Originally posted by es_seattle
Velocipedio is correct: You can't possibly know what someone is thinking (hence what their motives are for their actions); however...
...I don't give a %$*@ what they are thinking; I care about how they are acting! Stop me if I've got a warped perspective, but aren't we defined by our actions? If we're hanging around the start area before a ride, and I smile or say "hi" to you (or try to start a rapport in whatever fashion), and you give me the cold-shoulder/blank-stare/curt-reply, well then I don't really give a bent spoke what you're thoughts or motives are; your actions are not cool. I might define it as snobbish, or I might just define it as unfriendly; whatever, IMHO, good intentions are a poor excuse for bad actions. Going out on a limb here, I would guess that it was the actions of some folks that offended Fireman
There ya go!
Originally posted by velocipedio
I'll be honest here. I do think that a guy on a 50 lb X-Mart bike wold hold me back on a ride. I don't know for sure, and I have seen some pretty strong people on pretty crummy bikes. On the other hand, I also know that he probably doesn't train like I do, and he probably doesn't have the same cycling goals that I have. I'm sorry if he's offended, but I simply would not want to ride with him for that reason. That's not being a snob; that's being realistic.
You think he/she might hold you back but you really don't know. You're judging that person by their bike. That person is probably working harder on the IYO "crummy bike" and just may be able to outride you and others.