Southern California - You know your in so-cal when...

1. The big, huge, gas-guzzling 4x4 truck with the lift kit is necessary to lug the 50-lb downhill bike to the top of the hill so he/she can coast down and say 'wow, that was brutal'.
2. They do have pickup trucks in Paris (the entire European continent, in fact). They are used by farmers in the original, intented way of working the farm(s).
And finally, my favorite:
3. When you ride on the road on a mtb (gasp!!!), on your way to the trail, you wave at the roadie going the other way and he totally snubs you--hey! where is that big lifted truck now?

3. When you ride on the road on a mtb (gasp!!!), on your way to the trail, you wave at the roadie going the other way and he totally snubs you--hey! where is that big lifted truck now?


I went for a ride on the 56 bike path yesterday and pretty much all the roadies didn't even acknowledge me when I said "Good Morning". A few said "Hi" back, but most didn't. And you can't tell me they "were in a zone", it's on the bike path!
Chris

Call me Fred.....

When I go out and ride, I say hi or nod my head to almost every walkers/joggers, and cyclists; unless I totally missed them if I had my head down or doing fast-to-me downhills. Most people acknowledges back.

Although I don't ride my mtb as often now, but when I was riding it (on the road), I didn't notice any difference w.r.t. other people's/cyclists' behavior. In fact, I received a few compliments when riding up Torrey Pines by some cyclists on road bikes.

FWIW, when I ride on SR-56 bike path, I use it for training (even though my speed may tell you otherwise). There aren't that many people on that bike path, and only a few road cross-overs. Most roadies in kits that I've bumped into on SR-56 seem that way too. Group paceline and all; seem quite serious.

I don't think this is isolated to roadies. If you just go to a mall and say hi to everyone you see, I doubt you'll get a high return rate. No need to feel unhappy when others don't acknowledge you. If you like to say hi to people you see on the road because you like to, I don't think you should expect anything in return.

Cheers!

I don't think this is isolated to roadies.

You're right, it's not isolated to roadies. I've encountered 'true' mountain bikers on a trail while climbing (they were going downhill), and they've snubbed me, too. The absolute worst on the trail have been the equestrian crowd that will simply not respond, even though a bike rider is supposed to be audible and visible and friendly so that the horse doesn't get spooked...

You're right, it's not isolated to roadies. I've encountered 'true' mountain bikers on a trail

I doubt you're ancountered any true mountain bikers out here. There are however a bunch of tools on mountain bikes out here who think they are fast, or something like that. All of the true mountain bikers I know don't ride the trails the type you've encountered because they ride the same four trails over and over, accompanied by the same kind of backslapping that the 17mph roadies do.

I doubt you're ancountered any true mountain bikers out here. There are however a bunch of tools on mountain bikes out here who think they are fast, or something like that. All of the true mountain bikers I know don't ride the trails the type you've encountered because they ride the same four trails over and over, accompanied by the same kind of backslapping that the 17mph roadies do.

It's nice that you've graced the forums with your penetrating insights and knowledge. In the future, I'll be sure to check with you before I decide if someone is a "true" anything.

When I go out and ride, I say hi or nod my head to almost every walkers/joggers, and cyclists; unless I totally missed them if I had my head down or doing fast-to-me downhills. Most people acknowledges back.

Although I don't ride my mtb as often now, but when I was riding it (on the road), I didn't notice any difference w.r.t. other people's/cyclists' behavior. In fact, I received a few compliments when riding up Torrey Pines by some cyclists on road bikes.

FWIW, when I ride on SR-56 bike path, I use it for training (even though my speed may tell you otherwise). There aren't that many people on that bike path, and only a few road cross-overs. Most roadies in kits that I've bumped into on SR-56 seem that way too. Group paceline and all; seem quite serious.

I don't think this is isolated to roadies. If you just go to a mall and say hi to everyone you see, I doubt you'll get a high return rate. No need to feel unhappy when others don't acknowledge you. If you like to say hi to people you see on the road because you like to, I don't think you should expect anything in return.

Cheers!


I honestly really don't care if we say "hi" to each other or not, I just think it would be nice. I'm originally from Indiana where if you don't play basketball, you suck. So, wanting to ride a road bike is really strange (think Breaking Away). When I was a senior in HS, I made it past the regionals to be able to race in the state finals for the road race. I didn't make it because I was any good, I made it because there was only 5 of us racing and the top 5 went! I decided not to go to state due to getting smoked at the regional, I had never ridden with ANYONE else prior to that day. So, I guess that's why I think we need to band togethr as cyclists to support and at least say "hi" to each other regardless of what we ride or what we wear. (insert some kind of patriotic music here...)
Chris :D

Do any of you attempt to say "Hi" if you see the person has an ipod implanted in their ears? It's a fruitless effort.

Do any of you attempt to say "Hi" if you see the person has an ipod implanted in their ears? It's a fruitless effort.

Yep, ipod zombies suck, especially if you're yelling and ringing your bell at them to move out of the way, but they just can't hear because their music is loud enough that you can hear it blasting out at you. :eek:

That's why IF i ride with my iPOD, it's only in my right ear (non-traffic side).

Sorry, but you're wrong, environmentalism is all politics and nothing else...go into as deep as you want, you had to bring it here not me. When you make buying decisions for other people, that's political.

THIS

The environmental movement's main strategy is to use politics to effect the kinds of changes they want; just like any ideological movement from christian conservatism to liberal socialism. All see politics and the government as a tool of force, not the defender of rights.

I applaud everyone on BF for being rather level-headed when these types of things come up. Further I think some healthy discussion is alway a good thing. But, it does annoy the **** out of me when people (BF commuter thread and elsewhere) assume everyone commutes to work to save the earth. Environmentalism is morally bankrupt, and I refuse to be camped by default within the mis-guided actions--manifested in government programs or sappy private-sector marketing campaigns--of everyone who buys into these ideas.

When you post on a Bike Forum it's probably just safer to talk about bikes.

Cheers!
Steven

Sometimes it takes politics to help the environment.

....and politicians do such a great job of everything else they touch.....

I went for a ride on the 56 bike path yesterday and pretty much all the roadies didn't even acknowledge me when I said "Good Morning". A few said "Hi" back, but most didn't. .....

I was riding my road bike up the path parallel to El Toro - right by where it ends at Cook's Corner.

I encountered an mtb'er changing a tire, and asked him if he needed anything. He responded "F*ck you."

I was riding my road bike up the path parallel to El Toro - right by where it ends at Cook's Corner.

I encountered an mtb'er changing a tire, and asked him if he needed anything. He responded "F*ck you."


Well THAT was a true mountain biker for ya, no doubt...:rolleyes: