Fifty Plus (50+) - Brand/Model Snobs...

I don't get it. Whats the big deal? Does being on a less expensive bike make me less of a rider?

Here's the back story. Last week a friend of mine and I rode the metric century in the Tour de Cure. He was on a 6 year old Trek of some sort that he bought used. His ex gets most of his spare cash. I was on my 2010 Merceir Galaxy with just over 1700 miles on it this year. Neither of us seemed to care that we didn't have fancy light weight, loaded with tons of do-dads bikes.

I bought the bike from BD (don't go there) so that I could keep up with my wife while she trained for her triathlons. The agreement was that I would get a in-expensive road bike for this year to ride with her and if I liked road cycling ( and I guess I do with over 1700 miles do far this season) and did 2 events then next year we would get me a better bike. There was no way I was going to keep up with either of my other bikes, which are a 10 year old HEAVY mountain bike and a 5 year old comfort bike. I liked to ride them both but when we went on our rides it was for fun not for speed or climbing ability.

My friend and I were zipping along on a flat spot about 22-23 mph. We passed a group of 6 riders on their fancy road bikes and didn't think anything of it. They were all decked out in matching race kits and seemed to be struggling to to keep the pace they were on which was about 20 mph.

As we were leaving the rest stop we had come to several miles later they were just arriving. I guess a couple of the riders didn't recognize me because as I was walking back to my bike I heard one of them make this comment. "I can't believe that old fart passed us on that POS crap bike". "I wouldn't feel so bad about it if it was a real bike".

I know it's all about the motor (legs and lungs) and not the bike. Good gear helps but the best gear in the world won't help someone succeed if you don't have a good motor. So since I'm still rather new to this are there really that kind of bike snobs out there? Or was I just being overly sensitive. My friend just laughed and blew the comment off. I did as well then but got to thinking about it again today because I transferred some money from checking into the bike/event savings account to be used for next year. Gotta plan ahead.

Thoughts or comments?

Of course there are, there are snobs for everything everywhere.

I personally don't care who rides what, but I do like what I ride.

I don't tell my friends that they need a new bike since it not carbon, titanium or gold. We just ride.

Just ride and don't pay any attention to any negative comments.

But if you are competing then there may be some reason to get a different bike or better wheels, it may shave seconds or minutes.

The idea of being passed by a Sora-equipped bike is simply to painful to think about. Ah the horror ! I really feel for the poor roadies you passed.

I'm not competing against anyone but myself.

Yep, snobs are everywhere. Some are not smart enough to keep their opinions to themselves.

On RAMROD this year I saw lots of pretty fancy bikes; I got passed by every brand you've ever heard of. And one guy zipped right by me on a BikesDirect Ti road bike (a bike that I've admired on their site, and which I think is a heckuva bargain).

Like most things in life, people sometimes need to feel superior to others. If they can not do it by riding faster, they may do it by having a 'better' bike! I ride what I can afford, and what works for ME. If 'they' don't like it, then tough noogies!:p

well it's less than full blown Xenophobia, that is getting spewed from the TV every day..

Brand names have perceived value though the names may all be sewn or painted on in the same factory ..

My Gunnar Street Dog is ten years old. All Reynolds 853. I use toe clips and straps. Somehow, I just never made "the switch". I use no cycling computer. Never saw the need. I do have lycra shorts and Jersey's, but I've never owned a "full kit". In short, I truly don't care what anyone thinks. That is one of the best things about being over 50. Oh yes, I ride by myself probably 99% of the time. If you're riding around on a weathered, but still functioning Fuji from the 70's, and it works fine for you, I say "Good for you". (And Fuji did make some nice bikes back then!)

But, for some odd reason, there are some who seem to feel duty bound to make disparaging remarks about the bikes, or equipment, of others. I have no clue as to why this situation exists. Definitely seems to come mostly from the younger set. Some sort of weird sport they invented maybe?

Another way to look at it JbMan: If you managed to cheese them off, just sit back and enjoy it.

Who knows, maybe it's just the times in which we were brought up. When I was in my 20's people rode for pure enjoyment, to work, or to do errands. The attitude has changed. Or something.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming.

