Feathers

my preference is for "option C" in both scenarios you provided. funny stuff!

aley

You probably wouldn't like being in an elevator with me. You ever notice how everybody in an elevator faces the door and looks uncomfortable, and usually everyone scrunches up to be as small as possible and tries not to make eye contact with anyone? Well, I find that behavior to be illogical, so I like to stand in front of the door, facing everybody else in the elevator, and grin maniacally at them.

jzamor

I'd have gone with C both times as well. Though to be honest I wouldn't have taken it personally. Groups don't tend to welcome outsiders, pretty much regardless of the group. There is some pretty interesting social science articles out there on the topic. Not that I know much about it, and not to excuse the group members, but it does seem to be the rare person indeed that has the decency to pull their head out of the collective group ass.

Bikepacker67

Part of the herd??!
Ya... A simple acknowledgement is soooo intimidating.

bikertrash

Don't let the roadies get to ya. I have about of fred of a ride as one could have. Usually others on bikes are cool, but now and then I come across a snob. A lot of the times the snob is obviously out of shape, so for kicks I pull up wearing my cutoffs and tennis shoes and take a drink of my coffee (years ago I'd also take a drag off my cigarette) and say something like "Nice day for a ride" then I'd leave them in the dust. It would make their spandex quiver when I did that.

Machka 

Did you even read jgedwa's original comment ... the one I'm quoting?


And intimidation doesn't come into it at all ... more like indifference.

Bikepacker67

Ya I read it.

And OK... indifference - often interpreted as just plain ol' rudeness.

I'm just sayin'
When strangers are forced into close quarters a lil' common chatter often makes an uncomfortable situation more bearable. And maybe even pleasant.

Machka 

And for me, it's more pleasant if everyone just keeps quiet. The world would be a wonderful place if busses, trains, elevators, etc., etc. etc. were absolutely silent. Silence truly is golden!

Pedaleur

Heh. Should have ripped a big one at the light...

But seriously, the attitude is irrelevant...until it leads to compromising your safety. I can't really tell what you mean by "pretty much rode me off the road". Maybe their idea and your idea of adequate space is different. A loud shout from you will take care of that, though. Be assertive.

Blossom

Alright, I'll bite. I'm a commuter but I'd describe myself as a roadie. If I'm on a group ride and a commuter tries to work their way into the group, I will not be happy because I have no idea if he/she has any idea what it means to ride in a group. Small stuff matters and one wild veer could take somebody out. Getting on the back is way more acceptable, though. Generally it is harder to cause an accident from the rear.

I should add that if you are being overtaken by a group, just be predictable and don't do anything unexpected. Generally they group will swing around you. Admittedly, you might end up being only 6 inches away from the people that are passing you, but just keep your line and be predictable.

iced_theater

I've never had a pack of roadies near me *not that many bicyclists around here*, but I say Hi, nod or something to whomever I pass whether they're on bikes or just walking on the path I'm on.

Feathers

agreed!

unkchunk

I think a lot has to do with how many riders in the pack. Emily Post indicated in 1926 that with packs of under 10 riders, a simple genuflection is adequate. But for packs over 10 riders a full kowtow is more appropriate.

I remember the first time I got mixed in with a pack of roadies. I'd say about three dozen. Add in a cop driving along and telling them to ride no more than two abreast over the PA system. God, they're obnoxious. One moment I'm enjoying the solitude and the sound of the rustling wind, the next I'm stuck in a gossipy frat house. Then the cop only agitated them more. I think I deserve some sort of compensation. That's all I can say. I've suffered some form of post traumatic stress disorder and deserve compensation for it.

