Southern California - Seeing Other Cyclists On the Road, What are Your Thoughts?

I get certain thoughts when I see others riding on the streets. If I see thinner fitter looking cyclists, I wonder if I'd be able to keep up with them. Sometimes I see guys riding up the hills, maybe not so lite guys. Most of the time I think, "I can keep up with that guy". Doesn't really matter what they wear, I think I judge more by the size. I could be wrong, maybe they would all spank my @$$ riding up Euclid Ave.:D

Overall my thoughts are on whether I would be able to keep up or not. Other riders I know look at others and make comments like, That dude sucks!". My thoughts aren't along those lines.

I was riding up Euclid the other day wearing an In-N-Out t-shirt. I was stopped at a light, I looked up to see a few drivers looking my way. I began to wonder what their thoughts were. Maybe they were looking at me thinking,"awww, well atleast the poor fat burger guy is trying!" Maybe another thinking ," I'd kick that guy's @$$!".:D

Maybe some have no thougths at all? Maybe they just check out the bike?

You'd have to be wearing an Eddie Murphy Klump Family Fat suit to be mistaken for a fat person Beanz. ;)

I'm just glad that people are on the bike at all. I'm starting to see more people on the bike lanes in my neighborhood, and I don't feel so lonely anymore being the only cyclist among drivers.

If they're going opposite direction, I'd think I wish I could ride with them. If they're going the same direction in front of me, I think I will catch them and ride with them. If they're not going very fast, I think I will pass them as safely as possible and maybe just slow enough to say hi. If she's a hottie, I'll take my time passing her and enjoy the ride.

I like to analyze people at coffee houses. :D

You'd have to be wearing an Eddie Murphy Klump Family Fat suit to be mistaken for a fat person Beanz. ;)


You haven't seen me in my In-N-Out duds!:roflmao2:

I like to analyze people at coffee houses. :D

AH-HA!!!!...........A Posee Poser! Or is it a Poser Posee?:D

I see riders of all sizes/weights and different levels of fitness. As long as they are having fun, commuting somewhere, or getting some exercise, it's all good.

I just like to see what kind of bike they are on.

Mom Watch The Hell Out Theres A Biker On The Road!!!

I'm too into myself to consider other riders. Truthfully, I'm happy to see them. Except the dudes pedaling with sandals.

"I wonder if that guy is going to go home and write an introspective post on BikeForums about seeing me on the street?"

I check out bikes. Especially bikes with friction shifters :) .

East Hill

Yes, I check out the people on bikes, I check out the bikes they're riding, and sometimes (curious?) their pedal cadence. Not sure why . . .

Like you, Beanz, I equate lean with "Fast" but I've been fooled in both directions, i.e. someone who looked "fat" was actually fast and an excellent climber, whereas another rider who looked lean and mean was actually a bit of a plodder, and I didn't have any trouble riding away from them. So you just never know.

Like George, I check out riders at coffee places, and like 2wheelsonly I check out the "eye-candy" hotties (yeah, even though I'm very happily married!). And, like nikohime, I'm just glad to see so many people riding their bicycles!

Rick / OCRR

I check out the "eye-candy" hotties (yeah, even though I'm very happily married!).
Rick / OCRR

I've been meaning to tell you. The way you sometimes look at me, scares me!:roflmao2:


"I wonder if that guy is going to go home and write an introspective post on BikeForums about seeing me on the street?"

Yup! When I'm riding, my wheels are always turning. Sometimes I look over at a rider, an incident or the people and laugh to myself while thinking, " I bet these people have no idea what I'm planning"!

You must be the .01% that may have a clue!:D

AH-HA!!!!...........A Posee Poser! Or is it a Poser Posee?:D

The baristas all think I'm some kind of a nut case, just sitting still, no paper, no laptop, staring at people.

I first look to see if I recognize them, then I make a note of the bike & clothes and file it away. I tend not to make judgements unless I think they are doing something unsafe. If they are traveling in the same direction as me, I will analyze their riding to determine the safest way to pass, and to determine if I need to say anything or not. Usually I'll just check for traffic and go out into the lane to get around, but if its clear that they can hold their line and aren't all of the road, I may slip by more closely without going into the lane.

