General Cycling Discussion - Cycling Elitists

I cannot really call myself an avid cyclist, but I have ridden for awhile, abeit on a bike I think my boyfriend bought me at Wal-Mart, but I was riding about 18 miles a day four days a week (not in the winter b/c Alaska is cold and icy and I switch to skiing and mountaineering). So, here's my beef: I have been given looks, laughed at and even verbally abused by a number of cyclists who think I am stupid because I have a cheap bike. This is not an isolated incident and has happened in a number of different states. I live on a sailboat and have so many sports that I have to limit my spending which means no expensive bike. I also move every couple of years (military) and usually end up giving away my bike and buying a new cheap bike at the next place. So, I want to know what the opinions are about this topic. Why is it not okay to ride a cheap bike? Also, have you ever judged another cyclist on the bike they are riding?

I think most cyclists will "size up"' someone based on their bike. No one wants a 3k bike that they can't ride.

What you need to do is laugh back and kick their butt!!!

I dont care if someone rides an inexpensive bike, Im just glad to see them out riding. Live life, dont just watch it pass you by..

Robjustice is right.

Ignore these morons who judge you by the price of your transport. I recently had a discussion with a fellow rider about this very topic. It seems that many cyclists, especially those racing have the superiority complex. I have met a few, and I have handed them their @$$es on rides a few times too. Nothing kills an elitist attitude like whipping their butt on a bike that costs less than theirs.

There was a group of riders at a local riding area close to me that have this problem. After seeing them take off on the trail from the parking lot while I was still putting my shoes on I raced to catch up to them and the moment I passed them they all kicked it into gear to stay with me.

At the time I was on a hardtail C'dale that is about a 1000$ bike and almost all of these guys were riding litespeeds or full suspension racing bikes. 3000$ or more rigs. I dropped all of them on a steep climb then slowed to allow them to slowly reel me in. Once they had me again and were working on making a move to pass I dropped the hammer on another climb and this time left them for dead and never looked back.

I pulled a gap so big I had put my bike in my truck and was driving out of the parking area as they finished the lap and could see the disgust in their expressions as I waved to them.

It was a moment worth its weight in gold.

I know exactly what you mean.

Sometimes I get all dressed up in my jeans and a sweatshirt with my tennies and ride my $300 mtn bike around where lots of roadies in their fancy get up and matching Jerseys ride. I get an entirely negative attitude from some of them.

What they don't know is that I also have a fancy road bike with all the doodads and clipless and bright Jersey back in my garage, and that I probably have 2-3 times more total miles than they do.

So, why should it make a difference as long as you are riding and getting exercise?

Too bad, but for some folks it seems to!

By the way, you might try EBay. I just picked up nice little road bike for $290 - 24 speed STI shifters, etc. Just a thought. It will last a lot longer than most department store bikes (at least I hope so). They also have some good deals on decent mtn bikes for about what you would pay for a department store bike - or used from a good local bike shop.

Keep riding!

Firstly, these people aren't really Elitists, they are just Elitist Wannabe's who are just insecure about having their backside kicked by someone on what they perceive to be an inferior bike. If they were truly Elitist, they would have enough faith in their own ability and their own equipment not to feel the need to try to put others down.

Secondly, they're just idiots. I have found arrogance to be the best way to deal with idiots. If you treat their taunts with the contempt they deserve, you'll probably end up causing them no end of stress, which might just make them shut up.

Why is it not okay to ride a cheap bike? Also, have you ever judged another cyclist on the bike they are riding?

It's ok to ride a cheap bike, it's just that the better ones are so much nicer to ride. I'll admit that I usually sneak a peak at what kind of bike someone is riding, but I hope it doesn't affect my reaction to them. Just riding past someone, it is often difficult to tell if they're riding a "good bike" or not.
I tend to judge fellow riders with no lights in the dark or idiots riding on the wrong side of the road. - Cost of the bike doesn't matter.

I have to admit that I'm working my way up to being an elitist myself. I have just broken the 3 digit barrier and entered a new decade and exotic territory in my latest purchase. It's an early 90's Italian built Bianchi road bike and is my most expensive purchase at $125.

