cyclezealot

I can understand why some new cyclists snicker at some cycling traits...I myself would never shave my legs, wonder if it is really necessary; but then I do not look like a gorilla.
Understanding is the key most human endevors. I find cycling shorts/wicking jerseys really comfortable and necessary; but then I do ride with a person who wears loose cotton jeans, cotton shirt, even though we bought her a jersey and shorts for her birthday..( when we sit down together after a ride, I think she smells far worse than me and wonder how the hell those seems in the jeans have not eaten away her flesh, or why her rear has not welts.) And she has a lower tolerance for heat than I do. At least while riding. But , seemingly not other than riding..And I hate it hot.
I think some must just apologize for looking different, when the needs of so many cyclists is catered to by proven gear.
So my point. There still can be cycling silliness. I have riden with some real strong riders who ride with really strong race types..I overheard some comments some might think snobbery. That is ok, they can ride together...
I just get a little upset when their habits give us a bad name, like riding four abreast on a narrow country road and to hell with oncoming vehicular traffic.
But my candidate for snobbery..Those fast riders who get uppity when they see cyclists wearing their sunglasses outside of their helmet straps. Is that that big a deal. ? I never take off my glasses when riding so don't see the big deal.
What is your candidate for cycling snobbery.Heah, everyone should be able to make fun of themselves. I do.

a2psyklnut

Uh oh, I wear my sunglasses that way! If I wear them inside, the arms on the glasses hurt my head. Oh wait, I don't care!

I also wear my helmet with a visor while road riding.

I wear black socks on the road, and white socks off road.

I've even been seen using a Camelback on the road! Yikes!

Heck for a while, I couldn't find a pair of road shoes that felt comfy, so I wore my mtn bike shoes and swapped pedals back and forth.


The one thing that bugs me is when I approach another cyclist coming the other way and we make eye contact, I wave, and they don't. I mean how hard is it to even just extend your fingers or nod your head?

L8R

wfin2004

I have got to agree with a2psyknut. I ride a lot of miles on the rails to trails around here and I always make it a point to wave, say "Hi", nod or something to everybody that is coming up the trail to me. Of course the ladies always get a big smile from me also, especially if there is no husband/boy friend trailing along. But I bet you, almost half of the riders never acknowledge my gesture ! They even make it a point to NOT make eye contact with you. It does not bother me because I feel they have more important things on their minds than saying "Good Morning" to some guy on a Mountain Bike. Did their Mom's not teach them any manners?

late

If some guy is serious about his training, and his insides are screaming, and his mind is screaming 'Go,go,go'... I can't hold it against him if he doesn't hear me for all the screaming! However, a lot of them are posers worried that saying hi to an old fart might tarnish their image. As if they had one. If all you have to worry about is roadies acting socially ********; you have a good life. No worries, mate.

mchandler

Waving and smiling to each other while riding on the road?!?!?! Geez, that's as bad as having a triple on yer bike. ;-)

Here in Boulder County, there are a boatload of cyclists. No matter how many/few I see, I always manage at least a nod or two-finger wave from the 'bars.

mirona

Wow that really is silly. I'm relatively new to cycling so I kinda want to know what these snobs are laughing about when I ride by.

sm266

I'm with you. I actually have spd's on both bikes, so I only have to keep up with my mtn. shoes!!

I always wear my sunglasses on the outside of the straps, 'cause I may want to take them off easily.

I wear reject coolmax socks that I got cheap online that have patterns and bright colors.

I don't care, either. Actually, I don't think other people really care what I look like, anyway. If they're worried about my attire or equipment, they have issues. I try to wave and be nice to everyone, especially on the dirt. Sometimes, though, it seems like there are millions of cyclists and runners on my route, and I feel like I spend my whole ride waving. Meh.

cyclezealot

If you wear your sunglasses on the outside, it is ok with me.I will still wave. But, I usually nod over wave..that and a hello I think is really commiting oneself.!
I just don't understand why sunglasses are better on the outside.? Maybe the design. Maybe the well known pros'...Getting glasses off faster for interviews...Would not want the eyes covered up. But,then often I do not take off my sunglasses for getting my picture taken. Sunglasses are cool. Sunglasses are more important than myself.

