Road Cycling - Experiences of Velo Snobbery

Well, I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. Most of the riders I have met on the road, have been pretty cool. Most have at least said hello. Well, I was out shopping for a new cassatte. My 105 cassette was damaged during a bad fall during a brief encounter with a wet street car track which also claimed a good portion of skin on my right calf and a huge bruise on my a$$. But I digress.

So, I decided, why not get an Ultegra cassette and upgrade a bit at the same time. A couple of the shop employees were checking out my Kona and quietly discussing it among themselves while I paid for the cassette. One of them who've I noticed appears to be a pretty H.C. roadie, comments to the other, "Well... It IS an upgrade." in a cocky sort of way. Mountain out of a mole hill? Maybe, however I'm not stupid and can tell when some one is making a rude comment.

Now, my bike nor I may not be the best like the 105 grouppo is not Dura Ace (obviously). But hell, why the dis? I like the frame, it handles well and has a nice stable ride. Honestly, I really could give a rats a$$ what anyone thinks about my bike and the gradual improvements I've made from the unassuming stock bike I bought last year. I commute over 200km's a week plus go out for a 75 or 100k spin almost every weekend. You can't judge a book by its colors. I put in my time in the saddle, so what gives?

Most of the time, the guys in the shop have been really cool, even though the shop is very busy. I guess some people have just got to get over themselves.

Thanks for listening...

Hey Dude, I hear ya, guys like that pi$$ me off too, them and the other snobs you meet in this sport. Key is, keep ridding and hammer as much as you can, go for the burn and make it hurt bad, and it wouldnt mater what kind of bike you have. Those kind of guys need every technical advantage out there to compete because they lack the personality it takes to get really strong and fit like your doing. Keep it up and when you kick their a$$ out on the road then there's nothing left to say..........

the below discussion is similar, but it's more about other cyclists than bike shop guys.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=56620

That's funny, I'm able to whup the asses of almost every rider I see with a fancy shiny $6000 seven or titus. It's the riders who have worn out old stuff that scares me. Crazy fast.

Hey Dude, I hear ya, guys like that pi$$ me off too, them and the other snobs you meet in this sport. Key is, keep ridding and hammer as much as you can, go for the burn and make it hurt bad, and it wouldnt mater what kind of bike you have. Those kind of guys need every technical advantage out there to compete because they lack the personality it takes to get really strong and fit like your doing. Keep it up and when you kick their a$$ out on the road then there's nothing left to say..........


i was going to add something here, but i think clevelandguy said it well enough. you're putting in the time and effort to do something you love. there will always be people who try to boost themselves on something completely meaningless and trivial. screw 'em.

The story goes that there's a guy who used to kick serious butt in a race north of here. He'd go flying by all the lycra guys in his blue jeans and work boots on a simple old bike. I agree with Clevelandguy - you just keep on riding whatever you've got and have fun!

Stiffee Shane I'm on your side so I have to point this out.

"Honestly, I really could give a rats a$$ what anyone thinks about my bike and the gradual improvements I've made from the unassuming stock bike"

Now it sounds to me like you do give a rats ass and that is exactly why the smart alleck comment got under your skin the way it did.

Now just imagine what kind of extremely insecure person has to spend their life working in a bike shop and putting down their own bike customers so that they can feel better about who they are. Now its your turn to laugh Shane.

Stiffee Shane I'm on your side so I have to point this out.

"Honestly, I really could give a rats a$$ what anyone thinks about my bike and the gradual improvements I've made from the unassuming stock bike"

Now it sounds to me like you do give a rats ass and that is exactly why the smart alleck comment got under your skin the way it did.


for me, i don't care what people think, but i do care about what people say. thinking someone has a crappy bike and saying that someone's bike is crap are pretty different things, IMO.

I said it before, but I'll emphasize it again: the roadie community has a surfeit of snobs. That's why I ride solo and have no interest in any group rides or anything like that.

Both times I've had my wheels trued at the LBS, the same guy has made comments to me about how they are just average, basic wheels and will bend and need truing again. What road bike wheel doesn't need truing every once in a while, especially one that's taken over 4 sets of railroad tracks every ride? It sounds to me like he's waiting for me to ask what he thinks I should do, then he'll launch into a sales pitch. I just pay and leave. They aren't the best wheels, this I know, but I also know that my cycling ability is far from the best (but probably better than his judging by his shape). I'll upgrade when I feel it's worth it. It's amazing how people can look down upon logic.

