Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - My rant about one particular road cyclist.

So Noumena9, Gnawa (both from the forums) and I set out to do our 6 am training ride in Prospect Park today. Since we’ll all be back in the saddle tonight for the PP races (which everyone reading this in the NYC area should attend) we thought it would be best to take it easy. Since we only ride for less than an hour, we thought we would take the first lap easy, sprint the hills on the second lap (both up and down), take the whole third lap hard and take two recovery laps. So on our approach to the hill the 3rd time I notice a roadie with a Slope Sports kit jump on our pace line. I didn’t think much of it at first. I took off from the pace line at the bottom of the hill, got out of my saddle and took it hard to the top. About half way up I noticed our road bike friend is still on my tire. It was about that time I thought to myself, “I’m pushing 49/15 and this guy is practically spinning out—why am I doing all the work?” Nevertheless, I got to the top of the hill, got back in the saddle to start my 2 recovery laps when Mr. Multi-gear passes by, and without any sign of “hello” or “thanks for taking me up the hill” or anything of the sort, just road past me like I didn’t exist. This was when I became a tad put-off. So about a mile into our recovery lap we start to come upon the very same guy who “left us in the dust” and we pass him. By the time we reach the backstretch of the park I notice our man is back on my wheel (but remember we’re in a recovery lap so we cant be going faster than 15 mph). While on my wheel he’s constantly overlapping my wheel by a few inches and we still receive no “hello” or anything. At this point I decide to cut across the empty road to give him the hint to back off (I’m much to passive aggressive to ask him to do so). When I return to my group, I notice he’s right back on my wheel. It was like in the summer when you would be playing outside and hundreds of gnats would be circling your head and every time you swat them away they just return. At this point I figure this guy is here to stay. When we approach the hill for our fourth time, Mr. Slope Sports takes off from us as to take the hill hard, at which point I say, “Go get um killer.” Now first off, I mumble everything so I never expected him to even understand me, but of course this time it came out clear as day, and second, I meant it with the utmost sincerity—I really wanted him to tear that hill apart (apply sarcasm here). Well I supposed it came out quite snidely and he gave me a 5 second long stink eye as he took off from us. So, Noumena9, Gnawa and I have a chuckle at my comment and more so his reaction and continue with or final recovery lap when we catch up to him again! This time I suggest we stay behind him because I don’t feel like dealing with anything. So we cruise about 50 meters behind him for about 2 miles when another group of roadies come along. We all say “hello” and they ride by. When they catch up to Mr. Sunday stroll one of the riders from the group drops to ride with him while the others ride off. After a few minutes of them chatting they both look back and give me—not the stink eye—but the crook eye. So at this point we come to the hill and they’re just going too slow so we take off for the hill at which point he says to me “go get um killer.” Are you kidding me? How old is this guy? So we leave the park and the guy he was riding with leaves with us and has he’s riding off give us—not the stink eye—not the crook eye—but the evil eye.

Okay so let me explain myself, I have nothing against those who choose to ride with multiple gears, derailleurs and brakes, in fact if I ever get some money I too would like to own one of those hi-tech machines, however, I do have a problem with someone who hops on a pace line and can’t even say hello or ask if its cool he drafts us. Also, I didn’t appreciate this guy riding my wheel while I’m riding 10-15 mph on the top of my bars chatting with my friends, to me that’s like looking on while a stranger sitting next to you on an airplane is reading a magazine. Now I don’t say hello to every cyclist I see but when I hope to join a pace line of either roadies or trackies, I make sure to say hello and see if its cool I jump on—just seems like proper cycling etiquette to me. Oh yeah, and I do my share of the work.

I’m posting this on both the road forum and the SS/FG forum so feel free to tell me how much of an @$$hole I am if you must.

you not an a-hole, I've met your few times and you definately don't come off as a fixie elitist. There are always a few bikers at pp or cp that few they are privilages and have the right to do whatever. Not just road bikers or fixies, even people on hybrids on a sunday stroll can be non-model citizens. They're not worth you time to get bothered. I believe in karma and I think he'll get his in return. The same thing's gonna happen to him, except it'll be a ten year old on a bmx with training wheels thats gonna get on his wheel and then pass him.

It was like in the summer when you would be playing outside....

Exactly.

maybe he thought you were cute?

