Winter Cycling - Dirty looks from winter cyclists

I am not really an "all year" cycling guy. I live up a gnarly hill, and frankly, when it's lower then 30 degrees here, I'd rather just drive the 16 miles to school instead of bike, so when the temperature just arose to a very very nice 50-60 degrees, I decided to bike, but now I'm getting dirty looks from others who rode all through winter.

Since everyone on here loves doing it all winter long, do any of you guys shun people who don't?

"Shun" is a pretty strong word.

Mostly I get it the other way. People somehow expect that I'll look down upon them for being mere three-season cyclists, and treat me as some sort of demigod of cycling, making all sorts of deferential noises--everything but genuflecting. I'm not a demigod of cycling. I do my best to straighten them out.

I had to do a lot of that this weekend at the first club ride of the year. Everyone thought I should lead. I just wanted to ride in the group and shoot the breeze with people I hadn't seen in months. Although, I'll admit it was gratifying to be able to pass darned near everyone on the climbs. It didn't make me think less of them. It made me grateful that I didn't have to go through the same spring training aches and pains that they do.

Occassionally I get people who feel sorry for me since I ride in four seasons. Just yesterday, at an LBS where I don't usually shop, a mechanic who has worked on my commuter rig told me he felt sorry for me when he saw me riding in January. That sort of came out of left field. I'd never have expected a comment like that from him.

I told him, "Dude, feel sorry for me if you ever see me in a car."

So anyway, are you sure you're not projecting? Sort of "Oh, the four-season demigods of cycling will think bad of me, since I'm a lowly three-season cyclist."

Edit: BTW, on another forum, I know a whole bunch of guys from your area who ride year-round. They don't strike me as the type who would give you a dirty look. Maybe you just need to ride with better people.

I am not really an "all year" cycling guy. I live up a gnarly hill, and frankly, when it's lower then 30 degrees here, I'd rather just drive the 16 miles to school instead of bike, so when the temperature just arose to a very very nice 50-60 degrees, I decided to bike, but now I'm getting dirty looks from others who rode all through winter.

Since everyone on here loves doing it all winter long, do any of you guys shun people who don't?

I ride all year round mainly because I commute, 14 miles a day. I don't really get into more distances until May through September. So I hope I'm not shunned as a fair weather cyclist :o

I decided to bike, but now I'm getting dirty looks from others who rode all through winter.

It could be just me, but, I’ve never had another cyclist give me a dirty look on the street; ya might be just a touch overly sensitive.

Just ride and enjoy yourself

The kitted up, spaceman, carbon fibered, briftered out roadies all give me the stink eye as I pass on my basketed Univega hybrid wearing khakis and chucks...they probably think I'm a bum.

The kitted up, spaceman, carbon fibered, briftered out roadies all give me the stink eye as I pass on my basketed Univega hybrid wearing khakis and chucks...they probably think I'm a bum.


Well, that explains it.......a basket. I have never had a basket on a bike that must be why other riders don't mad dog me as we pass.:D

I am not really an "all year" cycling guy. I live up a gnarly hill, and frankly, when it's lower then 30 degrees here, I'd rather just drive the 16 miles to school instead of bike, so when the temperature just arose to a very very nice 50-60 degrees, I decided to bike, but now I'm getting dirty looks from others who rode all through winter.

Since everyone on here loves doing it all winter long, do any of you guys shun people who don't?


I think it is completely, utterly, and entirely your imagination.

How would you know if other cyclists rode all winter or did not? How would other cyclists know if you rode all winter or did not?

Stop imagining things and start enjoying your ride.

Well, I do make fun of friends who won't ride because it's drizzling or the ground is covered with thick sheets of ice or some such stupid reason not to saddle up ... :innocent: ... but seriously, it's all cool. The more butts on bikes the better.

I've never been looked down on when I'm riding in jeans and my lime-green Crocs-clones, and I've certainly never done the same to anyone else. I'm a year-round cyclist, but I'm a wimp when it comes to camping - I revert to credit-card touring in the winter. People do what works for them.

Why shun them when you can drop them instead?

I am not really an "all year" cycling guy. I live up a gnarly hill, and frankly, when it's lower then 30 degrees here, I'd rather just drive the 16 miles to school instead of bike, so when the temperature just arose to a very very nice 50-60 degrees, I decided to bike, but now I'm getting dirty looks from others who rode all through winter.

Since everyone on here loves doing it all winter long, do any of you guys shun people who don't?

You are dead to us...but hey, I'm a necrophiliac, so it's cool. :eek:

How would you know if other cyclists rode all winter or did not? How would other cyclists know if you rode all winter or did not?

You mean you, of all people, don't know the secret sign?

I think it is completely, utterly, and entirely your imagination.

How would you know if other cyclists rode all winter or did not? How would other cyclists know if you rode all winter or did not?

Stop imagining things and start enjoying your ride.

I know because the very few bikes in our building's bike racks never change position and I can always get the coveted end spot.;)

Seriously, I doubt very many year round cyclists think any less of those who won't ride in conditions they don't like.

You mean you, of all people, don't know the secret sign?


Wait ... let me guess .........





Is it the permanent streak up the back of the cycling jacket that won't wash out because it is firmly engrained in the material?

Wait ... let me guess .........

Not here! Don't make me have to waterboard you. :twitchy:

How would you know if other cyclists rode all winter or did not?

Easy. You can spot these types on windy spring days. They're still wearing a balaclava. They just don't believe it's warmed up. Myself, I hate taking it off and occasionally wear it even if the temps are above 40F. It just feels too suddenly chilly.

Easy. You can spot these types on windy spring days. They're still wearing a balaclava. They just don't believe it's warmed up. Myself, I hate taking it off and occasionally wear it even if the temps are above 40F. It just feels too suddenly chilly.

10+. As a winter commuter, I'm often in long legged- and sleeved attire when other riders are in shorts. I wear my balaclava up to 50* F. I don't want to be cold.

Man, I took my balaclava off as soon as it got up above freezing.

The hardest temps to dress for on the Mtn bike are the 30 to 55 range. I have been out where the day is warming quickly, but is still in the 30's. After climbing a bit, I have to strip down to a short sleeved jersey and windbreaker. We got some funny looks from the snowmobilers a few weeks ago out on a reservoir

We got some funny looks from the snowmobilers a few weeks ago out on a reservoir

Snowmobilers usually wave at me. :)

I think it is completely, utterly, and entirely your imagination.

How would you know if other cyclists rode all winter or did not? How would other cyclists know if you rode all winter or did not?

Stop imagining things and start enjoying your ride.


The voice of reason. :thumb: