Told I need to get new bike.

steel42

I don't want to name and shame the club, because everyone else was really nice and very accomadating. This was my first time on a club run and have only been on the bike from mid may. When I arrived at the meeting point this individual introduced himself and started asking me about my experience, distance covered and max and average speed, thought this was fine as probable trying to decide what group to set me off in. On telling him my info he looked my bike up and down and walked away without saying anything. The ride was carried out and I really enjoyed myself until we got back to the meeting point. When we finished the guy went straight over to the lead rider and started quizzing him on me, then walked straight over looked me and my bike up and down and said, you need to get a new bike, what that cost you? Probable not even £300. I was shocked. Does this happen a lot or did I just turn up at the wrong club.

Wirral_paul

He sounds like a complete and utter to$$er!! Ignore the pompous idiot. The only people who get any stick in my club are those who ride tyres so worn that they puncture twice per ride, or those who dont look after their bikes and have loads of mechanicals (irrespective of £300 or £6000 bike

mattv

That's not the right way to go about it at all.... Some people think a bike has to be more expensive to keep up on a club ride. Is it definitely not because it is in need of a service? Or dramatically the wrong size? Judging by the fact you finished the ride without being dropped I would guess he is just being a bike snob.

steel42

That's what I was thinking, shame to not go back because of one idiot, tho I did get my first puncture inside 5 miles of setting off, might get some new tyres

nochekmate

Ignore him. Keep going to the club (or find a new one if this is a general attitude on their rides) and in time you will hopefully even have the satisfaction of leaving him in a trail of dust behind you - you might then wish to remind him of the cost of your bike!

Upgrade your bike as and when you wish to not when others think you should!

Mikey23

He could have been the proprietor of the local bike shop...

elderone

Why cant you name and shame?If I was in this club I wouldn,t want to be represented by such a knob,or even associated with said knob.

The Real Radioactiveman

drop the cnut and watch him cry inside

fluided

We have two guys turn up on mountain bikes with slicks, I say good on them you need to enjoy yourself in a club and not be judged, the guy sounds like a complete d**k

NewTTer

I would venture that this is total fabricated nonsense.

markhewitt1978

If you weren't holding them up then no problems.

Bozman

We all need a new bike but being told that you need one is a different matter.
I would personally use that as an excuse, tell the other half that the bike isn't quite up to the job, the club have suggested that it would be in my/our best interests to purchase a new bike.

high tower

This is a shame as it can take a fair bit of courage for some riders to join a club. First day nerves, 15 to 50 new people to meet and maybe having a lack of confidence in their riding ability or fear of being dropped.

And to compound all that Knob opens his mouth and has a go, wound not happen at my club and if it did Knob would be told to shut up or join another club.

Glad to hear the others had a warm welcome for you, if it had been me I would just pulled him aside and told him that your not interested in his opinion and to keep his mouth shut. In a friendly manner of course. Nip it in the but so to speak.

kayo74

Get your own group together. Club are like cults my way or no way.

themekon

NewTTer wrote:

I would venture that this is total fabricated nonsense.

I don't know why you think this. I know of a certain club member who told a newcomer that unless he was dressed in the apropriate kit he would have to ride off the back, The lad just wanted to wear tracksuit bottoms and a teeshirt.

iPete

NewTTer wrote:

I would venture that this is total fabricated nonsense.

This.

But I am curious if it has a triple, then fair enough.

HebdenBiker

Reminds me of my first time going to a cycling club when I was about 14, on my 5-speed "racer" and wearing a tracksuit. I walked into the clubhouse, everyone looked me up and down, then someone came up and told me "this isn't a youth club, son". I left.

I blame that man for the fact that, now I'm 37, I'm not riding the TdF this week

steel42

Think I'll take everyone's advice and ignore him. I don't want to name and shame because everyone else in the club were fantastic, from giving me a new tube to explaining why I got a flat, they just couldn't help enough. Plus the guy isn't in my group so only have to interact with him at the start and finish.

steel42

But I am curious if it has a triple, then fair enough. [/quote]

Yep I have a triple :oops:

iPete

Glad to hear everyone else was nice! As for the triple comment, don't worry just tongue in cheek..

ianbar

i would personally ignore him plus why is he not riding? its a shame cos if he was you could burn him off! i would also once more conformable in the group say something to someone in charge, he is bound to have put others off and what other rubbish is he coming out with!? its stories like this that put me off turn up to a club run!

Monty Dog

I have seen people turn up at rides with worn tyres and brakes, frayed cables etc. Make sure that your bike is well maintained and your tyres are in good condition and carry a spare tube, pump and tools etc and then others have no reason to complain. The fact that you needed to borrow a tube suggests you could have been better prepared. Stopping frequently in fine weather is tolerable, when it's raining and people want to get home it's a bit less pleasant.

