What does that even mean?

Nothing at all, don't you see? It's genius! He stole the guy's glory. How proud can you be that you chased down and passed a kooky guy talking gibberish?

Depends on what is your lead in is giving that advice. What you got/heard and something along the lines of, "Can I offer you some advice on bike setup" are very different. While it may be insinuating your bike fit is bugered up, a simple "no" is going to resolve the issue before, well, it is an issue.

If it's a complete stranger, I'm unlikely to offer any advice. Even if they're doing something I think is dangerous I'll still generally keep quiet unless it's an easy fix.
If it's someone who I know in a non-cycling related capacity, I won't offer any unsolicited advice but will happily bore them to tears if they bring up the topic of bikes. Or anything vaguely related to bikes, roads, round objects, breathing etc.
If it's someone I don't really know on a group ride with me, I'll generally keep quiet. However, I'll speak up if they repeatedly make safety-impacting pack etiquette mistakes. Hold your line, stop coasting etc. I won't talk about riding style or training or style or whatever.
If we've been on a few rides together, had a few beers together etc it's open season. Raise your saddle. Lube your chain, the squeaking is driving me crazy. Stop grinding a 53x11 at 19 mph. For the love of God, turn that barrel adjuster. Bring your own tube next time. Stop ducking your pull, dead wood. I expect to receive the same.

we will yell at you?

In the groups I know, it's fine for people to sit in without pulling. Sometimes it's someone who normally pulls but is just doing a recovery ride or feeling subpar - that's cool. Sometimes it's somebody who doesn't think they are strong enough or skilled enough to pull - that's fine too - better that they sit in on the back then to do a poor job on the front.

About half my riding time is on dirt on a mountain bike, and half is on the road. Every unsolicited dickish riding tip has been given to me on the road. There is something about road biking that attracts an unusual percentage of high-strung, insecure, humorless, gear-obsessed, results-focused know-it-alls. It's a really fun sport in spite of them.

Well obviously the guy was an expert cyclist. He was after all.... riding a bicycle.

It may also have been a beginners club ride and a ride leader was offering advice to someone he mistook as a ride participant. OR... since that was/is the OP's club (and he hasn't been riding with them for some time)... the guy that yelled at him may have been a former cycling friend/club rider that the OP didn't recognize. The OP may have just been getting a good hearted ribbing from forgotten friend.

+1

That about encapsulates it.

Actually, studies have shown that keeping your thoughts to yourself results in higher stress and poorer overall health.

Pretty much. The whole group is like this: if we know that you know better but your actions are impacting the group's experience, we'll quickly lay down the law. We've found that everything works better and there are less conflicts if the rules are clear and everyone does the right thing.

Sure. However, after the 20th ride if someone is still ducking pulls, we start to get a little irritated.

Again, agreed. This is obviously not black and white and group culture varies. Part of riding in most of the groups I ride with is sharing the load. If you're constantly skipping pulls after a couple months and not making any attempt to get stronger we start to get annoyed. Not even the 70 year old guy who rides with us some times gets a pass. Personally I appreciate this, we hold each other to account and get each other in shape. That's the point of the groups I ride with.

Yeah but so does getting punched in the face by someone not appreciating unsolicited advice.

Heh. I lead rides for my club. This Fred would come on some of rides and always have the most annoying clicking/cracking coming from his rear wheel. This went on for at least two seasons. Nothing like hearing that for nearly 100 miles. He claimed the shop could not find the source. This guy is cheap. I think he just never had it looked at in depth. I finally told him, half in jest but half seriously, that I didn't want him on any more of my rides until het got the damn thing fixed. He finally got it fixed.

It all depends how it is said and when. . . timing is everything, anyone who wants to stay with their favorite person knows it. . . it is easy to learn much harder to practice!

https://cyclingtips.com/2009/02/to-a...-the-question/

Should have isolated and droped him with a hard attack.

No ****. I've been part of several sport "communities" over my lifetime, and this one that I've entered in the last 6 months contains the most humorless self-involved pompous snobs that I've seen. I do enjoy their complete and utter lack of self awareness, that's the funny part. The saddest is the complete disdain for humor on a scale that is frightening.

That is illegal and happens very, very rarely. Besides, you can always move your head out of the way.

Wow! Complete and utter. So how do you really feel? Or should I have kept that thought to myself.

We're all really excited to have you as part of the community, too.

I'm thinking maybe he is not talking about this site. He referenced 'the last 6 months' but he has been a member here since 2011.

It's what makes this such a great forum, despite the easy-going, self-assured, funny, and carefree likes of you.

True dat!

"Monks, a statement endowed with five factors is well-spoken, not ill-spoken. It is blameless & unfaulted by knowledgeable people. Which five?

"It is spoken at the right time. It is spoken in truth. It is spoken affectionately. It is spoken beneficially. It is spoken with a mind of good-will.

"A statement endowed with these five factors is well-spoken, not ill-spoken. It is blameless & unfaulted by knowledgeable people."

"He who stand on toilet high on pot."