froze

I'm not riding my bike to make a fashion statement! I think cyclist that ride wearing USPS jersey's (or any other race team jersey) are fashion idiots; good god man, they don't ride for the team and if they did their so slow they wouldn't want them around so why the jersey? Because their drugstore racers. And some of those jerseys are so gawdy looking, they should PAY ME to wear them especially since they have their product blazen across the it, and I'm essentially advertising for them. On rides under 20 miles and on coolish warm days I don't wear a jersey just a teeshirt or a golf shirt; also on those shorter rides I just wear standard shorts not made for cycling thus no padding. I have a couple of expensive jersey's (one wool) but now that I know Walmart sells 100% polyester jerseys for only $9 to $12 I've started buying those-and they work just as good as the expensive 100% polyester jerseys without the odd ball colors just white or black.

zoogirl

Wow, how come I haven't been kicked off the road yet!? I'm out there in jeans or regular shorts, t-shirts, runners or sandals and an old nylon jacket. In winter, it's a vintage black leather jacket. Guess I should just park my bike and slink away

I really don't run into bike snobs at all, unless I'm just not noticing. Most of the bikes in this neighborhood are hauling home-made trailers full of beer cans and pop bottles. It's hardly a snooty area.

Lufty

Or how about when they are on a small bike path, 3-4 abrest(aka SUV formation), wearing USPS jerseys, on $6k bikes, and don't make room for oncomming cyclists! Man, this has happened to me 2x now on a local path, and I'm really tempted to kick some a$$ or something if it happens again. Grrrrrr! I hate those @$%&! poseurs.

mirona

Hey! We got a response from one of the snobs!

bpohl

I kinda felt the same way reading that. I wear a Phonak jersey when I'm out riding. It's not because I think I'm good enough to race for Phonak, it's cause I like the team and their jersey. However, I really don't care if other cyclists don't apporve. I've worn the Phonak while racing before. It was a birthday present from my gal, and I'll be damned if some cycling fashion police are going to make me feel like any less of a rider because I wear it. I mean... who really cares what other people wear? Sometimes I see guys wearing things like blue jeans or t-shirts when it's hot out, and I wonder how they can be comfortable; but, I certainly don't think it gives me the right to call them names. Nope, that sort of attitude stems from personal insecurities, in my opinion.

Just wear what you like and everyone else can stick their opinion.. well, you know where

Lufty

Personal preferance...everyone has the right to wear what they want while cycling, be it for confort, style, lack-of-style...whatever. Hell, even the USPS wearing a$$holes I run into have the right to so so. My only opinion on the matter, is if your going to wear a Pro Team jersey, act the part and share the road. Actually, that goes equal for everyone.

cyclezealot

The point is we are a free people,wear what you want..Did we not hear this argument in grammar school.
I do say, like my friend..She will not try cycling clothes..Says the bike shorts we gave her feel like a diaper. Told her they are supposed to feel that way..Thats what protects your arse. So she wears jeans..That is entirely ok. But, can you imagine its effects if you routinely ride long distances . It is best we all be flexible..
I get a little miffed when our friend , she loves riding to work..Bought her a wicking jersey.Pretty plain one, too...Fits her a little loose I thought . She says it is too tight. ?
Yet, she won't go out on hot days; when I feel fine in a wicking jersey..Being stubborn is self defeating.
Wear what you want but be flexible. At least until you are sure you don't like it.
Her size fits my wife. Is it ok to ask for it back, since it is going unused.

skiahh

Sounds like it's time for a game of "Chicken".... Then again, I'm a pretty big guy and not moving anywhere as fast as the formation, so I'll take less of a hit!

