Made fun of By Other Cyclists...
06-06-16, 07:49 PM
#26
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They feel they've bought the right to denigrate those who haven't spent $$$$ to look like tour de france rejects.
I don't make fun of anyone I see on a bike. Sometimes I feel sorry for the poor guys and gals who are struggling up a paved hill on a walmart dual suspension mountain bike with knobby tires, thinking about how much extra effort they're putting into it, wondering if that will put them off from cycling as much as they otherwise might. But I would never make fun of them, because at the end of the day, they still made the effort to get on their bike and ride.
I don't make fun of anyone I see on a bike. Sometimes I feel sorry for the poor guys and gals who are struggling up a paved hill on a walmart dual suspension mountain bike with knobby tires, thinking about how much extra effort they're putting into it, wondering if that will put them off from cycling as much as they otherwise might. But I would never make fun of them, because at the end of the day, they still made the effort to get on their bike and ride.
06-06-16, 07:57 PM
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all of the serious cyclists I know are focused on THEIR ride, not what other people are doing.
not sure what kind of group you encountered.
stereotyping people because they're in full kit and own expensive bikes is a common theme on this board. it's really tiresome.
not sure what kind of group you encountered.
stereotyping people because they're in full kit and own expensive bikes is a common theme on this board. it's really tiresome.
06-06-16, 08:16 PM
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I get really grumpy about guys like that for the same reasons as you.
Like the other day on the forum, I say a guy here say that buying bicycle shorts is what separated a "serious cyclist" from "just a guy riding a bicycle."
A bunch of guys, myself included, made snide responses. I get annoyed easily when people appear to condescend about things like that (though to be honest, he could have just been careless with his analogies), but it's more than that. My entire life, I've been inconvenienced by America's unhealthy fetishization of professional sports. For example, so many people "want a bike that looks like the ones in the Tour de France" without even stopping to think what they'll actually be using the bike for, that it's affected the bicycle market at a fundamental level. The end result is that it's nigh impossible for a guy like me (who likes to go fast, but sit upright while doing it) to find a bike that I might want to ride "off the rack." Bike manufactures see that drop bars or flat handlebars, that force the rider to hunch over, are trendy because all the "cool" sports professionals use them. So they make bikes like that.
Meanwhile, I'm stuck looking at slow bikes like cruisers or 6-8 speeds with a 46T or less sprocket if I want a comfortable ride. It's more than a little irritating--I mean, don't get me wrong, I love making my own special modifications and working on my bike in general, but it really gets under my skin that I can't buy a bike that I'd enjoy riding ready made. And the really frustrating part is that I suspect the trend-followers driving the demand for drop bars and the like feel like I do.
I hope people here sense that on some level, that no matter how grumpy I get about it, as long as you authentically like and want all the cycling gear that happens to be trendy, I fully respect and support your decisions and desires.
Like the other day on the forum, I say a guy here say that buying bicycle shorts is what separated a "serious cyclist" from "just a guy riding a bicycle."
A bunch of guys, myself included, made snide responses. I get annoyed easily when people appear to condescend about things like that (though to be honest, he could have just been careless with his analogies), but it's more than that. My entire life, I've been inconvenienced by America's unhealthy fetishization of professional sports. For example, so many people "want a bike that looks like the ones in the Tour de France" without even stopping to think what they'll actually be using the bike for, that it's affected the bicycle market at a fundamental level. The end result is that it's nigh impossible for a guy like me (who likes to go fast, but sit upright while doing it) to find a bike that I might want to ride "off the rack." Bike manufactures see that drop bars or flat handlebars, that force the rider to hunch over, are trendy because all the "cool" sports professionals use them. So they make bikes like that.
Meanwhile, I'm stuck looking at slow bikes like cruisers or 6-8 speeds with a 46T or less sprocket if I want a comfortable ride. It's more than a little irritating--I mean, don't get me wrong, I love making my own special modifications and working on my bike in general, but it really gets under my skin that I can't buy a bike that I'd enjoy riding ready made. And the really frustrating part is that I suspect the trend-followers driving the demand for drop bars and the like feel like I do.
I hope people here sense that on some level, that no matter how grumpy I get about it, as long as you authentically like and want all the cycling gear that happens to be trendy, I fully respect and support your decisions and desires.
06-06-16, 08:29 PM
#30
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My cycling sphere currently trends heavily with heat & sweat. And water. Lots of water. And pissing, so much pis....
06-06-16, 08:37 PM
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I have done hundreds of group rides with "racer types" and have never seen anyone behave poorly to other riders of any level or appearance.
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06-06-16, 08:41 PM
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What makes any of us think one group shouting something was even talking to the OP? I have a problem with these topics because they seem far to general and require a lot of assumptions.
Normally in a day or two a post will materialize stating that kit clad roadies will refuse to wave at non roadies. So we will go through a few pages of consoling the feelings of the slighted non roadie without any input from the offending group. Yet I hardly ever come across threads started by conceited roadies talking about making fun of other cyclists because of what they ride or what they wear.
