My theory is it's an adreniline rush that sometimes manifests itself outside of cycling itself... Yelling, flipping the bird... Whatever.

BINGO! Truer words were never spoken.

I did not think that Cra1g was that bad in his OP.

Why are Some Cyclists Jerks?

I was out on a leisurely ride today, and ended up crossing paths with a few cyclists. There was one instance where a guy that could not hold a line said "how's it going" and for fun, with a big smile, I jokingly said "get out of the way". The guy had NO sense of humor. Completely unfriendly and rude!

I realize that there are times where you'll come across cyclists like this, but maybe they're the idiotic excuse drivers use to harass cyclist.

I don't know, just a thought.

That's because they do not have chamois in their biking shorts.

I think the jerk ratio is pretty high in cycling. I run into them frequently over the years. Heck, where I ride now, mostly, I take a dirt road to a country paved road. Apparently, because there is a parking area/park nearby the area is frequented by a small group of riders and the occasional soloist. Of the 20ish cyclist I encounter, FREQUENTLY, only one will wave or even acknowledge me. For some reason, they all tend to circle ccw, I am usually going the other way, but I have been thinking to switch directions and just happen upon them and just see what they got that makes them so all fired uppity. The more expensive the bike and the more cf, the more snotty they seem to be, a general observation, not applicable to all.

I agree I ride an inexpensive aluminum bike and check it out, everybody waves or smiles at me! I'm a friendly guy with little CF!

I think that's got some validity, because with a few exceptions, cycling is pretty much a solitary activity. Some people ride to get away from other people, after all.

Still, I'm inclined to think it's more about "some jerks are cyclists".

i've never seen so many cyclists with that much facial hair! LOL
one day i was stopped at a red light and a woman on a bike pulled up next to me. I said, "Nice bike!" and she just looked at me as if i'd puked. I thought, no wonder she rides alone with that personality. Then again, i was alone.
Mountain bikers are friendly.

If you ride at the back of the pack, they are friendly, if you ride at the front of the pack they are not.

Someone is at the back of the pack it seems, lol.

I don't know about the influence of Lemond and Armstrong but in my years of cycling I have seen plenty of people turn into pr**ks the second they get on their bikes. Maybe the way the saddle massages the "taint" releases more testosterone or something.

So pedestrians who do not wave at all other pedestrians are jerks?
And motorist that do not roll down their window and wave at all other motorist are jerks?

Or is it that some are just applying a double standard towards cyclist?

Aaawwweeee...all those smiling pics made me feel happy all over! A smile begets a smile? Or at least makes the jerk feel like an even bigger jerk?

Those cheered me up no end Mr. Beanz.

Is the high jerk ratio a roadie thing? The view in the mountain biking world is certainly along these lines. I've never had trouble mountain biking or commuting- people are usually quite friendly with the former, at least polite in the latter.

Yes, there're jerks out in the cycling world, maybe more so than in other social groups.

That said, there's plenty of nice and well meaning people in the cycle world. Get out, ride, and enjoy the weather. Smile, wave at another cyclist, say hi, ask how the ride's going. You'll find there's more than enough cyclists willing to at least communicate in a nice way with you.

Hahaha!.....Actually for the last 4 years, I've had a thread in our regional forum (southerncalifornia) called "SART Journal and Rides". Last year it got over 25,000 views and has been climbing each year. I place pics and videos of al the locals on the trail and the riders I encounter on other rides that I do up in the mountains. SO I've got hundreds of picture of hundreds of friends an riders that we know and hang out with at restops and on rides.

I've been on rides through the moutains where other riders fly down on the descent and shout "Hey Mr Beanz!". Last year I had two flats on the trail with riders riding by asking, "got everything you need Mr. Beanz?"..That's cool!

So yeah, I see lots of friendly riders smiling and waving and they all seem to like teh idea of the thread!

