I vent all my now-it-all-ism on bikeforums.

Seriously, when I see someone with apparently big problem, I offer advice politely if it's a good opportunity. That is, they seem open for it and not in a rush, or deep in their thoughts. People mostly react well.

When I see someone pushing a bike with a flat tyre, I'm even rude enough to ask where they live. If they're over 1 km away, I offer to fix their flat - done that about 5 times so far. If they're close to home, I just ask if they're OK and if they need any help, if they don't ask for a patch kit, I don't offer it. Never had anything but positive reactions.

I LOVE good advice. There is so much that more experienced riders know and less experienced riders may actually be unaware of. I read a lot of threads here, just to learn from the experience of others. That being said, I agree with the OP that in his described situation, one person yelling out advice in a group situation, was not diplomatic and may have embarrassed the receiver of the advice.

I think a little common sense can do wonders.

Because the best way to refine and reinforce our own knowledge is to (try to) share it with someone else. It's only natural that people on the steep part of the learning curve will be eager to teach others something, but some people just don't recognize whether the way they do it or the circumstances are appropriate.
I'm usually not very quick with a comeback, but I'm pretty sure if I were the OP, my response to the "know it all" who said my bike fit was going to cause my knees to blow out would have been something along the lines of "soon, you think? Like after 26 years? "
Seriously, I think that's what bugs us most about unsolicited advice - even if we know better, not being willing, prepared or in a position to effectively share that better knowledge puts us in a bad light.

People yell stuff.

<<shrug shoulders>>

Your bars are probably rotated wrong too

If some words of wisdom came from Froome or Merckx or Hinault or Cavendish would you feel so outraged**********

Yay, you've found 4 exceptions out of 7 billion. Do you want an internet pat on the back?

Or if it's a fake safety issue immediately before the start of a race... "Hey, it looks like there are some cracks in your rear rim and I think your cleats are loose. I wouldn't push too hard like that."

I'll say something to someone if I think it would be beneficial to their riding - like seeing someone with the saddle obviously way too low. An improperly adjusted bike is just going to lead to a bad time, and a lot of people don't seem to know how to fit saddle height. I'm not gonna tell someone to rotate their bars, or that their frame is the wrong size.
Sometimes the Freds need a little help and a few pointers

came here for this

*leaves satisfied*

Pearls to pigs.
In 90% of the situations I've came upon my 35 years on the saddle it would be a total waste of breath and maybe even me coming across as an arrogant-know-it-all, and for nothing. So unless it's something safety-related or if I know the person to some extent, I just hold my tongue. I came to the conclusion that people only want to hear what they want to hear, so there's really no point in trying to enlighten someone. But of course if the person asks for advice then it's a different ball game.

nice troll

Funny, because the OP reminded me of golf as well. I used to always get unsolicited advice on my golf swing while I was playing a round and it was a surefire way to make me over analyze my swing the rest of the day and ruin my fun.

I once got a good "advice session" from a fellow cyclist on "how to not get dropped" when I joined a group that I knew was faster than me.


5 miles later we dropped him and I never saw him again.

I just fixed an issue with a pelvic tilt glute weakness that really helped my power. I told one of my teammates about it, and he told me, 'I noticed that two years ago.'

Wish he said something, but I understand why he didn't.

I always want to point out fit issues to other riders but I hold my tongue.

I like the irony of that post title on top of that long post.

IME there is nothing so disliked as unasked-for advice. Plus the person you so advise is more likely than not to purposely ignore your advice, or worse, to try it on the spot and of course discover that it doesn't work for them because they're unused to doing whatever it is you're advising. They'll give you a mental finger. All of a sudden you're down several notches, going from a rider whose form is admired to an idiot.

OTOH, if you're asked for advice, absolutely give it. You'll go up several notches, from just a rider whose form is admired to a knowledgeable source of wisdom.

On one of my early Cycle Oregon rides, I came up on a young woman with her seat way too high. I rode with her several miles and suggested that she try lowering it small amounts at a time until it felt too low after a couple of weeks, then she could go back to her last setting. Several years later she approached me and told me she had a fit done and the the fitter put her seat exactly where I suggested and thanked me for the advice she didn't take. (This while she rode next to me on a bike that fit.)

Lucille, I didn't read your post before I started this, but when I approached this rider, it was coming from 40 years of riding. I started out with my seat nearly as high as hers. The vets in my club kept telling me to lower it. I did and still feel gratitude for their advice. It was painful for me to watch this young, fit, enthusiast rider riding like I used to. She didn't take my advice but I think she got that I cared. I saw her another year with no change. We chatted but I held my tongue.

Ben

If you rub my belly I grant wishes

And just like golf, you have to be good at sex if you want other people to enjoy watching you.


Zing!


BTW...I have no problem telling someone that their helmet is on backwards or that their shorts are so worn that I can see their crack.

When my kid was 12ish a multi-time USA Elite road race champ and hall of fame rider raised my son's seat.
The same week another multi-time USA Elite NC suggested he lower it.
In both cases all commented knew more than him - and me. It was a great learning experience for him. He was polite, thanked others for their help.

I sometimes ride with "beginners" who are just getting into the sport. Part of an informal obligation I feel when going on these rides is to offer encouragement and a sense of belonging. I chat them up and compliment them on their bike or whatever to gain their confidence. Then I'll ask general questions about how they like the bike, how did they fit themselves to the bike, etc. This may let them feel open to suggestions. Sometimes I will ask for their advice about shifting or whatever. A common response might be, "I don't really know." Then I might say something like, "I've heard that..." Or "I read that...."

But if I see someone I don't know who looks like he could use some advice, I never say anything to that person. I do what all other bikers do, wait until he is out of hearing range then say something snarky about it to my riding partner. (just kidding)

Oh yes, my well-reasoned and measured retort went something like..."Iz not!"

So now you remember why you didn't start your ride with that club.

Should I say something in the following case?

When riding on or near MUPS, I've started to notice riders paused as if they are
waiting for someone. So it appears they are in fact waiting for me usually, as any rider will do.

Once I pass they get under way and try to keep pace with me. Without fail, they will make an aggressive pass, out of the saddle and sprinting. This seems juvenile and rude to me.

This is almost stalking behavior, as demonstrated by `Eddie in American Flyers`. But as I thought it over, the handful of guilty riders shared these traits: they had new bikes, but were not fully out-fitted with proper riding clothes, nor did they have bike computers. So they didn't have any metrics to train solo.

So I will give them the benefit of the doubt, since they are new to riding. But would it be proper to advise them to gear up and learn how to self-measure their rides, rather than trying to out ride other roadies?

BTW, I've seen 3 different local riders doing this in 2 areas. One guy has `run me down` at least 5 times. I've spoken to him once, saying, `1980's called and they want their setup back.` He is about 30 years younger than me.