Road Cycling - Why do people hate road bikers?

It seems to me that the fact that I roadbike makes me hateable. I get crap at school and the other day some passing driver yelled "get a life." I try to push it off, and am successful, but what is wrong with us? We do stuff that the average person could never do. I was thinking to the driver of that car "Well buddy, at least I am going to stay in shape and don't need to depend on a car to get me around." I hate when people think they are better than you when they do not bike.

We do stuff that the average person could never do.


You answered your own question.

Ride on brother... ride on!

Man everyone else may hate us but I get tons of love from girls between the ages of 14 and 16. Funny part is, I'm not kidding. But besides that people are mean. Not much you can do, some people say not to respond to heckling but I don't mind throwing words back. Your other option is to carry one of these BB Gun handguns that you don't have to pump, someone gives you crap, pop pop pop, 15 shots, a few of them are bound to leave a mark. I was kidding about that one part(which part...).

In America bikes are seen as toys and people don't even think we should be on the road. Also, as Smaug pointed out, we are doing something they can't do. I'm amazed at the amount of guys who rev their engines at me thinking I'll be impressed or surprised that they have more power than me on my bike. Wow, I hadn't noticed the other 5 million cars on the road, thanks for revving at me, now I know that cars have engines. They just don't understand. If something doesn't make sense, there are usually only 2 reasons for it. Money or Ignorance.

Hate? Perhaps, but envy may be more the emotion that I sense.

That and appreciation for where we sit down. I have been whistled at, hooted, and told on several occasions "Nice butt!", "Great legs" and other things. Not bad as I am 58 years old man and the women doing the whistling and so forth range in age from early 20's to early to mid 40's.

Cause we are so darn pretty :D

Smaug pointed out, we are doing something they can't do.

I take issue with the syntax of this statement although I believe the spirit of it is probably correct. I think that almost anyone can ride a bike. People who are disabled ride bikes. The problem is not that they can't but that they won't. The bias runs much deeper and as such it's hard to overcome. I know the original poster was probably just looking to bring up discussion and not necessarily expecting anyone to come up with a solution but I think this is a social engineering problem that runs deeper than just cycling. It's plain bigotry that is bound to manifest itself in other forms in addition to a hatred for cyclists. Combatting that is a very hard thing indeed.

Firstly being into bicycles I respect all types.

But I don't get the road cyclists I encounter that do a combination of circling at red lights and track standing - all in the cross walk in front of stopped traffic. Whats the purpose? Its so easy to clip out. I enounter this while on my commute home by bike - one time some guy was even pointing the wrong way on green light and I have to wait on my bike before getting started so I didn't run into him.

Al

That and appreciation for where we sit down. I have been whistled at, hooted, and told on several occasions "Nice butt!", "Great legs" and other things. Not bad as I am 58 years old man and the women doing the whistling and so forth range in age from early 20's to early to mid 40's.

I'm 57, and actually get embarrassed (but yet must admit secertly pleased) when I go into a convenience store to buy a drink and I see the yoing lady looking at my crotch'. My Lovely spouse thinks it funny!

In America bikes are seen as toys

i agree with this.

in europe where cycling is a much more prominent mode of transportation or in other countries where driving is more of a luxury i doubt you'll ever see much, if any, derision towards bikers


over here bicycles are just department store toys relegated to kids on the sidewalk and old folks in quaint neighborhoods on slow saturday morning rides with a retriever leading

It seems to me that the fact that I roadbike makes me hateable. I get crap at school and the other day some passing driver yelled "get a life." I try to push it off, and am successful, but what is wrong with us? We do stuff that the average person could never do. I was thinking to the driver of that car "Well buddy, at least I am going to stay in shape and don't need to depend on a car to get me around." I hate when people think they are better than you when they do not bike.

1) Americans are conditioned to believe the speed limit is a =minimum= so when you slow them down they get annoyed.

2) Your tight clothes remind them of another "favorite" minority. You look "gay".

