Hypno Toad

I've had the opposite happen. I was headed home after work, I had business meetings that day, so I needed to ride the city bike with loaded panniers, and I was dressed in baggie/relaxed riding clothes. As I started home there was a group ride just up the road (clearly not the "A group"), I paced them for about a mile. Then they hit a red light and I stopped with them, they kinda ignored me. The light turned green and I stayed on their wheel for 2 miles. At the next red light, one of the riders invited me to join their group ride next week (with a different bike). I was pushing myself to pace them, on roads I ride every day. But it gave me a grin.

OTOH - with the same bike, while at a red light, I had a roadie give me crap about my cheap city bike. I laughed at him.

long john

Enough said you use a French press. They probably use a Keurig.

Stratocaster

Next time, if you're sure they're laughing at YOU and your clothing, just say something like, "Hey! Nice tights, guys! The ballet must be in town!"

Yes, I wear the full "outfit" (kit).

flan48

Doug is 100% correct! I am actually surprised that any experienced rider would deride (pun intended) another cyclist. Most likely they are justifying the exorbitant amount of money they've spent on their bikes, shorts, jersies, etc. And they really do not need to justify their expenditures -it's their money that's being spent.

They actually miss the real point in the joy of cycling - just ride, have fun, and be safe.

Best regards

FullGas

an amazing number of anecdotal accounts of people being confronted about their choice of bicycle and/or attire.

in my entire cycling experience, I've never ONCE witnessed this type of behavior.

the worst thing I've ever personally observed is for someone to simply not acknowledge another rider's existence. and that's not exactly a big deal.

so much drama out there...

GerryinHouston

Ain't that the truth! Not only 'they' I may add...

This whole thread is an elementary school fracas...

'she stuck out her tongue at me...'

'No I didn't'

'Did too...'

Of hurt feelings and stuck tongues....

The bad news is that bullying gets tougher in Middle School. HTFU

wphamilton

Never happened, not to my face anyway and ignorance is bliss. Robert Burn and his louse notwithstanding.

But I'm planning on riding my single speed commuting rig to a local group ride this weekend so it's a distinct possibility. I'll let you know.

I-Like-To-Bike

Never happened to me, ever. Never heard of such an encounter ever occurring to anybody in real (rather than imagined) life except on the hyperactive electrons of BF.

Geosammy

I had to google "Keurig".

I mentioned what had happened,
because I've been riding for a long time and this is a first for me.
I've never worn "cycling appropriate" clothing during my rides and don't own any.
I've also never seen anyone dressed it full kit, doing their weekly grocery shopping at the local market.
I guess if I were into competition riding, or long distance cycling; I would wear full kit.

Lazyass

That didn't happen, but cool story.

In other news, my future wife Maria Sharapova has been suspended two years for doping

fietsbob

Had a passenger of a Pickup truck throw his plastic cup of Milky Icy drink at me as I passed by the HS on the other side of town.

Reminded myself, I'm taking my money out of social security ,

& this young Buck is still going to be putting his FICA in for me to take out. For many Years. Hah !

Agent Cooper

Did you tell the teacher?

Hermes1

In addition to what others have said, one would think they should applaud another cyclist, regardless of the bike and/or clothing they choose to wear. It is not the first time nor will it be the last that jerks like this behave in this manner. Just ignore that type of behavior.

nickw

I think this says a lot about your insecurities more than anything....

roadfix

In all my years of cycling I've never had a negative comment directed at me regardless of my attire or choice of bike. I once got a comment from a driver across the lane and he shouted "get a car!" at me.

bmthom.gis

Jerks are everywhere! I occasionally have jerky thoughts, but it's to the people riding on the sidewalk or going against the flow of traffic...the latter forcing me out of the bike lane and into traffic, so who's the real jerk? Duders are prolly just jealous that you have this grand idea that bikes can be used for more than just riding around with the club, and they likely drove their car to meet up with people (okay, I usually do it as well, though I commute and stuff plenty, too!)

deapee

For the last time -- this thread has taken one-off situations and through selective quotes and very singular, targeted responses has made things that aren't -- seem like things that are.

