General Cycling Discussion - More annoying than hipsters....

I've noticed something about the local biking community where I live, there seems to be an unpleasant sub genre of bicyclists who seem to think just wearing a lycra jersey and cycling shorts and riding a $2,000 bike automatically makes them the next Lance Armstrong. I've dubbed them the lycra hipsters, because while they look the part, they also ride like they just learned yesterday and they're the only on riders who matter.

I was out for my normal long Sunday ride yesterday and I was just cruising along on my bike at probably 15-20mph and I was left hooked by one of these people.:mad:

There was originally two of them, riding in the opposite direction towards me. I was just about to cross the entrance to a side street, when one of these guys turned right in front of me onto the side street. I actually had to lock up my brakes, until I came to a dead stop and than turn my front wheel to miss his right pedal. His reaction was to look at me over his shoulder as he road past me and yell, "Hey watch it!"

???:twitchy:

Hey watch what? I was going STRAIGHT down a country road which didn't have any yield or stop signs and this tool turned directly into my line of travel rather than break his cadence and wait....two seconds for me to pass. There's something called "the right of way", even regarding bicycles.

I have been riding the same road for the last month and I've seen a few other cyclists and motorcyclists every ride, they either beep or wave at this point. These two riders I've never seen before, but I guess with warm weather comes new and rolling road hazard.

The irony is Massachusetts just modified the laws regarding cyclists in 2008. One of the ammendments was specifically regarding cars yielding to bicyclists when the car is attempting to turn left and the bicyclist is riding straight through an intersection. If the car fails to yield, it's a $150 fine.

I wonder if he would have done the same thing if I was in a car instead of riding a hybrid and wearing walking shorts and wearing a backpack.

Usually they're called `Lance wannabees', and the term is applied any time somebody wearing lycra on a nice road bike is somehow inconveniencing or in some other way bothering somebody in a car.

It doesn't really have much to do with skill or speed ... if you're in lycra, on a road bike, and you're not Lance -- you're a Lance wannabee. These same people also hate the fixed gear crowd, and they're all hipsters, no matter what they're wearing or how their bike is set up. Really, they usually hate anybody on a bike, but those are the groups they seem to stereotype the most.

at least he wasn't a hipster.

i find bike shop staff more annoying than hipsters- doesn't matter which shop i go into i always get an unfriendly look when i enter, am made to feel like what i am riding couldn't possibly compare to what they ride, that they have far superior cycling knowledge than i do and that i should shine their carbon soled roadie shoes! i hate this stuff- i can't figure out why the bike shop community has such disdain for customers. i don't want to look like lance and wear jerseys for cycling teams i've never heard of , nor do i want a lesson on gear ratios, just answer my questions with a smile and make me feel welcome what is so difficult about that.

I'll take a "weekend warrior" over a hipster any day. NOTHING is more annoying than a hipster and his/her sense of ironic style.

You could have ridden after him (should be darn easy to catch considering) and explained exactly everything he's doing wrong. Challenging to a race and winning despite not wearing lycra could also drive the point home.

Both the Lance-wannabees and the hipsters can be awful. The Lances because they have no regard for traffic laws, even when it comes to yielding to other bikers. I've been nearly run over by the Cervelo-straddling ******bags because stop signs apparently register as signals to accererate through the intersection. One of the ten did notice me on my bike, and appropriately slowed. The others pretended I wasn't there.

The hipsters don't usually give me problems, except when they're the fixed-gear only crowd. Pseudo-purists (purists are bad enough...), they always claim it's the only way to ride, and browbeat anyone thinking otherwise. It's fine if you like it, and has its pluses and minuses like anything else. Mashing a high gear up an incline bothers my knees sometimes (nevermind that it's physiologically inefficient). Coming down, I'd rather not pedal at 200 rpm. So shove it.

Recently, someone yelled from a passing car at my gf for riding an entry-level Trek, a bike I'd love to have (rather than my beater 80's Raleigh Roadbeast). You know what? It's a fine enough bike, does what it's supposed to, and she enjoys riding it. We make an earnest effort to not be in anyone's way. We bike because we like it. End of story.

