Has anyone ever insulted your ride?
12-11-15, 04:02 PM
#51
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Years ago Mrs. Grouch and I had a lot of kids and not much money. I built our first tandem bicycle from a donated Schwinn Twinn coaster bike frame and a bunch of mis-matched parts. We rode it like that for over 8 years because it was all that we could afford. We rode the Schwinn Twin on the Grand Tour of Herman, a hilly 2 day 100 mile ride. The only other tandem on the ride was ridden by Lon Haledmann and Susan Notreangely of RAAM fame. At the overnight, Susan sought us out to encourage us for making the ride.
So yeah, there were a few scoffers during the time that Mrs. Grouch and I rode that bike but I can't remember the details of any of them. 35 years later I still remember Susan Noterangelo.
So yeah, there were a few scoffers during the time that Mrs. Grouch and I rode that bike but I can't remember the details of any of them. 35 years later I still remember Susan Noterangelo.
I've never met them, but I understand they are lady and gentleman in the truest sense of the words, and are legends of the long distance cycling world.
12-11-15, 05:20 PM
#52
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OP Quote: "Has anyone ever insulted your ride?"
No. Why would they?
A few have insulted my intelligence, however, by telling me their gaspipe BSO was every bit as good as my Columbus-tubed Italians. Not that I cared enough to debate it with them.
No. Why would they?
A few have insulted my intelligence, however, by telling me their gaspipe BSO was every bit as good as my Columbus-tubed Italians. Not that I cared enough to debate it with them.
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1972 Bottecchia Professional, 1972 Legnano Olympiade Record,
1982 Colnago Super, 1987 Bottecchia Team C-Record,
1988 Pinarello Montello, 1990 Masi Nuova Strada Super Record,
1995 Bianchi Campione d'Italia, 1995 DeBernardi Thron
My C&V Bikes:
1972 Bottecchia Professional, 1972 Legnano Olympiade Record,
1982 Colnago Super, 1987 Bottecchia Team C-Record,
1988 Pinarello Montello, 1990 Masi Nuova Strada Super Record,
1995 Bianchi Campione d'Italia, 1995 DeBernardi Thron
12-11-15, 06:25 PM
#53
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I'm changing how I dress when I ride my new winter bike. Been getting some really strange looks in kit on a full fendered Towine.
Last edited by ltxi; 12-11-15 at 06:28 PM.
12-11-15, 06:55 PM
#54
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They might have been referring to the engines.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
12-11-15, 07:42 PM
#55
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Back then they had nothing negative to say about the engine either. I could spank 'em anytime.
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My C&V Bikes:
1972 Bottecchia Professional, 1972 Legnano Olympiade Record,
1982 Colnago Super, 1987 Bottecchia Team C-Record,
1988 Pinarello Montello, 1990 Masi Nuova Strada Super Record,
1995 Bianchi Campione d'Italia, 1995 DeBernardi Thron
My C&V Bikes:
1972 Bottecchia Professional, 1972 Legnano Olympiade Record,
1982 Colnago Super, 1987 Bottecchia Team C-Record,
1988 Pinarello Montello, 1990 Masi Nuova Strada Super Record,
1995 Bianchi Campione d'Italia, 1995 DeBernardi Thron
12-11-15, 09:33 PM
#56
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A roadie was hoorah-ing my easy sport AX one time. I said; hey, its really comfortable for these old bones. I let him sit on it and pointed out how straight his back and neck were, how nice the lumbar support was and that his hands and wrists weren't carrying any weight. He liked it and apologized. We shook hands on that. bk
12-11-15, 11:57 PM
#57
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A coworker of mine insulted another coworker because his old bike was purple. That guy is generally an a**hole though.
12-12-15, 12:33 AM
#58
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So earlier this year I went to a birthday party for a nephew at the beach on my bike. Saw another guy there on an older road bike, blue and made of steel, had tons of dents on it, was from 1989 I was told. We talked about bikes for a few minutes before he started insulting my Trek Emonda S4. Said that he would never buy anything that was welded by some guy in china who was paid 50 cents an hour. I didn't know that trek carbon fiber bikes were welded, or that they were made in china, thought it was formed in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Anyways he kept telling me how I was a sellout for buying the new bike and said that he would gladly race any of these new bikes. SO, I had to challenge his ass to a race, 5 miles up a hill and down again to a Dairy Queen, winner gets 20$.
