Does any person who is rude enough to yell that kind of comment at you really deserve any more of your time?

Don't laugh--it's paid for.

He went on record with the dumb comment, so why should you? I wouldn't bother..

" thanks, son! Don't forget, dinner at six! Have fun with the boys!"

If they called me grandpa, I'd tell them to come back in 5 years, so I could kick their butts without feeling guilty.

Don't waste your time.
I can't imagine heckling another cyclist. If I saw someone out for a ride, I'd rather join up and chat than insult them.
I just don't get people sometimes.

If you were in Texas or Alberta... which brings to mind the joke about rodeo sex.

"Hey, I could only ride your sister for 8 seconds... "

I retract my previous reply in favor of this.

This classic and vintage, right? Just doff your cap and carry on.

One can never go wrong with "your mom".

ride

good point - anyone who would heckle someone else out on a ride probably doesnt go out riding very often

I would have either said:

Is that the best you have ****** bag....
Go F yourself ashl
Do you guys all sleep with each other (i wouldh ave used a different word for sleep)

Funny thing this topic got me thinking about a larger issue in general in regards to public aggression towards cyclists - I imagine there are many stories like this that we all have - me personally I would say half dozen rides a year where I have abusive things screamed at me or attempts to disrupt my ability to control my bike by screaming
to me there is nothing to do but ride - after all you didn't go out for said ride looking to get hurt or arrested - its something to think about as those are two sucky potential outcomes if the event escalates beyond the initial 'jab' by the offender
just something to think about

"nice try, sweetie!"

I agree with those who said to ignore them or don't escalate. I'm not sure it's even worth your time to catch and drop them, assuming that you could, since you were out there for a nice, enjoyable ride, and not work.

Enjoy your EPO...

Turn around.
Catch them.
Drop them.
Don't say a word.

It amazes me how common courtesy and respect isn't being taught to our young. They feel empowered, and that they are deserving of everything without working for anything.

I think that responding back would have only fueled it more.

I just don't get it...

"Hey thanks, I like your bike too, nice that your mom let's you borrow it now and then".

...or;
"Ok, thanks, have a nice day and enjoy your ride ladies".

...or;
"Thanks, I wish I had a lower IQ; so that I could enjoy your wit".
then he comes back with a smart month retort, and you say...
"woo, woo ,woo, easy there, I'm not going to get into a battle of wits with you; I never attack anyone who's unarmed"
then if need be, before you ride off;
"Me, getting smart with you? How would you know?"

...or;
"Was the ground cold when you crawled out this morning"?
then he comes back with a smart month retort, and you say...
"Ya, ok, thanks, I enjoyed talking to you, my mind needs a rest."
Then ride off.

...or;
"Hey I'm busy riding now; can I ignore you some other time?"

...or;
Are you always this stupid, or are you making a special effort today?

...or;
"Ya, and it's too bad stupidity isn't painful.
...he'll need a minute to think about that one, while you're already riding off down the road.
Or if he say's "What do you mean?", you come back with;
"I’d explain it to you, but I don’t have any crayons with me."

...or;
Hey, why do you have to be that way, you looked normal until you opened your mouth?

I got lots of them, I've worked in construction all my life and sometimes, on rare occasions, you have to have a thick skin and be able to stand up for yourself.

Original poster here. This is definitely a case of a group of riders who think they are superior to all other bicyclists out on the road. I've had another rider tell me that he was training for a hundred mile charity ride and wanted to use his existing steel lugged frame. He went out with them twice and the first thing they did each time was drop him and they never looked back or checked on him. After that, he never road with them again (why should he)? I understand the macho side of bicycle racing and race training, but there is also should be a sense that you should look out for, teach, and encourage newcomers. I work with a gentleman who used to road race and still races mtb events and was/is very successful at the local level. He said they disgusted him early on with their constant competitive maneuverings and disregard for traffic and the rules of the road. He doesn't ride with them either. They definitely have a "it's gotta be new and cost a K or don't even think about it" mentality for the bikes they ride. Their whole mindset is so different than mine, I would never desire to ride with them.

When I'm out riding, I feel like I should be an ambassador to a recreational activity that I truly enjoy and want to encourage others to participate in. I usually greet most people on the roads and bike paths. I slow up for pedestrians on the paths, even though I think others should be hyper conscious of bicyclist when they are walking/jogging/dog dragging on a bike path. I've chased down other bicyclists, but I've never belittled them once I caught or passed them. What's the point?

All that said, next time, at least with that tiny voice in my head, I'm going to think "yeah it is a nice frame, but not as nice as when I use to mount your mother's". And with my with my loud voice "Thanks for noticing Junior".

This says it all right here. Arrogant lowlife jerks. Forget them.

My typical response: