I'm just going to pretend I didn't see this post / jk

Welcome, don't expect cyclist to be different than other groups of people, there are elitist in every walk of life, just ignore em

wbbc + jl = windchaser

I'm not -- and that's just the point. Unless Someone says "I look down on you, you insignificant insect," or something like it, you can't know for sure. You're imputing motivations and beliefs that might simply not be there. Who knows what they had been talking about, whether they actually were lost. or what had happened on their ride up until then?

I met a guy on a ride today. I was on my cross bike and he was riding a classic Vitus and wearing an old Motorola jersey [it had been Steve Bauer's jersey... long story there]. I passed him a couple of times, doing some hill intervals, and I saw him scowling at me every time I went by. I thought he was cheezed at me about something.

Finally, I came up beside him and asked "what's up?" Turns out he's an ex-pat brit living in St. Catherine's Ontario, visiting Montreal. He used to race 'cross back in blighty and he wanted to strike up a conversation about 'cross with me. But he doesn't speak French was afraid that I didn't speak English and the language issue being what it is...

What I took for a scaowl was a look of quizical frustration...

Well, I guess I concure with about everything that has been said here! I know a couple A riders that I am very disappointed with, but I also have had the extreme pleasure of meeting and riding with far superior riders, who treat fat ol' me like a real rider! These riders have really helped me become a better rider, and in my somewhat limited experience, I have found that there are more supportive A riders than the elitist types. Sure, I can't keep up with them, but you know, when we stop for a break or something, they always wait for me, and compliment me on what I have done, rather than what I have not!
Man, as long as you are out there trying, no matter what you are riding, that is what really matters. For me, biking is such a personal thing, and as long as I am out there doing the very best that I can, even though I'm still kind of a newbie, that is what does it for me, and I think the REAL A riders appreciate that!

Well, first you say "I'm not."

Then you go on for several sentences to try to prove that I probably am.

You weren't there. I was. I'm pretty good at reading situations, and these guys were looking down on me, no doubt about it.

Anyway, since you seem to be able to tell more about the situation by not being there than I could by being there, perhaps you could tell me the winning lotto numbers for Wednesday night in Colorado.

Fini!!

I notice those snobs, too. But I am on a really nice bike and I'm dressed in lycra just like them.
I just figured that its because I'm a woman!

I think that attitude still exists- as if you just aren't as SERIOUS about it as a male cyclist. Yeah, I'd like to see them keep up with Genevieve Jeanson. It's sort of like that at the gym and I'm sure this has happened to other women. You'll be using a piece of equipment, doing your sets and some guy comes up and asks, "are you using that" or "Can I do a set", as if you aren't even there. It's like what you're doing just isn't as important as what they do, and you should stop doing your routine for them! I usually reply, "Yes, you can as soon as I am finished with my sets." Sometimes they actually get pissed off! Like how dare you! I should mention this doesn't happen every single time, but it's happened enough over the years. most guys at the gym are perfectly nice and fine.

right now i race on my MTB with all LX - XTR parts on my bike with a frickin Rock Shox Jett. They all insulted my bike cuz the fork was all flexy and **** and would snap. 3 hours later the race is over and not only does my team win the race, but im the one who finished 1st place on my team. They came back to me and they apolgized and all that stuff and all was good after. but it just shows that is not the bike and more the biker. sure comfort may be a problem but then u gotta have money. i decided if im gonna race should i primarily be on performance or comfort. both are important but i figured that performance is first so i upgraded drive train.. maye this summer if i snap that fork ill switch to marzocchi. but killing them in that race.. shoulda seen the looks on their faces

Well Love
If you're a woman riding a really nice bike dressed in lycra and you run into rude male cycling snobs, I don't get it, they must be real deficient idiots, as well as insecure males. As a high milage, long distance cyclist, I welcome running into nice pleasant cyclist, and as a male cyclist I like it more when they are women dressed in lycra riding nice bikes.

just ignore this kind of people, your much better than a lot of this kind so just don't bother thinking about them

I don't get it either--ALL bicyclists are a better group of people.

"Adolf Hitler on a bicycle would be a better human being than Albert Schweitzer in a car"

Fireman Phil. Are there not snob firefighters? When a new rookie comes, in are there oldtimers who look down on them until they prove themselves to their standards(which you may never reach even if you wanted to)? Same in everything. Just enjoy the ride and if you meet some good people along the way, even better

"Snobbery" is not limited to cycling

You can find it in every sport - in everything. Hell, I'm a curler and avid badminton player and there are even snobby people in these sports.

The fact is, it's just a part of life. There will always be people who will look down on you. My best advice would be to use it as a reason to excel, as a reason to improve and better your skills so they can no longer look down on you

Would be nice if it were true. Most are though.

This must be a joke ... right?

First of all, how do you know they are looking down on you? Do they actually come over and ridicule you, or do they talk behind your back?

What do you expect a seasoned road biker to say to you or act when he sees someone like you? Come over and compliment you on your bike? Slow down so you can catch up during the ride? Try to strike up a conversation with you even though you two have completely different tastes in cycling?

It's kind of like in college or univserity. On one side you have the Art students and the other you have the Engineering/Science students (simplifed scenerio). These two groups are both attending the same University, but in completely different fields.

What reaction would you expect if an arts student attended a tensile stress test labratory session or if a science student attended a discussion group about the far eastern philosphers of the 3rd century or something. (sorry, the above was the best analogy I could come up with).

I too get snobby sometimes, depends. This one time this dude hammered his way up the hill only to pass me only to puff when he got up to the plateu, so I dropped him on the flat and every climb after and didn't really bother trying to start a conversation with him.