Already this year it's up to 6 pages of pics and videos!...last year was over 25 pages I think.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...of-SoCal-Rides)

Mtn climb sample...5,000 ft with a couple other BF members

Trail ride with my wife while we encounter friends and other BF members

I do think it's more of a roadie/racer thing. I say this as a roadie, mind you. Then again, I have also encountered plenty among "cycling activists" who can be quite hard to be around but that is a different sort of dynamic. The rude roadie comes from a more basic form of competitiveness whereas the rude activist is an ideological/self-righteousness issue. JMHO, of course.

I will now accept the flames...

In thinking about this a little more, there are certain activities that can bring out nasty things in people. I know some very mild-mannered people that turn into cursing maniacs when they drive, for example. I know someone who is generally very considerate unless a game of cards is involved. For some people, getting on a bike transforms them in negative ways.

You don't really need to worry about the 'jerks' when you know that there are much better people out there cycling about. It's all about how the individual handles that jerk. If they know that person was a jerk then are they gonna be a jerk about it and be a jerk back or are they just going to move on and relish and remember the next positive exchange that comes their way. Easier said than done however.

Loved the vids MrB. You guys are really blessed down there in Ca. It looks absolutely beautiful. Have bookmarked the thread and will be exploring further.

I have found that most are friendly. Guys going the other way really pushing
hard are usually zoned out which is fine. Cyclist that come up on you and
pass saying nothing even when you say "How you doin "or some pleasantry,
I don't get it.

Nicer people ride steel

i wouldn't even bother saying get out of the way - i'd just run you over.

if i am riding that means i barely have enough oxygen to run the parts of my brain responsible for pedaling - i certainly can't afford to waste any on talking.

when i stop i see dark stops and flashing light behind the eyes.

my favorite part is when after running people over on the bike i mount it to my car's roof rack and start running people over with my car

two days ago an asian woman told me i was an idiot after i cut through 4 lanes of traffic at 45 degree angle in front of her SUV. i basically merged about 100 feet before a U turn i had to make onto a 4 lane street. so i had to make it to the very left lane from the very right one. i tried waiting for the cars to pass but it wasn't happening so i pressed the sport button and went for it. i was actually afraid that she was going to write down my license plate as i was waiting for the green turn arrow but she had to pacify her crying children who were too young to properly appreciate my driving skills. i really feel bad about it now.

actually after that incident i decided i won't be taking this route any more - i will drive an extra block and take the next U-turn saving myself some rubber on my tires and other drivers a potential heart attack. the problem is i can think logically now but the said maneuver was performed just after i finished riding when my heart was still racing and adrenaline pumping.

eh ... i guess to answer your question is when you ride you temporarily become an animal - maybe that's why i enjoy it the same thing happens when you are having a high intensity workout in the gym.

i am normally a very shy and timid person. but when i am drunk, when i am on the internet, when i am exercising or when i am driving my car i become an animal.

basically as soon as i begin to feel the POWA i go SPARTAAAA ! ! !

i should have never gotten a V8

Amen!

I'm sure most cyclists out there aren't riding bikes to challenge people in cars and make statements, but I wonder about a few. There are some who are totally inconsiderate of those operating motor vehicles, and just take their merry-ass times riding down the center of back roads purposefully so you can't pass them, and then when you do, they yell profanities at you. It's happened to me on more than a few occasions.

Admittedly, I feel a negative stereotype towards cyclists; arrogant, rude, and think they own the road. I'm sure it's the few that give the rest of cyclists a bad reputation, but people in general tend to remember the negatives more-so than the positives.

Personally, I'm not going to ride on any public roads. People mess with cyclists, purposefully running them off the road, trying to startle them by honking their horns, etc. People in general just like doing nasty things to one another. I'm just going to stick to the bike trails where there aren't any motor vehicles. I'm back into riding for my enjoyment, and I don't need some jackass marring my pleasant experience of a leisurely ride.

Sadly this is they way some/most (I can't seem to decide which these days) people get their kicks these days. Trails are the best place to be. One can relax, get the tunes on and reap ALL the benefits of cycling.