Non-cyclists – they just don't get us

24

Comments

  • downhill paul
    downhill paul Posts: 236
    The price of bike, wheels, tyres, shoes and pedals shocks a lot of none cyclists I speak to.
    not that I brag about the price of my equipment, it wasn't that expensive to begin with, but people still find it shocking.
  • ai_1
    ai_1 Posts: 3,060
    downhill paul wrote:
    The price of bike, wheels, tyres, shoes and pedals shocks a lot of none cyclists I speak to.
    not that I brag about the price of my equipment, it wasn't that expensive to begin with, but people still find it shocking.
    Well it's silly to spend much more than £200 or £300 on a bike.
    Everyone knows that.


    Thing is, you can bet all of us do the same thing when it comes to other hobbies and pastimes that we're not familiar with. It's easy to be dismissive, incredulous, etc about subjects you're not well informed or interested in.
  • robbo2011
    robbo2011 Posts: 1,017
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    What? You cycle into work and then... where do you shower?

    I think this obsession for being constantly clean dates back to the days when diseases used to wipe out civilisations... either that or it's a reminded of the original sin. In reality primates are not supposed to be that clean and oily skin has a very underestimated role. All you need is a colleague to eat a few parassites off your hair during the coffee break... :wink:

    So are you telling us that you smell?
  • Manc33
    Manc33 Posts: 2,157
    "You sit on that?"
    (about my carbon SMP)
  • mamba80
    mamba80 Posts: 5,032
    i dont talk about my bike or rides to anyone other than cyclists and when im on my bike i dont speak to non cyclists, so this issue never raises its head.
  • downhill paul
    downhill paul Posts: 236
    I usually get laughed at by a few people because I'm not the same build that none cyclists often associate with cycling.
    meaning that one of my legs probably weighs as much as someone like Alberto Contador.
    which is why I hardly discuss matters of cycling with none cyclists. although when I do, the points I raised my last post and the one I just raised are a common talking point.
  • Manc33
    Manc33 Posts: 2,157
    Some cyclists don't get other cyclists though.

    I remember being behind a "fat" guy on a MTB, I was on my (then brand new) Triban 3. I caught up with him and thought right, I'll take him on this next hill. He just stood up and pretty much blasted all the way up it, I was left for dead. This was at a time when I smoked about 30 a day and had only just stopped.

    Moral of the story: That guys calves weren't fat, they were solid muscle. :roll:
  • ben@31
    ben@31 Posts: 2,327
    Things I heard recently...

    "Why are are on your bike so much, do you not have a television"?

    "So you've just done x miles, you must be going out for lots of beers afterwards then"?

    I did not want to tell him "No, I don't have a tv to sit in front of 6 hours a day and I don't drink".
    "The Prince of Wales is now the King of France" - Calton Kirby
  • Manc33
    Manc33 Posts: 2,157
    People still watch television?

    Katie in Emmerdale "died". :cry:
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Man Of Lard wrote:
    Wife (feigning interest): "Where've you been today on your bike?"
    Me: <insert name of place about 30 miles away>
    Wife (incredulous): "and back?"
    Me: "No, I'm still there"

    Me at the start of a club run : Last time I was out I went to Corbridge (about 30 miles away)
    Other guy: You rode to Corbridge? How did you get back?!

    Cheeky get.
  • mpatts
    mpatts Posts: 1,010
    Cyclist: "i like your new roubaix winter tights"
    Non-cyclist: "You look like a girl who has shat herself"
    Insert bike here:
  • homers_double
    homers_double Posts: 8,292
    Non cycling wife - "What's the point of eating all that porridge before you go out, surely you've got enough around your middle to keep you going"
    Advocate of disc brakes.
  • debeli
    debeli Posts: 583
    "If Zabel (or Abdudzaperov or insert name according to context) is so good, how come he hasn't won the Tour?"

    Or....

    "I thought Armstrong (or insert appropriate name) was something special, but I read this article where it said that he had an entire team to do all the work for him"

    Or...

    "If they're all top professional athletes, how come those so-called nobodies can leave them so far behind?"

    But really, these are just the sort of daft comments I'd make about ski jumping or baseball. Not everyone has to like it or 'get' it.

    :)
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    homers double wrote:
    Non cycling wife - "What's the point of eating all that porridge before you go out, surely you've got enough around your middle to keep you going"

    The worst part is she's right ;)
  • homers_double
    homers_double Posts: 8,292
    It's true :cry:
    Advocate of disc brakes.
  • chris_bass
    chris_bass Posts: 4,913
    homers double wrote:
    Non cycling wife - "What's the point of eating all that porridge before you go out, surely you've got enough around your middle to keep you going"

    on a similar theme...

    you cycled how far? shouldn't you be thinner?
    www.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes
  • downhill paul
    downhill paul Posts: 236
    Chris Bass wrote:
    homers double wrote:
    Non cycling wife - "What's the point of eating all that porridge before you go out, surely you've got enough around your middle to keep you going"

    on a similar theme...

    you cycled how far? shouldn't you be thinner?

