Road Cycling - Velosnobs (followup)

Perhaps someone can shed some light on this issue. I know every one here complains about rude motorists, but in the past month or two Ive encountered far more rude CYCLISTS than motorists. In fact, most of the motorists I encounter are very considerate when they see me coming or are passing me on a narrow lane etc. Never really have any problems.

However in the past month Ive had a number of rude comments/actions come my way from cyclists. Just today, as I was on my roadbike some early 30's a** on a mountain bike with his wife yells out 'do it for the team!',followed by something that was not discernable, (but very negative in tone) Ive had other (not overly obnoxious) but weird comments thrown my way at times as well. And finally my favorite: it seems whenever I pass another cyclist around these parts, I hear a click of gears and they are on my rear wheel (close as possible) and wont rest until theyve passed me or at least tried their hardest, to show that they are better/faster than me. I just dont get it, Im not an obnoxious rider, just a regular guy out on his roadbike....it seems like a lot of cyclists around here are *******s though...anyone else notice this, or is it just me?:o :(

Most I encounter keep mouths to themselves unless they are acting like morons and I say something to them I get told to do something nasty to myself.Females seem to have the worst mouths.Mybe thinking they are imune from butt kicking. Biggest problem is that so many are either braindead or inconsiderate. Bike paths are worse than dealing with cars.Why can't they just learn to pay attention and stay on the friggin right?

Pokey, I agree about the paths.
my post was more just making the point that I seem to be experiencing a lot of rudeness directed my way lately. Not sure why though. Just occasionally when I pass some one going opposite directions I get some smart ass remark from them, like my example above.

i dont think I look or act snobby (wear a team jersey sometimes) or rude, half the time I sport nylon shorts over my bike shorts for practical purposes(if im not riding more than 25mi), that aint snobby! I just dont get it. I do ride fast and dont often wave though so maybe people mis interpret that? who knows...just makes ya kind of annoyed thats all.....

Originally posted by H20.1
Perhaps someone can shed some light on this issue.
it seems whenever I pass another cyclist around these parts, I hear a click of gears and they are on my rear wheel (close as possible) and wont rest until theyve passed me or at least tried their hardest, to show that they are better/faster than me. I just dont get it, Im not an obnoxious rider, just a regular guy out on his roadbike....it seems like a lot of cyclists around here are *******s though...anyone else notice this, or is it just me?:o :(

they must rate you to want to try and pass you.
Bet you have got a real nice bike and togged out to look the part. Am I right?

I get this all the time when I'm driving. Every body has to scream past me at 85mph, with their engines revving fit to burst and then pull in in front of me and then slow down to 75mph!:confused: I guess this is because I drive a Porsche and people are not satisfied until they can say to themselves `I passed a Porsche'!

As for the people with rude comments, don't make the mistake of expecting every Bozo who rides a bike to be a cyclist.

Riders that try to catch and pass you, especially after you've passed them first, hey, that's just the competive part that is integral to many cyclist's nature. It takes a tremendous amount of self discipline to not try to reel in a rider that is ahead of you, take it as a compliment that you are worth the chase.

Originally posted by earleybird


they must rate you to want to try and pass you.
Bet you have got a real nice bike and togged out to look the part. Am I right?

I get this all the time when I'm driving. Every body has to scream past me at 85mph, with their engines revving fit to burst and then pull in in front of me and then slow down to 75mph!:confused: I guess this is because I drive a Porsche and people are not satisfied until they can say to themselves `I passed a Porsche'!
Hehheh,

I ride a bianchi veloce....its nice but its nothing compared to some of the bikes around here. and like i said earlier, i sport an old team jersey sometims but many times i even wear nylon shorts over my bike shorts (extra pockets for commute rides) so Im not really 'all decked out'.....I do have big sideburns though, maybe its my cursed sideburns:D :D

perhaps on the flip side of the coin, the riders feel that you may be being rude to them? I know it is a odd way to look at the situation, but perhaps some action (you may not even be aware of) creates a negative response by other riders... I have not met many negative cyclists, (perhaps a negative fred or two, but that is another issue :p) and 90% of the time when I see another cyclist I will smile and wave, or say hi, guess I'm too friendly for someone to be mean to? :rolleyes:

Originally posted by H20.1

Hehheh,-

I do have big sideburns though, maybe its my cursed sideburns:D :D

there you go!.. big side burns are like a red flag to a bull to some cyclists:D :D

Originally posted by VegasCyclist
perhaps on the flip side of the coin, the riders feel that you may be being rude to them? I know it is a odd way to look at the situation, but perhaps some action (you may not even be aware of) creates a negative response by other riders... I have not met many negative cyclists, (perhaps a negative fred or two, but that is another issue :p) and 90% of the time when I see another cyclist I will smile and wave, or say hi, guess I'm too friendly for someone to be mean to? :rolleyes:
A very valid point. but the times where this kind of stuff has happened its been from someone who had seen me coming and chose to mouth off as we passed....usually before I would have had a chance to even say hi....in the end Id say there have only been a few cases where this has happened but still, that dude today with the 'do it for the team!' followed by negative undiscernable comments just pissed me off I almost turned around and went after him...perhaps Im overreacting.:confused:

It's rude to pick up the pace to those who pass you?

Uh oh, I do that alot. I chalk it up to a peer pressure sort of thing.

I tend to just ignore the dorks out there for the most part. One time though I did however have some guy on what looked to be a very nice bike. I did not take a close look but I could see he spent some money on ZIPP wheels. Any ways, as I passed him we each gave each other a nod of the head. About 3 km later he was riding my rear tire. It was at the end of my ride so I was not wanting to race him. I jestured for him to pass, he did not. I slowed way down and jestured again, he still did not pass. He said some thing under his breath just loud enough that I herd some thing and it sounded negitive. So I did a quick sprint, pulled away and then slowed just a bit. He road up hard on to my rear tire but still would not pass so i dabed the brakes, he moved just enough to avoid my tire and when I saw that his tire was along side mine I slamed the door on him. Took out his front tire and he went flying into the sand on the side of the road. I saw him a few weeks later and he just keept on going.

Slainte:beer:

dude, that's pretty mean!

Yeah, I usually for the most part do not do those things but this guy was riding and acting like a dick. If you were there you would understand. There is alot more to the story but I shortened it.

Slainte:beer:

Originally posted by dirtbikedude
I tend to just ignore the dorks out there for the most part. One time though I did however have some guy on what looked to be a very nice bike. I did not take a close look but I could see he spent some money on ZIPP wheels. Any ways, as I passed him we each gave each other a nod of the head. About 3 km later he was riding my rear tire. It was at the end of my ride so I was not wanting to race him. I jestured for him to pass, he did not. I slowed way down and jestured again, he still did not pass. He said some thing under his breath just loud enough that I herd some thing and it sounded negitive. So I did a quick sprint, pulled away and then slowed just a bit. He road up hard on to my rear tire but still would not pass so i dabed the brakes, he moved just enough to avoid my tire and when I saw that his tire was along side mine I slamed the door on him. Took out his front tire and he went flying into the sand on the side of the road. I saw him a few weeks later and he just keept on going.

Slainte:beer:
YOU ARE A TOTAL PRICK

Dirtbikedude's actions weren't the nicest and I'm not sure I would have done that but......if you take someone's wheel and refuse to pull, esp. after several requests to come up you're asking for it.

At least that's the way it was when I last spent lots of times riding in hard groups while in college (that's getting to be a real long time ago :( )

I guess things haven't change much.

:beer:

EXACTLY WHO IS THE 'VELOSNOB' HERE?
Someone sucks wheels so they deserve to be physically assaulted? Yes, taking someone out on purpose.
Give me a break! There are about 50 different, MATURE options rather than trying to inflict physical harm on someone that DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO YOU EXCEPT DRAFT YOUR SLIPSTREAM. I don't think it's ok and no one in their right mind should either.

