danadear

I agree wholeheartedly with the OP. Those who disagree have probably removed all their reflectors, dork discs and front breaks while wearing $300 cycling specific glasses and would buy Jan Ulrich's urine if it was labeled as cologne and rub it into their saddle horns to impress their other prissy man panty wearing butt sniffing cyclists.

Holy cow..bahahahahahaha..POST.OF.THE.DAY.

wphamilton

I think it's a fixie thing, "I don't like wearing suits. I like to ride. Fixed gear, steel frame, no brakes. The bike cannot coast"

fietsbob

Your sample size is too small ... How many countries have you visited , as a Cycle-Tourist?

demoncyclist

Other drivers don't wave to me as they pass, and the BMW owners aren't impressed by my xB...

Thicker skin man, thicker skin.

nfmisso

Butters32; I tend to agree with your observations - but to me, that is their problem, not mine.

I have a motley collection of bikes that I enjoy riding, a couple are even almost stock....My wife and I on our flat bar steel T50 tandem smoked a skinny guy in lycra on his fancy carbon fiber drop bar racer he did not look happy when we (older heavy couple) went blasting by him - and we had no biking specific clothing, but we do have rear panniers made out of 38lbs kitty litter buckets

Our motor vehicle gets about 5K miles a year. My bikes get more.

Have fun with your thing, smile a lot - that confuses and frustrates them

raqball

Cycling is an odd sport.. You'd figure since we all enjoy it and we are all enthusiastic about it, that everyone could get along, be helpful and encouraging.. That's not really the case in cycling..

I played racquetball for years and even had a partial sponsorship from Wilson before blowing out my ankles badly and to the point where I can't really play any longer even with braces on them.

Everyone got along. The elite players, the D level (new) players, everyone! Sure there were a few cocky ones but they were few and far in between.. I'd see A players having a game with D players and teaching them as they played. After tournaments A and D players all go together for beers and have a good time.. We all shared the same passion and it showed in the positive attitudes displayed by players..

I love cycling but I honestly don't get the attitudes.. Who care if someone is overweight. Welcome them to the sport and encourage them. Who cares if someone is on a lesser bike? Be friendly.. Who cares if someone is not dressed in a kit? Treat them as a fellow cyclist. Who cares if someone is slower? Offer them tips in a friendly manner on how to improve speed and climbing..

I assume there are not many cyclist who are competing for a spot in next years Tour-de-France but the attitudes often displayed by other cyclist would say that I am wrong in my assumption..

I wish everyone could be friendly, kind, get along and help each other out because we all enjoy and share the same passion and sport..

My .02

Jaeger99

True dat. The snobs never seem to look very happy, do they? I suspect there is a lesson in there somewhere.

Jaeger99

+ 1 bazillion.

GP

Thank you.

Squeeze

Do what you like!

Signed,

A road bike commuter with a Wal-Mart MTB helmet and platform pedals

GP

Maybe it's hard to smile when your lungs and legs are screaming and you're trying to hang on to the group.

Newt Reno

I'll bet it's almost like working with this utter prick of a physicist at my job; he thinks he is god regarding everything and when he dies, I will save his obituary in a gilded frame.......by the way, when he was in college, he had seven, SEVEN unassisted sacks in one game; when I asked him if they were nutsacks, he didn't get it.

danadear

That's a good point. Never thunk of it that way.

Kind of like when you are in labor (ladies) and everyone around you is smiling and happy. And you ARE NOT.

Jaeger99

You'd have a point, if those were the only circumstances in which snobbery presented itself. I don't expect some guy out of the saddle grunting up a steep hill to smile and wave as I go coasting down. But the OP's comments - and those of others as well - are not restricted to, nor even primarily defined by such a scenario.

raqball

I agree and my observations are not even remotely directed towards cyclists who are chugging up a steep climb, sprinting or zooming along in a group..

modelmartin

Oh! The Humanity!

My other hobby is building model cars. (hence my user name!). The same rancor exists there. I am more at the front of the peloton in that hobby and find most of the snobbery comes from the bottom with a chip on its shoulder. The very best in any pursuit are usually the least snobbish. Vicenzo Nibali is likely less snobbish about cycling than your typical local crit racer!

Booger1

First I have to pay attention to them....So their are no snobbish people.

ThermionicScott 

I blame the French.

Astrozombie

It's everywhere man, it sucks when you are just trying to get a gauge of where the sweet spot is money wise, as people like to justify how much they spend on new toys.

Cars guys are the worst..............TC post some pictures of your automobiles

KnurledNut

I am NOT snobby...

I'll let anyone touch my handlebar

Fastfingaz

I think the problem is your geographical location,,,come on down South to where the people not only ask you, how you doing darling, but they'll also ask about your mama,,,,,,,, or maybe you're just not holding your lips right,,,,,,,

Corben

And I blame the Italians!

rydabent

danadear

Loved your first post. Is still sitting here laughing over it!!!!!

Machka 

Is this thread a variation on the "they didn't wave at me " theme?

NoviceJohn

There are snobs and a-holes in every culture. There also aren't more snobs in one culture than the other. It's based on your experience. Simple advice. Ignore the snobs and look for the friendly ones.