3) Perhaps most importantly (and related to two above), your very existence causes cognitive dissonance. Gregarious apes like the comfort of their troops and like to believe that the behaviors of their group are natural laws. Anything outside of that narrow window of behavior is upsetting. The message is: "Stop being weird! Everyone should be like me! Why don't you conform to the mandated behavior?!"

Everybody is looking for a karass... http://www.cs.uni.edu/~wallingf/personal/bokonon.html#words

I was overtaken by a fat bugger on a Harley the other day going uphill. He actually had the audacity to tell me to get a real bike. This while giving me so little room I could see his moobs bouncing up and down as he went past.

Firstly being into bicycles I respect all types.

But I don't get the road cyclists I encounter that do a combination of circling at red lights and track standing - all in the cross walk in front of stopped traffic. Whats the purpose? Its so easy to clip out. I enounter this while on my commute home by bike - one time some guy was even pointing the wrong way on green light and I have to wait on my bike before getting started so I didn't run into him.

Al
Sometimes the feet are strapped in . In my case , I live in a rural area . Its easier to circle around then taking your feet of of the clips or what ever the rider is using . Im 45 , disabled , {invisable disabilty** and I get cat calls from all the ladies , bwhhahahaahahhahaaha. But once someone did throw a bottle at me . good thing it was plastic , cause if it was glass , I would have chased em down LOL . I also have a black belt in TKD and was once a state champion in full contact in PA .
peace
jarhead#42

also, car drivers don't think that we, cycling people, are paying the same tax as them, if not more or less. So actually, we are paying tax money for them to drive and their car destroy the road much more than our bike, obviously.

moob ... I like that.

I agree with all the previous posts.

Generally, people are lazy and don't see the purpose of riding a bicycle when we all (massive generalization here) have cars. Why pedal and struggle and sweat and breathe hard when you can just sit down and push the right foot?

Some of these folks will undoubtedly be dead by age 50. Either from a heart attack or a car crash.

Regardless, I enjoy riding my bikes. It makes me feel good. Although I do own an suv, and a Jet Ski (don't get me started on that topic).

As for the people who yell and snear and try to kill us...well...you'll never change an entire culture of ignorant people. Maybe we can educate one person though.

If because I wear a bright flashy shirt I am considered "gay," so be it. I could care less about what people think of me, especially if they've never met me. Funny thing to me is that of all the gay people I know not one of them rides a road bike- not that I'd care, in fact, it would be nice to have more riding partners.

Be yourself.

PJ

F*** em... F*** em all

F*** em... F*** em all

RIGHT ON DUDE !!!
I'm probably part of the problem where I live but I don't care, I ride like it's me against the cars and the road laws arentalways the safest thing for road bike riders. Cleveland is one of the fattest cities in the country and along with it comes total ignorance in many areas including fitness. as you say F*** em all ! Bunch of fat lazy couch potato red necks! aaahhhh...............F*** em !

I get crap at school

High School? University/College?

RIGHT ON DUDE !!!
I'm probably part of the problem where I live but I don't care, I ride like it's me against the cars and the road laws arentalways the safest thing for road bike riders. Cleveland is one of the fattest cities in the country and along with it comes total ignorance in many areas including fitness. as you say F*** em all ! Bunch of fat lazy couch potato red necks! aaahhhh...............F*** em !


Okay F...em bwhahahahaahahahahaahhahahahhhahahahaaha
jarhead#42
I dont care if they are jealous cause I can ware bikers shorts and have muscles bulging all over LOL

Okay F...em bwhahahahaahahahahaahhahahahhhahahahaaha
jarhead#42
I dont care if they are jealous cause I can ware bikers shorts and have muscles bulging all over LOL
I believe the impatience and irrational behavior we experience is mostly due to using road space that motorsts believe belong to them exclusively. Most people will passively drive past while others freak out trying to go around by entering the oncoming lane, and yet others find it necessary to verbally share bits of their ignorance. Although this can be very annoying to us cyclists it is important to remember that safety and self preservation should come before any emotional response. So be careful out there.