Unfortunately, the prevailing attitude seems to be that unless you have a cf bike you shouldn't be biking, and definitely can't actually be enjoying yourself. Or maybe you're not supposed to be enjoying yourself? I can't tell with these people anymore.

My term for these guys is "hammer boys." They are a dime a dozen here in San Francisco where the GG Bridge on the weekend seems to be some kind of bicycle roller derby. And, God help you if you get between two of these guys because then the one behind has to pass you in the most unsafe way possible, preferably when there are lots of bikers passing the other way, in order to assuage his/her embarrassment at getting separated from the pack.

It is so bad here on the weekends with these hammer boys that I don't even bother riding on the weekends any more.

Ray

at least he wasn't a hipster.

or worse a hipster doufus. :)

Some of y'all have some issues.
I don't care what you ride, merely if you can ride and are riding.
However, I detest other riders trying to hit me.

Some day I'm gonna be a fat, slow old guy in Lycra on a Cervelo. I'm saving up for it. No, I'm losing weight, so I'll be a skinny, slow old guy in Lycra on a Cervelo. In a colorful jersey. And I'll find some way to make my Cervelo look nerdy, like put a Wal-Mart horn on it.

I find that there is a large segment of the biking community that focuses on what divides us rather than sharing a common passion for bikes.

Mountain bikes, road bikes, hybrid bikes, fixed gears- why can't we all just get along?!

What about people who ride bikes with their helmet askew?

I just got my AirZound delivered yesterday, so I'm getting ready for these types. ;)

Kevin

*turns up his ipod to max*

I just got my AirZound delivered yesterday, so I'm getting ready for these types. ;)

Kevin

I'm actually purchasing one when I return from vacation.

I've dubbed them the lycra hipsters,

Why do you think we're interested in the guy's tushie and what kind of shorts he was wearing?

I don't know if this has anything to do with this topic, but what I find annoying is when I am commuting I get ignored by anyone on a road bike. I ride my mountain bike to and from work because it has a rack and I find the tires are more durable than my roadie. Its funny that I recognized a couple of the people who didn't say hello on my way home from work the next day when I was riding my 09 Raleigh Competition at an intersection and they were both very friendly. I just think a lot of those kinds of people think I have to ride my mountain bike on the road rather than want to.

This thread is like a Fred convention.

i find bike shop staff more annoying than hipsters- doesn't matter which shop i go into i always get an unfriendly look when i enter, am made to feel like what i am riding couldn't possibly compare to what they ride, that they have far superior cycling knowledge than i do and that i should shine their carbon soled roadie shoes! i hate this stuff- i can't figure out why the bike shop community has such disdain for customers. i don't want to look like lance and wear jerseys for cycling teams i've never heard of , nor do i want a lesson on gear ratios, just answer my questions with a smile and make me feel welcome what is so difficult about that.

I love the staff at my local shop...the bigger LBS in the next town has much more inventory, but unless it's a "have to have it now" thing, I'd rather let my local guy order it. He knows me, knows my kids, asks what's up, shoots the breeze....the whole deal. Now, you take a look at him, judge him by his appearance and you'd assume he's just another hipster. But he's also a business owner, responsible citizen and really nice guy who just wants to ride his bike, and get me back riding mine.

I got my first bike today. It's a road bike but I thought all of you on bikes were like brothers and was looking forward to the secret handshake. Now I find out the different groups don't like each other?

I got my first bike today. It's a road bike but I thought all of you on bikes were like brothers and was looking forward to the secret handshake. Now I find out the different groups don't like each other?

Yeah, it's pretty much just like religion. When we run out of folks from other religions to hate we declare war between different sects of the same religion.

Yeah, it's pretty much just like religion. When we run out of folks from other religions to hate we declare war between different sects of the same religion.