I checked out your Mercier Galaxy on BD - nice bike! There's nothing at all wrong with that Reynolds frame. I don't know much about Shimano's Sora stuff, but if the bike rides good and you like it then WHO CARES what anyone else thinks?

I'm a reverse bike snob. I ride vintage bikes and think I have the superior ride to those on new fangled CF bikes. Although I do enjoy the occasional comments I get about my old school bike from those on fancy new machines.

Really, the bike makes little difference. Ride what you have or can afford. For the most part I think all new bikes are being made by a big factory in China. The only difference is the name they slap on the frame.

I heard one of them make this comment. "I can't believe that old fart passed us on that POS crap bike". "I wouldn't feel so bad about it if it was a real bike".

Don't think the comment was pointed at you- He was berating himself for spending all that money on the latest gear and does all that riding- when it was not necessary. All he has to do is wait 30 years and get a "Crap" bike.

Had the same happen to me 4 years ago. On my ride my age ride on a foul day in January -I pulled about 100 yards in front of a group of about 8 riders. This was the spot where I put in a 2 mile sprint and had been saving myself for it. Did my two miles and slowed a bit. As the group approached i Heard a few comments like- he only has 8 speed- its only an OCR 3 and the good ones like he must be a good rider- look at those calf muscles.

Let them catch me-I had no choice really and chatted to them. They were a group of "New" riders to a local cycling club out for a 30 mile ride. They had youth on their side and decent bikes but this was training ride for the "B" group. When they found out that I was 55 miles into a 60 mile ride and that it was my "Birthday" ride- they all looked a bit disheartened. And that was before I told them that I had only been road riding for a year or so. Forgot to tell them that it had been MTB's offroad for 16 years before that.

If I cared what anyone else thought I would have never gone outdoors with a pair of cycling shorts on. The first time I tried some lycra shorts on (in 1983) by buddy starts laughing and said that looked like an overstuffed Wimmer sausage.

I checked out your Mercier Galaxy on BD - nice bike! There's nothing at all wrong with that Reynolds frame. I don't know much about Shimano's Sora stuff, but if the bike rides good and you like it then WHO CARES what anyone else thinks?

Yes it is a nice bike but heavy as hell.

The agreement was that I would get a in-expensive road bike for this year to ride with her and if I liked road cycling ( and I guess I do with over 1700 miles do far this season) and did 2 events then next year we would get me a better bike.

Man-up dude.

"I know it's all about the motor (legs and lungs) and not the bike. Good gear helps but the best gear in the world won't help someone succeed if you don't have a good motor. So since I'm still rather new to this are there really that kind of bike snobs out there? Or was I just being overly sensitive. My friend just laughed and blew the comment off. I did as well then but got to thinking about it again today because I transferred some money from checking into the bike/event savings account to be used for next year. Gotta plan ahead.

Thoughts or comments?"

1. Yes, there really are that kind of bike snobs out there, and, 2. Yes, you're being overly sensitive.

It's a great, fun story. Something you and your buddies can re-tell for years. Among the guys I ride with, we have many, similar, stories. We've told them so often that they can be boiled down into a few code words, like "Don't worry about him.", and, "The blonde at Stanton Mtn. General Store.", etc.

Try to be less sensitive. And keep your eyes pealed for blondes.

Actually brunettes do it more for me than blondes but I'll keep that in mind.

Man-up dude.

Care to expound on this? Not sure what I should "man-up" about.

Jay B, You've been riding for about a year? Here's the news... cyclists can be the most snobbish group of enthusiasts on the planet WRT their equipment, motorcyclists are a close second. Also, do I detect a bit of reverse snobbery in your comments about the six riders? It is only natural when one endeavors in a semi competetive activity or hobby.

I've been on both ends of the snobbery thing. I've passed riders on excellant equipment while riding my '81 RRA, which exceeds my machinist's scale at over 35 lbs. I've been on one of my primary bikes and passed by a kid on a BMX bike (his legs were a blur). Everyone has really good days on the bike balanced out by really bad days.

I remember one training ride where some members of a LBS bicycle club wre talking. Seems one of the riders had put on a bit of a toot the night before and was struggling. The other members of the club weren't going to drop the guy so they switched to a slower, more aerobic training session.