I was on a charity bike tour in the fall and felt the receiving end of bicycle elitism as some "clubbers" gave my $17 thrift shop Bianchi "the look" as they passed by, but I did manage to pass some of them later on in the ride. They don't have the same snobby look when you're passing them!!!

F@ck em

I know the feeling. Last season I rode a vintage Univega with downtube shifters, and was scoffed at by a few elitists with new Treks, Pinarellos, Cannondales, and Specilized. They stopped the laughing when I would keep up with them and thier $3000 bikes. I sometimes got into the lead group and held my own.

Yea, don't worry about them. Just realize that your having fun while spending about 1/30 of what they did.

The "good" bikes are the ones that are being ridden. The "bad" ones are the ones no one ever rides.

I'll admit to being chauvanistic about my bike preferences (obviously, look at the crap I ride), but I like it when I see anyone on a bike. Any bike. They all have their own beauty, but it's best expressed when they're in motion.

I think it is perfectly fine to ride a cheap bike, most of my fondest memories are on <$100 Huffys. Owning a more expensive bike won't end the problem, your bike will always be 'too' cheap for some and 'too' expensive for others. Insecure people exist at all income levels. I'm now fortunate enough to ride expensive bikes and there are no shortage of fools who want to drop me purely because their bikes are cheaper and their egos are larger. I crack up when some kid drafts me then goes charging by with his big snicker 'cause he just smoked a Pinarello, of course he's on mile 6 and I'm on mile 65 ;). Enjoy your sport, if you're happy that's all that is important.

Who cares what clods think-( do they? naw- just mouth mush and opinons ) I would say a good bike is waymore fun to ride, and safer and you want to trick it out. no use with deparment store bikes. I just saw a ritchey on ebay buy now for 500 bucks- it's worth thousands new- Item number: 3640685973 umm- I ride a 10 something old ritchey with no shocks and electricians tape all over the paint chips ( between us- I have to slow down when i'm around fancy full suspension bikes cause i go over 10 miles an hour faster than they do- and don't want em feeling bad or getting mad.) Find something YOU like, and stick with it. Find some nice people to ride with! Hey- maybe you could screw in cleats like moterbike ice racing tiresandride in tha snow- bully to them!j

Good post Paula....

I consider myself, a total contradiction on a bike.

For my road bike rides I love dressing in quality cycling gear, looking the part as much as possible, even to the extent of choosing colours to match my cycle trim.

But on the other hand, when I commute or go to the supermarkets/shops, and winter rides on my hybrid cycle, I don`t give a damn how I dress. I`m usually a rag-bag of any old sloppy gear available, a proper Fred you might say.

As for comments or skitty remarks from other bikers wich ever way I dress, these just go over my head and do not bother me one iota. Maybe I`m thick skinned in that respect. I just enjoy my cycling and no comments from anyone iis going to deter me from what I enjoy.

Paula,

We all run into this type of wannabe, with their USPS Uniform, $7500 Litespeed Vortex, $400 Sidi shoes, etc. riding along with their noses in the air.

In my area, it is common courtesy to wave at other members of the cycling fraternity. These types will ignore someone like me, wearing a Nike Dri-Fit, baggie shorts, cheap MTB shoes and riding a Trek Navigator "comfort" bike.

I have smoked more than one of them and it kills them, especially, after being passed, they can't catch up!

If you go through life caring about what others think of you, you will have a hard row to hoe.

I would think that you could ship a bike in your household goods. I have shipped several during my days.

By the way, I am a retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer and I salute you for your service.

I've worked my ass off catching up with riders ahead of me just to get myself going and most of the time they will be in shorts,t-shirt and a basic mtn or cheap road in teenies so screw those guys.Theres jackholes{jackass/*********everywhere,just keep riding.You might think about geeting a better bike and investing in a carry case.Just a suggestion.Weekend LA wantabes are everywhere.

By you caring what they think, you are caught up in it too.

