Mr. Beanz

After reading a comment in another section of a rider using the term "Lame" as another rider walked up a hill, I wonder what others thought when I walked my bike the other day.

When my frame popped, I tried to ease on back to the truck. I had Gina do circles around me while I scooted, walked, whatever making my way back.

The guy in the other forum said another rider was lame as he wore a team jersey, passed him on the road then walked up a hill. Could be lame, not that I really care but could have been for other reasons.

So this got me wondering about my incident. I couldn't pedal on the flats or the frame would separate. But I was able to scoot down the road at 4 mph. Whenever I'd hit one of the underpasses, my speed would increase to 15'ish. On the opposite side of the underpass I'd roll up about 1/16 th of the way up then hop off my bike to walk up the short 20 yard incline.

A few riders passed me as I hopped off and walked the "hill". So now I wonder how many of those riders thought "poor little lame fat guy can't make it up the little hill"

RubeRad

A friend of mine told me this story recently:

He was coming up a pretty good-sized hill (1-1.5mi of 3-4%) and saw an obviously very experienced (I guess judging by outfit, bike, calves, etc.) biker ahead of him, going very slow. So he took it as a personal challenge to catch him -- I'm sure in the nicest possible way. I know my buddy, he's the nicest guy in the world. If he passed him he would have either said something friendly and encouraging ("good job, you're almost there!"), or at least kept his mouth shut.

Anyways, my friend was gaining ground, and the cyclist in front heard him coming, looked alarmed, and started motoring up the hill himself. After he got up to speed, he turned around and flipped my friend the bird!

So what was up with that? Is there some cycling etiquette I don't know about that you don't pass people on hills (or try to) because it will hurt their feelings?

RubeRad

And BTW, as a fat guy myself (fatter than many anyways, ~240/6ft), whenever I see out-of-shape(looking) or non-athletic(looking) people out riding bikes, or walking trails, or jogging, my natural reaction is always "Good for them! That's so great they're out doing what they can. That reminds me, I need to get my ass out on the bike..." And on those rare occasions when I pass people less fit than myself, I try to do it slowly and friendlily, trying to spread the vibe of "we're all in this together".

I dunno, maybe it's just me. Maybe someday if I get down to 180 and have a $5000 bike and can cruise at 30mph I'll become more of a dick.

Seve

If anyone genuinely cared to know the reason a person is walking their bike I suspect they would stop and ask?

I always stop in case the person is in need of assistance. The last time I ran across a person walking their bike it turned out that the cyclist had appeared to have broken their wrist and could no longer manage to ride and hang on.
Mr. Beanz is of course right, there could be any number of reasons from a pagan ritual to hearing voices.

The person who called the other "Lame" was undoubtedly compensating for a personal shortcoming, perhaps ED or maybe he didn't make the cut for the TDF team?

CraigB

I don't care one way or the other - having had to walk a few hills in my day, I know there will be more walking in my future, and I can appreciate the myriad reasons others may find it necessary from time to time. I'm definitely not in the camp of a former workmate of mine who once, when I told him about a hill I had yet to conquer, said in a tone of disgust, "You walk dogs, you don't walk bikes!"

Sheesh.

wphamilton

Situations like that, I find myself wondering about tow ropes and could the mrs pull me up the hill, or vice versa.

mkadam68

Yes, Beanz. You were lame.

shadoman

YOU weren't "lame"...but your bike was.

lame 1 (lm)
adj. lam·er, lam·est
1. Disabled so that movement is difficult or impossible

breadbin

i once had to tow a friend with a sweatshirt when we were younger when his crank fell off those were the days

Allen55

People will be Dicks no matter why you are doing. Its just some people's nature.

gyozadude

All I can say is I've had to walk a few hills in my day, and I'll definitely do more walking in the future when I just can't push it any more. But the surprising thing is that some chicks dig it! Epic struggles by big, fat guys appeals to some who are chubby-chasers. And that's okay by me.

Mr. Beanz

At one point Gina put her hand on my back and aked if she should push me back. Tempting but too risky for Gina.

Mr. Beanz

chefisaac

chubby chasers...... I love it. Need more of those!

Homeyba

Geez Beanz, you are so lame! You know if I were riding with you I would have just pushed you home, I wouldn't have asked either.

cyclokitty 

I was walking my bike up a hit (the evil hill on Poplar Plains) when a man on his bike asked me if I was ok or needed help. I told him I was fine, but thanks for asking. I like to think of the nice people and not the mean spirited ones.

On a funny note, a couple of weeks ago I stopped in the cemetery (lots of looping roads, great because there is little traffic) on a ride to drink some water when a woman on her bike rode past me and hollered out "race you!". I smiled but was still drinking my water. A kilometer or so later I caught up with the woman on her bike and sped past her. I waved and she said "oh! you beat me!". We exchanged friendly smiles and I kept on going.

TrojanHorse

I was walking my bike the other day and some guy riding by shouted out if I was OK - I said flat and he responded, do you need a tube? It was the tire, not the tube, so I declined, but that was pretty cool.

I imagine if I was walking my bike up a HILL it would have looked different.

I don't know what's wrong with roadies as a whole, but they're a classless lot of louts for the most part.

Sayre Kulp 

I don't know. On a group ride tonight I passed most of the group going up a hill. I wasn't trying to show off or be a dink about it. I just like to climb at a pace that works for me and they like to climb at a pace that works for them. I figure it's better for me to ride ahead and do my thing than risk clipping the tire of the rider in front of me. To each their own.

Neil_B

That's generally best.

Neil_B

Well, in my case, the bike is probably OK. I remain lame regardless.

Neil_B

Using such terms tends to cripple civil discussion.

Buck_O

I dont know if it was the intent of your post, but i nearly spat my mouth full of water across my desk because of your comment.

Buck_O

Also Beanz, i dont think its lame. When i see someone walking a bike, first thing i do is look at their body posture, so see if they are nursing anything (cramp, joint pain, muscle strain, etc), if they appear fine, i check the bike, and look for any obvious mechanicals. And when i pass them, i usually ask if they need help.

That said, i have a relative that i ride with on a semi regular basis, and one day out riding in the Gig Harbor Century ride (very hilly), she just up and decided that cycling up the hill was too much effort and proclaimed (rather absurdly) that she had "bonked". Clearly she hadnt, she just didnt want to do it anymore, so she wimped out. In her case, she was nothing but LAME! And i more then let her know it as she quit half way through the ride and got SAG'd.

The irony of that came when a couple weeks later, when doing the Flying Wheels ride near Redmon with a couple of the same people who we did Gig Harbor with, and about a mile into the ride, there was a short 6% grade hill...with a stop light at the bottom. Naturally i got caught in the stop light, started up the hill, and about half way up, thanks to my legs not being warm, they just stopped spinning. Had a panic dismount of my bike (turned out more graceful then i expected), and had to do the walk of shame up the rest of the hill. Then i felt TOTALLY lame. That having happened though...for the rest of the day, aside from the mountain goat in our group, i was always at or near the front of every climb, and was sprinting the summits. If for no other reason then my own personal pride.

ThermionicScott 

I think when your bike is broken and dangerous to ride, there's absolutely nothing wrong with walking it to your destination. It's the smart thing to do.

And if you're referring to the thread I think you are, yes, I think you should expect a little mockery if you dress up like a badass pro and demonstrate that you aren't one.

- Scott

Buck_O

I fully admit that flying past a rider in full team kit, on a $6000 carbon frame decked out in DA or RED, and doing it like they are standing still, and watching them struggle to keep up with my fat ass, is a serious guilty pleasure of mine.