Zer0shift

...Out cycling? I usually cycle at the park all the time for the past few years. But more recently on a good occasion I sometimes get a little noticed by a familiar looking guy that may have seen me there all the time saying some good comments here and there. And just over this summer there was this group of high school kids that flagged me down to strike up a conversation and also commented on how hard I ride. I always like when people do that once in a while because sometimes I get a lot of crap on the road as some of us get from time to time, hehe. That certainly is a nice change of pace with an exchange of words I think.

fietsbob

Visitors ask directions to places (the 'Goonie house' and the Column, often) and where to eat .

Still Pedaling

Due to riding a folding bike, I get a lot of people stopping to chat, or simply those riding will give a wave or nod - all except the roadies. I don't know what it is with most of them, or at least those that I have passed or come across on my rides, they just ride by with their noses in the air, like they are some Tour de Elite. I get a lot of people approach me in super markets, because I can fold my Brompton down to where I can use it as a shopping cart. It really turns heads, and I have had grocery store staff ask me to demo the bike. While taking a short cut through a gas station, I had a guy stop me and ask if I custom built the bike. Where I live there are very few people who ride a folding bike, and when people see me ride, I get comments and waves from all around, except those that I mentioned. That's OK, they can just ride on by with their spandex Halloween costumes and hopefully they will cheer up as the day goes by.

Frizlefrak

I ride over to a park and back on a regular basis. There are baseball fields, a kids play area, and a brand new skateboard park. Behind the park is desert where people ride ATV's, dirt bikes, mountain bikes, etc. I usually stop at the skateboard park and watch the skaters do their stunts for a bit, and then head back. A couple weeks ago, I paused under a tree and grabbed the water bottle for a drink. A couple of kids in a clapped out Honda were driving by and the passenger rolled down the window.....I thought, "great....here we go". But the kid yelled "Stay hydrated bro!!!"

I tipped the bottle and waved....

As they drove past, I saw a couple of sweet mountain bikes hanging out of the bungeed hatchback area.

Kindred spirits.

GravelMN

The negative interactions always seem to stick out, but I have to admit, the good comments and courtesies I receive out on the road outnumber the negatives easily 100:1. I get lots of waves, smiles, wide/slow passes, greetings and positive comments all the time. I have maybe 2-3 negative interactions (rude comments, harassing passes, thrown objects, or such) a year and so far nothing serious.

Zer0shift

Hehe, awesome!

hillyman

Not usually while riding. I'm a truck driver and get a lot of questions from other drivers asking where the can get a folding bike when they see mine strapped in the passenger seat.

Tim199

I really don't think it's as bad as all that. While there are probably snobby roadies just like snobby anything else, more likely they're just focused on their ride. While you and others like to enjoy the ride, see the scenery, etc, they want to push the pace, increase their conditioning, beat their time, etc. It's a totally different goal and not surprising they don't chat much and it has nothing to so with them being snobby or intending to seem so. In fact I have a friend that's almost a roadie and he has zipped by me without much more than a wave. Later when I talk to him he'll tell me where he was going and chat about it. No offense for sure.

hillyman, that's a great way to stay in shape on the road.

Still Pedaling

You hit the nail on the head. But I do like to poke fun at them. As a matter of fact, some of those that pass me by ride for a local club and I've met a few of them in a nearby bike shop. I joke about it with them, and some of them laugh when I call their outfits Halloween Costumes - some . One of the team riders, who I struck up a conversation with, told me that they are so into their ride focusing on their training and the read outs on their cycling computers that they don't pay much attention to what's around them. I find that a little careless though. I was amazed when he told me that they can track one another's rides on home computers with GPS tracking. They had these neat computers on their bikes by Garmin. That's what got me interested last year in using my iPhone with an app called Bike Brain. I do get a little bummed-out when I see some of the roadies riding abreast down the street outside of the bike lane causing drivers to veer into an oncoming lane to get around them. Its bad enough today when many drivers show hostility to cyclists, and these riders who do ride abreast outside the bike lanes only make things worse. I'm out most every day, and so far I have not encountered a rude driver. Perhaps when they see me riding a small wheeled folding bike it makes them laugh instead of getting angry. Another good reason to ride a folding bike.

cyclist2000

A few times on tour, non-riders have looked at my bike an asked how far I was riding and then remarks on how could I sit on such a tiny saddle for so long.

WDH74

Other than other cyclists (when I'm stopped somewhere, say at 7-Eleven for a drink), not often. Sometimes on the paths I'll get an "excuse me, sorry!" from someone when I call out that I'm passing and they dawdle and I have to slow way down. Once in a while someone will say something like "nice bike!" but I just assume it's another Trek rider.

The oddest thing I've had anyone say or do happened a week or so ago - I went out for an evening ride and it naturally lasted till well after dark. I was sitting at an intersection, a fairly busy one that was very well lit, and a guy pulled up next to me and asked if I needed a lift, since "You're gonna get run over in the dark!". Again, lots of bright street lights, and I had lights on my bike as well. The guy seemed genuinely shocked that I'd be willingly riding after dark, on a road, on a bicycle of all things. The woman in the passenger seat just stared at me like I'd sprouted a second head or something.

Homebrew01

An elderly woman and husband rolled down their window at a red light and said they were impressed with how I rode the descent, while they were behind me. I assured them I would look much less impressive if we were going the other direction.

One morning a 10-ish year old kid waiting for the bus called out "be careful". I yelled back, "thanks, I will"....

EvilWeasel

I'm usually the one starting conversations or saying hi to perfect strangers on my rides. Most people are friendly if you just bother to talk them. If i like you're bike or you are in the lambo that pulls up next to me at a light on a1a, you'd better believe someone is getting at least a thumbs up.

heffdiddy

Isn't that Vanilla Ice's territory? You better watch out for ragtop 5.0's.

Wilfred Laurier

one not particularly proud moment
i had been dropped by the group i was riding with
and as we passed a schoolground
a little girl yelled out you're slow
and before I had a chance to reconsider
i automatically counteredwith you're fat

Lone

a little kid called me skinny once. one time an old couple said something was wrong with me. many single women in their 20s, 30s, and even 40s give me stares, because they know that i'm not married.

John Redcorn

If it makes you feel any better, you just made me and probably a bunch of other people laugh pretty good.

Steve B.

A few decades ago I was a member of the Long Island Bicycle Club (NYC metro area), also known as the "LIBC".

The club jerseys were these bright yellow things with multiple map outlines of Long Island as well as "LIBC" lettering.

Nowhere on the jersey did it actually say "Long Island Bicycle Club".

On what was a longish ride I had 2 bananas sticking out of my rear jersey pocket and was stopped at a light when a car pulled up on my right to make a right turn. The driver looked me over for a minute or so and commented;

"Let me guess, Long Island Banana Club ?".

Frizlefrak

That was absolutely inappropriate.
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.......and exactly what I probably would have done too. ROFLMAO!!!

CourtJester

Never had much said to me, but I had four girls (guessing upper teens, low 20’s) in a front yard a few weeks ago flash me as I road by. Two of them held it for the entire pass too. It was rather impressive.


I have made that a more regular route but I haven’t seen anyone out again.

Frizlefrak

How many times did you ride back down that street that day? 25? 40? LOL

John Redcorn

Century with 600 turnarounds.

rydabent

If you ride bents, and especially a trike, be prepared to be stopped for questions. More and more older people are stopping me when Im on he trike and asking about it. I have taken to carrying the business card of the LBS bent and trike dealer. BTW trikes are selling great guns here in Lincoln. The dealer has some trouble keeping all models in stock.