Just enjoy yourself.

i get it from everyone at the local trail i ride, i live in a very wealthy area where trek 5500's are like mercedes. Eveyone has one for some kind of status and none of them can ride for ****. they have 500o road bike with bmx platforms on them because it would be socially unacceptable to buy a 300 dollar trek comfort bike. i ride a decently expensive bike and the sidi shoes and the nice helmet and i get it to. people the judge by how much your bike costs like that piss me off

Like TrekRider, I cruise on a hybrid (93' Trek 730 24 speed with 700x23 tires). Most "elitist" never get past the flat bar and assume I'm on a MtB. I know they are befuddled when they can't shake me.

I find it funny watching them pour it on for miles only to look back in disappointment (He is still there! :mad: ). I try to time it just right so when they look back I sitting as upright and comfortable as possible (I really have to contourt my body to get aero enough to maintain 25+mph). Silly, I know, but there is not much else to do on rides ;)

Have fun with it, eventually they (mostly all young guys, huh?)will, like most people, realize there will always be someone with a better bike and better skills. I'm sure the biggest elitist of all (LA) understands there are lots of people that can whip his a$$ on a bike.

I wouldn't worry about what anyone else thinks. You're riding for yourself, not them. Nothing wrong with a cheap bike, but the more you ride the more you'll appreciate and want a better quality one.

I judge a cyclist by the way they ride, not what they ride. If you can keep up on a cheap bike the more power to you! There's a guy in our club who rides an old steel bike (handlebars wrapped in duct tape, downtube shifters), uses toe clips, wears sneakers, t-shirt, and running shorts. I'm glad that he doesn't do a full upgrade because then I'd have to be chasing him all day!

Hmmm...... I drive a cheap Ford Explorer and I see this guy in a $110K Mercedes practically every week on this main stretch of road on my way to work. I beat him to the freeway entrance every time.

I just ride.....

Yeah, just think that if your bike get stolen or if it get badly dammaged you won't be as pissed off and frustrated as if it was an expensive bike... My bike is cheap compared to what other people ride in my club, even though it was the most expensive thing I ever bought (I'm a student). I think about it as a way of keeping myself detached from materialistic possessions... I just don't want to end up as these people who get mad when their car has a scratch.

It's no one's business what you ride,since they aren't paying for it. People who have a life wouldn't care what you owned and would be more interested in the the fascinating life you live,up in Alaska :)

I admit looking at other people's bikes (hey! who doesn't?) but I appreciate signs of mileage more than bells and whistles.

Years ago I was in an outdoor restaurant enjoying the sun and a few pints with friends. A couple in their 40s arrived, riding expensiveish bikes, wearing stylish clothes, sunglasses, the lot. The guy made a big show of them wanting to take their deeds by their restaurant table where they would effectively block the waiters and other customers. Now I could perhaps relate to this if the place was huge, but this restaurant had literally 10 tables. Restaurant also had a bike rack, with my commuter locked to it, only 15 meters away.

As the waiters respectfully requested them to take their bikes there, the guy yelled "If I were riding a cheap piece of junk like that (pointing at my Nishiki) I might, but if you think I am going to leave my xxxx euro bike there, you have another thing coming!" Expletives omitted. At that stage I pointed out respectfully (NOT) that the "piece of junk" he was referring to was mine and had more miles than he and missus combined could expect to ride within the next decade. I also informed him that over the years the costs of servicing and upgrading that piece of junk totalled to a bit more than his xxxx, and that if he knew anything about bikes he would be able to respect that.
The couple left, still complaining loudly. An elderly couple in the next table bought me my next pint :beer:.

--J

Laugh at the bike snobs and simply outride them . I used to ride a single speed on club rides and kept up well everyone was surprised. Riding well is the best revenge. James

Laugh at the bike snobs and simply outride them . I used to ride a single speed on club rides and kept up well everyone was surprised. Riding well is the best revenge. James

Dropping them out of spite/revenge is just as egotistical as them looking down on you for riding an "inferior brand". Just ignore them and ride your own pace.

Dropping them out of spite/revenge is just as egotistical as them looking down on you for riding an "inferior brand". Just ignore them and ride your own pace.