I have zero issues in life making friends with anyone and certainly don't have a lot of insecurities. I would feel secure riding in any clothing and on any bicycle. I would feel secure walking down the beach in a speedo. One of the last things I care about in life is what a stranger thinks of me. I do attempt to see the world through others' eyes as often and as frequently as I can.

I enjoy riding. Period. I can have a fun ride with beginners, and I can have a fun ride with local a-group people. Whether I'm instilling knowledge, getting instilled with knowledge, or simply having a fun old time.

Joining this thread was a mistake, and it has been a downward spiral since probably the first page. I should have bowed out long ago, and am trying to do so, but these targeted responses really tend to get me going. I feel nothing but misunderstood throughout this whole thread...and I still stand by my original statement -- if I see someone getting bullied who can't or won't stand up for themselves, I'd be the first guy to step in and stick up for that person.

RichSPK

I see a lot of mention of encounters with group rides. It occurs to me that group rides avoid the urban streets I ride on, and my night-shift commute is at times that are inconvenient for group rides. That would explain my lack of run-ins with poseur hooligans. :-)

I've gone grocery shopping in full kit. Cleated shoes suck on the supermarket linoleum.

I just heard! For taking meldonium. That sounds like some radioactive element.

Someone in a passing car threw eggs at me when I was walking down the street to my friends house with my boombox in hand, back in the late 80s. They missed me, but got my boombox.

Wildrat

I have coke cans thrown at me twice in South Carolina, been sprayed with a soda pop by the yahoo's in vehicles. In Georgia and Florida riding was pretty good. In Alabama where I am now these yahoo's are something else. As for other riders saying something to me, it has never happened. Having said that I will say this, when riding my mountain bike I would see the local group ride of the elite in their minds and I would say hello or wave and I would get nothing from most of them. When I ride my road bike either carbon or steel they all usually extend a greeting. I'm old enough now to where I could give a flying **** what they do so I don't worry about it. There are bike snobs out there though and then there are some really decent folk. What's going on with this rudeness is true in every other aspect of life. Who has the better car, bbq grill, the wine they drink, the coffee they drink. It's just not worth worrying about. LOL Just ride your bike and enjoy it even if it hurts sometimes! Oh my coffee press is better than yours!

Geosammy

At this point, I'd like to add that I do feel that this occurrence was a peculiarity to the sport/hobby and or lifestyle.
Treating it as such and continuing my enjoyment and necessity for being able to get outside and on my bike.
I also feel that bringing this experience to the forum, my have been a mistake.
Maybe I should have kept this experience to myself instead.
However, I was so taken aback by what I experienced. That I felt the needed to share it.

PS... I enjoy my coffee more, when it's prepared using a press.

pvillemasher

Oh, so you're saying it takes extra effort to have a fun time with beginners because you're so much better than them? Jeez, I'm sure they should thank you for your presence.


Got ya - Let's just say it ain't you...

deapee

lol

Oldguyonoldbike

I used to work with a guy from southern Italy who had a very healthy attitude towards life. He would often say:

"If someone tells you that you have a big nose, and you have a big nose, well, why get angry?
If, on the other hand someone tells you that you have a big nose and you don't have a big nose, why get angry, because you know you don't have a big nose."

I like my bikes. I dress however I want. I'm a happy guy.
You like your bike. Dress however you want. Enjoy your bike and be happy. If someone else has anything to say about it, well, it really is their problem.

Camilo

Frankly, I don't believe it. I don't believe the cyclists cared about a commuter/utility type biker and if they did, I dont' believe they'd actually vocalize anything about it.

I guess I have to believe you since, of course I don't know you. But really, I don't believe it. It's so far from my experience or any common sense.

JanMM

The Donald said that the press is disgusting........but he was talking about something else.
Enjoy your coffee!