Actually, the very first thing I look at when I see another cyclist is if the bike has a rear derailleur or not. Then I determine whether the cyclist is a he or a she. Then I pass judgement. :D

i tend to judge stuff like, "....wow..that seat is too high...maybe i should say something"

i do judge stupid riding habits, unsafe or too aggresive..stuff like that

there is one thing i have learned about cycling...just cause a guy/gal are large and in charge it doesn't mean they can't haul the mail...i've been dusted by big kids more than once...and i am 5'9" at a slim 160lbs....

just happy to see people out there..

"And I thought red was a bad color for shorts"

"Whoa, A female!!! Shwing!"

"Nice bike"

"Crappy bike"

"I'm passing him. What a loser"

"He's passing me. He must be doing a shorter ride."

"That helmet doesn't match his bike"

"Jersey doesn't match the shorts"

"Socks don't match the jersey"

"No helmet. Must be a moron"

i do judge stupid riding habits, unsafe or too aggresive..stuff like that


Oh yes, forgot about that one. One of my first thoughts!

For the longest time Mary used to rock her butt, but I never told her about lowering her seat. :p

I'm trying really hard to be the sheperd...

On the whole, I'm just glad that some amongst us, are out and about, just trying to live.

One or ten. We're all out in the sunshine. Smile, wave, nod, smile, talk, be friendly. And I know Mr. B., that you already are.

The only ones I have angst over are the ones who don't see it. And my efforts are denied. But, I'm not gonna stop trying.

So if we ever cross paths, I will extend my good tidings.

"That dude looks fast. What a poser."

"That dude looks slow. Poser."

"I better not pass this guy if I want to avoid a pissing contest."

"WTF! How dare you pass me?"

"That's why everyone hates cyclists..."

"Swamis... **** those guys."

"Yikes. Heh. Butterface."

Actually, the very first thing I look at when I see another cyclist is if the bike has a rear derailleur or not. Then I determine whether the cyclist is a he or a she. Then I pass judgement. :D

That's exactly where I start looking.

There are two things that ruffle my feathers while riding: unsafe riders and people who do not seem to be enjoying themselves. But in the end, it's my bike ride, which I always enjoy tremendously, and so I usually just let it pass.

roadfix -- since you're the resident poser, let me ask you this: do you find yourself posing while in motion? I think I do this. For example, sometimes when I pass people, I tend to want to slow down a little bit so that they can get a look at my drivetrain. I know: it's ridiculous. But {shrug**.

"And I thought red was a bad color for shorts"

"Whoa, A female!!! Shwing!"

"Nice bike"

"Crappy bike"

"I'm passing him. What a loser"

"He's passing me. He must be doing a shorter ride."

"That helmet doesn't match his bike"

"Jersey doesn't match the shorts"

"Socks don't match the jersey"

"No helmet. Must be a moron"Funny. When ever I finish with intervals I always have this same cyclist blow bye me and I want to scream:"I just got finished with intervals, I'm not really ......". I hardly ever do intervals but when I do this same guy from somewhere in my neighborhood always passes me when I'm finished. I'm slow anyways but he must think I'm a D-bag.

roadfix -- since you're the resident poser, let me ask you this: do you find yourself posing while in motion? I think I do this. For example, sometimes when I pass people, I tend to want to slow down a little bit so that they can get a look at my drivetrain. I know: it's ridiculous. But {shrug**.

Sure, I do that all the time, among other things. :D
Also, when I park my bike at coffee houses I make sure the drivetrain is facing out in the open, never against a wall. This makes it easier for me to stare at it too. :p :D

Sure, I do that all the time, among other things. :D
Also, when I park my bike at coffee houses I make sure the drivetrain is facing out in the open, never against a wall. This makes it easier for me to stare at it too. :p :D

Hah! I do the same thing. On the rack at work I even park with the drivetrain side out. It feels so narcissistic, but I enjoy looking at my bicycle too.

I look at the bikes first. Yes, I look at the drivetrain. I especially notice vintage/fixed gear bikes and other female riders or commuter-types for some reason.

I almost always smile, say Hi and ring the bell if I'm on one of my bikes that has one. I know it's silly but ...

I almost always smile, say Hi and ring the bell if I'm on one of my bikes that has one. I know it's silly but ...

I attached a bell to my fixed gear bicycle and now I'm even happier. It's one of those "I <3 My Bike" ones.

"Hawt"
"Meh"
"D-bag" (really? the D word is censored?)
"Hulk Smash"

I look at the bikes first. Yes, I look at the drivetrain. I especially notice other female riders ...