Brad

Yes it is a nice bike but heavy as hell.

How heavy? My early 1980s Columbus SL (steel) Ciocc San Cristobal weighs about 22 pounds. That was considered light "back in the day" and I don't consider her "heavy" now. Personally, I prefer the durability and ride quality of steel to other frame materials - even if it is slightly heavier by contemporary standards.

well it's less than full blown Xenophobia, that is getting spewed from the TV every day..


What a cheap shot.

Let me guess. Sean Hannity would never ride a Quintana Roo.

I'm embarrassed for you.

At the beginning of summer I bought my son a Motobecane SS so he could use it at college. It never made it there. After riding it for three months he lost an argument with a car at an intersection.

I finally had someone far knowledgeable than I look it over. Both wheels and unfortunately the fork were trashed. The handlebars might not be totally reliable anymore.

It would cost me more to replace the parts than buy a new bike, so I will probably order a new one from BD.

They work. That's good enough for me.

"I can't believe that old fart passed us on that POS crap bike". "I wouldn't feel so bad about it if it was a real bike".

Congratulations! I would've been laughin' my @$$ off at that. Good going!

I think your friend handled it right. If anything, feel good about being strong enough to force the other guy to face his own inadequacy. His comment was not a great example of maturity or friendliness, but it wasn't really anything to get bent out of shape about. There are worse character defects than bike snobbery. In a twisted way, he was complimenting you.

It sounds like you are having a great time on your bike. That bike is plenty good enough, but there is nothing wrong with enjoying a better bike if you can appreciate it and can afford it. Just like there is nothing wrong with riding an entry level bike if that is what fits your desires and situation.

i try and keep my riding style balanced. ive got two scattantes and a tommasini in the stable.

edit:
no, they were not made in the same factory :)

I'm a reverse bike snob. I ride vintage bikes and think I have the superior ride to those on new fangled CF bikes. Although I do enjoy the occasional comments I get about my old school bike from those on fancy new machines.

Really, the bike makes little difference. Ride what you have or can afford. For the most part I think all new bikes are being made by a big factory in China. The only difference is the name they slap on the frame.


GASP!!!! You're not supposed to know that!!! The Carbon Fiber secret police will be coming after you now!

My helmet is lined with foil....:innocent:

Seriously though, that is one of the reasons I'm interested in a vintage Trek, from the early 80's.
All made in their then-small factory in Wisconsin. Most of the Treks today have "Made in China" on the head tube. Killing me, it is.

I commute on an 9 year old Mongoose road bike so there is certainly no snob factor over here. It is a bit of a Q-ship, however, with a titanium frame, carbon fiber fork and Ultegra groupo.

So what does that make me, an underground snob or something?

A friend who lives in a $900 thousand dollar house is about 60. He rides a Mercian from BD and passes just about everyone on the road while laughing at doing it on his inexpensive bike.
I have spent a H... of a lot of money on fancy Italian stuff. Now my most favorite bike is a Tricross with a triple crankset that is two colors I don't like. I ride that while the $$$$ bikes sit in the garage.
Snobbery is the result of insecurity. The bike companies and others companies make a lot of moolah from that insecurity.
Laugh at the snobs.

Actually brunettes do it more for me than blondes but I'll keep that in mind.

This one was HOT, dressed in full business kit, her purse slung over her shoulder with $50 bills dripping out. When she started chatting me up about cycling, outside of a small, country store, it was a moment not to be forgotten.

Disclaimer: Yes, brunettes are best.

Disclaimer to the Disclaimer: You never know when the wife will wander into bike forums.

I am a bike snob - but that is only with regards to what I will ride. My favorite bike is an almost 20 YO model made of Columbus XLS tubing - rides exceptionally well, I found the frame hanging in a shop with a rediculously low price back in the early 90's. I love that bike. I also ride a CF bike that is 3 years old now. I like that bike as well. I turn my nose up to Wallymart bikes, gas pipe bikes and otherwise POS bikes with crap components that don't shift well.