I kinda wish I had other cyclists to get mad at. I NEVER see any other riders around here, unless they are riding in a car ;). The drivers are REALLY cool though. People wave all the time, 80% of whom I don't know. I ride on a 2-way highway usually with about a 6" shoulder so basically I'm on the line and people are waaaay courtious. They just wait untill its clear and pass me and wave and its great. There are a few...FEW bad apples though. I don't let 'em get to me so everything is just dandy.

Dirtbikedude you are a real ass for doing something like that. Personally if you did that to me, I would probably hit you with a bat the next time I saw you. But thats not the point. I ride alot by myself, and I think it is kinda nice to see other people out. I tend to push it most of the time, and if someone wants to hook up on my wheel so be it. People who do that aren't being dicks it is more like taking a rest. Also riding with someone else, even if you don't know them makes you push yourself, and if they pass you you got a wheel to ride on for a while, so I see it as a win win situation. If they don't want to pass you what is the harm in riding in your draft?

I rarely encounter snobby cyclists. But then why should we expect a passer-by to be chatty. Maybe we are serious about riding fast to get our heart rate up. I do not necessarily expect a social hour among strangers..
I usually nod and that is all I usually expect. What is the difference between cyclists and those on a walk. Walking is exercise, do we speak to all we pass. We would never get to our destinations.
I know there are arrogrant cyclists who look down on lesser bikes or lesser clothed cyclists. I just ignore those.. But cycling is not necessarily a social thing.. Why do some expect it to be so, amongst total strangers.. Conversation between strangers is voluntary...

Originally posted by cyclezealot
But cycling is not necessarily a social thing.. Why do some expect it to be so, amongst total strangers.. Conversation between strangers is voluntary...

I like the solitary nature of cycling, its why I am so hesitant to go join one of the clubs or groups.

Its just nice sometimes to get away and go cycling, I find the rythmic high cadence pedaling and whir of the wheels to be almost hypnotic, and it tends to mellow me out. It is the closest my short attention span self can get to meditation.

That being said, I always try to at least wave or nod my head, and as slow as I am going, there is nobody attached to my rear wheel.

DBD... to be honest, what you did was far worse than anything any "snobbish" cyclist has ever done. It was totally uncalled-for and, besides, dangerous.

FRankly, I think there are a whole lot of people who take themselves way too seriously when out on a bike. If someone wants to suck my wheel when I'm out on a ride, then go right ahead. I've met some very nice people this way. It doesn't make my ride any more difficult, after all.

I remember I was out on a ride last june, ploughing into 40-60 km/h gusting winds on the out leg. I come up on a guy from one of the local teams, take shelter on his wheel for a minute and, when I get my breath back, pull up to him and ask "d'you want to work together?"

His reply wasn't a polite "no, I'm working my own program" or "no thanks, I don't want the company" -- answers I would respect. He replies "**** off, *******."

I pull back to his wheel and think for a minute, then pull up and take a pull, gradually increasing the speed until, finally, we're charging really fast into that nasty headwind. The orther guy is straining to keep my wheel [his breating is punctuated by "uuuhnnnnn"] until I finally drop him.

I've seen him on the road a few times since. He's always unhappy and always alone, despite the fact that I se ehis teammates riding in group all the time.

velocipedio - thats a great story. Dropping the guy must have REALLY ruined his day :)

That probably cheesed him more than wrecking him would :)

Nothing worse for a BlowHard to be exposed as one :)

I guess I should have put in the part about the fact that a few times he pulled up on my tire he actully put his tire on my causing drag. He also keept making snide remarks that I should not be riding such a nice bike because I was to slow and looked fat. I realy do not care what people think of my actions and would do it again if the same situation arises. I gave him plenty of warning and opertunities to stop. I feel as tho it was better then me getting off my bike and giving him a REAL a** woopin'.

I do not care if some one wants to ride my rear tire. They can do it for as long as they wish. Just as long as they keep the remarks and comments to them selfs. I do not even mind if some one I do not know tries to give me advice, but this guy went way to far.