Once at a stop light near home, a couple of fellas pulled along side of me in a jalopy of a car. Dude in the passenger seat says, "Hey, you want to trade rides?"

I paused to look their POS over (from my Bianchi), and after a moment, I shook my head and said, "No." Green light and I was off toward home doing the happy dance inside! Nice to put folks in their proper place.

Once upon a time it used to take "effort" to get places. That's how humans evolved. But not anymore, technology has rescued us from that fate. Unfortunately, technology has yet to rescue ourselves from the fact that our bodies still think we need to expend that effort. As well as a fair bit of physical degredation and putting on huge amounts of weight, this builds up tons of stress, which turns a huge number of drivers into rolling head-cases. Anything and everything percieved to "slow them down" becomes the target of fiery rage. Traffic lights, pedestrians, slower cars, and of course bikers. Nevermind that you're only delaying them by about 20 seconds (if at all). Nevermind that walking the distance would take them about 20 times as long. In short, cars turn people into *******s. The fact that cars also make these people amazingly dangerous and give them a huge sense of immunity doesn't help either(especially when dumb jocks want to make smartass comments). Nor does the fact that our governments seem concerned with little other than the unimpeded flow of traffic.

It's the same mentality that leads people to drive 20 miles to a grocery store then park in the handicap spot to save themselves 30 extra feet of walking, or the mentality that has parks paved over to build highways.

Whether you're a biker, a pedestrian or a ****ing racoon, nobody's safe from this garbage.

I feel I should clarify something. When people do not know why you do what you do they are ignorant which is cureable, when they attack you verbally or physically that is not ignorance (at least not JUST ignorance), that is stupidity, and is not curable.

I was overtaken by a fat bugger on a Harley the other day going uphill. He actually had the audacity to tell me to get a real bike. This while giving me so little room I could see his moobs bouncing up and down as he went past.

LOL :D We have tons of hogs on hogs, haulin' hogs where I live. Yep, if yer into fat chicks with tatoos and missing teeth, get a Harley.
Just tell 'em, real men don't need motors.

1. The apparel colors are gay.
They make soccer jerseys look cool.

2. The road bike colors are gay.
Ooo, a nice Colnago. Too bad the colors suck!

3. Curly bars look old and uncool with the 15 years of mountain bike flat handlebar sales dominance.

I was overtaken by a fat bugger on a Harley the other day going uphill. He actually had the audacity to tell me to get a real bike. This while giving me so little room I could see his moobs bouncing up and down as he went past.

Tell HIM to stay out of your line because his Hardley is leaking oil on the road, and you don't want to crash. I've used this line before, and the Harley guys don't like it a bit! :)

...I don't care, I ride like it's me against the cars and the road laws arent always the safest thing for road bike riders.

You'll eventually lose



as you say F*** em all ! Bunch of fat lazy couch potato red necks! aaahhhh...............F*** em !

Good thing there's no bigotry in our midst.

Once at a stop light near home, a couple of fellas pulled along side of me in a jalopy of a car. Dude in the passenger seat says, "Hey, you want to trade rides?"

I paused to look their POS over (from my Bianchi), and after a moment, I shook my head and said, "No." Green light and I was off toward home doing the happy dance inside! Nice to put folks in their proper place.

Gee, I would have taken that as a compliment. As in, I think your bike is nicer than this car. Maybe it was in the tone.

"We do stuff that the average person could never do."
Aren't we just average people?

LOL :D We have tons of hogs on hogs, haulin' hogs where I live. Yep, if yer into fat chicks with tatoos and missing teeth, get a Harley.
Just tell 'em, real men don't need motors.

When I was riding on the 4th and 5th of July I really thought that having a hidiously ugly overweight woman behind a just-as-ugly guy was mandatory to ride a harley. Do they not start untill it measures your body fat to be above 40%?

To be fair, I have no problem with Harley's. Sometime's it's the rider though.