Yeah sure! When we crossed paths with you, you saw me and not Gina!:twitchy:.......What brand of bike were we riding?:innocent:.....That's what I thought, I feel so VIOLATED!:notamused:

Funny. When ever I finish with intervals I always have this same cyclist blow bye me and I want to scream:"I just got finished with intervals, I'm not really ......". I hardly ever do intervals but when I do this same guy from somewhere in my neighborhood always passes me when I'm finished. I'm slow anyways but he must think I'm a D-bag.
I do my intervals riding around the Rose Bowl. Quite often, the timing has me passing some guy while sprinting, then relaxing until shortly after he passes me, at which point I have to sprint again. Those guys must think I'm a slow loser who just gets pissed off when they pass me so I race ahead of them but can't hold the tempo and get pissed when they pass me again. :roflmao2: I'm slow too, but I'm sure there are plenty of people who think I'm a total D-bag as well.

Unless they are a potential hazard to me, they are ignored. Paying attention to vehicles is much more important than looking at the scenery or things that can't kill you when riding on the road.

You guys should just wear a sign that says:

Interval Training:
Constant speeding
and slowing.

:D

Why would anybody, with any drivetrain, park at a rack with the drivetrain on the inside?

Unless they are a potential hazard to me, they are ignored. Paying attention to vehicles is much more important than looking at the scenery or things that can't kill you when riding on the road.

Most of my riding is not on roads, or is through residential areas with little traffic However, I completely agree that in traffic, I pay attention to traffic.

Why would anybody, with any drivetrain, park at a rack with the drivetrain on the inside?

Assuming that you're referring to my comment: I should clarify then that the bike rack where I work is against and perpendicular to the building. I slip the bike into the rack such that the drivetrain faces the sidewalk and not the building because when I walk by the bicycle, I like to look at it. I realize that this is rather weird, but oh well. I fully recognize that I do lots of unexplainable *****.

If I can't look at the scenery, you can keep your revolution.

I have a neighbor who collects vintage electric guitars. He says he often lines them up on the living room floor and just stares at them for hours.

Great read: http://velonews.com/article/76403/what-goes-through-the-head-of-a-pro-cyclist-in-a-five-hour

What goes through the head of a pro cyclist in a five-hour race?

By Will Frischkorn
Posted May. 19, 2008
Somebody once made the mistake of asking “What do you think about out there during five hour races? It can’t all be focus, right?”

You asked for it! A sampling of my really, really random inner monologue from the second stage at the Four Days of Dunkirk, starting while rolling from the camper to the start:

Wow. It’s really nice today. Why are we starting in a dive strip mall parking lot? Lame. I need to pee.

Is the photo-stalker over there with the camera watching me pee or taking pictures of that Milram dude? I wonder if there are security cameras on this building? Wonder if I’m giving the security guy a show? Heh. Hmm. I should probably get over there quickly, looks like it’s time to go.

What am I doing with my life? Bike racing is pretty damn strange. I wonder what I’d be doing if I weren’t bike racing? What a cool way to make a living. It’s really nice out. There can’t be that many days like this up here in northern France. Thank god it isn’t raining. That guy looks fat. Why is the valve stem open on my front wheel?

Guess it’s time to roll. Why is everybody so damn nervous today? Jeesus dude, 5k left in the neutral – relax. What a cool church. Man there are a lot of ugly people in this town. What a hole. It would suck to live here. 1k left in the neutral, better get to the front. That guys gonna attack isn’t he, guess we aren’t rolling into it easy today. He’s gonna counter, jump on the wheel, go. Ouch. My legs hurt this morning. Ouch. Ouch. Close the gap. Ah, now they’re better, just had to get going. Perfect opportunity to counter. GO GO GO. Two guys on my wheel, Cofidis might let this roll. Fu-k, why is that guy doing that? Idiot. Well, at least we get to chill for a second.

Go again. Perfect composition now … nice. Guess not. Ouch ouch ouch. Nice, right in the sweet spot here. Glad I’m not 80 guys back right now, that would suck. Cover that one, quick! Perfect, Jason jumped with it and I didn’t have to. We’re riding really well as a team today. Another counter attack. I really hope I don’t actually end up in the move today. Cofidis is only going to let a couple of guys go, and they’re definitely coming back, and I really want to just chill. I should stop covering. Eeeekkk — not yet, jump on that one. Whoah – there it goes, two guys, one more, there’s a lane up the side, I should go. Screw that, I really don’t want to be there. Help block the road at the front so nobody else can jump and those guys can get a gap. Nice, others are thinking the same. Day’s over, time to chill. I need to pee.

