Refreshingly pleasant experience.

RT8

I hope people stick with this post as I am not bashing any cycling enthusiasts as it may appear, I just haven't had great experiences in my area. Though there is light at the end of this long and arduous post I assure you!

I'm not sure if this is the norm in most places, and I hope it isn't. But I live in a very rural part of Wales, and there's a lot of serious cyclist's about. (Which I think is good, there are not nearly enough people who enjoy this wonderful sport.) So I have seen and had experience, even as a novice, with rather a lot.
And I have sadly found there's quite a lot of what I can only describe as 'elitism', and a lot of arrogance.
I still ride my mountain bike on the road's while I'm saving for my racer. And understand I may look a little odd as a 6'2 guy on a battered, slightly small mountain bike in baggy shorts and a t shirt, but I don't see the need for 'pro cyclist' types to actually laugh and appear to talk about me or anyone who hasn't yet got enough money for all the gear.
And that isn't including the occasion I nearly ended up having a nasty accident coming over a narrow river bridge when an over taking roadie threw his used gel pack over his shoulder and cut my eyelid! Or the numerous times I've seen them nearly killing pedestrians on the cycle tracks.

So when the rear tyre of my bike buckled and jammed against the brake blocks miles from home, and an obviously very experienced roadie stopped to assist me I was pleasantly surprised. He removed the rear brake with a set of allen key's and such he had stored in his under seat bag (which I now realize must be invaluable on long trips and are now firmly on my to buy list) And after a short but pleasant chat, I managed to limp home. Instead of having to half push half carry my Raleigh as I had feared!

I just wish more in my neck of the woods were of his opinion, because It's a beautiful area that more should physically experience. And I think quite a few people have been put off by the above nonsense. Or feeling like a bit of a mug because they didn't have the perfect most aero-dynamic kit and losing heart etc.. Instead of a more camaraderie of the road vibe I was looking forward to 15 odd months ago, when I started.

Anyhow, I was just wondering if any others have had similar fuelling experiences ?

Grill

And?

TheEnglishman

the peloton came knocking on the door and made him an offer he couldn't refuse?

RT8

Sorry folks, edited and fixed.

I also had not realized this topic has somehow posted twice!

Hoopdriver

I have a nice road bike, a Pegoretti, but I certainly do not sneer at others when I ride and I would hate for anyone to think I did. And if I see anyone with a break down I always stop and ask if they need assistance. I'm far from alone in that. Hopefully you'll meet more of the (majority, I hope!) nice riders in the future.

You do live in a nice part of the world for riding.

Ignore the idiots as best you can and just enjoy your rides.

Grill

I live in Cardiff but do most of my road biking towards Caerphilly. There are a good amount of roadies up that way but they always wave and say hello. Maybe I'm lucky, but I know the types you're on about.

Secteur

This sort of post comes up all the time.

The world is full of good and bad people.

Most roadies, in my experience, are good people and not really elitist at all - they just like to look good. If you actually needed them, I think most would happily stop and help.

Perhaps you are a little paranoid? Or maybe you have the Negative attitude problem.

I'm not trying to be inflammatory, but these sorts of post just irritate me.

COI: Lycra-roadie, looks the part but not elitist at all. Oh, and I still have hairy legs!

RT8

Secteur wrote:

This sort of post comes up all the time.

The world is full of good and bad people.

Most roadies, in my experience, are good people and not really elitist at all - they just like to look good. If you actually needed them, I think most would happily stop and help.

Perhaps you are a little paranoid? Or maybe you have the Negative attitude problem.

I'm not trying to be inflammatory, but these sorts of post just irritate me.

COI: Lycra-roadie, looks the part but not elitist at all. Oh, and I still have hairy legs!

No, I understand what you mean. I just fail to see how someone lobbing something over their shoulder and twatting me in the face from no more than 3 feet in front of me could be an accident.

Or when I passed two guy's on an Van Nicholas and a Giant worth more than my Uni tuition, and they laughed and called me a ''bloody amateur''.

FYI, I have no problem with people who have all the kit, I'm all for it and slowly trying to build my own collection. I wasn't basing it on them being correctly attired?! Simply their actual up close attitude.

Though aye, I guess I could be Schizophrenic and imaging it :S

Secteur

Fair enough - littering in the way you describe is unacceptable and to call another rider "amateurish" is twattish* to the highest level.

Stick with it though!

I have a (relatively) cheap bike simply because I don't trust myself with something more expensive, and I don't care what anyone thinks... But if someone said that to me, I'd be having words back!

* I used a stronger term, but the auto-filter replaced it with the word "foolish"!!

JimboBrennan

I'm often out and about around Cardiff and see plenty of folks, from people who look like they've been in the shed and remembered they bought a bike 10 years ago, up to the peloton of (I assume) club riders... I generally always give a wave or a nod, and the majority give a nod back, though there are the odd few who look at you like you've just curled one out on their front lawn - that's life! The worst snobby cyclist is still a thousand times better than the average motorist!

McNulty

there will always be the odd idiot - and regardless of what you wear or what you ride they will be an idiot.

IN saying that your attitude and insecurity says more about you than anyone else that you perceive to be looking down their nose at you - you're like the fat woman in the gym who imagines that everyone is staring at her - they aren't. No one cares, get over yourself.

RT8

McNulty wrote:

there will always be the odd idiot - and regardless of what you wear or what you ride they will be an idiot.

IN saying that your attitude and insecurity says more about you than anyone else that you perceive to be looking down their nose at you - you're like the fat woman in the gym who imagines that everyone is staring at her - they aren't. No one cares, get over yourself.

I really am quite surprised how so many people find a nod or brief smile in thanks to someone moving for them etc, such a grievance. And a point that should be hotly and rudely argued against for the next 50 years.

No, it isn't necessary. As several people on here have made it clear to me. But good manners cost nothing. The world would be a better place if more people like you realized that, friend.

biscuit959

RT8 wrote:

Or the numerous times I've seen them nearly killing pedestrians on the cycle tracks.

Surely the pedestrians shouldn't have been on the cycle paths?

RT8

biscuit959 wrote:

RT8 wrote:

Or the numerous times I've seen them nearly killing pedestrians on the cycle tracks.

Surely the pedestrians shouldn't have been on the cycle paths?

It's both technically, there's actually more people on foot there than cyclist's mostly. Just because it's a bike friendly footpath, doesn't mean it should be used irresponsibly. I'm sure most would agree.

And to my knowledge - There's no laws permitting a pedestrian from using a cycle path anyway? An even if their was, common courtesy on the cyclist part doesn't do any harm.

I'd say the same to a car driver who was getting impatient to pedestrians at a zebra crossing etc.