But if I drop em I don't have to ignore them. They won't be close enough to worry about. ;)

It is not egotistical, just plain fun!

Ride your ride. My bikes are too good for me. I haven't yet grown into them. I don't mind though. They'll be there for years and they're more fun for me to ride than the $80 Magna I started with. I learned singletrack on that Magna, and my bf inherited it when I bought my first LBS bike. He rode singletrack on it, as well. The point of my post: ride you ride. Upgrade when you want, if you want. Have fun. Like I tell all the guys at my trailhead when they ask about my bike: it has wheels and gears. It's a bike. I love bikes.

But if I drop em I don't have to ignore them. They won't be close enough to worry about. ;)

It is not egotistical, just plain fun!
I had a guy catch me this morning. I had just started so was just warming up. I saw the light coming up behind me and sure enough he started to pass as we crested the top of a small hill. He on his carbon forked road bike, me on my 531c steel tourer.

I said good morning - nothing!

It was obvious he wasn't getting away from me and as I was feeling warmer, I snicked up a gear and drew alongside.

How well does your light last - nothing!

So I snicked up another gear, he changed onto his big ring, his cadence dropped and I just spun away from him. Gradually left him behind

Don't know if he was being elitist or just an ignorant b*stard

I said good morning - nothing! Yep, I have this happen almost every ride at the local park. Rude, and downright stupid. At least make a hand gesture or say HI. How much of your wind does a simple HI take? If someone is like this and I see them later fixing their bike or something I will just pass them by.


How well does your light last - nothing! Even worse when you are nice enough to make a second attempt at communication.

So I snicked up another gear, he changed onto his big ring, his cadence dropped and I just spun away from him. Gradually left him behind Good job

Sam

Well I think it is about time that the 'other' side of the conversation be explored.

I am one of those elite roadies that look down upon people who ride cheap bikes and I am proud of it too!

First of all you, who ride cheap bikes, are doing a disservice to the community of 'real' cyclists who spend the money to ensure that we are well represented by a flashy bike and flashy clothes. Just the fact that you are 'getting out for a ride' is not enough. The look and sexiness of the whole experience is also important. If you are not dressed in flashy AND sexy clothes you make ME and my fellow real cyclists look bad and giving off the message that the clothes AND the expensive bike aren't really necessary to ride. When in fact, any real or elite cyclists knows that the clothes 'make the ride'.

Second, I don't believe for one minute that you cheap bike owners can actually catch and pass us real cyclists. Most likely you got us on a recovery day or on a day that we just decided to 'take 'er easy' and enjoy the scenery for once.

Third, being a cheapy bike, no doubt it was sitting on the Walmart rack for many weeks and was handled, sat-upon, and God knows what else before you bought it. No doubt it is now covered in germs and contains any one of a thousand infectious diseases. UGH! Just the thought of going anywhere near you people gives me the shivers!

Fourth, being on a cheapy bike also means that you probably don't have very much knowledge of cycling in general as you are to busy with 'other important things in life' like your kids , wife, work, etc and can't possibly converse with me on the finer details of bike construction, mechanics or offer advice on the best way to reduce rash after shaving your legs.

So! The next time you are out riding your cheap diseased Walmart bike and blow by an elite real cyclist who is just taking it easy that day because of a bad shaving rash on his legs you should stop get on your knees and cry

"I AM NOT WORTHY!"

Digger

Well I think it is about time that the 'other' side of the conversation be explored.

I am one of those elite roadies that look down upon people who ride cheap bikes and I am proud of it too!

First of all you, who ride cheap bikes, are doing a disservice to the community of 'real' cyclists who spend the money to ensure that we are well represented by a flashy bike and flashy clothes. Just the fact that you are 'getting out for a ride' is not enough. The look and sexiness of the whole experience is also important. If you are not dressed in flashy AND sexy clothes you make ME and my fellow real cyclists look bad and giving off the message that the clothes AND the expensive bike aren't really necessary to ride. When in fact, any real or elite cyclists knows that the clothes 'make the ride'.

