Commuting - Ass-slappin' roadies?

So I got passed by a group of 5 roadies on the way in the other day. The first two were kind enough to pass at the same moment I was abreast of a pedestrian going the other way, no doubt giving the poor ped a heart attack.

However the oddest part was that they slapped their asses at me as they went by. Left hand off the bar, slap ass twice, back on bar. Huh?

The three after them didn't do it, so I dunno if that means "hey I'm being an ass and scaring this pedestrian", or "kiss my ass you slow commuter" or what. But it was definitely odd.

The three after them didn't do it, so I dunno if that means "hey I'm being an ass and scaring this pedestrian", or "kiss my ass you slow commuter" or what. But it was definitely odd.
Likely the latter in this case. Some people are really messed in the head.

So I got passed by a group of 5 roadies on the way in the other day. The first two were kind enough to pass at the same moment I was abreast of a pedestrian going the other way, no doubt giving the poor ped a heart attack.

However the oddest part was that they slapped their asses at me as they went by. Left hand off the bar, slap ass twice, back on bar. Huh?

The three after them didn't do it, so I dunno if that means "hey I'm being an ass and scaring this pedestrian", or "kiss my ass you slow commuter" or what. But it was definitely odd.

perhaps someone from the roadie forums can translate the meaning of this strange ritual...

the thread title would also be a great porn title.

They'll telling you there's more still coming to pass.

They'll telling you there's more still coming to pass.
Huh. I never would have thought of that either. What's the connection between the gesture and the meaning?

I don't know what it means, but I wouldn't turn my back on them if I caught up to them at a stop.

Huh. I never would have thought of that either. What's the connection between the gesture and the meaning?

The slap is just to make noise and catch attention. A couple slaps on the left cheek means a group is passing on the left.

I'm not 100% certain of all this but I've seen pacelines of groips training do this as they pass other riders. It's also limited to just pockets with the country and not universal.

I'd interpret that as "Get on my wheel."

Huh. I never would have thought of that either. What's the connection between the gesture and the meaning?




That could've been what they meant, but like you, I never would've made the connection. I would've just passed them off as friggen idiots and went about my way.

If a hot female roadie slapped her arse as she overtook me, I would definitely take it as a sign to follow her home.


If I could keep up, that is.:p


Any male roadie slaps his arse at me, well, I'll be dropping well back and leaving him to it, thank you.

Strange beasts, these "roadies" you speak of... ;) :)

It's perfectly OK to slap one's ass or another guys ass if your wearing a sports uniform.

This reminds me of the NFL, the only place in the country where it's considered normal to wear unusual clothing, get right up behind a bent over man and reach between his legs. And then slap him on the butt afterwards.

Those roadies may be weird, but they have a way to go to catch up with Bubba...

Odd. Really odd.
Reminds me of something that happened to me last week, though. I was waiting in my LTO lane, and somebody in the straight-only lane to my right on a motorcycle smacked my butt as they went past. By the time I figured out what had happened, all I saw was someone on a motorcycle veering back toward the center of their lane.

If a hot female roadie slapped her arse as she overtook me, I would definitely take it as a sign to follow her home.
If I could keep up, that is.:p


If a hot female roadie did that to me I would do whatever I could to keep up. Something about spanking...

If a hot female roadie slapped her arse as she overtook me, I would definitely take it as a sign to follow her home.
If I could keep up, that is.:p

I'd keep up or wind up in an ambulance from trying.

It's a signal to the guys in the back of the group to move over or to stay over.

Usually, it's slapping the right bun cheek... this means "move over towards the left." It's really the hand signalling by waving towards the left, but it comes off as a slap.

I've seen this happen two times before. Once was a male roadie. The other was a rather cute girl on the trails as she over took me. She was wearing a tight outfit. :eek: :D But still kinda confused what she was slapping her ass for. It was a hot and humid day and I have been bit by a few mossies and the flies were thick in some areas o I figured some mossie bit her in the cheek or crack or something. Intriguing and confusing as I was in her drift. Both times the riders didn't say anything as they passed but gave a little look back.

From my time in Philly - it's a signal saying "Yo! There's something coming up, you'll probably want to move to your left."

As Phantoj said, it probably started as a wave, but the butt slap makes sure that people behind you are awake...

