LarrySellerz

Do you think there is solidarity between cyclists and bikers? We both ride on two wheels and face being hit by cagers. Most people I've talked to seem to think there is no solidarity between us, but I kind of disagree with that. Two wheels good four weels bad.

gpburdell

lol. Lord, no.

They’re laughing at bicyclists doing it the hard way.

in Lycra.

if they even give bicyclists half a thought

(long time motorcyclist riding bicycles a lot more now)

base2 

As far as "solidarity" I dunno.

Most 2 wheel, leather jacket, bad mo-fo types also tend to be moderately affluent, wife/2 kid, mortgage, giant pick-up truck, high-bills types that as a coping mechanism also fancy themselves as the independent, "eff-em'-if they're-not-already-on-my-side" on the weekend poser types. The loud pipes & leather Banditos affiliate jacket is their big buy-in to the: "I get to be a jerk like I really wanna be IRL so I can be one of the the cool kids." group.

The challenge is to relate to Mr. Established, middle-income Billy Rebel riding on the 30k Harley Dyna-Status-Glide with the knuckle-pan mojo is to make a connection on their level...The relate is: vulnerability of being on 2 wheels, out in the open, exposed, being different, & being disregarded. They want to see the scenery, but also want to be part of the scene on a first-hand basis, too.

I've found that once the connection is made, it's something they readily understand & relate to...So, maybe? But, understanding bicycling is something that must be served to them. They've been conditioned to believe horsepower is power is authenticity, bad-assity.

I know I put over 100,000 miles on my eleven-hundred dollar KZ1000 police bike. Only rarely was I not alone in the designated motorcycle parking area of my work when the 37 degree rains arrived. That tells you all you need to know about Mr. McRebel.

downtube42

When I did both, i felt there was a common joy of two wheeling, for sure. Often I'd follow a bike ride with a motor bike ride.

But motorsport enthusiasts value horsepower, speed, and sound. In that world, bicycles are weak, stupidly slow, and squeaky.

caloso

I always assumed those Harleys were made of sugar. I’ve never seen one out on a rainy day.

_ForceD_

IMO, none whatsoever (unless on the outside chance that they too are a cyclist).

Dan

krakhaus 

You trying to be a Sons of Anarchy prospect?

shrtdstncrdr

If you love bicycles and happen to have ridden (or still ride) motorcycles than you can imagine connections. Generally though, few motorcyclists want to be seen or known to ride bicycles. Unless they're very sure of themselves ie don't give a rip what anyone else thinks.

If you're a scooterist on the other hand...

Now you're making me want the one type of two wheeler I haven't had; a true moped. Pedals and a motor. Er, engine.

veganbikes

No I think he is trying to do Wild Hogs

70sSanO

Friend of mine has written and done photo shoots for motorcycle magazines for decades. He rides on and off road. I asked him if he ever wanted to try mountain biking. He looked at me like I was crazy and said, “Why would I want to work that hard peddling?”

There was literally zero connection.

John

MarcusT

I work with a guy who whines and complains about people on pedal assist bikes . He says they are fat slobs who cannot even ride a normal bike because they are too out of shape.
And with the same breath he complains these bikers take up road space as he rides his motorcycle on the same road.
So, no, I don't see the solidarity

cjenrick

No solidarity with rock climbers either. A favorite place to unleash loud and bothersome exhaust noise is in the Yosemite Valley. The sound echoes off the granite walls for the listening pleasure of those trying to enjoy nature's beauty.
This also annoys the climbers scaling the big walls.
One time a bunch of bikers cruised up to some climbers hanging along the side of the road in Tuolumne Meadows.

One of the bikers looked at rack of gear that rock climber extraordinaire Jim Bridwell was wearing an asked, "what are those carabiners made out of boy?"

Bridwell gave them the stern look and replied "ground up Harley parts."

They got on their bikes and left, smart enough to know they would get their ass whooped by a bunch of climbers.

Outrider1

I've ridden both for years. H@ll no.