I ride vintage bikes exclusively (see signature), because I am satisfied with them and do not see the need to update/upgrade. I like the way they look, I like the way they ride, and I like having something a little unusual/different.

Care to expound on this? Not sure what I should "man-up" about.

Couple of things, IF you eat all of your veges, IF you clean your room, IF you don't miss curfew, I'll LET you buy a new bike. Thanks Mommy...
Second, life is too short to ride a crappy bike. Don't care how much faster you are than I am, I'm not riding a POS.

... Second, life is too short to ride a crappy bike. Don't care how much faster you are than I am, I'm not riding a POS. I don't ride no POS, either. :) (Well, one can argue the point regarding my basic Peugeot UO-8, but not the others.)

Thick skin is an asset for an older cyclist. Ride what ever you want, at what ever speed you want. It really doesn't matter what others say or think.

Performance always trumps snobbery.

Just ask Warren Buffett.

GASP!!!! You're not supposed to know that!!! The Carbon Fiber secret police will be coming after you now!

My helmet is lined with foil....:innocent:

Seriously though, that is one of the reasons I'm interested in a vintage Trek, from the early 80's.
All made in their then-small factory in Wisconsin. Most of the Treks today have "Made in China" on the head tube. Killing me, it is.

Know what you mean regarding origin. The builder of my Ciocc supposedly remembers building my frame - although from what I've read Giovanni Pelizzolli (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJHwPqn2jY0) (a.k.a. "Ciocc") is rather eccentric . . .

Uh, does this make me a "retro snob"? :eek:

I sure wouldn't be offended by anything riders riding that slow in a paceline said..........

Of course there are, there are snobs for everything everywhere.

I personally don't care who rides what, but I do like what I ride.

I don't tell my friends that they need a new bike since it not carbon, titanium or gold. We just ride.

Just ride and don't pay any attention to any negative comments.

But if you are competing then there may be some reason to get a different bike or better wheels, it may shave seconds or minutes.

I'm riding my GT Xizang mountain bike that I bought new back in 1995. Yeah, that makes my bike an antique just like me. But the thing is, I LOVE my bike! It's titanium, and I've just gone through it, freshening her up with the latest and greatest Shimano XTR components, plus Brooks saddle, etc.

I bought Lady Xizang back when I was in my 40's and am now age 63 - so I'm a little too old to care much about impressing the kids. However, it is really nice to have a ride I still love after all these years - and miles.

I don't think I would ever put anyone's bike down. Not even a Walmart Roadmaster that someone's out getting their exercise on. I do tend to dismiss people who buy stuff, then never use it. That's a big waste. Just my two cents worth.

I think your friend handled it right. If anything, feel good about being strong enough to force the other guy to face his own inadequacy. His comment was not a great example of maturity or friendliness, but it wasn't really anything to get bent out of shape about. There are worse character defects than bike snobbery. In a twisted way, he was complimenting you.

It sounds like you are having a great time on your bike. That bike is plenty good enough, but there is nothing wrong with enjoying a better bike if you can appreciate it and can afford it. Just like there is nothing wrong with riding an entry level bike if that is what fits your desires and situation.

Nothing more to say.

Beyond, say, the junior high years, who cares?

In these forums I have learned the following:

1. Steel bikes are the only bikes not made in the same factories as other bikes.

2. Steel bikes may increase my personal sensitivity so I will care about what people I don't know say about my bike?

3. Getting a steel bike will cause a young, wealthy, attractive business woman to find a 50+ year old rider to be just what she is looking for as long as the wife never reads these forums?

4. There are some in these forums that can ride a suspension MTB with road tires faster the team HTC and smirk at them after dropping them on a hill?


What I am not sure abot is:

1. What kind of expensive bikes do snobs ride?
2. How expensive does a bike have to be to be ridden by a snob?
3. If I get bifters and road shoes and clipless pedals on an expensive steel bike, if steel bikes quailfy as expensive, would I be a snob if the bike was a name brand?