I'm not trying to be a snob, heck, I don't even work in a shop... but maybe they had the question I did when I read your post. Why pop for the Ultegra? What's the weight difference? What's the price difference? The answer to both is probably "not a lot," so if you want to, why not.

Don't get me wrong, maybe the guy is an @ss, but maybe they were just wondering and it just came across wrong. Even if they'd asked you, it would've just come across wrong, IMO.

That's funny, I'm able to whup the asses of almost every rider I see with a fancy shiny $6000 seven or titus. It's the riders who have worn out old stuff that scares me. Crazy fast.

Right on. Some of the strongest guys I've ridden with had basic mid-80s beat to crap Reynolds or Columbus frames with a mixture of components. They could ride anyone off their wheel.

That's why I laugh at weekend warriors talk of composite frames, carbon fibre forks and 10 speed STI junk.

Right on. Some of the strongest guys I've ridden with had basic mid-80s beat to crap Reynolds or Columbus frames with a mixture of components. They could ride anyone off their wheel.

That's why I laugh at weekend warriors talk of composite frames, carbon fibre forks and 10 speed STI junk.

Well said. If we ever meet, I'll buy you a beer-or a gatorade, whatever works for you.

What about some of the snobs who ride the TdF? Would you piss pass them on your crock whilst wearing jeans. I bet you would :D

Why does it matter? If someone wants to pay and ride a $6000+ bike that's his business.

I have been riding junk bikes for 45 years and recently treated myself to a nice racer and the Lycra stuff. I actually notice a difference between the sh1t and the bike I use now. At 58 years of age I feel entitled to buy and use whatever I feel like.

To each his own.

I would like to thank the rich snobs for buying the $6000 bikes, I get the technology as it trickles down over a few years for a fraction of the price. Even that 105 cassette would have been cutting edge a few years ago.

I would like to thank the rich snobs for buying the $6000 bikes, I get the technology as it trickles down over a few years for a fraction of the price. Even that 105 cassette would have been cutting edge a few years ago.

and i would like to thank the pro-cycling teams and organizations that drive the technology in the first place. if it wasn't for them, i doubt we'd even have quick release or bikes that weigh less than 50lbs.

Most of the time, the guys in the shop have been really cool, even though the shop is very busy. I guess some people have just got to get over themselves.

Thanks for listening...

some shops are just like that...first thing you should do is find another shop--one that keeps to the following philosophy: if you ride, that's cool--everything else is gravy.

i figured out something a while back that i bring to mind whenever this happens and it happens to me about once a year--seemingly whenever i go into the shop near work to pick up an extra tube or something (it's not my LBS, but it's close if i need to get something for the homeward commute).

it's this: i may not look it (in fact, i certainly don't look it), but i ride a hell of a lot more than most of the shop monkeys.

i've got a 25-30 mile round-trip commute, group rides on sunday and sometimes on tuesdays, and i ride just about everywhere else for transportation. i ride year 'round, without fail (although certainly not without comedy). i haven't raced in years and don't intend to. i ride the occasional century, but only when i know the food's going to be good afterward.

to my mind, the mark of a cyclist is whether you love to ride and whether you do it as much as you can manage, not what you ride.

Right on. Some of the strongest guys I've ridden with had basic mid-80s beat to crap Reynolds or Columbus

Reynolds!! HOORAH, HOORAH :D

(jee, that was worth it)

There are 3 "cliques" in this sport. The image centered, and the fitness centered, and the ones who simply like to ride their bike. Which one are you? Two have a pecking order, I don't think the last one does.

Having made a come back last fall after 7 years off the bike, and doing almost no physical activity during that time, I got to experience what being a newbie is like all over again.

I went on a few of the easier group rides and suffered all day long.
It was sort of funny being talked down to, and getting condescending advice from guys I knew I would be crushing by the end of the year. But I took it in stride, waiting for the day I would drop the hammer on their heads. I was proud of the old Cannondale I rode, since it was custom made for me 12 years ago, and I had so many memories.

I even wore old jerseys and shoes, just to keep myself happy for a while. I carried a full size frame pump, which drew some comments, since everyone had since gone the Co2 route. But they were glad I had it one day, when we ran out of cartridges

There were guys my age (32) and younger, who where somewhat new to the sport, relitavely speaking. They were friendly, as is the nature of this small town, but there were a couple of Freds. You know, all flash, no motor, all the gear, all the kit, but no desire to really train. To them I was amusing I guess.