:roflmao2:

... if you're in lycra, on a road bike, and you're not Lance -- you're a Lance wannabee. These same people also hate the fixed gear crowd, and they're all hipsters, no matter what they're wearing or how their bike is set up. Really, they usually hate anybody on a bike, but those are the groups they seem to stereotype the most.http://www.letsgetitright.org/blog/trainwreck.jpg

Let me state for the record that I am a Jens Wannabe.

I always think it is funny for people to have a problem with one type of cyclist, and then apply that limited experience to all cyclists.

I ride a fixed gear for errands and to commute to my volunteer job. I wear regular clothes.
I ride an Orbea road bike with Campy for fun. I wear lycra.
I ride a Ross 3 speed with baskets and a trailor to the grocery store.

I am the same rider no matter what I ride.

This guy that cut you off is likely a jerk in all facets of his life.

The funny thing is, this goes on everywhere. Motorcycle riders have their factions of cruisers, sportbikes, tourers, etc. and they tend to stick together and feel superior to the other groups. In fact, you could almost fill in the blank and the arguments would all sound the same.

I am guessing the typical guy on a $2000 is a well paid alpha male. Those kinds a very confident about their high ticket price purchasing decisions.

I like hipsters, they tend to be fun to hang out with. I tend not to get along well with roadies, but hey, whatever gets people riding.

I'm an old geezer and I'll take the hipsters over the lycra boys any day of the week. Seriously - if someone feels like they have to wear a costume in order to ride their bike, who am I to argue? However as one who is interested in bike culture and in seeing the use of bikes increase, I have a feeling that the lycra crowd scares off a lot of would-be casual riders. People get the idea that you not only have to have a $3K bike to be legit; you also have to have $500 worth of overpriced (and I do mean overpriced) clothing. A co-worker of mine has a pair of $150 shorts for god's sakes - now that is absurd for a weekend rider. On the other hand, it's the hipsters who typically run the bike co-ops, help their friends build/repair their bikes, and generally contribute to the well-being of biking. The lycra guys seem to always be driving the Hummers and SUVs.

My lycra friend and I had discussion in which he pointed out that most people who ride bikes are not "cyclists." I had to agree (silently) - I'm a bicycler, not a cyclist. If you look at the countries where bikes are seriously used as transportation (Europe for example), you will hardly see anyone wearing a helmet - much less a lycra get-up.

This thread is like a Fred convention.

After reading this thread I immediately took a couple of these just to be safe.....

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x248/cyclaholic_album/sudafred.gif

...alleviated the symptoms of fred-itis, and nasal congestion too!

I was out yesterday for a nice drive in my Pacer, just minding my own business, when two brand new Porsche something or others turned left right in front of me at a green light...causing me to pump the brakes and hope that the bubble gum on my brake lines held.

What is with these people who go out and buy nice cars but don't know how to drive. Seriously, if they gotta surround themselves with a shiny nice car just to drive, I feel sorry for them, but I think they are scaring off all of us regular folk driving old beaters with coat hangars for radio antennas. There outta be a law...preferably one where I can get a huge out-of-court settlement and buy my own Boxster.

I think it's time for the National Cycling week song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25-YgQ5pwSw&feature=related).

Let me state for the record that I am a Jens Wannabe.

I'm a Nys wannabe myself!


http://www.letsgetitright.org/blog/trainwreck.jpg

This.

I think it's time for the National Cycling week song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25-YgQ5pwSw&feature=related).

That's great!

Mountain bikes, road bikes, hybrid bikes, fixed gears- why can't we all just get along?!

It's the same way with the different branches of the military.....why not with bikes too? By the way road bikes are the best bikes.

I find that there is a large segment of the biking community that focuses on what divides us rather than sharing a common passion for bikes.

Mountain bikes, road bikes, hybrid bikes, fixed gears- why can't we all just get along?!

Sorta like Warren Miller bridging the divide between skiers and snowboards. Enjoy the ride, and forget about the rest of the negative stuff.

"All cyclists are my friends."

That's great!

Fred=Muppets! I love it!