Originally posted by dirtbikedude
I guess I should have put in the part about the fact that a few times he pulled up on my tire he actully put his tire on my causing drag. He also keept making snide remarks that I should not be riding such a nice bike because I was to slow and looked fat. I realy do not care what people think of my actions and would do it again if the same situation arises. I gave him plenty of warning and opertunities to stop. I feel as tho it was better then me getting off my bike and giving him a REAL a** woopin'.

I do not care if some one wants to ride my rear tire. They can do it for as long as they wish. Just as long as they keep the remarks and comments to them selfs. I do not even mind if some one I do not know tries to give me advice, but this guy went way to far.

I agree with most here that you probably went too far, but another part of me commends your actions. As I mentioned in my initial post, pricks like this deserve what they get. That said it was still a pretty dangerous thing to do but if the guy was really carrying it that far then hey, I cant really fault your actions.
And I hate to say it, but for all the lipservice people give to the 'comraderie' of cylcling, many of the road riders Ive met have been pricks. I am also a musician and there are more cliques and individual jerkoffs in cycling, than music any day, though youd never guess it.

DBD-
/rant on
Three words: Anger Management Classes.

That kind of stuff is for punk a$$ high school guys with beat up Camaros. Not really helping the rest of us out by assaulting others. The guy's a prick, so be it. Ignore him. Or say something to him. But crashing him takes you down several notches on the old maturity scale. Congratulations.
/rant off

As for arrogant riders, sure they're out there and there are plenty of them. There are also a lot of arrogant people off of the bike, who I just ignore. I try to do the same on the bike. Let them be snobs while they ride around, that's just fine. Doesn't hurt me a bit. Makes them look bad, but doesn't hurt me at all. I used to get pi$$ed at arrogant riders, but it's a waste of time since there are so many out there. Just have a good time on the bike knowing that they aren't having much fun and you'll be way ahead of the game.

Another arrogan rider story...

I was out a couple of weeks ago on my 'cross bike, doing a hills, skills and drills ride on Mount Royal. It was getting crowded as the morning wore on, so I decided to come off the mountain and take the long way home through Ile St-Helene and along the dirt road on Ile de la Couvee to the Ice Bridge. Almost as soon as I got on the Ice Bridge, I found that my left cleat was loose, so I stopped, took off my shoe and sat at the side of the bridge to tighten it. As I'm doing this, three radies come by. You know the type -- weekend riders who poodle for 40 km a weekend on high zoot bikes and then get a latte and sit in the sun on the cafe terrace in their Euro kit.

One of these guys, riding a very shiney new Pinaerllo with Campy Nucleon wheels, whose gleaming cassette and chain mark him as either an anal-retentive neat freak or a never-rider, laughs horsely and he rolls by: "whatsamatter, got a flat in yer fat tire?" The woman, riding a pristine, brand new red Trek 5500, point at my camelbak [I don't have cages on my 'cross bike, and I had taken the 'bak off to sit] and made some snide comment about "j'espere que t'as assez d'eau la" ["I hope you have enough water there] and they all had a good laugh and rode on.

I finished fixing my cleat, hopped on my bike and noticed that the weekenders were about 500m up the bridge. There was a nasty headwind [there always is there], but I got into my biggest gear [48x13] and spun up to about 40 km/h. I completely smoked them. One of the guys -- one who hadn't actually said anything -- jumped on my wheel, but couldn't hold it. By the time I got to the end of the bridge, which is about 2 km long, they were distant figures. I hope I ruined their day.

That's revenge. And it was satisfying.

Flicking, on the other hand, is totally juvenile and pretty damned stupid. If some guy is so close that he's kissing your wheel, [i]he's just putting himself in danger. When wheels kiss, it's always the front wheel that suffers.

Ignore him. Or say something to him

I tried to ignor him. I did tell him to quit talking badly about the way I looked. That is when he started hitting my rear tire. I immediately told him to knock it off. When he startd up with the tires I took that as an assult on my self and my bike. Because of his actions and the way he was speaking I was not sure of what he would do next. So I took him out. It is very hard to piss me off and he did a good job and in my eyes he was all to threatning. From all my encounters with diff cyclist I would never consider this guy to be one. He was out looking to fight. I do not know why and I also herd from another rider who rides the same roads that he has actually socked a guy as he went buy and caused him to hit a tree. Granted I found this out after the fact but it made me feel beter about what I did. I do not like confrontations but some times they are inevitable. Needles to say no one has had any probs from him since.

