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Do People Stare at You When You Ride?

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Do People Stare at You When You Ride?

Old 08-06-15, 10:45 AM
  #26  
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Rude comment

Aw, the "get over yourself " comment was a little rude. I know what the op means, at first your self conscious and you feel a little weird wearing the bike outfit, but people don't really notice.

Unless their cyclist also and speaking for myself, I stare at bikes going by because I think a bike in motion is a beautiful thing.

Originally Posted by caloso
I think you would be surprised to know how little attention is paid by people you ride past. Get over yourself.
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Old 08-06-15, 11:07 AM
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He's just jealous. He's begging for a hug, like another poster in this thread.

But yeah, people stare at me all the time when I ride, it's not just when I'm "kitted out" in road bike gear.


Originally Posted by baronvoncatania
Aw, the "get over yourself " comment was a little rude. I know what the op means, at first your self conscious and you feel a little weird wearing the bike outfit, but people don't really notice.

Unless their cyclist also and speaking for myself, I stare at bikes going by because I think a bike in motion is a beautiful thing.
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Old 08-06-15, 11:10 AM
  #28  
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Yup, all the time. That guy playing air guitar sings terrible. Sometimes its the ten lights aglow. Wheel lights , x mas lights, down low glow lights, it's awesome. And some of those blue, battery operated ice cubes in my water bottles.
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Old 08-06-15, 11:13 AM
  #29  
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No mention of "massive guads" yet?
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Old 08-06-15, 11:13 AM
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Yes...Why not stare.

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Old 08-06-15, 11:37 AM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
...why make yourself a target ??, why dress in some provocative costume to attract unwanted attention ??
Because some Drama Queens (of any gender) crave attention? Just like some well publicized big mouthed or big butt "celebrities", some people bask in any kind of attention, positive or negative.
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Old 08-06-15, 11:47 AM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by 10 Wheels
Yes...Why not stare.

What's your average speed for a ride in that contraption?
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Old 08-06-15, 11:54 AM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by Machka
Cyclists, in particular, wear a cloaking device. We are invisible. This does, of course, pose problems when we, in our invisible state, are located right where a vehicle wants to go.
This made me recall an incident when I first started riding on city streets. It was late autumn and the weather was cooling down. I had on black tights, an bright orange under-armour long sleeve base layer, and a Primal short sleeve jersey with a red, orange, and yellow flame motif. I never noticed anyone looking at me until some kid yelled out, "Look at that, that man is on fire!" It made me laugh out loud.
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Old 08-06-15, 12:04 PM
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I dunno, I live in a place where there are tons of cyclists. So seeing someone on a bike is no big deal; people just accept it as the norm. Where are you, Iran?
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Old 08-06-15, 12:04 PM
  #35  
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People don't just stare at me; they take pictures. I've had, at the very least, 15 people take a picture of me on my bike in the past three months. This is not sarcasm or exaggeration; I'm being completely serious.

It's almost certainly due to how attractive I am, since I don't wear kit or anything else flashy.
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Old 08-06-15, 12:06 PM
  #36  
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It's possible, just barely possible, that they take pictures because my bike looks like this most of the time.

I think it's mostly my looks though.

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Old 08-06-15, 12:06 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by 10 Wheels
Yes...Why not stare.

Well, I stand corrected. I would stare at that.
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Old 08-06-15, 12:20 PM
  #38  
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On my morning ride today, I kept hearing an intermittent metallic rattle that sounded for all the world as if it was coming from my head tube (sound travels in mysterious ways through a steel frame). Eventually I discovered that I had put a tiny Blackburn multi-tool (that I sooo wish I could find another of) back in a frame-mounted tool bag right next to a Park MT-1. I'm sure I got a lot of strange looks as I stood on the side of the road with my bike in the air, turning it every direction and shaking the bejeezus out of it
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Old 08-06-15, 12:28 PM
  #39  
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I wouldn't know whether someone was staring at me. I keep my eyes where they belong---on the road, and on other riders if I'm in a group.

Even if I did know---I wouldn't care.
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Old 08-06-15, 01:06 PM
  #40  
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My home-brew streamliner draws stares, pictures, videos, and a fair bit of hollering. On my regular bike, not that I'm aware of.
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Old 08-06-15, 03:17 PM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by mprelaw
I wouldn't know whether someone was staring at me. I keep my eyes where they belong---on the road, and on other riders if I'm in a group.

