Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Fifty Plus (50+)
Reload this Page >

Roadies aren't the only snobs.

Notices
Fifty Plus (50+) Share the victories, challenges, successes and special concerns of bicyclists 50 and older. Especially useful for those entering or reentering bicycling.

Roadies aren't the only snobs.

Old 07-04-07, 05:21 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hills of Iowa
Posts: 1,248

Bikes: all diamond frames

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Roadies aren't the only snobs.

Was out for a nice ride this afternoon, and came upon a 300 poundish 50+er on a Trek hybrid (he was wearing jeans, tennis shoes, denim shirt and a ball cap) riding towards me. We made eye contact so I raised my hand and waved, and he looked at me like I was road kill. No wave, no nod, just a glare. And this is in rural Iowa where everybody waves at everybody. At least I got the satisfaction of knowing he was going to have to pedal his fat butt against a 15mph headwind to get back to town.
crazyb is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 05:27 PM
  #2  
His Brain is Gone!
 
Tom Bombadil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Paoli, Wisconsin
Posts: 9,979

Bikes: RANS Stratus, Bridgestone CB-1, Trek 7600, Sun EZ-Rider AX, Fuji Absolute 1.0, Cayne Rambler 3

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Sorry about that. I was thinking about apple pie.
Tom Bombadil is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 05:30 PM
  #3  
Extra Medium Member
 
redtires's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Erie, Co
Posts: 1,880

Bikes: Fezzari Empire; State 6061 Allroad gravel; Scott Spark; Specialized Status 140

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 25 Post(s)
Liked 26 Times in 17 Posts
Yeah, it's unfortunate there are people like who ride and are not somehow, by karma, living in a twilight zone existance of small, hot and stuffy offices and too small compact cars. For me personally, it was partly these experiences that finally fried me from riding for so long. And that was after years of having the "advantage" of being pretty well-off in the cycling industry. FWIW...the worst attitude I ever came upon in my years....Alexi Grewal. The difference between him and his brother is night and day.
redtires is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 05:30 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Retro Grouch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225

Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.

Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 642 Times in 363 Posts
Originally Posted by crazyb
No wave, no nod, just a glare. And this is in rural Iowa where everybody waves at everybody.
Must have been a visitor.
Retro Grouch is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 05:35 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
curbtender's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 8,680

Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball

Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1589 Post(s)
Liked 2,486 Times in 1,188 Posts
50 plus? 300 pounder? Ears and eyes are probably shot from high blood pressure, diabetes and too many rock concerts. Benifit of the doubt 'cause you can't let it ruin your day.
curbtender is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 05:49 PM
  #6  
tsl
Plays in traffic
 
tsl's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 6,971

Bikes: 1996 Litespeed Classic, 2006 Trek Portland, 2013 Ribble Winter/Audax, 2016 Giant Talon 4

Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 76 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times in 9 Posts
So crazyb, what type of bike were you on? Perhaps you were waving across class boundaries.

When I'm on my hybrid, only hybrid and cruiser riders wave back. Roadies ignore me. When I'm on my road bike, roadies wave back (or nod or grunt), but not hybrid or cruiser riders. MTBers and BMXers ignore me on both my bikes.
tsl is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 06:36 PM
  #7  
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 1,926

Bikes: roadbikes and full-suspension mountainbikes

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Heck, my preference is to wave to anybody on two wheels including motorcycles, scooters, kids on BMX bikes, and everybody else, too.
Blue Jays is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 06:45 PM
  #8  
His Brain is Gone!
 
Tom Bombadil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Paoli, Wisconsin
Posts: 9,979

Bikes: RANS Stratus, Bridgestone CB-1, Trek 7600, Sun EZ-Rider AX, Fuji Absolute 1.0, Cayne Rambler 3

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by tsl
When I'm on my hybrid, only hybrid and cruiser riders wave back. Roadies ignore me. When I'm on my road bike, roadies wave back (or nod or grunt), but not hybrid or cruiser riders. MTBers and BMXers ignore me on both my bikes.
I've seen this too. When I'm on my hybrid, only about half of the roadies acknowledge my existence. But if I'm on my recumbent, this climbs up to around 90%.