And they said the art of entertainment was dead? :lol:

What I have always enjoyed about the 50+ forum is we don't tend to care what someone rides or even how much they ride. We also don't tend to judge a cyclists by the equipment they have. And we will often accept a story even if we have to brush off some of the Red Star.:D

I would love to have my old Schwinn from my early teen years. I often wonder what happened to that bike. My folks got rid of it when I was in the military. I'll never forgive them for that. Oh well, maybe one of you has it now and is taking good care of it. Nope, nothing wrong with steel bikes.

Ride what you got, wear what you want and don't be so sensitive!
Am I a bike snob????
I ride a full blown custom c/f tandem and single. I wear cycling shorts and jerseys.
Am perhaps and 'older fart' (77) than you.
Have been riding since early 1970s and covered over 300,000 miles on bicycles.
So get out there and put on some more miles!

What do bike snobs know about bikes? All they know is what their pocket tells them. Dure Ace is better than 105- C.F Frames are better than other materials- Bikes have to weigh less than 15Lbs to be any good- team colours are the only way to do the group ride on a sunday morning and $1,000wheels are worth every penny.

One of the things that I have noted though----The bike snobs always seem to be a lot younger than me. I think they live in a time warp and they never seem to get out of their 20's. Perhaps they get to a certain age and they get pushed off into a different dimension- Or the family comes along- or the credit crunch starts hitting them- or they just fade away into nothing.

They get replaced by podgy unfit 40 year olds that suddenly realise that they need to start doing some activity to regain their fitness and health. They have a different attitude to life and they start to enjoy it again and don't reminisce about the good times of 20 years before- They can't afford it.

And that top end bike of 20 years ago is still in the loft so out it comes. If it was good enough when I was younger- it is good enough now-----Till they meet the bike snobs.

I would love to have my old Schwinn from my early teen years. I often wonder what happened to that bike. My folks got rid of it when I was in the military. I'll never forgive them for that. Oh well, maybe one of you has it now and is taking good care of it. Nope, nothing wrong with steel bikes.

+1 word for word

"It takes away the assumed advantages of youth from those who are smug about their supposed physical superiority. (See A.J. & Hermes "I like to crush souls" I just like to crush SPECIFIC souls.)"
First posted in the "Top 10 Reasons I ride" thread. You can add to above "and their high zoot equipment" . Spend it if 'ya got it and can or wish to. That's great, just don't lord it over me.

I ran into the same type of snobbery when taking extended dance lessons. It does take a thick skin -- but isn't riding/dancing suppose to be fun?

On my last ride with my local bike club, there were six of us. Five had full carbon machines, and this was a "everyone is invited" Sunday evening ride. Guess who (1) showed up with a <$1500 bike, that was (2) a hybrid! I thought I was being so hip. They were nice, but believe me, the snobbery was evident. One guy: "You're doing pretty good for riding a hybrid."

Oh, and I wasn't in Lycra.

"I can't believe that old fart passed us on that POS crap bike". "I wouldn't feel so bad about it if it was a real bike".

So that's the only thing that you know about this individual and that's the kind of person that you want to impress?

I would never think of being a bike snob.............................I ride only those that I build myself! :D

I ride with a former US National Team member and he rode a BD bike. He kicked my butt on it. I guess he'd rather put his money into his Porsche Boxster S than his bike. lol The only time a bike might begin to make a difference would be, if all things being equal, in the last 0.5%. Even then there are so many competing factors that it would be very hard to quantify that benefit. Ride the bike you like or can justify owning.

You are right, it is about the heart and legs and not the bike. Heck when I rode with the "A's", the guy who was easily the strongest rider rode by far and away the cheapest bike.... and it was Sora equipped. I recall that we rode about 35 miles into a metric one morning. We had been riding pretty much at around 25 mph. We slowed down to about 21 mph and everyone was recovering. So Gilbert says "It has been nice riding with you guys but I need to get my heart rate up. " He upshifted a couple of grears, ramped it up to the low 30's and all we saw was his rapidly diminishing butt in the distance. No one even tried to hand with him. Most of the people in the group were riding Dura Ace. I used to get comments in the group for riding a 105 equipped bike.

You should be ashamed of yourself for dropping those guys and marginalizing them. In order to remedy this, I think you should be a new fancy bike so when you drop them the next time they won't feel so bad. I think this would be a win-win solution.