ParkingTheBus

How true do you find this to be?

I casually ride/commute (I own a hybrid) and I can understand this statement to a certain point. I've heard a lot of cyclists say this about the roadies... Because they own a 400 dollar set of tights they think they're akin to Lance Armstrong... Some will overtake you on the road and give you a dirty stare... Not to mention that a whole pack of them takes up teh whole road on a ride. Then you hear the way some of them talk. Apparantly, owning a 5000 dollar bike grants you the right to talk down to other bikes. I'll be having a conversation with one of them about general cycling and I can just notice the condescending tone in their voice. One bike shop even refused to service "lower end" hybrid/road bikes.

Again, I'm not making a generalization. These are just some observations I've made and I can kind of see what others complain about. What are your thoughts on this?

Campag4life

Agree. Road cyclists on $5K bikes wearing $1K kit are better than others.
Any other questions?

dtrain

nope, you aren't at all.

CNC2204

Not all of them ...

caloso

I have a feeling you think about them a lot more than they think about you.

RR3

I was minding my own business sipping an $11 latte the other day as I was drenched from the pouring rain and another bicyclist barges in from the street and asks me how much my bike costs. I said I did not know as I bought the parts all individually. He starts hollering, "That bike cost $20,000....$20,000....I tell you it has to be $20,000...He yells it to the Barista".......I tried to ignore him. Eventually the owner asked him to let me enjoy my coffee. I spilled a bit of froth on my Assos Campionissimo_s7 Bibs and the bike was no more than $13,000. Some people. At least the rain washed off the coffee from my shorts.

Lazyass

It depends on political affiliation. Blue tends to be more snobbish and angry, red more down to earth and friendly. I'm joking, halfway at least

bikemig 

Flip it around and you'd be half right . . . .

digger

UI think you forgot your meds.

GlennR

Another train wreck of a topic.

dr_lha

"I have an inferiority complex and project it onto everyone I see riding a nicer bike than mine".

Looigi

I am definitely rude and stuck up, and justifiably so, but I'd still be that way if I wasn't a roadie.

RJM

It always seems to me that the people who complain about roadies always bring up the money aspect....like they are jealous or something. It's weird.

Most roadies I know are really nice people...also generally happy about life.


Roadies aren't rude, man...they are miserable. Miserable because they are in the middle of some stupid threshold interval and feel like dying.


The reason a roadie may "talk down" about a hybrid is because it doesn't offer the performance of the race bike. It may not even be "talking down," just offering an opinion based on that person's requirements.

LAJ

Buy a real bike, then we'll talk.

RJM

So, you got passed by some roadies and have hurt feelings?

JerrySTL

We are better looking also!

I've noticed a difference from roadies when I'm on my hybrid or even touring bike. There are many who aren't even sociable when I'm on my road bike.

I make a point of waving or saying "hi" to all riders even if they appear to be "DUI" commuters.

bt

I only wave to other roadies and only if they have proper kit and at least a $5k bike.

I ignore commuters.

Wheever

I think OP has a point. Hybrid and comfort bike riders always acknowledge me, other roadies, not so much...unless I'm on their ass and they can't shake me. Then they curse.

evrythngsgngrn

I don't think the 41 is the place to complain about roadies...

Cyclosaurus

In any sufficiently sized group of humans, a certain percentage (X) are pr*cks. This percentage doesn't vary by race, gender, age, religion, or subculture. X% of Catholic priests. X% of plumbers. X% of jugglers.

What does vary, is the exact manifestation of the X% in behavior. People who photograph trains are going to express their pr*ck-itude differently than people who ride $10K bikes. The thing is, when you see a group of people that you don't identify with, i.e., you don't belong to that group, and you see someone fromo the X% flying their pr*ck flag high and strong, your natural human tendency is to tar the whole group with the X% brush. So a couple of tools in a group of roadies represent ALL roadies in everyone else's minds.

Yes, X% of road cyclists are insufferable jerks. But guess what, X% of casual hybrid-commuting bike riders are also! It's just that they share their joy with the world in different ways.

badger1

These posts/threads are always amusing, and there appear to be quite a few in any given year. There are variations, but usually the same general theme.

I often wonder what people like the OP here actually see/witness? I ride a flat-bar road bike. No one would mistake me for a 'roadie': mid-range flat-bar bike; mtb pedals/shoes; mis-matched kit -- an 'unracer' if ever there was one. I ride alone, and put in the miles.

There are lots and lots of 'roadies' round here, and not a few serious racers. I know a few by name, and more by sight (as nodding acquaintances). I have never encountered this alleged 'attitude' from anyone I would consider a serious road cyclist (obvious poseurs don't count). Not once .

So, 'untrue' in my experience.

dtrain

Ha!

delcrossv

I think this is generally true. Most roadies I deal with are reasonably decent blokes, some are insufferable jerks. Same with track racers, TT'ers etc. The percentages might be different, but no-one remembers the good interactions. Everyone remembers the one @$$hole....

ParkingTheBus

As expected, it seems like most people read the title and skipped through the OP, totally ignoring the fact that I wasn't trying to judge and just wanted to get opinions on this matter :l

Lol

I'm happy with my Giant escape 1 hybrid. I save thousands of dollars a year in transportation costs and even more when you look at all the money you waste on tights and repairs

And even then, I still think I'll beat most roadies on a road bike
err.

In my experience, roadies wave to me when im on my road bike... Opposite happens when I'm commuting on my hybrid.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that I DO have a road bike! I just never use it (read my sig)

BillyD

Yeah, I read it that way too. They're just a little thin-skinned sometimes, take things personal and all . . . . . ya gotta be careful with the titles.