Bustacapp

steel42 wrote:

I don't want to name and shame the club, because everyone else was really nice and very accomadating. This was my first time on a club run and have only been on the bike from mid may. When I arrived at the meeting point this individual introduced himself and started asking me about my experience, distance covered and max and average speed, thought this was fine as probable trying to decide what group to set me off in. On telling him my info he looked my bike up and down and walked away without saying anything. The ride was carried out and I really enjoyed myself until we got back to the meeting point. When we finished the guy went straight over to the lead rider and started quizzing him on me, then walked straight over looked me and my bike up and down and said, you need to get a new bike, what that cost you? Probable not even £300. I was shocked. Does this happen a lot or did I just turn up at the wrong club.

Sounds like a grade A prick. Should be kicked out of the club.

team47b

steel42 wrote:

On telling him my info he looked my bike up and down and walked away without saying anything.

What did you tell him your distances and average speed that upset him so?

Lot of people here get very upset if a newbie claims averages above 15mph

Lycra-Byka

We have people turn up on mtb's and knobbly tyres, hybrids with baskets and panniers. People come dressed in all sorts of attire.Even had to loan bikes. Who cares its a bike club, as long as the rider can keep up or at least(not that we'd leave them stranded)

I'd say the only thing that annoys me is people who can't repair a puncture or who don't carry basic supplies. I don't mind helping to change a tube but to supply one? They don't grow on trees! Well, maybe another thing is an ill serviced bike thats noisy,after 40miles or so a simple click can be enough to ruin a ride.

jgsi

Just name the club... dont be shy.. also gives them opportunity to defend if anyone from the club cares to read.
As long as you have not mis represented the situation, you have been victim to some boorish attitude.
Move on if need be.

steel42

Went back today for another run, it was a small group of 10 so we all went of as one group. The guy was in a good mood and told everyone there were a couple of long hard climbs on course. Felt great and as before everyone else was perfect. I had a quite smug feeling when the guy told us if anyone got dropped on the climbs they would be waiting for them to regroup at the end of the decent. Everyone agreed and I was grinning like the grinch. I enjoyed the look when he got dropped I must admit. When we regrouped he was in a great mood with me, asking me to stay up front and help tow the group. The run ended with him asking me if I'm interested in racing for them. All feels peachy and I don't feel bad about him getting dropped

Bustacapp

steel42 wrote:

Went back today for another run, it was a small group of 10 so we all went of as one group. The guy was in a good mood and told everyone there were a couple of long hard climbs on course. Felt great and as before everyone else was perfect. I had a quite smug feeling when the guy told us if anyone got dropped on the climbs they would be waiting for them to regroup at the end of the decent. Everyone agreed and I was grinning like the grinch. I enjoyed the look when he got dropped I must admit. When we regrouped he was in a great mood with me, asking me to stay up front and help tow the group. The run ended with him asking me if I'm interested in racing for them. All feels peachy and I don't feel bad about him getting dropped

Just name the club.

NewTTer

Bustacapp wrote:

steel42 wrote:

Went back today for another run, it was a small group of 10 so we all went of as one group. The guy was in a good mood and told everyone there were a couple of long hard climbs on course. Felt great and as before everyone else was perfect. I had a quite smug feeling when the guy told us if anyone got dropped on the climbs they would be waiting for them to regroup at the end of the decent. Everyone agreed and I was grinning like the grinch. I enjoyed the look when he got dropped I must admit. When we regrouped he was in a great mood with me, asking me to stay up front and help tow the group. The run ended with him asking me if I'm interested in racing for them. All feels peachy and I don't feel bad about him getting dropped

Just name the club.

"Ficticious Wheelers", from Dreamland Town

kbmack

Hi

This thread has put me off joining a club, unfortunately. I had the misfortune of tagging on the back of a bunch of members from a club clearly from south east London (an expensive part of town) meandering through Shoreham and Chelsfield villages in Kent last Friday. After enduring the self righteous speak of some of their members I thought to myself I was glad I am not part of this! The degree of self proclaimed expertise and merciless teasing of 'enthusiasts' and 'punters' was actually quite nauseating.

I left them completely on the hill.

drlodge

Plenty of guys riding "£300 Halfords" bikes, BTwin Triban 3 etc. in my club. Its not the bike that matters but the engine and the attitude of the person.

We have had some guys turn up that clearly didn't look the part, one on a moutain bike with a front pannier, big D lock and thought he was going to struggle. We were right...we suggested the 4 strugglers turn back at one point since the ride was a long one and they were unfairly holding back the rest of the group. The issue is about being able to keep up a sensible pace for the duration, than the equipment they're using. We suggested they turn up on a "beginners" ride, rather than a long one.