HybridWheeler

Is it me or do some of those guys seem to be a little odd in the head?

I was minding my own business the other day, riding on a paved bike trail and these two dudes talking very loudly (I saw them approaching in my mirror) were flying up on me pretty quick. Well, I was already over towards the right hand side of the path, a few inches from the edge in fact and one guy had the nerve to yell, "Move it over a little pal, some real riders passing on your left". ?? I was actually kinda shocked and didn't know if he was joking or just an idiot. I glanced over as they passed and they were both looking straight ahead carrying on their annoying, loud conversation which you could hear a mile away. I guess it wasn't a joke. Yep, the typical Lance Armstrong wannabes all decked out being the inconsiderate people they sometimes tend to be.

Now look, I don't mean to stereotype all roadies like this but the more I come across out there the more they seem to annoy me. I have just as much right on the bike paths as they do, if not more. I feel if roadies want to race leave the paths to the recreational riders, joggers and walkers. They could seriously hurt someone going 30mph on a bike path.

It's funny, when I bought my hybrid the guy in the Trek store warned me to "watch out for the racers" as he winked. At the time I didn't understand. I do now.

Paul Barnard

I change my ego drastically from bike to bike.

badger1

If your account is accurate (words said; on the MUP or recreational "bike trail"), then the morons you encountered were not "roadies". Idiots, certainly; poseurs, probably; über- or NüFreds possibly; but not "roadies" (whether such people would style themselves as such is neither here nor there).

No self-respecting (and genuine) road/racing cyclist would cycle on a recreational bike path without adjusting his/her speed according to conditions, and most certainly would not utter a remark of that kind to a recreational cyclist.

erg79

There are jerks in all walks of life. Some that you encountered that day just happened to be riding road bikes. Often times they are driving cars, or riding the bus, or walking their dogs. No need to stereotype an entire group based upon such a small sample size.

EsoxLucius

I just got my first road bike. I can't wait to get all decked out in those funny outfits and have an ego transformation.

Dunbar

I still don't understand what it is about road bikes that elicits so much juvenile behavior from grown men with jobs and families. You and your bike have to look a certain way or face ridicule. I mean seriously, it's like going back to junior high. That being said, it's probably less than 20% of people on road bikes I see that actually appear subscribe to that nonsense. I mean who can take seriously a man wearing a skin tight leotard saying I look like a fool because I have a saddle bag and mirror?

JonathanGennick 

Mean of those guys, but don't let them ruin your opinion towards roadies.

Paesano

I find the whole thing hilarious. I assume there's some function in their fashion, but do they not realize there's only a small percentage of on-lookers that buy into their facade, while the overwhelming majority just shake their heads and laugh?

RaleighSport

Those aren't roadies, those are asshats. Get it right.

I'm impressed you've amused me for once.

I think you forgot the term MUPpets, but otherwise spot on.

+100000000000000000000000000

I'd guess it's a lot lower then 20% but I read you as being ignorant of a lot of the reasons behind roadie kits, that's fine but your coming across the same way you say you don't like them too.

antmuzic

"Let me know when they get here," would have been the appropriate reply.

mustang1

This.

I've seen a few threads like this. It must be an American thing, I've not come across this attitude in the UK.

rustybyker

In my experience, anyone decked out in cycling gear will never smile, wave, or otherwise acknowledge my presence on a bike path. So far I haven't found an exception to this rule. They don't say anything rude to me, but they just aren't social - not even a smile.

Paul Barnard

Our American egos are so fragile that we have to try to assert our superiority to others in some way. I always lip off to the 70 year olds on recumbent trikes when I blow past them.

giantcfr1

Perhaps a group hug and a few bars of Kumbaya will help the sensitivity here.