Somewhere there is is a disconnect between what the riders I know see and do and the life of Internet posting cyclists.
Normally in a day or two a post will materialize stating that kit clad roadies will refuse to wave at non roadies. So we will go through a few pages of consoling the feelings of the slighted non roadie without any input from the offending group. Yet I hardly ever come across threads started by conceited roadies talking about making fun of other cyclists because of what they ride or what they wear.
Somewhere there is is a disconnect between what the riders I know see and do and the life of Internet posting cyclists.
06-06-16, 08:47 PM
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WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL????
sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me
sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me
06-06-16, 08:51 PM
#35
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Bro culture at its most hilariously self-mocking: Dudes with motorcycle gang attitudes wearing colorful skin tight underwear as outerwear.
06-06-16, 09:11 PM
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Ignorance and bigotry knows no bounds. Ignore them. You can't fix them
06-06-16, 09:13 PM
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Suspect the OP was just feeling a little insecure and thought he heard something when they were likely just joking amongst themselves.
06-06-16, 09:15 PM
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Not a lot of riders around here, I occasionally see someone else riding but have only once passed a group ride. I was just starting into a longer Strava segment when I met 3 guys riding wheel to wheel, I was in the drops pushing as hard as I could going for a PR. These 3 guys were moving on but none pushing hard, obviously they were strong riders. I sort of nodded, raised my fingers giving a little wave and all three of the guys nodded or waved. Maybe a mile later I met another group of 8-12 riders not a wheel to wheel but bunched up, some side by side. I once again nodded and waved, still pushing as hard as I could but now on the hoods. No one is this group acknowledged me at all. Maybe 8-10 minutes later I had finished the segment (22 second fast PR) and turned onto another road meeting another group of 4 riders, I gave them a big wave and they waved back even a couple of them speaking.
This goes along with one of the post. The really fast guys will be polite and encouraging and the really slow guys are happy to just be out riding but it's that group all bunched up in the middle trying to be competitive that have something to prove and are looking for someone to look down on.
This goes along with one of the post. The really fast guys will be polite and encouraging and the really slow guys are happy to just be out riding but it's that group all bunched up in the middle trying to be competitive that have something to prove and are looking for someone to look down on.
06-06-16, 09:35 PM
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I think the industry has actually gotten much better at offering a very wide assortment of bikes to the market. If anything, it is more confusing than ever to find a bike because there are so many different categories. When I started 40 years ago, seemed like all that was available were either upright 3-5 speed "tourist" bikes, or "10 speeds" with dropped bars. Now you have, along with road bikes, women's specific bikes, and hybrids, and within those broad categories are subcategories such as race road, endurance road, tri, cross, gravel, flat bar .. and those are just for road bikes.
06-06-16, 09:41 PM
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I think the industry has actually gotten much better at offering a very wide assortment of bikes to the market. If anything, it is more confusing than ever to find a bike because there are so many different categories. When I started 40 years ago, seemed like all that was available were either upright 3-5 speed "tourist" bikes, or "10 speeds" with dropped bars. Now you have, along with road bikes, women's specific bikes, and hybrids, and within those broad categories are subcategories such as race road, endurance road, tri, cross, gravel, flat bar .. and those are just for road bikes.
06-06-16, 09:51 PM
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It's entirely possible I'm incredibly picky as well. And I'll agree with you, it is possible to buy a bike with most of what I want, but I was always going to have to either change out the crankset and possibly add a second gear shifter, or change out the handlebars.
06-06-16, 10:02 PM
#43
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There are only two kinds of bicycle riders: Freds and Poseurs.
T-shirt, generic shorts and riding a commuter bike clearly mark you as a Fred. If you are sensitive about other riders laughing at you for that, you can attempt the cool gear acquisition process. You'll still be a Fred so you won't get it exactly right and they'll continue to laugh at you. Then, one day you'll get it exactly right - jersey, shorts, socks, gloves, helmet, all that stuff will appropriately match your bike. Congratulations, you have just become a poseur. Now they are going to laugh at you for that.
T-shirt, generic shorts and riding a commuter bike clearly mark you as a Fred. If you are sensitive about other riders laughing at you for that, you can attempt the cool gear acquisition process. You'll still be a Fred so you won't get it exactly right and they'll continue to laugh at you. Then, one day you'll get it exactly right - jersey, shorts, socks, gloves, helmet, all that stuff will appropriately match your bike. Congratulations, you have just become a poseur. Now they are going to laugh at you for that.
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06-06-16, 10:04 PM
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You read about this all the time on BF but I have yet to witness it on the road.
06-06-16, 11:04 PM
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I'm glad none of the group rides I go on have attitudes like what the OP experienced. We are actually pretty friendly, most at least nod or wave at other cyclists of which there are a lot. Commuters in the city don't really wave or nod, they are on a mission. Weekend group riders or even solo riders out for a workout almost always wave...I haven't experienced anything like the OP thankfully.