We were pretty close for the first 3 miles, neck and neck. Than we got to the bottom of the hill and I smoked him up the hill. I was pretty surprised he looked like he was in a lot better shape than me, also this was sort of a recovery ride day for me. Anyways I stopped at the DQ and waited 15 minutes and he never showed up.
So not only did he insult my ride he was able to make me waste 15 minutes of my life waiting for 20$.
We were pretty close for the first 3 miles, neck and neck. Than we got to the bottom of the hill and I smoked him up the hill. I was pretty surprised he looked like he was in a lot better shape than me, also this was sort of a recovery ride day for me. Anyways I stopped at the DQ and waited 15 minutes and he never showed up.
So not only did he insult my ride he was able to make me waste 15 minutes of my life waiting for 20$.
12-12-15, 02:51 AM
#59
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It wasn't exactly an insult of my ride, but . . .
One weekend morning last year my wife wanted to go for a ride on the local MUP. Since she hasn't been riding for a couple of years (though she used to ride quite a bit, and even has an older road bike, custom-built for her "compact geometry"), I decided to ride my fixed gear (a relatively low-end frame with decent components) instead of my new road bike (custom built for my "compact geometry").
I was a little ways ahead of my wife on the MUP when I noticed a tandem in my rear view mirror. It was gaining on me pretty quickly, so I kept to the right to let it pass. As it passed the captain called out "Your other bike is prettier."
What the . . . ? Who says something like that? Who even knows what my other bike looks like? It took me a minute to figure out the captain was the guy who built my wife's and my custom road frames. I guess he was out for a ride with his wife. Of course, by the time I figured out who he was, he and his wife were long gone. Afterwards my wife told me that he had recognized her bike as he passed her and she had told him I was just up ahead. I guess it just fits to show that you never know who is out there on the MUP.
One weekend morning last year my wife wanted to go for a ride on the local MUP. Since she hasn't been riding for a couple of years (though she used to ride quite a bit, and even has an older road bike, custom-built for her "compact geometry"), I decided to ride my fixed gear (a relatively low-end frame with decent components) instead of my new road bike (custom built for my "compact geometry").
I was a little ways ahead of my wife on the MUP when I noticed a tandem in my rear view mirror. It was gaining on me pretty quickly, so I kept to the right to let it pass. As it passed the captain called out "Your other bike is prettier."
What the . . . ? Who says something like that? Who even knows what my other bike looks like? It took me a minute to figure out the captain was the guy who built my wife's and my custom road frames. I guess he was out for a ride with his wife. Of course, by the time I figured out who he was, he and his wife were long gone. Afterwards my wife told me that he had recognized her bike as he passed her and she had told him I was just up ahead. I guess it just fits to show that you never know who is out there on the MUP.
12-12-15, 04:43 AM
#60
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Well, I've been told that my bike is heavy, by quite a lot of people. Not sure if it qualifies as an insult, but it annoys me and makes me want to get a carbon frame. -.-
12-12-15, 05:34 AM
#61
Senior Member
I ride recumbents most of the time. Over time, you get used to the comments.
One of my favorites was on this group century, going through some hilly country. I'm not the fastest slob going up, but on a bent, I can let it rip on the downhills. Got mad handling skillz, yo.
So, going up this incline, I was trailing behind some young buck who was clearly trying to further his acquaintance with the blonde with legs to die for riding next to him. He had a couple of disparaging remarks about my steed in his commentary. I wasn't part of the conversation, so I didn't interject my thoughts, and anyways, their lead over me increased as the hill went on, then we got to the back side.
Well, I had worked up a pretty good head of steam by the time I caught up with them on the downhill end of things, and as I passed him like he was sitting still, I heard him yell, "Hey, he's not allowed to go that fast!!"
lol. Bite it, chump.
One of my favorites was on this group century, going through some hilly country. I'm not the fastest slob going up, but on a bent, I can let it rip on the downhills. Got mad handling skillz, yo.
So, going up this incline, I was trailing behind some young buck who was clearly trying to further his acquaintance with the blonde with legs to die for riding next to him. He had a couple of disparaging remarks about my steed in his commentary. I wasn't part of the conversation, so I didn't interject my thoughts, and anyways, their lead over me increased as the hill went on, then we got to the back side.
