joined the darkside

jamsop
jamsop Posts: 51
edited October 2009 in Road beginners
Hi,

I am a long time MTB'r (Merlin) and an occasional commuter on my retro Raleigh road bike which was converted to flat bars.

Since watching the TdF last year I have been hooked since and decided now is the time to join the darkside :roll:

Got my new carbon road bike and love the whole new aspect of road riding. The speed, precision and the ability to not have to travel by car before hitting the trails.

Few things I have noticed though. Why are other roadies so grumpy? On mountain bike trails everyone seems to acknowledge with a "Hi" or something. Are all roadies on a mission?

There's another thing which I seem to notice more and that is wind noise/buffering on my ears! I sometimes don't realise that there is car coming up behind me :?

Is there a solution apart from ear muffs and MP3 players. As I need to be aware of my surroundings.

Comments

  • I don't think Roadies are grumpy! I cycled round the isle of wight a couple of weeks ago and everyone I passed said hi except someone on a mountain bike. I guess it might depend on the area/routes you're going on, but I find most are very polite!

    As for the noisiness, it is a problem, but don't revert to something to cover the noise. I find my ears are my most valuable asset out on the road - the noise from cars is drowned out a lot by the wind but covering it over iwth a louder noise is not the way forwards. Personally I put up with it, and just look over my right shoulder every minute or so just to check that my ears aren't letting me down. I soon found that after I started on the road I got used to picking out engine sounds quite well from the background wind noise.

    Welcome to the road though!
  • daviesee
    daviesee Posts: 6,386
    jamsop wrote:
    Hi,

    I am a long time MTB'r (Merlin) and an occasional commuter on my retro Raleigh road bike which was converted to flat bars.

    Since watching the TdF last year I have been hooked since and decided now is the time to join the darkside :roll:

    Got my new carbon road bike and love the whole new aspect of road riding. The speed, precision and the ability to not have to travel by car before hitting the trails.

    Few things I have noticed though. Why are other roadies so grumpy? On mountain bike trails everyone seems to acknowledge with a "Hi" or something. Are all roadies on a mission?

    There's another thing which I seem to notice more and that is wind noise/buffering on my ears! I sometimes don't realise that there is car coming up behind me :?

    Is there a solution apart from ear muffs and MP3 players. As I need to be aware of my surroundings.

    Slow down :wink:
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • Welcome to the dark (but better :wink: ) side.

    The whole moody roadie argument gets covered a lot. Obviously you get rude people in all aspects of life but I think roadies can be perceived as rude when they're not. If you're pushing yourself hard enough it shouldn't really be possible to talk a great deal so an acknowledgement might only come in the form of a nod, which I guess has potential to seem rude but generally isn't intended to be so. But to those that are rude; don't let it get to you. They're not worth getting wound up about!

    You'll get used to the noise! Just make sure you look around a lot to compensate. This also helps drivers as they then know that you're aware of the prescence and tend to be more considerate (I've found anyway). I personally do cycle with music (one earpiece in) as I make conscious effects to look around as much as i can (I'm of the opinion that hearing cars is of less importance then seeing them), but it will reduce all noise not just that of the wind so don't do it to mask out the wind noise, only do it if you feel confident on the road!
  • There's another thing which I seem to notice more and that is wind noise/buffering on my ears! I sometimes don't realise that there is car coming up behind me Confused

    Is there a solution apart from ear muffs and MP3 players. As I need to be aware of my surroundings.

    That's got me wondering whether anyone has ever tried wearing earplugs? I've got some plugs that were designed for working in loud environments. Surprisingly, using them for work, I found that I actually became more aware of peripheral sounds rather than less aware. I suppose it's because the ear-drums are less stressed when noise levels are attenuated across the whole audio spectrum.

    On the other hand, I've never thought of trying them on a bike. I might just do that one windy day - because cycling into a headwind and being deafened at the same time is really wearing - and report back.
  • skinson
    skinson Posts: 362
    How many of us say "good morning" to every person you see when walking to work, the shops, just out? Why then do you expect people to speak to you just because your on a bike? I can pass, be passed by many riders before one may speak. Do I bother? Do I b0lll0x. Don't let it worry you.....it doesn't matter!!!!
    Dave
  • teagar
    teagar Posts: 2,100
    I'm miserable on my road bike (unless i'm out with the club - in which case the only way to shut me up is to set a smashing pace) because I'm normally out to cheer myself up. Unfortunately, the cheering up bit kicks off about 10 minutes after I've got off the bike.