Hey Wabbit,

What's wrong with asking if they can work in their sets with you? At my local gym, it can get pretty crowded sometimes and between sets you need half or a full minute to get the lactic acid flowing to get into your next set.

I too regularly get asked if it would be okay to have a set worked in between my rest periods. Sometimes it pisses me off cause the guy/gall takes the liberty of changing the weights, which takes forever for me to put back in... etc.

But most are quite ethical and since I have been there first doing my sets they will give me priority and will simply wait until I am finsihed if they want to change the weights. I assure, it is not a male/female thing.

And as for women on bikes... if there is a male out there that looks down on them then he has some serious issues. I'd ignore a super pro male cyclist over a women on wheels any day!

that guy is bad even on anything, I don't even want to mention the name

Mr. CANUK

Let me share the mission statement from a recreational club in my area, the ones I refer to as "BIKE SNOBS"

"Mission Statement "
To encourage all people to participate in bicycling without regard to age or expertise.
We promote all aspects of bicycling with special emphasis on bicycling safety, bicyclist's rights and responsibilities. We also seek to enhance communications among cyclists and to provide opportunities for bicycling and socializing with others.

The key words "ALL PEOPLE" , to me that means if you ride a x-mart brand or a high end bike. It has nothing to do if you think your super stud biker with an ego bigger than Texas or just a person out to enjoy the sport of cycling

Hi, Phil!

The key words, "ALL PEOPLE" do seem to be pretty specific. I mean, "all people" is "all people," right?

Well, my advice to you is to keep riding. You don't need a club mission statement to give you permission to be on the road on a bike.

Hey Hillyman........

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Fireman Phil. Are there not snob firefighters? When a new rookie comes, in are there oldtimers who look down on them until they prove themselves to their standards(which you may never reach even if you wanted to)? Same in everything. Just enjoy the ride and if you meet some good people along the way, even better
***************************************************

I have been a paid firefighter for over 16 years and you know what??? I have never met what you refer to as a snoby firefighter, yeah rookies get thare share of razzing but believe me when the s*** hits the fan we are a TEAM depending on each other so we can get home and see our families.

Don't worry I will take your advice and enoy the ride

Fine. So what exactly is the problem?. Are they kicking you out because of your bike? In what way are the serious riders "looking down" on you?

How is it that they are offending you? Do you feel they should come and pet you on the head?

I really doubt anyone there is openly intimidating you. I remember some years back in PE class I was the guy who couldn't beat anyone in anything, and couldn't afford the fancy shoes and clothes everyone else wore. Yeah, I got ignored like a loser, but so what? As long as no one openly disrespected me and accepted my presence I didn't complain.

Frankly I think the problem is more yours than the people you are referring to. I have ridden my share of department store bikes and brick heavy garage sale bikes, and I may not have been satisfied but I used it to its full potential.

No one here is saying that you are any less of a cylclist than anyone else. You just happen to be in a different field (refering to my previous analogy).

Such snobbery exists. Always has, always will. I remember when I got into good roadbikes in the mid to later 1970s the guys who rode Campy looked down on my Japanese components. The fact that my early SunTour Superbe r. der. shifted better than Campy N. Record ever could deterred them not in the least. Outsprinting them along A1A sometimes got their attention though.

Most people are proud of their possessions and for many that pride turns into snobbery. Many do look down on Wal-Mart bikes because qualitatively they don't match up with even lower models available at a shop. However, it is an unfortunate mistake to look down on the rider as well.

Most firefighters I work out with are in pretty good shape. Blow a couple of the snobs into the weeds at the first opportunity. They still won't like your bike but at least they'll shut up.

Hey, I resemble that remark! no, wait did he call me a stud
biker?
Phil,
I ride an 18 year old Trek bike, some of the bike snobs look
down on it, some of them think its retro cool, some of them
change their opinion when they either figure out I can keep
up with them, or I drop em like a bad habit.
you'll be there soon.

Marty

Phil,

Forget about bike snobs. Think instead about your coworkers. Cycling will make you better on the job, for sure.

Think about that heart pumping as you tote around all that gear!

Phil, my friend. Ride for yourself. I've done it for 37 years, and I've seen all kinds.

I'm really impressed by a person who is secure enough in themselves to post statements that inform us that they are sure they can ride better than or can beat almost anyone else in the forum. (Yeah, right.) Even the most seemingly secure have their weaknesses.

As for those who say you will find all kinds of people in every walk of life or group of people. What can I add, they are right.

Set your own goals. As long as you honestly do your very best to meet those goals, you are a success and just as good as those who have the need to be better than others. Do your best for you, and no-one else and you are a success and are the best in the only circle of people who really matters, yourself.

One final word. I have learned that to be happy and to get through situations such as you have mentioned is to expect these things to be, and to never be surprised by anything anyone does or says. I know that doesn't make it right, but to except these things as reality is like taking a spoon full of sugar to make the medicine go down easier.

Again, ride for yourself.

I think you are putting words in that "person"'s mouth. I read his post thoroughly and he said nothing that explicit. I believe you misunderstood the point he was trying to get across.

OK, OK, enough here, just go out and ride your bike, if nobody wants to talk to you, you're a luck person. If you don't want to talk to anybody, that's ok too. The only thing you may want to consider is, always at least smile at the guy with the bag, on long rides when everyone is concerned about weight, he's the techy type with the tools and the parts and may keep you rolling when you're 100 miles from town. Cyclist are generally very friendly people but they are alone most of the time, we get used to not talking to anyone, cycling can be a lonely sport, if that bothers you maybe you haven't ridden far enough yet. As far as female cyclist go, please come ride your bike in new england, we will be nice.