Well, I had worked up a pretty good head of steam by the time I caught up with them on the downhill end of things, and as I passed him like he was sitting still, I heard him yell, "Hey, he's not allowed to go that fast!!"
lol. Bite it, chump.
12-12-15, 05:58 AM
#62
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Has anyone ever insulted your ride?
Contrary to the title of this thread, I had a memorable weekend riding with a fellow BF subscriber on a recumbent; I ride a carbon fiber “wedgie,” invulnerable to insults, except the price. 
…I had met Dick on two previous Annual Rides, though had not ridden with him. This year, he brought a finely crafted, low-riding recumbent tricyle. He had previously written that while slow on the uphills, it rode usual speeds on the flats and downhills. …
It was a perfect cycling day… I wear two, right and left eyeglass-mounted cycling mirrors, and I found that I could deflect the right-sided mirror slightly downwards and keep an eye on Dick without craning my neck to keep him in view.
As mentioned, Dick had come with a low-riding recumbent trike, from Fairborn, Ohio, small, probably rural town I imagined, and now at the end of the Path we were facing the busy mean streets of downtown Boston at rush hour. I myself had never ridden most of that on-street route to the Navy Yard, but I knew we could take sidewalks. Dick, as he was during the entire weekend, said “Fine, you lead the way.”
So we made our way, mostly on crowded sidewalks with some hazardous street crossings. Eventually I had to give up and go onto the streets. Dick had no problems with street riding, and actually seemed to prefer it. Later on he said it’s really no problem, and has cycled streets around the world such as Munich and London, so I realized, “What’s Boston?”
The trip to the Navy Yard, my first by bicycle, was worthwhile as part of the introduction to Boston. A fellow approached us asking about the three-wheeled recumbent since he had one because he had ALS. I soon learned that Dick’s recumbent gave him a celebrity status, and attracted a lot of attention…
We passed a pick-your-own blueberry farm where a young boy yelled to his dad, “Look at that race car!" (Dick’s bike)…
It was a perfect cycling day… I wear two, right and left eyeglass-mounted cycling mirrors, and I found that I could deflect the right-sided mirror slightly downwards and keep an eye on Dick without craning my neck to keep him in view.
As mentioned, Dick had come with a low-riding recumbent trike, from Fairborn, Ohio, small, probably rural town I imagined, and now at the end of the Path we were facing the busy mean streets of downtown Boston at rush hour. I myself had never ridden most of that on-street route to the Navy Yard, but I knew we could take sidewalks. Dick, as he was during the entire weekend, said “Fine, you lead the way.”
So we made our way, mostly on crowded sidewalks with some hazardous street crossings. Eventually I had to give up and go onto the streets. Dick had no problems with street riding, and actually seemed to prefer it. Later on he said it’s really no problem, and has cycled streets around the world such as Munich and London, so I realized, “What’s Boston?”
The trip to the Navy Yard, my first by bicycle, was worthwhile as part of the introduction to Boston. A fellow approached us asking about the three-wheeled recumbent since he had one because he had ALS. I soon learned that Dick’s recumbent gave him a celebrity status, and attracted a lot of attention…
We passed a pick-your-own blueberry farm where a young boy yelled to his dad, “Look at that race car!" (Dick’s bike)…
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 12-12-15 at 07:06 AM.
12-12-15, 08:26 AM
#63
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As a bent rider, I sometimes get some jabs about what I ride. Most tho are just somewhat friendly jabs that are not malicious.
And-------------I can give as well as I take. I usually say well after a long ride I dont walk funny like DF riders do.
And-------------I can give as well as I take. I usually say well after a long ride I dont walk funny like DF riders do.
12-12-15, 10:17 AM
#64
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I was on a group ride this summer. A younger fellow pointed at my bike and said "you're doing this on a mountain bike?" with a grin on his face.
Everyone else had drop bar road bikes. I had my flat bar GT that I use for commuting and longer rides. I told him "this bike rides as well as anyone's".
During the ride I kept passing on the uphill.
Everyone else had drop bar road bikes. I had my flat bar GT that I use for commuting and longer rides. I told him "this bike rides as well as anyone's".