If I were on a road bike they would probably all ignore me, seeing through my disguise and knowing that I didn't deserve to be on one.
__________________
"Too often I would hear men boast of the miles covered that day, rarely of what they had seen." Louis L'Amour

There are two types of road bikers: bikers who are faster than me, and me. Bruce Cameron - Denver Post
Tom Bombadil is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 06:55 PM
  #9  
Life in the Slow Lane
 
Baroque's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 117

Bikes: Giant, Iron Horse, Shogun

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I think it's a good idea to be friendly to everyone.
You never know when something unexpected will happen and you'll need that other person to pull your bramble-scratched body out of a ditch!
Baroque is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 07:09 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 62
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Be gratefull that you are not him
ib4it is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 07:36 PM
  #11  
Happy Rider
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 749

Bikes: Gold Rush, Moots compact, Bike Friday Pocket Crusoe

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Maybe he was so tired and under so much stress he COULDN'T speak or wave.
card is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 07:58 PM
  #12  
SSP
Software for Cyclists
 
SSP's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Redding, California
Posts: 4,618

Bikes: Trek 5200, Specialized MTB

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by crazyb
Was out for a nice ride this afternoon, and came upon a 300 poundish 50+er on a Trek hybrid (he was wearing jeans, tennis shoes, denim shirt and a ball cap) riding towards me. We made eye contact so I raised my hand and waved, and he looked at me like I was road kill. No wave, no nod, just a glare. And this is in rural Iowa where everybody waves at everybody. At least I got the satisfaction of knowing he was going to have to pedal his fat butt against a 15mph headwind to get back to town.
He was probably riding the bike under orders from his wife and doctor...due to his ED.


A couple of years back, I rode a week-long tour with a recently retired urologist, and he had very little sympathy for most of his ED patients, and nothing but ridicule for all the TV ads for Viagra, Cialis, etc. He said that 95+% of his ED patients were fat couch potatoes who wanted a pill to help fix their p*ss-poor lifestyle choices. He also said that many of them were smokers, and they were all completely clueless that their ED might also be an indication of heart disease, diabetes, etc. He really wished he could write a prescription to "turn off the TV and get your butt off the couch you lazy tub of lard!"...but he had a payroll to meet.
SSP is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 08:24 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,868
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times in 4 Posts
Originally Posted by SSP
He was probably riding the bike under orders from his wife and doctor...due to his ED.


A couple of years back, I rode a week-long tour with a recently retired urologist, and he had very little sympathy for most of his ED patients, and nothing but ridicule for all the TV ads for Viagra, Cialis, etc. He said that 95+% of his ED patients were fat couch potatoes who wanted a pill to help fix their p*ss-poor lifestyle choices. He also said that many of them were smokers, and they were all completely clueless that their ED might also be an indication of heart disease, diabetes, etc. He really wished he could write a prescription to "turn off the TV and get your butt off the couch you lazy tub of lard!"...but he had a payroll to meet.
If I had to bet, my money would go on your first sentence. He probably hates all forms of physical excercise and everyone who willingly engages in it.

If you see him in a saloon, or a hamburger joint he probably would be a friendly guy.

You nailed that one SSP.
Louis is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 08:25 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
Dchiefransom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Newark, CA. San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 6,251
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 31 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
It is not rude to not wave back or even to acknowledge another's existence.
Dchiefransom is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 08:32 PM
  #15  
bobkat
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Bismarck, ND
Posts: 746

Bikes: Modified Burley Koosah, Trek Navigater folding, downtube folding

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Ha SSP! You hit it on the head about most ED patients, except you forgot that excessive drinking was a big cause, too!
bobkat is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 08:59 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
George's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Katy Texas
Posts: 5,668

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 92 Post(s)
Liked 51 Times in 30 Posts
They are everywhere aren't they. I live in a community where your suppost to have your dog on a leash. I'm sure you seen the ones that look like they are 50' long and you can reel them in when you have to. Anyhow while out riding this morning, here's a lady walking down the middle of the street with this little mutt running around in a 50' circle. Excuse me miss, do you think you could reel your dog in so I could pass. Boy did she give me a look that would kill. Sometimes I guess you just should stay at home.
__________________
George
George is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 09:15 PM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
BlazingPedals's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of da Mitten
Posts: 12,474

Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1511 Post(s)
Liked 733 Times in 454 Posts
My, my! Here we go with another "he didn't wave so he must be antisocial/not having fun/snobbish/insert your own epitaph here" thread. Not everyone waves. It's not required. Get over it.
BlazingPedals is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 09:29 PM
  #18  
DoubleTrouble
 
cgallagh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Vacaville, CA
Posts: 599

Bikes: 06 Co-Motion Tandem, Fuji Team Pro mine,-Hers, Specialized Dolce

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
We wave at everyone plus they get "the bell" from Red Rider. Most people wave or nod but not all. Oh Well! We are friendly.
cgallagh is offline  
Old 07-04-07, 11:23 PM
  #19  
Yen
Surly Girly
 
Yen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 4,116
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'm a waver... we've been greeted by roadies from across a very wide street, and we ride hybrids. Most roadies don't, but many have. What's funny, is that waving while we ride is now a habit for me, so much so that on our casual walk this morning I waved at some of the people we passed on the sidewalk from a short distance away.... and they waved back!
__________________
Specialized Roubaix Expert
Surly Long Haul Trucker
Yen is offline  
Old 07-05-07, 03:53 AM
  #20  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hills of Iowa
Posts: 1,248

Bikes: all diamond frames

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Originally Posted by tsl
So crazyb, what type of bike were you on? Perhaps you were waving across class boundaries.

When I'm on my hybrid, only hybrid and cruiser riders wave back. Roadies ignore me. When I'm on my road bike, roadies wave back (or nod or grunt), but not hybrid or cruiser riders. MTBers and BMXers ignore me on both my bikes.
I was on my road bike, it wasn't that he didn't wave but the look that he gave me when I did.
crazyb is offline  
Old 07-05-07, 03:55 AM
  #21  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hills of Iowa
Posts: 1,248

Bikes: all diamond frames

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Originally Posted by Dchiefransom
It is not rude to not wave back or even to acknowledge another's existence.
If you don't want to acknowledge a person, don't maintain eye contact; and it is rude to glare.
crazyb is offline  
Old 07-05-07, 07:06 AM
  #22  
Flying & Biking Member
 
Rickochet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 101

Bikes: TREK 2005 Navigator 200

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
When my wife & I ride the paved trails, I love to use an Aussie accent and say " Good 'ay mate! It has never failed to bring smile to roadies, comfies, BMX'ers, cruisers, or walkers. I really enjoy seeing people smile! Give it a try--- it makes you smile inside just to say it!!!!
__________________
TREK 1.2
TREK Navigator
Giant MTB

Rickochet is offline  
Old 07-05-07, 07:07 AM
  #23  
Senior Member
 
Retro Grouch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225

Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.

Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 642 Times in 363 Posts
Originally Posted by tsl
So crazyb, what type of bike were you on? Perhaps you were waving across class boundaries.
Man, he's talking about Southeast Iowa! It might be the most egalitarian place on earth. There are no class bounderies.

They have a much friendlier version of the ever popular "one finger wave" too. It's done by flexing the forefinger.
Retro Grouch is offline  
Old 07-05-07, 07:09 AM
  #24  
Boomer
 
maddmaxx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 7,214

Bikes: Diamondback Clarity II frame homebuilt.

Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16098 Post(s)
Liked 1,457 Times in 1,064 Posts
You weren't wearing "Blue" were you?
maddmaxx is offline  
Old 07-05-07, 07:15 AM
  #25  
Senior Member
 
Retro Grouch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225

Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.

Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 642 Times in 363 Posts
Originally Posted by BlazingPedals
My, my! Here we go with another "he didn't wave so he must be antisocial/not having fun/snobbish/insert your own epitaph here" thread. Not everyone waves. It's not required. Get over it.
Ordinarily I'd agree with you. It's the Southeast Iowa location that I find humorous. Think Mayberry RFD. In the wintertime, people will leave their cars running while they do their grocery shopping so it'll stay warm. Waveing is big.
Retro Grouch is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.