    I get that all the time.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    I ask myself that question all the time. Now; we're that cake?
  • Manc33
    Manc33 Posts: 2,157
    Me: "Haha Contador thought he won, but didn't"
    Mate: "That's the highlight of your day is it?"

    Sort of. :lol:

    After that time he didn't wait for Schleck... F him!

    "Alberto Contador, the defending champion, later issued a video apology posted on YouTube."

    In other words he was pretty much forced to because of the heat.
  • downhill paul
    downhill paul Posts: 236
    I also hate none cyclists who suddenly think they know all about cycling and the TDF because they have heard about Lance Armstrong on the news. and also because they have heard about Lance Armstrong on the news, they think that every cyclists must be using drugs of some description.
    thanks to Kobe Bryant, do we think all basketball players are rapists?
  • crikey
    crikey Posts: 362
    This is the saddest thing about cyclists; you're not a cool subgroup, you're not ahead of the trend, you're largely sad train spotter types who don't understand how the rest of the world views you.

    I've ridden for 30 years and the most disappointing group of people I've ever met are those who define themselves by riding a bike.
  • ravey1981
    ravey1981 Posts: 1,111
    crikey wrote:
    This is the saddest thing about cyclists; you're not a cool subgroup, you're not ahead of the trend, you're largely sad train spotter types who don't understand how the rest of the world views you.

    I've ridden for 30 years and the most disappointing group of people I've ever met are those who define themselves by riding a bike.

    This is most probably true to be honest..... although I myself think this about people who go running....I mean, what the f are they doing. Why not go for a ride instead!
  • chris_bass
    chris_bass Posts: 4,913
    crikey wrote:
    This is the saddest thing about cyclists; you're not a cool subgroup, you're not ahead of the trend, you're largely sad train spotter types who don't understand how the rest of the world views you.

    I've ridden for 30 years and the most disappointing group of people I've ever met are those who define themselves by riding a bike.

    well that really sucked all the fun out of this thread!

    Nice use to the semi-colon though, I tend not to use them but then I don't do things by halves.
    www.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes
  • de_sisti
    de_sisti Posts: 1,283
    Chris Bass wrote:
    crikey wrote:
    This is the saddest thing about cyclists; you're not a cool subgroup, you're not ahead of the trend, you're largely sad train spotter types who don't understand how the rest of the world views you.

    I've ridden for 30 years and the most disappointing group of people I've ever met are those who define themselves by riding a bike.

    well that really sucked all the fun out of this thread!
    Nice use to the semi-colon though, I tend not to use them but then I don't do things by halves.
    What's the grammatical rule for using semi colons? Does it relate to two separate sentences being
    connected by the same theme? Would a comma have sufficed in the example above?

    Just sayin'.
    (cse grade 1 English 1978)
  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    Manc33 wrote:
    Me: "Haha Contador thought he won, but didn't"
    Mate: "That's the highlight of your day is it?"

    Sort of. :lol:

    After that time he didn't wait for Schleck... F him!

    "Alberto Contador, the defending champion, later issued a video apology posted on YouTube."

    In other words he was pretty much forced to because of the heat.

    I've got some news for you.......
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,467
    dilatory wrote:
    The difference between cyclists and non-cyclists are that cyclists talk a lot about riding their bikes and non-cyclists might just ride bikes. They also feel the need to have an us vs them mentality, and when the us vs cars thing wears a bit thin we turn on non-cyclists or even other cyclists if they dare not wave back.

    I think you may have failed to grasp the meaning of 'non-cyclist'.
  • overlord2
    overlord2 Posts: 339
    Crescent wrote:
    Non-cyclist - "You look painfully thin, have you been ill?"
    Cyclist - "Thanks"

    :lol:

    Its our hobby. The non-hobbyist is never going to get it whatever it is. Cycling, trainspotting, woodworking, polishing the car 4 hours a week.....
  • Manc33
    Manc33 Posts: 2,157
    I drive a car and use a bicycle... and I prefer riding the bike. Yes I mean to get somewhere! :shock:
  • BR_Gregor
    BR_Gregor Posts: 222
    Hi guys, nice work. Have heard most of these myself while cycling – you too? I've collected some of the best ones from this thread to create an article on the main site: http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/1 ... -us-43686/

    Can always add to it again in the future as more become common place. Let me know if you have any other sayings!

    Cheers,
    Gregor
    Communities and OYB Editor
    Communities and On Your Bike Editor, BikeRadar
  • farnsfieldflyer
    farnsfieldflyer Posts: 1
    What about the obvious comments like:
    'Bxxxxy cyclists, don't even pay road tax'
    'Of course, I used to ride a bike, did the odd mile or two'
    'Why do you always ride 2 abreast, causing holdups'
    'Why all that lycra, looks ridiculous, you ought to take up golf'

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