My brother and sister-in-law have Harley's (he and Electra Glida Classic, she a Heritage Softail) and they're OK people. In fact, they even have bikes...MTN bikes, but bikes none the less.

But, because it's fun I'll give you a joke for the Harley rider around you...



What's the difference between a Harley and a vacuum cleaner?




Placement of the dirtbag.




PJ

It seems to me that the fact that I roadbike makes me hateable. I get crap at school and the other day some passing driver yelled "get a life." I try to push it off, and am successful, but what is wrong with us? We do stuff that the average person could never do. I was thinking to the driver of that car "Well buddy, at least I am going to stay in shape and don't need to depend on a car to get me around." I hate when people think they are better than you when they do not bike.

I think there are a number of factors at work in this, and many have been touched on in other replies. But there is one factor that hasn't been mentioned much...the peloton factor. There have been times when I was driving down a fairly wide street and still been blocked by riders that seem to think the road has been closed so they can ride side by side. I ride both in groups and solo, and there is definitely a mindset that kicks in when a group is riding. I guess it is the sense that it is many against one. But I think that this kind of riding will definitely piss off a lot of drivers and leave a bad taste for future encounters with all riders.

My philosophy, whether riding alone or in a group is to make myself as small a target as possible within the bounds of safety. Maybe I have just been lucky, but I have never had a serious incident with a vehicle. We all get the occasional yahoo shouting out the window, but I have never been forced off the road or had objects hurled at me.

1-Alkys want everyone to drink.
2-Dopers want everyone to dope.
3-Fat out of shape people want everyone to be fat and out of shape.
4-We are in their way and costing them precious seconds.

1-Alkys want everyone to drink.
2-Dopers want everyone to dope.
3-Fat out of shape people want everyone to be fat and out of shape.
4-We are in their way and costing them precious seconds.

Interesting thought! Let me add one.

5 - Cyclist want everyone to cycle.

;)

I've never experienced any problems with Harley riders and their passengers. In fact, they have mostly given me the low wave and I return the same greeting.

I had a potentially unnerving experience with a large pickup pulling a large 5th wheel camper trailer. He was part of oncoming traffic...and decided he was going to pass the car in front of him, regardless of the fact that the wifey and I were opposing traffic. He came on anyway. This occurred on a narrow two lane road, we had no choice but to pull off the road and get the heck out of the way. If I could have readily gotten my hands on the railroad spike we found on the road earlier during that ride, it would have magically found its way into the fool's radiator! This guy had a complete disregard for anything but his progress.

Man everyone else may hate us but I get tons of love from girls between the ages of 14 and 16.

Unfortunately, you're 47.

4-We are in their way and costing them precious seconds.

That's the most frustrating one of all. 99.9% of the time, they are just getting to the next red light or stop sign five seconds later. No time is lost.

But too many drivers are too short sited to see this.

I think it also stems from not knowing how to handle the situation, causing stress which is then handled by the weaker-of-character by converting into anger. (How's that for armchair psychology? ;) )

It seems to me that the fact that I roadbike makes me hateable. I get crap at school and the other day some passing driver yelled "get a life." I try to push it off, and am successful, but what is wrong with us? We do stuff that the average person could never do. I was thinking to the driver of that car "Well buddy, at least I am going to stay in shape and don't need to depend on a car to get me around." I hate when people think they are better than you when they do not bike.
This topic is a popular one b/c we all see it so much. Pushing it off as you did is the best thing. A lot of the advice given here imo is good except for the BB gun :) It's really hard sometimes when your heart is pumping at 145 and the adrenaline is flowing not to react with words, the finger, or a chase. But ALL these people want from you is a reaction and if they don't get it it hurts them so much more.

1. The apparel colors are gay.
They make soccer jerseys look cool.

There's really no obligation to buy them in "gay" colours. That's the choice of the individual rider, and frankly, I wouldn't touch half the **** in most bike shops.


2. The road bike colors are gay.
Ooo, a nice Colnago. Too bad the colors suck!

Same answer as the first. I'm a permanent fan of either black or silver colour schemes.