During the ride I kept passing on the uphill.
12-12-15, 10:17 AM
#65
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Sometimes people on first dates say stupid things that they immediately regret. Other times they are just stupid.
I don't know what this lady is like, but if I took it as a put down, I would seduce her, promise to call and then not.
Really pisses em off.
I don't know what this lady is like, but if I took it as a put down, I would seduce her, promise to call and then not.
Really pisses em off.
12-12-15, 11:07 AM
#66
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I had a lot of that BITD from the road riders who saw me and my roommate Gary Fisher riding our modified 40-y.o. Schwinns.
Not so much these days.
Not so much these days.
12-12-15, 11:18 AM
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I drew a snarky comment for NOT riding a bike once. I was walking along in the summer heat, and some scruffy-looking guy on a bike way too small for him zips past me on the sidewalk (going the wrong direction, of course), yelling, "Dude, you need to get one of THESE!" As he departed, I fought off the urge to yell back, "Okay! Where'd you steal yours from?"
12-12-15, 11:49 AM
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No insults but I lot of people ignore me and my bike.
12-12-15, 12:16 PM
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I get a lot of comments about the technology and electronics I put on my bikes. I like tech/electronics/gear and tend to put as much on each bike as I can find room for - at a minimum lights, phone/gps/computer, sound, and backup power. I also try to keep my bikes looking as good as possible. Can't say I ever had any insults about my bikes.
12-12-15, 01:57 PM
#72
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The opposite. I have a "low level" Trek 1.1 that garners compliments all the time. She sure is purdy.
12-12-15, 04:37 PM
#73
Interocitor Command
What? You're supposed to call them back? I'll never figure out women.
12-12-15, 04:54 PM
#74
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So earlier this year I went to a birthday party for a nephew at the beach on my bike. Saw another guy there on an older road bike, blue and made of steel, had tons of dents on it, was from 1989 I was told. We talked about bikes for a few minutes before he started insulting my Trek Emonda S4. Said that he would never buy anything that was welded by some guy in china who was paid 50 cents an hour. I didn't know that trek carbon fiber bikes were welded, or that they were made in china, thought it was formed in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Anyways he kept telling me how I was a sellout for buying the new bike and said that he would gladly race any of these new bikes. SO, I had to challenge his ass to a race, 5 miles up a hill and down again to a Dairy Queen, winner gets 20$.
We were pretty close for the first 3 miles, neck and neck. Than we got to the bottom of the hill and I smoked him up the hill. I was pretty surprised he looked like he was in a lot better shape than me, also this was sort of a recovery ride day for me. Anyways I stopped at the DQ and waited 15 minutes and he never showed up.
So not only did he insult my ride he was able to make me waste 15 minutes of my life waiting for 20$.
We were pretty close for the first 3 miles, neck and neck. Than we got to the bottom of the hill and I smoked him up the hill. I was pretty surprised he looked like he was in a lot better shape than me, also this was sort of a recovery ride day for me. Anyways I stopped at the DQ and waited 15 minutes and he never showed up.
So not only did he insult my ride he was able to make me waste 15 minutes of my life waiting for 20$.
12-12-15, 04:57 PM
#75
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BF is about 9,000 of the bike lovers of the world (some snobs though), there are about 800,00-900,000 commuters, but there were about 18,000,000 bikes sold just last year.
A bike snob says my Reynold's wheels are stupid on my commuter bike, that my clip pedals are stupid on my Venge, that my red tires are stupid on my Langster, and I am betting some snob jerk will not like my blue cranks on my Crave.
The rest of the world says, those are cool wheels, that bike (my Venge) is pretty and cool looking, those red tires are cool, and time will only tell about the cranks.
To the snobs, I always say, "why do you care about MY bike?"
To the rest of the world I say, thank you!
A bike snob says my Reynold's wheels are stupid on my commuter bike, that my clip pedals are stupid on my Venge, that my red tires are stupid on my Langster, and I am betting some snob jerk will not like my blue cranks on my Crave.
The rest of the world says, those are cool wheels, that bike (my Venge) is pretty and cool looking, those red tires are cool, and time will only tell about the cranks.
To the snobs, I always say, "why do you care about MY bike?"
To the rest of the world I say, thank you!