Outrider1

This is very funny.

Warbird21

Agree here, I'm sure they think we are weirdo's.

There are two types of motor-bikers:
Motorcyclists - touring folks, with proper gear and mostly respectable people
Bikers - Harley folks, which run the gammut, but by my experience on roads here in Maryland, not respectful of bicyclists. In fact, many go out of there way to rev their motors loudly and swerve a little closer to me. One guy did that multiple times, on a very noticeable Harley. That guy came out to two flat tires at a local pub last summer. Not sure how that happened, but I smiled.

DorkDisk

I'm pretty sure nobody likes us cyclists.

Paul Barnard

Ha! I ride motorcycles and am a member of motorcycling forums. On one forum where the moderators let almost anything stand, they have had to shut down several bicycling threads on account of the mess they become. I'd say that the percentage of motorcyclists with negative attitudes toward bicyclists is about like it is across the general population.

I really don't get the pervasive anti-cycling mindset in our society. The level of outrage and indignation is way out of proportion to any inconvenience that cyclists pose.

Gyro

You forgot the ninjas types. They don't fit in either group.

indyfabz

Having toured a good deal out west, I get the feeling that bikers feel more solidarity with cyclists than cyclists feel bikers. I’ve had a lot of them wave at me or give thumbs up, as if we are cousins or something.

With that said, I have had some nice interactions with them. For example, while descending Independence Pass to Aspen behind a small group the guy at the back pointed out rocks in the road for me.

Paul Barnard

Interesting that you mention that road. As I was climbing from east to west, I pulled off to take a pic (not to rest, of course) A Harley rider pulled up. An older man and a girl who looked to be in her teens (I assumed his granddaughter) got off and started taking pics. I asked them if they wanted me to take their pic together. The guy seemed kinda taken aback and awkward, but was happy for me to do so. He seemed to become a little more comfortable talking to the guy in tights after we chatted for a while and eventually offered to take my pic. On the descent I passed a string of about 5 cars that were going slow. My interactions in the wide open spaces of the west have generally been very good.

_ForceD_

While we’re on this topic…
Someone above described the difference between motorcyclists, and “bikers.” I’d like to also point out that we who ride bicycles are sometimes erroneously referred to as ‘biker.’ For the 40 years that I’ve been riding bicycles, I’ve always understood that motorcycle riders are ‘bikers’ and bicycle riders are ‘cyclists.’

And, I don’t believe that this creates a solidarity with motorcycle riders either.
Link: Harley-Davidson to build replica bicycle

Dan

Pratt

A few years ago I was riding (and pushing) up the Kancamagus Highway on a beautiful September day. I got passed by about a million motorcycles. When I got to the scenic lookout at the top, I got a little cheer from the motorcyclists.
Also, I will add, none of them passed me close on the road. It had recently been repaved, and didn't even have lane markings yet.

Clyde1820

I wouldn't generally call it "solidarity," no.

In general, I'd say there's an overall disregard for those not engaging in similar mode of travel. Of course, I've done enough cycling, motorcycle riding and driving (of a car) to have experienced the occasional indication of solidarity ... if the moment's right, the scenery's spectacular, and folks are recognizing another appreciator of the moment. (A bit like, say, most folks ignoring each other along an average sidewalk, but most people recognizing one another with a simple smile and nod when coming across others at, say, a beautiful overlook watching the sunset. The "right" type of moment, the "right" type of people recognizing others who also came for the special nature of the time and place.)

Speedway2

I ride bicycles, motorcycles and drive 4-wheels. I feel solidarity with myself......ask my wife.

CAT7RDR

Any solidarity I have would be only with touring bikers that are out for a recreational ride, not racing and enjoying the outdoors.
The death wish racers in the canyons and mountains of SoCal, I want nothing to do with. Reckless and will take you out and not stop. A few years ago one overcooked a curve on Hwy 39 and East Fork OHV and launched himself. Likely a fatality. I avoid those asshats on the weekends.