3. Curly bars look old and uncool with the 15 years of mountain bike flat handlebar sales dominance.

They can say what they want. Unfortunately, because drop bars are a *FAR* better design, I'll have dropped down, will be doubling their speed, and will have a fair bit of trouble hearing them.

Y-forks. Flat bars. All that jaz...SUVs of the bike world. Cool as **** when you're on actual *trails*, but just look hilarious when it's some 60-year-old pedaling around town.

And as for motercycles...if you think we get ****, try doing this at two, three, four times the speed and watch cars try EXACTLY THE SAME BULL****. Except that when you get cut off on a motercycle, you don't just risk road rash, you risk serious ****ing injuries. A friend of mine had an uncle literally BEHEADED this way...always wore leathers, helmet etc, obeyed all the rules of the road, but got cut off, had to swerve and went right into a pole.

yucky.

response to him: "Get a life." Or perhaps: "where is your "real bike?"


I was overtaken by a fat bugger on a Harley the other day going uphill. He actually had the audacity to tell me to get a real bike. This while giving me so little room I could see his moobs bouncing up and down as he went past.

Man everyone else may hate us but I get tons of love from girls between the ages of 14 and 16. Funny part is, I'm not kidding. But besides that people are mean. Not much you can do, some people say not to respond to heckling but I don't mind throwing words back. (which part...).
Your other option is to carry one of these BB Gun handguns that you don't have to pump, someone gives you crap, pop pop pop, 15 shots, a few of them are bound to leave a mark. I was kidding about that one part.... this would lead to more retaliation bro! plus a bb gun is more weight...lol.

To be fair, I have no problem with Harley's. Sometime's it's the rider though.

My brother and sister-in-law have Harley's (he and Electra Glida Classic, she a Heritage Softail) and they're OK people. In fact, they even have bikes...MTN bikes, but bikes none the less.

But, because it's fun I'll give you a joke for the Harley rider around you...



What's the difference between a Harley and a vacuum cleaner?




Placement of the dirtbag.




PJ

FUNNY! :D I'll have to admit that I like Harleys too. Someday I might even buy one. Need the cash and a place to put one though.

Amen Don. We are NOT doing something the average person could never do (unless you name begins with "Lance" and ends with "Armstrong" :D ). Just about ANYONE could do this if they took the time. We are doing something the average person does NOT do.

As for the heckling, the ways of the dim-witted moron have been studied by scientists for years. Alas, no progress has been made. As my mom always says: "Consider the source"

Personally, I just imagine what their wife at home looks like (it's almost always men) and laugh. He was probably running to the grocery store for her fifth *gallon* of ice cream. Poor fool.

I was overtaken by a fat bugger on a Harley the other day going uphill. He actually had the audacity to tell me to get a real bike. This while giving me so little room I could see his moobs bouncing up and down as he went past.


You should have Jabba to get a real body. :)

because we can go faster than them in traffic, and were in better shape...

Thanks for all the misogynic and homophobic remarks. Something I've noted before in the road forums. :(

Thanks for all the misogynic and homophobic remarks. Something I've noted before in the road forums. :(

Thanks for the politically correct remark.

It seems to me that the fact that I roadbike makes me hateable. I get crap at school and the other day some passing driver yelled "get a life." I try to push it off, and am successful, but what is wrong with us? We do stuff that the average person could never do. I was thinking to the driver of that car "Well buddy, at least I am going to stay in shape and don't need to depend on a car to get me around." I hate when people think they are better than you when they do not bike.

I think that you need to increase your self confidence.
What matters is what you think and how you feel about it.
You don't need the whole world to like you and remember that all the big winners have rivals and haters.
(LA is an exception).

Thanks for all the misogynic and homophobic remarks. Something I've noted before in the road forums. :(
Hey hun, you should know by now you can expect all of that here AND an abundance of snobs. BTW, I had a blast in Tremont with their night life a couple weeks ago; Great place to kick back......