I started this thread initially and it was just an observation that there are a lot of cyclists that cannot even be bothered to raise an hand to acknowledge another fellow cyclist. The fat ones with all the fancy clobber and flashiest bikes tend to be the worst! I have taken a flaming on this thread but I still maintain that there are a lot of miserable people out there. Of course, it is a reflection on them as individuals and not of cycling in general.
We are brothers and sisters in arms, sharing a common passion. I'm not suggesting we all have a social and wave like a mad person when we pass another cyclist. But fingers raised off the handlebars in acknowledgement of another, fellow enthusiast is not so much to ask, is it? Not everyone is at max HR or on a PB and on the limit that chooses to just blank you. That was the motivation behind the original post. No I do not have social issues nor am I delicate in nature. Quite the contrary. I was just sharing an observation.
I've lived, walked, cycled and swam in different areas and people are different in different areas. Personally I'm like you, I like a nod, wave, hiya and the occasional chat dependent on what I'm doing. I get that there is a difference between town and country but what is hard about saying hello or just nodding to another (if you noticed the gesture). I put it down to social skills and internally feel sorry for those that are missing out. It is good for the soul to interact with others even if it is only a fleeting comment.
Each to there own I suppose. Enjoy your own social skills and be glad that you contribute to the well being of others who engage with your positive outlook. If you don't normally do it try it for a bit and see if you get any benefit... you may be surprised
Each to there their own I suppose. Enjoy your own social skills and be glad that you contribute to the well being of others who engage with your positive outlook. If you don't normally do it try it for a bit and see if you get any benefit... you may be surprised
Yes, but don't assume that you're interesting enough that other cyclists want to engage in chit-chat with you. They may just want some time to themselves and get back to their lives after their ride.
Ignoring someone is everyone's prerogative. If it happens to you, don't take it personally. You may not be as interesting as you think you are to others. Move on and focus on something more important.
Classic yesterday on my lunch break. Trying to go as hard as I can up a small hill - it’s a 2-2:30 effort, made harder by doing it on a single speed.
There’s a steeper bit right near the top and it’s flat out out of the saddle just to keep the pedals turning - properly gassed at this point.
Man coming the other way waves and there is no chance I am taking my hands off the bar to wave as I am on the limit of keeping it going.
Looked cheesed off
You live in Cambridge Rick, there are no hills!
It's a myth that there are no hills in Cambridgeshire. I live there too, and know of several like Rick describes (I'm wondering if I know it). A couple peak at around 16 -18%. Short but sharp, though it's true there are no long, steady grinds - 2 or 3 kms at 5% for instance - that I know of.
There are a couple of short climbs like Dark Hill / Wimbledon Hill / Broomfield also very closeby.
Are you sure? None of those are Cambridge. Since posting earlier, I had a look at his Strava page, which shows his lunchtime ride yesterday took him up the hill at Wort's Causeway, south of Cambridge. One that gets me a bit breathless too. Barrington Hill is another.
Oh see what you mean. Like, but not actually. I don't know those hills, never having ridden in the London area.
Yes, that's the road. Personally I find the Haslingfield to Barrington side shorter but steeper than the other side.
Anyway, though Cambridge itself very flat, once you start heading east towards Newmarket, the roads get more rolling. It flattens out again the other side of Bury St. Edmunds.
Nah it’s the CCC “climb” up one of the gogmagogs. Fairly near to Adenbrooks. Like I said it’s 2 to 2 and a half minutes full gas which I go up on 48x16.
It has a couple of 8% ramps but they last literally 50-100m max.
It feels like a hill on an SS. That’s about it, but I empty everything I have up it.
Nah it’s the CCC “climb” up one of the gogmagogs. Fairly near to Adenbrooks. Like I said it’s 2 to 2 and a half minutes full gas which I go up on 48x16.
It has a couple of 8% ramps but they last literally 50-100m max.
It feels like a hill on an SS. That’s about it, but I empty everything I have up it.
Yes, I ride up that from time to time. It's fairly flat at first but with a couple of short, steep bits towards the top, as you say.