06-07-16, 03:42 AM
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I was going to my local department store today.
To get myself a new coffee press, (I broke the old one).
I hopped on my bike (daily commuter) and was on my way.
Stopped at a traffic lite and noticed a large group of cyclists on the opposite corner.
A few of them shouted something at me about my clothing, but I wasn't sure what it was all about.
They seem to all get a good laugh though.
From what I could tell. These guys were all decked out in cycling gear, riding "expensive" (at least they looked expensive to me) bikes.
I on the other hand, was wearing just a plain old t-shirt and shorts and riding my daily commuter.
It's not a "top-o-the-line ride", but I keep it in good working order and it gets me from point a to point b quickly.
As we rode by each other. Some one shouted "Nube!", and again another roar of laughter.
I've been riding nonstop since I was a kid and I'm 50+ years old now.
Needless to say...
I got my new coffee press and I hope I never see these guys again.
What a downer that was. :-(
Am I alone, with this type of treatment form other "cyclists"?
To get myself a new coffee press, (I broke the old one).
I hopped on my bike (daily commuter) and was on my way.
Stopped at a traffic lite and noticed a large group of cyclists on the opposite corner.
A few of them shouted something at me about my clothing, but I wasn't sure what it was all about.
They seem to all get a good laugh though.
From what I could tell. These guys were all decked out in cycling gear, riding "expensive" (at least they looked expensive to me) bikes.
I on the other hand, was wearing just a plain old t-shirt and shorts and riding my daily commuter.
It's not a "top-o-the-line ride", but I keep it in good working order and it gets me from point a to point b quickly.
As we rode by each other. Some one shouted "Nube!", and again another roar of laughter.
I've been riding nonstop since I was a kid and I'm 50+ years old now.
Needless to say...
I got my new coffee press and I hope I never see these guys again.
What a downer that was. :-(
Am I alone, with this type of treatment form other "cyclists"?
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06-07-16, 03:46 AM
#47
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I see a lot of this sort of comment on BF, castigating the TdF wannabes. I never see TdF wannabes, or anyone else, actually posting anything negative about riders in street clothes.
Sometimes I wear a jersey, sometimes I wear a tee shirt and sandals. Never noticed any difference in the how the club riders greet me in passing. I read about how the riders in full kit look down on other bicyclists, but never see any of evidence of it myself. Maybe I just ride in the right places and read the right threads.
Sometimes I wear a jersey, sometimes I wear a tee shirt and sandals. Never noticed any difference in the how the club riders greet me in passing. I read about how the riders in full kit look down on other bicyclists, but never see any of evidence of it myself. Maybe I just ride in the right places and read the right threads.
+1
Agree with all of the above.
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Last edited by Machka; 06-07-16 at 03:49 AM.
06-07-16, 03:48 AM
#48
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What makes any of us think one group shouting something was even talking to the OP? I have a problem with these topics because they seem far to general and require a lot of assumptions.
Normally in a day or two a post will materialize stating that kit clad roadies will refuse to wave at non roadies. So we will go through a few pages of consoling the feelings of the slighted non roadie without any input from the offending group. Yet I hardly ever come across threads started by conceited roadies talking about making fun of other cyclists because of what they ride or what they wear.
Somewhere there is is a disconnect between what the riders I know see and do and the life of Internet posting cyclists.
Normally in a day or two a post will materialize stating that kit clad roadies will refuse to wave at non roadies. So we will go through a few pages of consoling the feelings of the slighted non roadie without any input from the offending group. Yet I hardly ever come across threads started by conceited roadies talking about making fun of other cyclists because of what they ride or what they wear.
Somewhere there is is a disconnect between what the riders I know see and do and the life of Internet posting cyclists.
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06-07-16, 07:43 AM
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After reading the comments here, I'm not sure that this group of riders was even talking about the OP at all.
Think about it. If you're in a group with your friends, you're likely to make jokes out loud with each other or call each other a noob. You probably wouldn't call someone you don't know a noob though. Maybe one of them recently made a big mistake like not unclipping at a stop and falling over. Either way, I'm thinking they were just joking amongst themselves.
Think about it. If you're in a group with your friends, you're likely to make jokes out loud with each other or call each other a noob. You probably wouldn't call someone you don't know a noob though. Maybe one of them recently made a big mistake like not unclipping at a stop and falling over. Either way, I'm thinking they were just joking amongst themselves.
06-07-16, 07:55 AM
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Exactly.
If someone ever makes fun of you for being a Fred, just remember what a Fred actually is:
I, for one, aspire to Fredness!
If someone ever makes fun of you for being a Fred, just remember what a Fred actually is:
Originally Posted by https://bikeparts.wikia.com/wiki/Fred_%28bicycling%29
In one famous incident while touring in Italy, [Fred] Birchmore passed a bunch of racers during a race he had crossed paths with by chance. And despite going up hill on his loaded 50 pound non-racing bike, he passed the finish line well ahead of the racers. The cheering crowd at the finish line assumed him to be the winner of the race.