But to the guys who took their training seriously, I was welcomed. I thought it was becuase they could appreciate my suffering, and determination. But I found out later it was because of the way I rode in the paceline, my tactical positioning, and the decisions made when the pace picked up. To me, I was just surviving in my own little world, making sure I was on the right wheel at the right time, not wasting any energy, positioning myself so others would eagerly close the gaps thinking they were "the man".

But racers can spot other racers, and the "Grandfather Patron" of our group, who is 62 years old, recognized my club jersey from 2 rides I did with him 7 years ago, rolled along side and asked "Where have you been?" "At the buffet table" I told him.

I got a couple of flats those first few times out, and I heard the snickering about "the new guy". Some one even asked me as I was pulling over if I knew how to change it, HAHAHAHA!!

Over the winter, I built up a new bike, rode 3000 miles and lost almost 25 lbs.

The Hammer was being raised.

Up until the race season started, I would also go on the easiest group ride of the week, for base miles. This group had more "Snobs" than the other ones. Probably due to everyone just getting into the sport, and showing off all their stuff.
I rode along as an ambassador so to speak, helping anyone who needed it, and giving encouragement. I wanted the newbies to realize that not everyone who has good equipment is a jerk. I've met some great people and made some great friends that way. Their new enthusiasm for the sport was nice to witness, as I was very happy to be back at it too.

I rode hard all spring, trying to keep a low profile when with the group. A month or so ago I took my first victory in a combined 4/5 circuit race. I followed it up with a 2nd place the next day in the Criterium, after lapping the field with 2 other racers.

The Hammer had dropped.

I don't make the easy rides any more, becuase It doesn't fit into my current training program. But I see the riders from time to time, and they are excited to tell me about their progress, and curious about mine.

I still wave to everyone I see on the road, whether i know them or not.
I still help the newer riders.

I love to ride my bike, and anyone who is out there, loves to ride theirs too. And to me, that is all the common ground you need.

There are people who focus on their image, and those who focus on their fitness. I have found those who focus on their fitness to be friendlier. Becuase they know what the sport is about. It's about going faster, further, getting better, pushing your limits, or sometimes just clearing your mind.

Sometimes it IS about being better than others, like on race day. But it's not about what you can afford to ride or wear.

Buy and ride what you want, by all means. Enjoy your hobby, But deciding to spend X number of dollars, doesn't really make you a better cyclist, and it sure doesn't make you a better person.

We have a wide variety of investments on our club rides and even on our race team. Most of us respect each other for our efforts and commitment. I will never judge anyone by what they ride, just maybe, maybe, by how hard they try.

There are 3 "cliques" in this sport. The image centered, and the fitness centered, , .

Good point. There's a lot of "fitness snobbery" going on too.

So much cut counter cut, sensitivity, and insecurity. What ever happened to riding for your own enjoyment?

I don't think I've ever had this many replies to something I've posted on this board yet. All points are well taken and I thank you all for your responses. Somedays, things just rub you wrong if you know what I mean. Yesterday was one of them.

I had such a burn after the commute in this morning, my legs felt hot. Gawd it's an awesome feeling ain't it!!!

So much cut counter cut, sensitivity, and insecurity. What ever happened to riding for your own enjoyment?
Well, you'll find me out on the roads at about 5:30.

I'm not trying to be a snob, heck, I don't even work in a shop... but maybe they had the question I did when I read your post. Why pop for the Ultegra? What's the weight difference? What's the price difference? The answer to both is probably "not a lot," so if you want to, why not.

Don't get me wrong, maybe the guy is an @ss, but maybe they were just wondering and it just came across wrong. Even if they'd asked you, it would've just come across wrong, IMO.

I bet the HC roadie that goes into the same lbs to get a $200 saddle because its 20g lighter is a king and nobody would question him. When something is worn and time to replace,thats the best time to upgrade.
Dicks and but licks everywhere and i'm sure those HC roadies have said the same about me,visor on my old helmet,still perfer mtb jerseys to tight fitting road jerseys so i'm with some others,i would rather ride alone or with 1 or 2 friends. And when a guy on a mtb bike passes me{most riders pass me**,i'm like,wow!