I guess I am just beneath contempt because I never experience any of this. Maybe a fat old greybeard on a nondescript Bianchi isn't worth hassling even if he is wearing bike togs. I'm flattered when someone sits on my wheel. If they don't take a pull I would assume they may be close to max or feel uncomfortable.

DBD,
I applaud you. You can only be nice so long. Your actions may have saved some other poor soul the abuse at the hands of this jerk. Call me immature as well but I would most like have crashed the dude. Or even a tad more immature...waited at the end of the line and had a "talking to".

Fortunately I have not been presented with this type situation and hopefully never will be.

DBD,
Whats wrong with just stopping and letting him go, you already said you did a few break checks and slowed down, which would totally blow up any argument that stoping would ruin your work out. Secondly, I would be pissed if someone break checked me and would probably have some words, and ride off. What you did is considered assault, and you are lucky he didn't file charges, no matter how much he "disses" you it doesn't excuse that ever.

PS: To those who rag on the Euro Kits, they are actually cheeper then comperable clothing here, if you buy from probikekit.co.uk, even with the steep shipping, you will come out better, especially if you buy a few at a time. I bought the full A&S gettup because it embarrasses the hell out of my riding partner (serves him right for smoking me all the time)

Ok - rookie question. What is a Euro Kit ?

Originally posted by velocipedio
Another arrogan rider story...

I was out a couple of weeks ago on my 'cross bike, doing a hills, skills and drills ride on Mount Royal. It was getting crowded as the morning wore on, so I decided to come off the mountain and take the long way home through Ile St-Helene and along the dirt road on Ile de la Couvee to the Ice Bridge. Almost as soon as I got on the Ice Bridge, I found that my left cleat was loose, so I stopped, took off my shoe and sat at the side of the bridge to tighten it. As I'm doing this, three radies come by. You know the type -- weekend riders who poodle for 40 km a weekend on high zoot bikes and then get a latte and sit in the sun on the cafe terrace in their Euro kit.

One of these guys, riding a very shiney new Pinaerllo with Campy Nucleon wheels, whose gleaming cassette and chain mark him as either an anal-retentive neat freak or a never-rider, laughs horsely and he rolls by: "whatsamatter, got a flat in yer fat tire?" The woman, riding a pristine, brand new red Trek 5500, point at my camelbak [I don't have cages on my 'cross bike, and I had taken the 'bak off to sit] and made some snide comment about "j'espere que t'as assez d'eau la" ["I hope you have enough water there] and they all had a good laugh and rode on.

I finished fixing my cleat, hopped on my bike and noticed that the weekenders were about 500m up the bridge. There was a nasty headwind [there always is there], but I got into my biggest gear [48x13] and spun up to about 40 km/h. I completely smoked them. One of the guys -- one who hadn't actually said anything -- jumped on my wheel, but couldn't hold it. By the time I got to the end of the bridge, which is about 2 km long, they were distant figures. I hope I ruined their day.

That's revenge. And it was satisfying.

Flicking, on the other hand, is totally juvenile and pretty damned stupid. If some guy is so close that he's kissing your wheel, [i]he's just putting himself in danger. When wheels kiss, it's always the front wheel that suffers.


SCHWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET! Nice to know those pricks realized how much they SUCK!

Hey it coulda been worse for that guy... if DBD was on the Cinzano team, and the other guy was Dave Stohler, he'd of got a frame pump in the front wheel. People often get what they deserve. You can only be so nice... I see guys all the time, most are friendly, some are not. I was at a stop light the other day, and another guy pulls up next to me... sweet DeRosa frame... I say "G'Mornin'" He just sorta looked at me, and turned away... what an A-hole... not like i'm trying to start a huge convo or anything... just being courteous... Is it me ? I also do quite a bit of hiking, and peopel are always friendly, at least saying Hi to each other... still getting used to the snobbery I see

Jeff