You blew your chances you monster you.

he clearly was flossin. My thing is, if you want to race someone in the park, don't suck up their wheel. I usually end up swerving eratically when someone does that without asking.

You, an A-hole? No way! Personally, I would have pulled a couple of Crazy Ivans or waited until he overlapped my back wheel and given him a little rub. Wheelsucking at 15 mph is simply weak.

there was this one time when i was riding my girlfriend's three speed at pp. she was sitting on the rear rack and we came up behind these three roadies at the bottom of the hill and just for kicks i dropped them on a pos yoga bike, two-up. i mean they were just spinning and half way up the hill i basically died, but there was still that pristine two seconds of unadulterated wtf? when we passed $15,000 worth of bikes on $25 worth, climbing. draft this!

Dude, obviously you should have activated the oil slicks James Bond style. Was that the dude on the lemond?

there was this one time when i was riding my girlfriend's three speed at pp. she was sitting on the rear rack and we came up behind these three roadies at the bottom of the hill and just for kicks i dropped them on a pos yoga bike, two-up. i mean they were just spinning and half way up the hill i basically died, but there was still that pristine two seconds of unadulterated wtf? when we passed $15,000 worth of bikes on $25 worth, climbing. draft this!

Haha that is some classic ***** right there.

yeah, that sucks. and the crappiest part of it is you'll probably see him again. i really don't understand what the big deal is with the hill there. people get so macho about it. we're talking like a 4% gentle grade for about a 1/3 of a mile. it's no big deal! i pass people all the time on the false flat leading up to the hill, and then when i start to climb i can feel them breathing down my neck. don't they know they can pace you from a distance too! don't have to be an inch off the back.

Dude, obviously you should have activated the oil slicks James Bond style. Was that the dude on the lemond?


tube of tacks attached to the seatstay, painted same color as frame, with a cable release connected to a dummy rear brake shifter!

that guy was being pretty macho, but the roadies always seem to think that the track guys are the ones acting out. like we have something to prove to them. he was on my butt at one point, too -- I only knew to look for him because (this is true) I could hear him breathing. he had his front right next to my rear and was a foot to the right max.

if you're going up a hill at, what, 12-17mph there isn't much use in drafting anyway. that guy was a dick. we should have invited him as a special guest to the race tonight so he could have it out with us trackies and show us who's boss. lol.

why don't you all just grow up! You're supposed to pinch a ripe fart and say "i'll give you something to draft" at least that's what adults would do.

I wish I can fart on cue...guess I have some growin up to do. That'd be an awsome trick at the track, but I guess at those speeds, the fart won't even be detected, maybe it'll linger till the next lap, but then i'd be breathing it too...

I wish I can fart on cue...

you're just not eating enough egg salad.

T-

The guy was in the wrong. He shouldn't have been playing those games. But, people do in PP or CP.

Next time though, you must talk to him. Swing off the front, go along side him and explain to him it isn't cool nor is it safe for him to take your wheel. You don't know him, he doesn't know you. Tell him you are on a training ride with your team and that you race at Kissena. Invite out to Kissena, tell him he will enjoy it, yada yada.

In most cases people will back off and move on.

Being passive about this kind of situation, only invites the kind of behaviour you had to deal with. No need for remarks in passing. Be direct.

No need for remarks in passing.
I don’t think I meant to say anything- it was just one of those moments of thinking out loud.

you're just not eating enough egg salad.
but stay away from wings and jalopeno pizza... wouldn't want to fire the gas and jettison the tank

I think it's high time for a trackie -vs- roadie, musical rumble ala West Side Story.

I don’t think I meant to say anything- it was just one of those moments of thinking out loud.


Yeah, I hear you T-, but a guy like that already has a chip on his shoulder and is probably looking for you to say something...anything for provocation.

You're too good and too strong a rider to have to deal with this bs, so don't.

i like paragraphs

i like paragraphs
I hate them. Sorry, it's a personal thing.

do you have "gears are for queers" written down your seatstay?

—but the evil eye.

The evil eye isn't a dirty look, it is a look of envy. If you go to Turkey and buy a thing to protect you from the evil eye, that is what it is for.

