledge him as he'll still be a fat miserable bast*rd

john_reeve41

I went for quite a long ride last weekend. Plenty of cyclists past me by and they all said hello or gave a nod. I was wearing Jeans, a baggy t-shirt, had a flourescent waistcoat on, a peak attached to my lid and I was riding a commuter bike complete with bell, mud guards, pannier rack (with pannier bag attached of course) and even a stand!

Wish I hadn't worn the jeans though! I've since invested in lycra shorts, jersey and cycling shoes. Just need to buy a road bike now...

workhard

I got my first road bike in 20 years last year. Clothing wise MTB gear is all I've got so it's baggies over tights for me rather than lycra loutery every time.

Some people acknowledge you some don't who cares.....just smile and keep pedalling!

Rich Hcp

Most people say hello, no matter if I'm on my roadie or MTB

I get over it and keep going if they don't.

The bloke who lives opposite me always blanks me.

I started off on an old rigid MTB for a couple of years, which he looked down his nose at as he went by in his club lycra

I then got my Allez (And some lycra) he still looked down at me and pedals faster with a "determined" look on his face

The laugh is, I'm nearly 44 years old, with one leg shorter (With weak ankle and calf) than the other and he feels he has to perform to show how good he is. I know my limitations, I have no inferiority complex.

I have a new hardtail now, he's not seen it, I know what the look will be.

My other half has seen him blank me and 'ride with a determined look on his face' and can't believe it, we call him "serious bike man"

or T*sser

His wife is a nice lady and always says hello.......

softlad

RickyG wrote:

However, I don't think anyone likes being overtaken which probably contributed slightly to this guy's behaviour (although he still sounds like a rude git).

that's probably true - but unless you are a pro rider, it is almost inevitable that you will be passed by someone quicker than you, sooner or later. Not all cyclists ride in the opposite direction...

Garz

For a split second when im riding if they have blanked me I might think what a t*sser, but have not give it much thought to waste time over during a ride. Most people are fine where I ride.

freehub

I pick and choose who I say hello to, some people just look like they wont reply.

Garz

If I seen will with his new posture fly by I bet you he would blank me..






8)

jimbonorth

Only people on bikes I dont nod or say hi to are those without a helmet just cant bring myself to do it.

Even the older chaps on the road who always go "I've been riding for years never needed a helmet..blah blah blah." just cant seem to bring myself to respect them, especially after being knocked off on a roundabout a month ago and spending several days in hospital.

RuffRooster

Up until very recently I was a hybrid only rider and therefore well used to being blanked or at the bottom of someone’s nose.

Some riders tho' are capable of a level of rudeness I've not experienced since I was about 12.

I was out on my hybrid the other day (purely to demonstrate to the wife that I do indeed still need and will use that bike and, er, the other one at the back of the shed with the fat tyres) when a fellow rider drew up next to me at the lights. The dialogue went like this

Him "Don't you have a road bike?"
Me "Yes"
Him "Is it broken?”
Me "No"
Him " Then why is that heap of sh't not in a skip?”

I sort of see where he was coming from but he could have just asked if he wanted to try it on !

oxonmackem

Just bought my first road bike for 30 years, was out last weekend, baggies, peaked helmet,trainers and could sense the ridicule from the replica top lycra wearing crew, who cares, enjoy myself, sod them

jgsi

jimbonorth wrote:

just cant seem to bring myself to respect them, especially after being knocked off on a roundabout a month ago and spending several days in hospital.

Just learn to ride better without getting involved..
Sorry being facetious here, but I do insists on me right to ride helmetless when the sun is out and if that upsets a few here and there 'cos the perception is.. YOU MUST wear helmet at all times well fair does.. I wont nod or wave to you either.. I dont ride for respect, chief! 8)

majormantra

jimbonorth wrote:

Only people on bikes I dont nod or say hi to are those without a helmet just cant bring myself to do it.

:roll:

Matthew

dodgy

jimbonorth wrote:

Only people on bikes I dont nod or say hi to are those without a helmet just cant bring myself to do it.