Second, I don't believe for one minute that you cheap bike owners can actually catch and pass us real cyclists. Most likely you got us on a recovery day or on a day that we just decided to 'take 'er easy' and enjoy the scenery for once.

Third, being a cheapy bike, no doubt it was sitting on the Walmart rack for many weeks and was handled, sat-upon, and God knows what else before you bought it. No doubt it is now covered in germs and contains any one of a thousand infectious diseases. UGH! Just the thought of going anywhere near you people gives me the shivers!

Fourth, being on a cheapy bike also means that you probably don't have very much knowledge of cycling in general as you are to busy with 'other important things in life' like your kids , wife, work, etc and can't possibly converse with me on the finer details of bike construction, mechanics or offer advice on the best way to reduce rash after shaving your legs.

So! The next time you are out riding your cheap diseased Walmart bike and blow by an elite real cyclist who is just taking it easy that day because of a bad shaving rash on his legs you should stop get on your knees and cry

"I AM NOT WORTHY!"

Digger

:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

I've had many an elitist try and keep pace with me while I pull my daughter in her chariot. If they are wannabes they die and whither, if they are strong then I will hop on their wheel and annoy them, and I have kept pace at well over 25 mph with some of these bozo's with kid in tow(an extra 80 lbs including the trailer/diaper bag/kid toys).

When someone passes me with an attitude they had better be one helluva strong rider or I'm gonna grind their bones into dust. But I also ride a 17lb dura ace hotrod so it is an equal match equipment wise. It is the kiddie trailer that makes the jerks thumb their nose at me. But they pay for it when I drop them. And as far as recover rides go, the real snobs with an ego will not sit idle while pop pulls past them with a trailer. I here the gears shifting and the breathing almost everytime I destroy one of these snobs.

I said good morning - nothing!
How well does your light last - nothing!Maybe he's deaf.

A few things on this (bonus Holiday Haiku bonanza!):

Thousands of dollars,
Titanium and carbon,
Cannot change a flat.

Colors of colors,
The jersey for all jerseys,
Please buy a mirror.

Nature abhores you,
Your technicolor vomit,
I just cut your spokes.

Dress like Lance Armstrong
Same kit that the master has
Oh wait, but you suck

Great Haikus.....and funny. I counted all the syllables. Did you write them?

Yesterday as I was huffing and puffing along the local bike trail, I spotted someone way ahead of me riding a road bike. For every turn of the crank, it seemed like I gained 100 yards. As I got closer, I noticed the bike was a real beauty. As I was passing, I noticed the rider was an older woman, wearing an old helmet, a regular skiing type parka, but riding a De Rosa with a 30 speed Campy set up. The bike was beautiful.

"Nice bike," I said with a certain touch of envy. She said "Thank you very much. Hope you have a nice ride."

Nice, down-to-earth and friendly. One good one makes up for lots of bad ones.

anybody want to start a rat bike thread w\pics (rat bikes are vintage harley davidsons that have been detailed to look old ,ugly, war beaten, rusty monsters.) It's done w\bicycles to deter theft. The uglier your bike is -makes winning a friendly race more fun- when he \she catches up to you they stare and ask "what is that increadible piece of poop your riding" also I WOULD buy a Foes Weasel or Ellsworth IF I had the funds- food and dental for the kid comes first. I'm gonna go get some paper and rust paint today and deal w\my corrosion- I'll borrow a digital and send a photo of my beautifully uglified bike soon- I'm an artist so I like to ride an eyesore-it's all art-even your style OF riding, peace, love and paintchips -jeff

Great Haikus.....and funny. I counted all the syllables. Did you write them?
Yes I did. I have been using the standard 5-7-5 form for roughly 10 years. Basho is one of my favorite writers of all times. I had a haiku about him published when I was at CU.

It is the kiddie trailer that makes the jerks thumb their nose at me.

This baffles me. Nothing says more about one's love and devotion to cycling and family than seeing them pull their kid along on a nice sunny day. I guess the jerks by definition can't see the beauty in that... talk about sociopathic ingrates! It also always brings a smile to my face to see kids on trail-a-bikes. I try wave to the ones tugging the kiddie-trailers as well as the little-ones in the trailers themselves (I hope they can see me). Kudos to you.