Wheelsuckers of any variety, by definition, suck. You have to ask yourself why you expect people to pull through anyway. I'm often drafted on the bike trail. It used to bug me a lot. Then I just figured that I'm stronger, and they're afraid to pull for fear of being dropped. So I just ignore them unless they're following too close. If that happens I ask them politely to allow more room. If they refuse, I drop them.

This thread has made my day fantastic.

evil eye:
http://www.newagenotebook.com/images/evileye.jpg
stink eye:
http://home.comcast.net/~kuyajp/Graphics/WMvc07415.jpg
crook eye:
http://www.fla2day.com/images/the%20crook%20eye.jpg

We have to thank timmhaan for the explanation.

I never understand these posts... either drop the bozo or actually stop for a stop sign and see what happens.

As someone ignorant of the terminology, could someone please explain for me the difference betwen the crook eye, the stink eye, and the evil eye?

Thanks.

I think it's high time for a trackie -vs- roadie, musical rumble ala West Side Story.

LMAO....How bout a remake video to Aphex Twin "Windowlicker"...some nice cut frame battle editing.

I thought in NY your supposed to do the obligatory "SUP?!" works great out here on the left coast. It's whatever you need...hi, back off, **** you, whachadoing? Depends how ya say it.

He was in the wrong, but did not necessarily know it. It's a big city, there are strange games out there. You gotta be straight up with peeps. I used to be very shy and reserved, but the laws of the land taught me otherwise.

and when other peeps feel the need to eye me, I try and take for an opportunity to throw them off, either look crazy, gas face em, or stick out my tounge like a kid, but sometimes I just wave and smile to let em know they can't get to me. I guess a lot of time I'm left shaking my head like you. Thanks for the story.

I never understand these posts... either drop the bozo or actually stop for a stop sign and see what happens.
yes, or just fight him. :rolleyes:

I was talking to the LBS guy about how many fixed riders there are in SF. He said, "Yeah, it's stupid. All those guys think they have something to prove riding those bikes on the hills." etc. etc.

Other than that, he's a nice guy.

We have to thank timmhaan for the explanation.

and i have to thank google image search. what life would be like without google image search is unimaginable.

You're no a-hole. I lived in Bklyn Hts./DUMBO for 6 years and rode at that park more times than I can count. The "regulars" were good guys, for the most part, but occationally it seems that some w@nker would come out and sit in every lap until the hill. I used to ride at night for the most part, and the group seemed to show up by 7 and be out by 8, I'd go til 9:30-10pm most nights, but for the duration of the group ride, it seemed to stay fast (22-26ish, which occationally made me uncomfortable there).

As someone else said, just call the guy out and tell the dude to pull or fug off. I would just wait for the hill to drop the dead weight, which always worked since I have a modern bike.

You don't need more than one gear to feel justified for "layin' the law." ;)

LMAO....How bout a remake video to Aphex Twin "Windowlicker"...some nice cut frame battle editing.

No offence, but I don't want to see ANY of you guys in a windowlicker remake. I still have nightmares about seeing the original version.. :P

I was talking to the LBS guy about how many fixed riders there are in SF. He said, "Yeah, it's stupid. All those guys think they have something to prove riding those bikes on the hills." etc. etc.

Other than that, he's a nice guy.


Haha, right. Sounds like someone has an inferiority complex.

In response to the OP, I usually bust a nasty chewbacca-fart if someone is riding my wheel and I don't like it.

I've heard wearing Italian horns around your neck could ward off any type of malicious "eye".

yes, or just fight him. :rolleyes:

Todd...always keepin it real.

KRAMER: Yeah, Franklin Delano Romanowski. I go to his birthday part, and just before he blew out his
candles, he gives me this look . . .
GEORGE: Stink eye?
JERRY: Crook eye?
KRAMER: EVIL, eye.

Check a Seinfeld episode called The Betrayal (http://wave.prohosting.com/tnguym/Scripts/TheBetrayal.html). Funny stuff.



As someone ignorant of the terminology, could someone please explain for me the difference betwen the crook eye, the stink eye, and the evil eye?

Thanks.

two words...."hook him".

I think we all learned the correct response from Breaking Away...pump in the spokes.

Is anyone else having fond memories of road rash?

use the chain! or the oil can! or the club! phwap phwap phwap!

I could never pick a favorite.

it was all about the chain. I'm waiting for fixed gear RR with a u-lock option