Paul Barnard

I ride an MUP here in NOLA. It is frequented by bicyclists ranging from serious road bike riders and triathletes, to families and plain old recreational riders and everything in between. Sometimes I ride a road bike and sometimes I ride my oddball hybrid. I never dress in full kit, typically shorts and a T shirt or sometimes even shirtless if the temp is right. I haven't seen any difference in response that is dependent upon the bike I am riding. Here is what I have observed. I wave or nod at everyone I encounter unless the path is ridiculously busy. On a typical 20-30 mile ride I may encounter a cyclist about every 4-5 minutes. Anemic looking roadie males in full kit will almost never wave, nod or speak. Riders with triathlete builds are a little better about acknowledging my greeting, but not much. Hybrid, commuter and MTB riders almost always give an acknowledgement. Families do too. Couples no matter what they are riding are pretty polite. Single woman are normally very polite. Here's something interesting. I can't recall a black person ever failing to return my greeting. It's an interesting study to be sure. I want to emphasize that when the trail is jam packed, you'd never stop greeting people if you waved or spoke to everyone, so it's understandable that folks dispense with pleasantries. But when you encounter someone every other mile or so, common decency dictates you should acknowledge a greeting. Some...many can't be bothered.

rommer25

I have been studying this on my way to work. I ride 14 miles each way about twice a week. MTB, usually a greeting, Hybrids, a greeting and smile or nod. Road bikes, a nod and quick face to face greeting but usually nothing said from the older ones. The younger ones, usually a nod. The middle age to younger with full spandex, nothing. There are many exceptions to this but if one can gereralize, this has been my experience.

Terrierman

Its you. So chill out.

no1mad 

Moving at 30 mph and still had the lung capacity to carry on a conversation with raised voices?? I ain't got the aerobic capacity to even squeeze out a fart at 25...

Lexi01

Seems it was just two wankers.

Wankers ride any bike, they may not even have a bike...but they exist in all parts of society.

Don't imagine it matters what sort of bike these 2 were on or that they were "all decked out".

Don't continue the stereotype...it doesn't help. I ride a road bike and a hybrid. I love them both and I'm considerate on both (yep - even when I'm "all decked out").

BUT - It seems (from your post) that you're new to cycling - so welcome - its awesome and I hope you continue. But could it be that you weren't as far over as you first thought? And could it also be that you were going pretty slow...cos I find it hard to believe they were travelling at 30mph on a bike path, having a chat...so maybe you were in the middle of the path doing 10mph? If so, I'd have had a few words to you too.

HybridWheeler

You nailed it my friend. Yep, I don't understand it either. Or, like someone mentioned, it could be an American thing. (Shrugs)

WC89

No excuse for a comment like that! He's probably a major jerk on and off the bike. Plenty of them in our society. Just shake your head, vent on BF, and move on All roadies are not like that.

Ozonation

So far, I find most bicyclists I encounter to be pretty friendly: they might not go out of the way to "shake your hand", but they usually nod and carry on. However, I can see how certain subgroups of any biking community could have an.... attitude. A few bad apples spoil it for everybody: you see it in any discipline - martial arts, photography, at the office, it goes on and on...

What I do find amusing is when I'm on an MUP and there's a family or group walking 3 or 4 abreast and taking up the entire width of the path, or at least the half of the path you're supposed to ride on. They seem so shocked when I come along and ring my bell! And of course... there is a pedestrian specific path just a couple of metres away...

bikecrate

If you want to really have fun pass them on your hybrid. Some roadies will go absolutely ballistic.

contango 

Some folks are jackasses, simple as that.

You can often tell if you've really bruised someone's ego if you overtake them and within a short time they absolutely fly past you and turn off the road shortly afterwards. Truth be told I always find it quite comical when someone does that, it's clear they want to make a point but don't want to risk finding out you can ramp up the pace as well.

I don't really understand the mentality of it all, if rider A is faster than rider B it could be that A is sprinting while B is enjoying the view, it could be B is 195 miles into a double century, could be B is on a recovery ride, maybe A is just a stronger cyclist, there's a whole host of reasons. Which makes it all the more curious when some folks apparently can't cope with being overtaken.

Mithrandir

Should call them "Roadies", because I feel that in order to be a real Roadie, you have to ride, you know... on the Road.