Longfemur

What the heck is this, kindergarten? What, now we have to acknowledge and wave to everybody, and pull up alongside every other cyclist we encounter so we can chat a bit? Frankly, I've never cared for established etiquette "rules" in anything. I just ride my road bike and try to stay out of trouble. Call me a loner or unfriendly, but you won't be getting a wave from me. Whether it's cycling or anything else, if it involves any standards for etiquette, clothing, or the proper anything, I probably won't be doing it.

ironhorse3

One cyclist vs. a group ride? Let the pack go on ahead, wait patiently for them to pass. You were riding generally slower anyway. This would add maybe 10 to 20 seconds to your total ride. No need to slam on any brakes either. As a total newb, still I cannot envision joining with a group of cyclists who are in recreational mode. Remember to keep your focus (as commuter) -- you might forget a turn off and be late for work. Friendly acknowledgment of strangers on the street: always appropriate. Them acknowledging you back: no guarantee, good enough Enjoy.

noteon 

It kind of depends. If someone does me some sort of sidewalk-logistical favor, or holds an elevator door, then I'll nod or say thanks. Otherwise, generally I won't.

And if you're saying "Hi" to random people on 6th Ave., you're either a con artist, insane, or from Iowa City.

I see nothing rude about what happened. If they don't know you, and you don't know them, why on earth would you expect them to talk to you?

deburn

I would love to see that!

deburn

Firstly, the OP didnt try to work herself into the group.

Secondly, being predictable is good advice in any similar situation, whether you're on a bike, motorbike, car, blades whatever but I dont think it's the responsibility of a casual cyclist to have any idea what it means to ride in a group

"And way more acceptable"? For whom? I think if you're a large group then you need to modify your behaviour rather than expect others to modify theirs...

Someone else suggested she should wait and let the group pass her. Why? It might be an extra nice thing to do but there's no other reason why she should do that. If you were driving on a one lane road at a reasonable pace would you pull off the road so other drivers going faster could pass you?

lil brown bat

Imagining the attitudes in other people's heads is a waste of time. Interpreting the actions of total strangers as hostile simply because they don't say "Gawrsh, howdy!" is silly. Expecting a casual cyclist on a public way with a closed lane to dodge around your wannabe peloton is also silly. A little more give and a little less eagerness to assume bad attitude and hostile intent on the part of others seems indicated here.

DataJunkie

I think they were rude but y'all are making this into a bigger deal than it is.
I am rude all the time. As of late I have no desire to socialize with anyone on my commute. I just want to be left alone. It seems odd when an entire group ignores a rider but that is just me.

Anyhow, it seems that notfred should be awarded the junior grouch in training merit badge.

mmerner

I'd vote for C then B. Also vote for you being overly sensitive.

stonecrd

Most group rides require that you sign up and sign a liability waiver. I doubt you did either, most groups are leary of new riders until they know the group ride rules i.e what is the paceline behavior, route and your pack riding skills. If you are wearing a kit riding a bike with CF race wheels the group is going to make some assumptions on your skills, if you are riding a commuter, mountain bike etc they will make other assumptions. Assumptions are often proven wrong i.e. the guy riding the race bike can't ride for sh*t and the guy on the hybrid can tear your legs off, but that is the way it is.

So your best choice is to continue to ride at the same pace and hold your line. If you want to draft get on the back and stay in the back.

jgedwa

This is not a matter of rules. You are under no obligation to do anything. The herd will hardly miss you.

josephjhaney

I don't like people for the most part, and this instance is a great example of why. Now, I do say hi to people most times, but that's about it. Why do I say hi if I don't like them? Well, I like me, and if I want to continue to like me, I need to be as nice to others as I'd like them to be to me, as a result, saying hello allows me to keep my self respect.

This group sounds like the typical I paid a ton of money for my roadie and if you can keep with me on that commutter I'm going to pretend you aren't there and simply ignore you group. I ride a mtn bike for my commuter and a roadie for the same purpose on the nice days, but I always, and I mean always at least nod to other riders (it's hard to wave when you're pounding to hold 20+, but you can always nod the helmet in the direction of the other rider to let them know you see them).

Joe

cooker

Her point was she was approaching an obstruction in the right lane and would need to move left, but the peloton was overtaking her on the left. So should she brake or merge?