Even if I did know---I wouldn't care.
Ditto except I do care. I would hope that they stare at me to know that I'm there and therefore avoid a collision.

Thus, the reflector vest and the reflector ankle straps even in the daytime.
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Old 08-06-15, 05:23 PM
  #42  
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If I'm looking at people to see if they're staring at me then I'm not concentrating on what I'm doing. That is a sure way to have an accident. I don't really care if people are staring at me.
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Old 08-06-15, 06:22 PM
  #43  
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Why would they stare? I'd say no.
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Old 08-13-15, 12:02 AM
  #44  
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I'm really surprised that people aren't being noticed or stared at when riding. On the rec trail, a large percentage of people walking will stare as I pass.
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Old 08-13-15, 12:05 AM
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Originally Posted by PepeM
But do they wave?
People walking on the trails will occasionally wave and smile as I pass.

It's customary for fellow cyclists to wave briefly to one another as an acknowledgement.

There's this one "extroverted" cyclist who who always greets me when he sees me and wanted to shake or slap hands when passing in opposite directions--didn't seem too safe.

Last edited by sam_cyclist; 08-13-15 at 12:08 AM.
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Old 08-13-15, 06:23 AM
  #46  
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I remember riding in Germany in the early '80 - wearing a helmet - a Bell Biker if I recall. A rather goofy looking thing. Numerous times, while riding through a small town, the kids would point and laugh. Of course no one wore helmets in those days.
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Old 08-13-15, 08:28 AM
  #47  
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I'm a little on the big side and when I'm barreling down the trails at the local park on my Fat Bike I often see the look of bewilderment on the faces of people coming towards me on the trail - be they walkers or bikers.
Often the bewilderment turns quickly to fear and I can see their eyes glancing sideways as they wonder which side of the trail to swerve into....sometimes they freeze up with the classic 'deer in the headlights' gaze so I just ride over the top of them. Bloody tourists mostly, FIBs as they're fondly referred to in these parts
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Old 08-13-15, 10:49 AM
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TO stop people from staring, I just start riding at 4:30 - 5 AM.

I would give anything for someone to stare at me but at that hour, few are up and they would probably be blinded by my 2 front and 2 rear facing lights.


Sometimes, I would just give anything for a catcall


Nope, it is just me and the stars fully kitted up most mornings and the few NYC guys running for a train into the city.
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Old 08-13-15, 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by sam_cyclist
I'm really surprised that people aren't being noticed or stared at when riding. On the rec trail, a large percentage of people walking will stare as I pass.
I have no doubt they do. To walkers, a cyclist is something that sneaks up behind them and suddenly flies past them at what seems like a great rate of speed. It's startling. I've been in the walker's position and even though I know the path has cyclists, and even though I know cyclists do this stealth thing and have the potential of startling me ... I'm still startled when they go by. Especially if they haven't given me much room. And yes, I'm sure as part of being startled, my eyes widen and I probably look like I'm staring for a moment.

But am I awed by the bicycle or kit of the cyclist going past? Nope.


As a cyclist ... mostly I ride on roads, and as much as possible on quiet country roads. There aren't many people out there. Do the drivers stare? Probably not, why would they. They've all seen cyclists before. I just hope they actually do see me.

And when I do ride on the local cycleway, there are so many cyclists and pedestrians ... why would any of them stare. It's not like I'm unusual.
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Old 08-14-15, 01:12 AM
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You are not understanding correctly. I am referring to walkers who are walking towards me in the opposite lane.

Originally Posted by Machka
I have no doubt they do. To walkers, a cyclist is something that sneaks up behind them and suddenly flies past them at what seems like a great rate of speed. It's startling. I've been in the walker's position and even though I know the path has cyclists, and even though I know cyclists do this stealth thing and have the potential of startling me ... I'm still startled when they go by. Especially if they haven't given me much room. And yes, I'm sure as part of being startled, my eyes widen and I probably look like I'm staring for a moment.

But am I awed by the bicycle or kit of the cyclist going past? Nope.


As a cyclist ... mostly I ride on roads, and as much as possible on quiet country roads. There aren't many people out there. Do the drivers stare? Probably not, why would they. They've all seen cyclists before. I just hope they actually do see me.

And when I do ride on the local cycleway, there are so many cyclists and pedestrians ... why would any of them stare. It's not like I'm unusual.
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