[rant on - and the "you" in this rant is the generic "you", not referring to anyone specific]As for team jerseys - what's the big deal? People who wear these jerseys don't feel that they can ride on their jersey's team, they just like the team. Kind of like wearing a football, baseball or hockey team jersey. What's the big deal?? Now, I realize there are some out there who wear the kits because they do think they're better than the rest of us. For them, I have no use. Nor do I lose any sleep if they don't wave or give me acceptance. I really don't care what they think. To be honest - and it's nothing personal, I don't care what any of you think - I'm out there to ride and enjoy the outdoors. If you want to get your panties in a wad about what I'm wearing/riding/using etc, then have at it. I'm not going to waste a single brain cell worrying about it. OK, maybe I'll waste one or two feeling sorry for your small pathetic life.[rant off]

I wear lycra on my MTB because it works for me. I wear MTB shoes, camelback, loose jerseys and a visor on my road bike. Because they work for me. Oh, and my sunglasses arms go wherever they wind up when I stick them on my head! Enjoy your ride, let me enjoy mine and if you don't want to ride with me (for fashion reasons) then I most certainly don't want to ride with you!

bnet1

It takes all kinds to make the world go around. I've run into roadies who were in such a trance that if a deer had run out in front of them most likely they wouldn't even see it. I also recently had an encounter with a jogger that ended with a nice exchange of pleasantries and both of us waving as we departed ways. I try to say hello to everyone I encounter on the MUP. Ususally get a hello back from roller bladers too. People on touring/commuting bikes are generally friendly I've found. Although I'm generally too taken aback by encountering another 'bent that I sometimes stammer and stutter.

'bent Brian

larue

I think it's ridiculous for me to expect every friggin biker that passes my way to wave and smile. Who cares? I'll nod, if they don't well I'm certainly not going to take it personally. The only gripe in this thread is the one about the riders not sharing the road, that is a problem. Everything else is silly.
What is the height of cycling silliness?
Bickering over the asinine crap in this thread.

SteveE

I think we have a winner, folks! (Thank you, larue)

cyclezealot

Heah, Guy..It is mean't to be frivolous...Just tongue in check..I did actually hear one really fast racer say over lunch in non condescending way the benefits of wearing glasses outside of helmet straps. I really don't care. Got my mind to wondering.
Think, a bigger point is...My friend who loves riding, has wicking clothes, yet wears cotton and complains of the heat..That is silly..Stubborness is silly.
And yes, heah, We can get carried away and be silly.

Dusk

The Style Man in Bicycling said to wear the glasses outside the strap. I guy I know that reps helmets said that is was not a style thing it is a safety issue. The Sunglasses can hold the straps out and make the helmet too loose in a crash. His second point was you don’t want glasses held to your head in a crash as more damage to your eyes might happen due to broken parts flying.

So I changed and I found that the Oakley’s are more comfortable outside the straps.

Cheers

Trsnrtr

<applause> Some times I think there are some pretty insecure people riding bikes. Thank you for restoring my faith in the sanity of my fellow cyclists... I was beginning to worry that everyone I pass was going to obssess over whether I waved back or the color of my jersey.

Rick O'Getti

Wow, dude... you lost 180+ lbs, and now ride 5:12 centuries! You rule!

Look... silliness is when you are too freakin' self-conscious to wear cycling clothes... There is a reason for the way they are designed (not including the crazy prints), and that reason is to make one (a) more comfortable on the bike, and (b) a better biker. I have friends that wear baggy shorts over their tight shorts as if someone might (ahem) check out their package (God forbid!)... I know of what I speak, I used to do the same thing!

So... while I used to disparage the folks in full-up T-Mobile duds, I have changed... I now only disparage the people who dress first and ride second. See, it's the person, not the clothing!

Keep cranking! I am impressed!

khuon

Yet again, I feel it appropo to point out a somewhat famous quote...

cyclezealot

[QUOTE=Dusk]The Sunglasses can hold the straps out and make the helmet too loose in a crash. His second point was you don’t want glasses held to your head in a crash as more damage to your eyes might happen due to broken parts flying.

Dusk. I really blew this thread..You point out, just when I thought something frivilious , it had merit.
I just find silly those who condemn those who are really uncomfortable after they have tried something and really don't like it; and those who are so tied to convention, they won't try something that has merit.
So many of us are tied to what others think..Not me, my family advice going back two generations..Don't worry what others think of you, they are too busy worrying what others think of them..And if they are bullies to hell with them.