Also used for "Yo! I'm cutting back into the line in front of you" which is probably what these guys were doing.

Yes, everything in Philly starts with a "Yo!" ;)

A group of roadies passed me, and after they passed, they pulled down their shorts to reveal buttplugs protruding from their anuses.

Then immediately afterwards, another group passed me making gargling noises


Are these some kind of arcane signaling gestures?

Slapping their butts meant they thought you were cute and were signaling; 'If you can catch me, you can have me!' :lol:

From the thread title, I thought the roadies were slapping you on the ass. :eek:

Maybe they were acting as their own jockey.

I wanna be a roa-die bay bee! (With my legs all shaved and my spandex on) :lol:

A group of roadies passed me, and after they passed, they pulled down their shorts to reveal buttplugs protruding from their anuses.

Then immediately afterwards, another group passed me making gargling noises


Are these some kind of arcane signaling gestures?

I've been seeing this sort of activity quite a bit lately also. I didn't think much of it, but now that you mention it, it does seem a little unusual.

Maybe they were acting as their own jockey. :roflmao:

Since the beginning of bikedom, there has been a huge chasm between commuters and roadies. Oh, some have tried valiantly to bridge the gap, alas to no avial. :(

However, in a recent incident a group of roadies passed a commuter and in a whim of spontaneous confusion tried to reach the never before dimension of communicating with a commuter. :beer:

Yes, take heart dear friends we have reached the ends of the universe. :beer:

http://www.newenlightenment.com/2001MonolithBedroom.jpg

Our team distributed a Racing 101 guide that has a reference to this signal. This is the only place I've found a reference to it. My searches on the Internet yielded no results.

See below:

Mount up? p.s got lube?

Our team distributed a Racing 101 guide that has a reference to this signal. This is the only place I've found that referenced this signal. My searches on the Internet yielded no results when searching for this signal.

See below:

Wait a minute. Are you saying you have a manual that tells you to slap your butt? I think someone's having fun at your expense... ;).

Chipcom, luckily I didn't catch them.

Sorry everyone, these were guys, had it been women slapping their asses at me, my OP would have had a totally different tone :D.

Speaking of ass-slapping, is it just me or is it incredibly tempting to slap some asses when you're passing cute joggers on the MUP? Never have and I'm sure I never will, but man...

I really regret reading this thread.

Odd. Really odd.
Reminds me of something that happened to me last week, though. I was waiting in my LTO lane, and somebody in the straight-only lane to my right on a motorcycle smacked my butt as they went past. By the time I figured out what had happened, all I saw was someone on a motorcycle veering back toward the center of their lane.
I'd hate to experience this, because I'd be all up in that guy's grill if I could reach him, and would likely as not get my teeth kicked in. But hey, if you don't have respect, what have you got? :p Maybe bikers give each other points for this.

The small group that I ride with uses a double tap of the left cheek with the left hand to signal the rider on the front is moving left to give up the pull. This lets the second rider know to get out of the way. I've ridden with other groups that don't use that signal and they just assume that you are using good etiquette and not grossly overlapping wheels.

It's probably regional, like the finger!

When the ride is over, and they're all gathered together in their tight, sweaty, gaily-colored spandex panties and matching blouses, that's when the real slappin' begins.

Sorry -- I try not to be a hater -- but I just can't help it when it comes to roadies.

The slapping was not a signal to you, it was a signal to the riders behind them. The slap is to get the attention of the rider behind you, then a hand signal follows. Could be one of many such as move right, move left, glass on road, etc, etc.

They were signaling (waving not slapping !)to the ones coming behind to get out and pass you. A pedestrian was killed in Norway some years ago when she was crossing the street. First two cyclists in a line of 5 passed her and the third hit her hard. If they are going well over 40 kmh these signals are really necessary.

Sorry -- I try not to be a hater -- but I just can't help it when it comes to roadies.

Do you also assume that no roadies also commute?
I dont think of cyclists as distinct groups, with hatred towards the other groups.

Speaking of ass-slapping, is it just me or is it incredibly tempting to slap some asses when you're passing cute joggers on the MUP? Never have and I'm sure I never will, but man...Tempting yes, but slapping a cute jogger's ass on the MUP in these days and times could get you brought up on sexual assault charges. It doesn't hurt to think about it though.:D

I am a roadie. I am car free, and I commute.

Tailwinds!

Do you also assume that no roadies also commute?
I dont think of cyclists as distinct groups, with hatred towards the other groups.

The other day, I rode my 'racing' bike to the office because my commuting bike had a flat.

The self-hatred was unbearable.

perhaps someone from the roadie forums can translate the meaning of this strange ritual...

the thread title would also be a great porn title.

I post in the roadie forum and I have no idea what this is all about.

When the ride is over, and they're all gathered together in their tight, sweaty, gaily-colored spandex panties and matching blouses, that's when the real slappin' begins.

Sorry -- I try not to be a hater -- but I just can't help it when it comes to roadies.


A perfect example of why I do not post much anymore.

Speaking of ass-slapping, is it just me or is it incredibly tempting to slap some asses when you're passing cute joggers on the MUP? Never have and I'm sure I never will, but man...

Almost as much temptation as wanting to slap (in the back of the head) oblivious iPod wearing joggers running 3 abreast taking up the entire path, or reflector/light-less bike ninjas at 4:45am in the middle of winter.
I have this hilarious image of someone slapping a jogger on the backside while riding past, and the jogger's arm goes out for the clothesline, like a toll-gate. I don't know why I think that's so funny. I probably need more sleep.

This thread is thigh-slapping good :)

Do you also assume that no roadies also commute?
I dont think of cyclists as distinct groups, with hatred towards the other groups.
This is really silly. I've been commuting for about 6 years, spent quite a few years racing and never heard about this till I came to this forum. I'm a "roadie" and mtb rider and a commuter. If I see anyone on a bike, it's a good thing as far as I'm concerned. Thinking there's something wrong with a roadie because he shaves his legs and rides fast on a nice machine is no better than a motorist honking at someone who chooses to commute via bike.

Never heard of that signal, but atleast now I have some things to look out for if I see someone give the signal. I honestly would have ignored it assuming it wasn't even a signal. Thanks for the info from some (and laughs from the rest). :D

A perfect example of why I do not post much anymore.

Gotta have a thick skin to post on the Internet! Try not to let it bother you so much (and if it does, there is an ignore feature). Its all in good fun, at least on my part. I am sure roadies think I look like a ridiculous Fred when I am riding a bike with fenders and rack, in street clothes.

It's probably regional, like the finger!

I think the finger is pretty universal -- at least in the U.S. :D

I think the finger is pretty universal -- at least in the U.S. :D

Someone should undertake a study of that. Go to every city in the world and see how people react when you give them the finger. Develop a "finger-map" of the world showing how extreme the reaction is in each area.

The criticism of my comment is well-deserved. I've got a problem and I need therapy to resolve it. It's really a form of homophobia -- an irrational fear of guys who are hyper-gullible when it comes to advertising, especially if the ad says that product X is 5 grams lighter than competitors' product; guys who dress up in colorful, skin-tight clothes and ride in lines with their noses pressed up the butt of the guy in front of them. Do you suppose that if I go drop $250 on a couple of carbon fiber bottle cages to shave 50 grams that I will start to develop some tolerance? Or do I need more intense therapy -- perhaps a set of Ksyriums with red tires? Some of those pretty little silver tinkerbell shoes with carbon fiber soles for $300?

For actual racers, fine, but for most people who behave this way, they're being led around by the nose and I just have to laugh.

"I don’t mind races, or racers, but I sure do mind the influence that racing has on equipment and riding attitudes. It seems like a big trick, to me. You flash it up and make it popular so you can fool new riders into going down this path of pain and not-fast-enoughness, and once you get them there, you assure them that they can go faster if only they ride your $800 wheels or the two-pound frame or chug the squeeze-gel you provide them. It’s like you’ve captured them like slaves, and now they’re serving you and can’t escape, and meanwhile, they’re missing out on the best kind of riding, which is just riding without comparing yourself to racers or wishing you were something you’re not, or not as good as you want to be. Anyway, it’s hard to talk about without sounding like a raving maniac, but the thing is, I feel like a raving maniac about it, too. I keep it under control to maintain a certain dignity, but let me tell you, I am not happy with the way racing has influenced bicycles and riding. I think it keeps too many people away."

(Excerpt from an interview of Grant Petersen, founder of Rivendell Bicycle Works and former head of Bridgestone Bicycles, USA)