Kevin

(...who is pretty Fred)

Seriously, some of you guys have some weird underlying issues that make you dislike a certain group because of their personal preferences. Hipsters? You dislike them because they're not like you?

I really don't care what you ride as long as you're doing it safely and not endangering me or other riders. Put yourself in danger if you want just don't let it affect me.

I fall into the fixed gear rider, roadie, classic and vintage, categories. It's really sad when people hate on other cyclists for no apparent reason than their own insecurities.

It's all a matter of choosing your friends and having reasonable expectations. This stuff doesn't get to me. I don't assume all cyclists are my friends. And I don't assume that anyone is a jerk because of the way he dresses, rides, or shops. There are friends and jerks of all types.

Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck

I'm an old geezer and I'll take the lycra boys over the hipsters any day of the week. Seriously - if someone feels like they have to wear a costume

134593

in order to ride their bike, who am I to argue? However as one who is interested in bike culture and in seeing the use of bikes increase, I have a feeling that the tweed crowd scares off a lot of would-be casual riders. People get the idea that you not only have to have a colour coordinated fixed gear bike to be legit; you also have to have $500 worth of overpriced (and I do mean overpriced) RAPHA clothing. A co-worker of mine has a $150 pair of drainpipe pants for god's sakes - now that is absurd for a beer run rider.

I'm an old geezer and I'll take the hipsters over the smug utility cyclists and living car free stuck ups any day of the week. Seriously - if someone feels like they have to wear an aura of smugness in order to ride their bike, who am I to argue? However as one who is interested in bike culture and in seeing the use of bikes increase, I have a feeling that the utility crowd scares off a lot of would-be casual riders. People get the idea that you not only have to have a $3K bike to be legit;

134596

you also have to have $500 worth of overpriced (and I do mean overpriced) bike lights. A co-worker of mine has a $150 Down Low Glow - now that is absurd for a critical mass rider.

Sorry, just having fun! Also, I see that Tweed riders bike seems to have brakes. Naughty hipster.

But really, nearly every group I can think of has people in it who aren't satisfied with someone's status unless they're sporting high ticket items and sitting at the top of the perceived totem pole.

Jackasses transcend bike type. For every type of bike, there are cool people that you'd love to hang out with, and then there are total jackasses. For every d-bag roadie who bought an expensive bike because he wanted to show off and race every commuter on a hybrid on the bike path, there's a cool roadie who bought it because he's actually racing, or as a reward to himself for getting out of the clydesdale class. For every fixie d-bag riding a brakeless bike in traffic, there's another guy riding fixed with a backpack full of tools that'll help you out if you get a flat. Most of the cargo bikes I see are actually used to haul groceries and cargo. Tweed rides are awesome. You can make knickers out of a pair of $5 Salvation Army dress pants, and not spend a lot. I just wish they wore more helmets.

Bikes are vehicles for fun. If you're not having fun, you're doing it wrong. If somebody's behaving like a jackass, say "Hey jackass! Knock it off!" and ride on.

no one is ever told about new laws. just making a law like that doesn't really help. also paying the city $150 doesn't help a dead cyclist.

that guy that cut you off is an a-hole. they're everywhere and sometimes they hop on a bike. good thing you have cat-like reflexes! ;-)

You know who really sucks out there? Friction shifting old dudes. I can't stand those idiots, clogging the trails, trimming those old downtube shifters and just riding for pleasure. Can't we stuff them somewhere?

I got my first bike today. It's a road bike but I thought all of you on bikes were like brothers and was looking forward to the secret handshake. Now I find out the different groups don't like each other?

You didn't buy steel, did you?

Gene2308 ~ HEY! :mad:

You guys are comedy!

I'm not a fan of the lance wannabees. They seem to scream "Hey my budget is triple yours and I'm better because of it." Just like a developer I work with who every three months is talking about his new carbon fiber something or other that "Only cost about 3k". Meanwhile I get along with most hipsters (Still can't stand the Fixie guys that ride brakeless), since we're all riding vintage steel, even if I'm the only bike at the bar that still has derailuers on it.