Man that guy has huge calves. That guy really needs to lose some weight. WOW check out that mullet. It’s really nice today. Wonder what friends are doing back home right now. It hailed last night in Boulder, I wonder if my apple tree lost all of its blossoms and I’m not going to have any apples, again, this fall? Maybe the grapes survived this year. I can’t wait to build that pizza oven this fall – I should really start looking at plans on the internet when I get home. This would be a pretty entertaining idea for a journal, maybe I should write that when I get back. Why are we going so hard all of a sudden? jeebus guys, relax. Damn I hate that team. Ah, better. That house is cool. I need to paint my house this fall. Fall is going to be busy.

I’m bored. Very. Chip-seal roads suck. That team kit is hideous this year. This part of France is a hole. The colza fields are really pretty this time of the year. It’d be cool to be flying over this area, looking down on those fields, going somewhere else. Wind sucks. I should go get some bottles. Why is our mechanic driving? Hah – our director is in the back seat taking a nap. Must be exciting back in the caravan today too. A jersey full of bottles is heavy. Can’t wait to hand these off. Where is Tom … thought I saw everybody. Damn, back to the front again. Cofidis is riding way too hard. That guy has some freaky looking arms. I’m going to get a weird tan line from these modified gloves. Meatball has a serious helmet strap tan going. Heh.

50k to go, they’re going to have to pick it up now to catch the break. Well, guess not so much, those dudes have been out there a long time and it’s only a couple of em. High Road’s helping, they’re done now. I should probably get back towards the front. It’s really nice chilling tail gunner. Grab the guys as I go by, hopefully Mike can pull something out today in the sprint. Looks like everybody’s thinking it’s time to get up to the front now, it’s on. That horse over there has the life. It needs to be brushed. I hate fighting for wheels when it’s still this far out. Man we’re hauling. This is NUTS. Hope nobody botches it right now. I hate road furniture. This is kinda fun right now, we’re flyin.

Fxcxk shjjjlkt jeeeeebus!!!! This is insane! Nothing like a tailwind run-in and fresh legs all around. This is like a video game, but with consequences. SHIIIIIIIererwoekjrojtT. That was way too close, I should back off a bit, no need to take these risks. Meatball’s lookin good. CORNER — comin' in HOT. FkljoijK, wrong side of the roundabout. Heh … right side of the roundabout. Just gained a free 30 spots. Sweet. 1k to go. This run-in is CRAZY. We’re doing 80k an hour, glad I’m not fighting for the sprint. Man I hope the sprinters don’t crash, we’d all stack right into ‘em. Hope no gaps open in the field. Nah, too fast. There’s the line! DONE! Where’s Sophie? I’m thirsty. Ah, a cold coke — nothing like it. There’s the camper, sweet, finito. I’m hungry. Where are the sandwiches?

And that’s about it … Punctuate those random thoughts with stupid jokes that seem funny only because you’re bored, tired, and on a bike along with some time spent catching up with guys on the other teams and you have a good picture of this day. Obviously some races are a bit more focused, but on the long days spent chilling in the bunch while a team’s on the front riding tempo, well, the mind gets wandering …

You guys should just wear a sign that says:

Interval Training:
Constant speeding
and slowing.

:D
How about:

I'm on a recovery ride
What's your excuse?

If I can't look at the scenery, you can keep your revolution.

That's what mountain biking is for, my freaky friend.

http://www.spokejunkies.com/forum/uploads/1209873065/gallery_35_32_1122.jpg (http://www.spokejunkies.com/forum/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=3249)

Yeah sure! When we crossed paths with you, you saw me and not Gina!:twitchy:.......What brand of bike were we riding?:innocent:.....That's what I thought, I feel so VIOLATED!:notamused:

ha ha ha ha!

...a Trek! No wait, a Bianchi!

Hey, it was a tandem, silly.

Busted...:D

ha ha ha ha!

...a Trek! No wait, a Bianchi!

Hey, it was a tandem, silly.

Busted...:D


Hehehe! That's what I thought!;)