Your pb is about a minute quicker than mine, though in my defence I live some way west of Cambridge, and when I go that way it's part of a much longer ride, so I've already done about 25 miles and I'm trying to save energy for another 50 to 75. I don't think I've ever tried to go up it flat out.
Nah it’s the CCC “climb” up one of the gogmagogs. Fairly near to Adenbrooks. Like I said it’s 2 to 2 and a half minutes full gas which I go up on 48x16.
It has a couple of 8% ramps but they last literally 50-100m max.
It feels like a hill on an SS. That’s about it, but I empty everything I have up it.
What's an SS?
SS = Single Speed
I wondered wot 'RP' was... "It's basically the same as Sawyers Hill in RP"
Nah it’s the CCC “climb” up one of the gogmagogs. Fairly near to Adenbrooks. Like I said it’s 2 to 2 and a half minutes full gas which I go up on 48x16.
It has a couple of 8% ramps but they last literally 50-100m max.
It feels like a hill on an SS. That’s about it, but I empty everything I have up it.
What's an SS?
SS = Single Speed
I wondered wot 'RP' was... "It's basically the same as Sawyers Hill in RP"
Nah it’s the CCC “climb” up one of the gogmagogs. Fairly near to Adenbrooks. Like I said it’s 2 to 2 and a half minutes full gas which I go up on 48x16.
It has a couple of 8% ramps but they last literally 50-100m max.
It feels like a hill on an SS. That’s about it, but I empty everything I have up it.
What's an SS?
SS = Single Speed
I wondered wot 'RP' was... "It's basically the same as Sawyers Hill in RP"
Oh yes, of course. RP took me a while, but I worked it out eventually.
Nah it’s the CCC “climb” up one of the gogmagogs. Fairly near to Adenbrooks. Like I said it’s 2 to 2 and a half minutes full gas which I go up on 48x16.
It has a couple of 8% ramps but they last literally 50-100m max.
It feels like a hill on an SS. That’s about it, but I empty everything I have up it.
What's an SS?
SS = Single Speed
I wondered wot 'RP' was... "It's basically the same as Sawyers Hill in RP"
Richmond Park
Arh! Thank you @rick_chasey Long time since I've been darn sowf
Your pb is about a minute quicker than mine, though in my defence I live some way west of Cambridge, and when I go that way it's part of a much longer ride, so I've already done about 25 miles and I'm trying to save energy for another 50 to 75. I don't think I've ever tried to go up it flat out.
Yeah, it's not the same as me heading out straight to the hill, bombing up it as hard as I can so I can't see by the time I get to the top and then heading straight down again. And doing that quite often during lunches means I can catch the tasty tailwind too when they occur.
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Each to there own I suppose. Enjoy your own social skills and be glad that you contribute to the well being of others who engage with your positive outlook. If you don't normally do it try it for a bit and see if you get any benefit... you may be surprised
cyclists want to engage in chit-chat with you.
some time to themselves and get back to their lives after their ride.
I am not sure. You have no chance.
I am not sure. You have no chance.
There’s a steeper bit right near the top and it’s flat out out of the saddle just to keep the pedals turning - properly gassed at this point.
Man coming the other way waves and there is no chance I am taking my hands off the bar to wave as I am on the limit of keeping it going.
Looked cheesed off
There are a couple of short climbs like Dark Hill / Wimbledon Hill / Broomfield also very closeby.
There aren't really any in Dorset either! Well maybe a couple.
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Yes, that's the road. Personally I find the Haslingfield to Barrington side shorter but steeper than the other side.
Anyway, though Cambridge itself very flat, once you start heading east towards Newmarket, the roads get more rolling. It flattens out again the other side of Bury St. Edmunds.
It has a couple of 8% ramps but they last literally 50-100m max.
It feels like a hill on an SS. That’s about it, but I empty everything I have up it.
Sawyers False Flat?
Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
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Your pb is about a minute quicker than mine, though in my defence I live some way west of Cambridge, and when I go that way it's part of a much longer ride, so I've already done about 25 miles and I'm trying to save energy for another 50 to 75. I don't think I've ever tried to go up it flat out.
What's an SS?
I wondered wot 'RP' was... "It's basically the same as Sawyers Hill in RP"
Arh! Thank you @rick_chasey Long time since I've been darn sowf