Excellent. Send this to the White House on Jan. 20, 2017, will ya, please?

I won't hold out for the five factors, but this thread has me curious about one thing. Has anyone posting here gotten unsolicited advice on cycling from a random rider that was actually useful? Or if not useful, even correct?

"In a series of late-night tweets..."

Yes. I was told I should attack more on climbs and keep attacking until I went clear. That worked. I lacked the confidence that my accelerations couldn't be matched forever by riders whom I was sure were stronger than I. I think that's a fairly ordinary thing, but I lacked experience in being in the front group. My adviser was also in the front group and was a friend, so I don't know if this really counts.

Edit: I suppose I should specify that this was unasked-for advice.

Hasn't this thread literally failed by it's existence though?

It goes without saying, I know.

I don't offer tips on golf swings or bike fit / riding techniques. you're on your own...do or do not, ain't my concern.

I DO frequently give unsolicited advice to lap swimmers at the pool that have no freakin' idea what they doing stroke-wise...it's always appreciated.

keeping someone from almost drowning is kinda rewarding.

Unsolicited advice? I don't recall getting any. But I have such poor kinaesthetic awareness, I have a hard time following even welcome advice on how to do things like swing a bat or a golf club, so I can't usually say whether their advice is correct or not; I would only say it's often useless because I don't know how to follow it. An exception that sort of proves the rule is that someone advised me to shift to two smaller cogs before standing to pedal; I could figure out how to do that and it worked.

I don't know if I'll ever be able to successfully execute a bunny hop, but as far as cycling in general goes, I guess I'm not a total klutz, because no one has ever offered suggestions to correct my pedal stroke. That's not to say I haven't been yelled at - but that's usually for doing things which, upon reflection, I realize I shouldn't do. Also, I have been kidded a bit about how upright I tend to ride, but no one has yet suggested that my bike doesn't fit or that I should try something different.

I gave unsolicited advice to a guy that I was riding with

that his shorts seam was ripped & his ass-crack was showing.

You should have told him to wear underwear as well. TMI but concise.

This happened to a girl I was riding behind once. I chose to keep my counsel to myself at that time as I'm not one to butt in where I'm not needed.

And (^^^) who wears underwear under their spandex???

Heh. A guy passed me this summer. His shorts were so worn you could see his crack quite clearly. I let him know that it was time for a new pair of shorts. He was most appreciative.


Back in 2002, on the first day of Cycle Oregon, a random woman riding behind me said something like "Wow. You must have had your shorts for a long time." It was true, but at first I couldn't figure out how in the world she could know that. After about 30 seconds it dawned on me. After I had changed at the end of the day's ride I examined the shorts by stretching them out. Into the trash bin they went.

I have given it about things like threadbare shorts, helmets on backwards and saddle bags open. On a group ride I was leading one woman was about to lose her car key because she hadn't completely zipped her saddle bag. I didn't like her, but my conscience wouldn't let me say nothing.

Just last Thursday, I got some good advice from a dude riding behind me on the bridge. He told me that the setting that I was using on my tail light was a bit too bright. So I changed it from slow blink to a faster blink and he mentioned that it was better. Never would have known that it was blinding/annoying to some riders since I cannot ride behind myself. That's some good feedback that I can appreciate in addition to the shorts comments above. Don't want to blind and/or scare the other riders off now do we?

Why being so sensitive?

The dude was just trying to help.

Don't like the way it's delivered or the content, just ignore it.

I thought I was being considerate this weekend on a charity ride warning the riders around me we were about to hit some fresh chip seal with loose gravel in the turns(I ride that part of the route we were on weekly). One was not so appreciative and let me know it, but was also the most vocal at the next rest stop complaining about that gravel. The rest just ignored me. Maybe I should just keep my mouth shut next time?

Don't let one a-hole affect you. You did the right thing and I think most riders will appreciate it.

Interesting. I followed a guy out Queens Blvd and his Blinkie was blinding me. I had to not follow behind him and avoid looking the blinkie. When I caught up, I asked what Blinkie it was and ordered one for myself as soon as I got home.

If someone gives me unsolicited advice that my blinkie is too bright, I'll give some unsolicited advice of my own: Back off my ass and don't look at the light.

This is basic driving 101 here. Don't tailgate, and look away from oncoming lights.

Most lights have different settings: the brightest blinking mode is really for cars. When you are riding in a pack or with other rides behind you, it's commonly recommended that you put on SOLID light, in whatever brightness that's appropriate. So, if someone comes behind you and ask you turn the blinkie thingy to solid, take as he's just reading you the owner's manual.

I rode with a rider on my way home from work last week. He told me my front lights were on, as if I had inadvertently turned them out or something. I told him I always run day time flashers. He then told me that it was the middle of the day and was quite light out, which it was as it was noon, and that I didn't need the lights.

I wanted to tell him he needed a mirror since he was always looking back, like just about every 20 seconds. At one point as we were riding on a two-lane highway he turned to tell me there was a line of cars approaching. I had already seen it 20 seconds ago, but nodded thanks.

He must have thought I was so fred, with all my lights and helmet mounted mirror, backpack, reflective and high-vis stuff on me.

When I'm riding with a pack I'll have my older less bright one, and have it on solid.

But I won't reduce my visibility just because some rando might happen to want to jump on my wheel while I'm commuting.

My headlight is the same way. One day a runner came by very dramatically holding both hands over his eyes... while looking directly into the light. Moron. If you look where you're going, my lights won't blind you.

Was riding up a pass in CO one summer on a week long tour. Passed a rather robust gal who was really struggling to get up the hill. I noticed she still had another lower gear left to go and was not in it. I watched for a bit to see if she would shift but she did not. I then, as politely as I could, pointed out to her she had another gear left. She looked down and quickly shifted. She thanked me and said she thought she was in her lowest gear and thanked me again. We chatted for a minute and then I moved on.
Sometimes it goes well.

Yep. And explains some of the dopey, snotty comments I've read here so far.

Maybe they've just all drank so much coffee that they can't keep their traps shut?

Has anyone that you didn't know, ever given you advice that was true and that you appreciated?