Even the older chaps on the road who always go "I've been riding for years never needed a helmet..blah blah blah." just cant seem to bring myself to respect them, especially after being knocked off on a roundabout a month ago and spending several days in hospital.

You know what's more dangerous than riding a bike without a helmet? Not getting any exercise at all. Statistically I will live longer than a couch potato even without my helmet.

I hope you don't show any 'respect' to people who don't cycle?

nickwill

oxonmackem wrote:

Just bought my first road bike for 30 years, was out last weekend, baggies, peaked helmet,trainers and could sense the ridicule from the replica top lycra wearing crew, who cares, enjoy myself, sod them

I almost sense a chip on the shoulder in some of these posts. There seems to be a bit of inverted snobbery towards people who wear lycra and take their hobby seriously. All the people I ride with wear lycra, not to pose, but because it is the best tool for the job. If I see somebody riding a road bike in baggies, I'm not going to think any less of them, but I am going to assume that they are probably not dyed in the wool roadies. You naturally feel more of a bond with people that you assume have the same attitude to cycling as you do. Its also possible that some of the people you assume are being rude are actually concentrating on their training; doing intervals or the like.

Flasheart

I give everyone going the other way a nod and or a smile (between gasps for air) and I always say "morning" or "afternoon" or even an Aussie "G'day" as I blast past em from behind (until I'm out of sight and back off to recover)

We're polite down in the New Forest, I even moo back at the cows on the road :roll:

Headhuunter

Nickwill wrote:

oxonmackem wrote:

Just bought my first road bike for 30 years, was out last weekend, baggies, peaked helmet,trainers and could sense the ridicule from the replica top lycra wearing crew, who cares, enjoy myself, sod them

I almost sense a chip on the shoulder in some of these posts. There seems to be a bit of inverted snobbery towards people who wear lycra and take their hobby seriously. All the people I ride with wear lycra, not to pose, but because it is the best tool for the job. If I see somebody riding a road bike in baggies, I'm not going to think any less of them, but I am going to assume that they are probably not dyed in the wool roadies. You naturally feel more of a bond with people that you assume have the same attitude to cycling as you do. Its also possible that some of the people you assume are being rude are actually concentrating on their training; doing intervals or the like.

I was actually thinking the same thing! The guy may well have been too out of breath even to speak.

I must admit, when I'm out on a long road ride at the weekend, all trussed up in me lycra, I give a nod to other "roadies" but not to every Tom, Dick and Harry on hybrids, MTBs, tourers etc in trackie bottoms and panniers, simply because in countryside around London I would just end up looking like a nodding dog and as Nickwill points out, you feel more of a bond with someone else who takes (or is trying to take) cycling to the next level rather than someone who's obviously just pulled their bike out of the back of the shed on a nice day in June for a quick ride in the country.

No offence to the casual rider - good on 'em for getting out there and certainly I would say hello (if I wasn't out of breath) if they said something to me, no need to be rude but I'm not going to wave and shout "morning" to everyone when I'm trying to give it my all.

wicked

I am confused. So what you are saying is that anyyone who does not happen to say hello to you is an ignorant twunt?
It must take you ages to go shopping what with stopping to say hello to all the fellow shoppers.
Just because someone shares a pastime with yourself it does not mean that he or she have to be best mates. I say hello to other cyclists but also to horse riders and hikers but if I get no reply then no problem!
No skin off my nose.

walkernomore

Is there a shrink in the house?

STEFANOS4784

walkernomore wrote:

Is there a shrink in the house?

If so i've got a few issues......

paulorg

pete600 wrote:

the ultimate faux pas, a helmet which has a PEAK attacked to the front :oops:

what's the crack about the peak on a helmet ? Mines got one on should i take it immediately.
:oops:

Mine does too and I'm keeping it, I like the fact it keeps the sun out of my eyes on the trip to work and the rain off my specs unless it's foggy , I don't care about cycling snobs, I say hi to everyone or at least give them a nod, except the chavs on their £80 full suspension drainpipes as they cycle home in the dark in head to toe black and that's only cos i'm scared they'll knife me for talking to them

Anonymous

Peaked helmet? That's clearly only for n00bs!