    And it hurts. A lot.
    Note: the above post is an opinion and not fact. It might be a lie.
  • 105747.jpg

    :D

    As if.
  • macondo01
    macondo01 Posts: 706
    Hi ! Welcome to the road bike side! How are you going to hear all those friendly hellos if you have ear muffs on or are listening to Kylie? :wink:
    .
    "Let not the sands of time get in your lunch"

    National Lampoon
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    105747.jpg

    :D

    As if.

    This on a road bike would be wrong.

    Wecome to the darkside.
  • jamsop
    jamsop Posts: 51
    skinson wrote:
    How many of us say "good morning" to every person you see when walking to work, the shops, just out? Why then do you expect people to speak to you just because your on a bike? I can pass, be passed by many riders before one may speak. Do I bother? Do I b0lll0x. Don't let it worry you.....it doesn't matter!!!!
    Dave


    I'm talking about cycling through the country on rural roads. And yes, in general most people would say Hi when walking and passing. Even most MTB'rs do it.

    Fair enough. Seems like this is the norm then with you guys.

    I wouldn't say it bothers me greatly just an observation. I'll just shut up and get on my bike.
  • jamsop wrote:
    skinson wrote:
    How many of us say "good morning" to every person you see when walking to work, the shops, just out? Why then do you expect people to speak to you just because your on a bike? I can pass, be passed by many riders before one may speak. Do I bother? Do I b0lll0x. Don't let it worry you.....it doesn't matter!!!!
    Dave


    I'm talking about cycling through the country on rural roads. And yes, in general most people would say Hi when walking and passing. Even most MTB'rs do it.

    Fair enough. Seems like this is the norm then with you guys.

    I wouldn't say it bothers me greatly just an observation. I'll just shut up and get on my bike.

    After it was mentioned further up and I thought about it, often a nod is all I can muster from time to time which could be a source of rudeness if no-one sees, but I do try to do it when i catch the others eyes.
  • Flasheart
    Flasheart Posts: 1,278
    Generally just give a smile and nod at roadies going the other way. 99% reciprocated
    The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle. ...Stapp’s Ironical Paradox Law
    FCN3
    http://img87.yfrog.com/img87/336/mycubeb.jpg
    http://lonelymiddlesomethingguy.blogspot.com/
  • tenbar
    tenbar Posts: 94
    Those that are grumpy on the bike are generally grumpy when not.

    As to the noise issue; wearing a helmet makes the noise much worse due to the sir being buffeted next to your ears. Cycling without a helmet will take most of the noise away, unless it's very windy, but I wouldn't advise it because that's naughty.
  • jamsop
    jamsop Posts: 51
    Mmm got me thinking...

    :idea: maybe someone should design some sort of discreet ear wind deflector attachment for the helmet. :lol:

    I think a big TT aero helmet might solve the problem but a bit OTT..... :P
  • Aggieboy
    Aggieboy Posts: 3,996
    jamsop wrote:
    skinson wrote:
    How many of us say "good morning" to every person you see when walking to work, the shops, just out? Why then do you expect people to speak to you just because your on a bike? I can pass, be passed by many riders before one may speak. Do I bother? Do I b0lll0x. Don't let it worry you.....it doesn't matter!!!!
    Dave


    I'm talking about cycling through the country on rural roads. And yes, in general most people would say Hi when walking and passing. Even most MTB'rs do it.

    Fair enough. Seems like this is the norm then with you guys.

    I wouldn't say it bothers me greatly just an observation. I'll just shut up and get on my bike.


    Skinson is always miserable. I think it's the constant and uninterrupted (read unanswered) phone ringing at Ribble that's got to him. :lol:
    "There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world, t'would be a pity to damage yours."
  • skyd0g
    skyd0g Posts: 2,540
    Flasheart wrote:
    Generally just give a smile and nod at roadies going the other way. 99% reciprocated

    +1 :D
    Cycling weakly