I think a lot of folks here are pretty thin-skinned. If I'm on a ride and have passed a dozen or so people, am I being elitist because I don't say "Hi!" and strike up a conversation with each and every one of them? Most of the time I'll just say "passing on your left" but I don't necessarily say anything else. It doesn't have anything to do with what bike you're riding.

Folks, enjoy your own ride and don't read into anyone else's behavior.

am I being elitist because I don't say "Hi!"

Yeah, but you live in the Republic of Anaerobia, where they do things differently!

Yeah, but you live in the Republic of Anaerobia, where they do things differently!Indeed, it is sometimes hard for Komrades of the Republic to utter anything intelligent through the haze of pain!

I've ridden with a few of the "elitists" and although they are not necessarily my kind of people, I do respect them. I think that you will find that the people you are calling elitists are the ones who take their sport more seriously. I can't hang with them (the roadies at least) but I have found that as a general rule the people who drop that kind of cash on their rides are pretty serious about it. And the ones I know generally don't care if you ride a Huffy or a 5200, if you can hang with them you will be a part of their group, otherwise they most likely will not even notice you... And there's nothing wrong with that.

I've ridden with a few of the "elitists" and although they are not necessarily my kind of people, I do respect them. I think that you will find that the people you are calling elitists are the ones who take their sport more seriously. I can't hang with them (the roadies at least) but I have found that as a general rule the people who drop that kind of cash on their rides are pretty serious about it.

Nobody's questioning anyone's right to be serious about riding. I do that myself (I thought twice about going to Brisbane tonight to see my favourite band because I thought it might impact on my ride tomorrow). However, I don't see any reason to put others down regardless.

I find it hard to be elitist about bicycles when I consistently find that some of the best-looking bikes that I see in Chicago are quite literally made from trash.

This thread is turning into one of those that become highly comical without intention (and I love it)

Hey Digger! great to see an Elitist in "flames"

Sam! Do you have one of the stickers on your kids trailer,stating "beware baby on board" you Know the ones you see in the rear windows of cars that are going faster and overtaking everone else on the roads. Lol....

Hey ViciousCycle-
Neat pics. There are a couple of guys I see now and then around here that have cool home recycled bikes that look a lot like those.

Sam! Do you have one of the stickers on your kids trailer,stating "beware baby on board" you Know the ones you see in the rear windows of cars that are going faster and overtaking everone else on the roads. Lol....

That is a great idea! I'll go get one. :D:D:D

I realize an above average strong rider is not gonna let me pass them or stay in front if they do not want to but considering I can average 18.5-19.5 overall pulling the kid and can still muster a 30 MPH sprint there are quite a few pretty fit cyclists with attitudes who won't be able to keep pace. It is a hoot when they do try and keep up and can't.

This is kind of funny. I sometimes will do errands on our beatup MTB, and I am sure roadies will see me and think I'm some loser. I'll think,'wait, I'm also a roadie!" But who cares? I know I'm a roadie! I saw one girl come into a bike shop, with a beatup old bike, dressed like a hippie. SHe was in her early 20s, looked like the child of hippie parents. You'd never know it to look at her but it turns out she was the junior provincial MTB champ. I bet snotty roadies sneer at her too-until they see her calf muscles.

Here's a fun revenge story:One day a friend of mine was out on a ride on his Kona (cross bike) and stopped to fix his cleat. A bunch of yuppies on expensive bikes ( you know the ones, shmancy bikes they ride for an hour a week) rolled by, and one of them said "hahaha... something wrong with your fat tire?" and they all went off laughing. Then he got back on his bike took off and SMOKED them, leaving them laughing at his rapidly retreating back. HAHHHAHHA!!!

Paula . I have been there, I have ridden and do ride cheap bikes and those people who laugh at you are idiots with self esteem problems,if they feel they have to ridicule you like that.I was active duty for 18 months and am now in the reserves and for those 18 mos my main transport was a bicycle. If you can do not associate with those people. Illegitami non Carborundum. James :p