Some cyclists and arrogance
#101
So this thread was on my mind today as i went out for my ride. Had a bunch of VO2 max intervals and then a long steady Z3 effort. In the recovery between the VO2 efforts, I saw a cyclist coming the other way. I nodded at him. The nod was returned. We both went our separate ways.
It wasnt as rewarding an experience as I thought it would be - frankly, I feel let down.
It wasnt as rewarding an experience as I thought it would be - frankly, I feel let down.
#102
#103
#105
Senior Member




Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 29,440
Likes: 13,466
From: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
I am lycra-clad and very friendly. I won't even bully you for sounding like a out of touch journalist writing a story about lycra-clad cyclists. "Lycra-clad" is almost as smearing as "Lance wanna be". But I'll forgive you for the bit about carbon fiber, we all know what jerks those folks are.
#106
Junior Member

Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 86
Likes: 33
Bikes: 14 F8, 21 F12, 23 No. 22 Drifter X
Amusing thread. I do find a fair bit of reverse snobbery in cycling and it has gotten worse more recently. Back in the seventies on my Raleigh SC and then Masi GC, I used to ride pretty fast and race occasionally. Don't remember running into much snobbery. Now that I am on old man and a bit slower I get the funniest looks from some when I ride my F8. Sure I can't do the bike justice but I am blessed enough to afford it and certainly enjoy riding it. That said the snobbery of some of the steel is real crowd that is my age can be overbearing too. I think it is more a sign of the times than the sport.
#107
Pointy Helmet Tribe
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4,338
Likes: 629
From: Offthebackistan
Bikes: R5, Allez Sprint, Shiv
What is the appropriate level of vengeance to extract in such a case?
#108
Pointy Helmet Tribe
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4,338
Likes: 629
From: Offthebackistan
Bikes: R5, Allez Sprint, Shiv
#109
Pointy Helmet Tribe
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4,338
Likes: 629
From: Offthebackistan
Bikes: R5, Allez Sprint, Shiv
#110
So true story - despite my general jackassery on this thread, I do nod to other cyclists if i make eye contact (which admittedly is not often, as I am seldom paying attention to the opposite side of the road). So a few months ago, I waved to a couple of MTBers/hybrid riders going the other way -- and the wave was not returned!
What is the appropriate level of vengeance to extract in such a case?
What is the appropriate level of vengeance to extract in such a case?
#111
Fat n slow

Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 4,417
Likes: 2,211
From: Saratoga, NY
Bikes: Cervelo R3, Giant Revolt
I’ve given three random cyclists rides home in the past two years that had some sort of ride ending mechanical. Just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Yesterday some guy was on the side of the road messing with his drivetrain so I stopped, put my mask on and asked if he needed help.
#112
Senior Member

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 772
Likes: 191
From: Missoula, Montana
Bikes: Trek Domane SL5, Trek Checkpoint SL5, Cannndale Trail SE 4, Specialized Langster
I’m a friendly person and say hello to every cyclist I meet. Most say hello. Some don’t acknowledge my greeting at all. I don’t know why some cyclists are more friendly than others, but I do find myself disppaointed and even annoyed when my greeting is ignored.
By the way, why is cycling considered a sport? I thought that “sport” implied competition. Most cyclists ride for recreation, not competition.
By the way, why is cycling considered a sport? I thought that “sport” implied competition. Most cyclists ride for recreation, not competition.
#113
Arizona Dessert

Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 15,029
Likes: 2,170
From: AZ
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix, Lemond Poprad. Retired: Jamis Sputnik, Centurion LeMans Fixed, Diamond Back ascent ex
I'll give a wave or nod to other cyclists and pedestrians in my conscious range.
These days I avoid other cyclists.
These days I avoid other cyclists.
#114
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,116
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
I'm much more likely to wave to you the farther out from town we are. And in my experience, riders in team jerseys are much more likely to return the wave. I know that goes against the commonly held perception, but that's my personal observation.
#115
Senior Member


Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 334
Bikes: 2018 Lynskey R260, 2005 Diamondback 29er, 2003 Trek 2300
I’ve given three random cyclists rides home in the past two years that had some sort of ride ending mechanical. Just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Yesterday some guy was on the side of the road messing with his drivetrain so I stopped, put my mask on and asked if he needed help.
#116
Airplanes, bikes, beer.
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 763
Likes: 788
From: Off the front
Bikes: Road bikes, mountain bikes, a cx bike, a gravel bike…
Often misunderstood as being blunt, brusque, impatient, or rude, the NY method is a major time saver with a built-in BS meter attached.
There’s no malice or ill will involved, just an efficiency of communication.
#117
On Your Left
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,373
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From: Long Island, New York, USA
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
#118
Banned
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,585
Likes: 6,538
From: TN
Yep, nuance and subtlety don't work for everyone, bless their hearts.
#119
Dont fix whats not broken

Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 331
Likes: 191
From: Mooresville, NC
Bikes: Steelman Stage Race w/Ultegra 8000 11s, Trek Checkpoint SL5 Gen. 3
This thread has gotten to me - I passed my wife in the hall and waved, she didn't wave back, actually she asked me why the F I was waving at her. Now I have to live forever with an arrogant elitist...
#120
Quidam Bike Super Hero
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 416
From: Stone Mountain, GA (Metro Atlanta, East)
Bikes: 1995 Trek 800 Sport, aka, "CamelTrek"
I am lycra-clad and very friendly. I won't even bully you for sounding like a out of touch journalist writing a story about lycra-clad cyclists. "Lycra-clad" is almost as smearing as "Lance wanna be". But I'll forgive you for the bit about carbon fiber, we all know what jerks those folks are.
#121
it’s actually hilarious how many here just assume i meant all of this in regards to waving or nodding to passing cyclists lol. I never even mentioned this at all. sux ur wife is an arrogant elitist. good luck!
#122
Quidam Bike Super Hero
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 416
From: Stone Mountain, GA (Metro Atlanta, East)
Bikes: 1995 Trek 800 Sport, aka, "CamelTrek"
So this thread was on my mind today as i went out for my ride. Had a bunch of VO2 max intervals and then a long steady Z3 effort. In the recovery between the VO2 efforts, I saw a cyclist coming the other way. I nodded at him. The nod was returned. We both went our separate ways.
It wasnt as rewarding an experience as I thought it would be - frankly, I feel let down.
It wasnt as rewarding an experience as I thought it would be - frankly, I feel let down.
#123
I'm quite an Anglophile, but I think the US has this one. I think of inverse like this: the inverse of 3 is 1/3. Inverse snobbery would then be 1/snobbery, or just a fraction that gets closer and closer to zero the higher the original snobbery value. In a sense, "inverse snobbery" would be humility, or egalitarianism, or something else.
I've run into arrogant cyclists, but to be honest I don't think the cycling world of real people is overrepresented in this regard than the general population. For every dude who shows up to a group ride extremely pleased with himself because he imagines that his bike is more expensive than everyone else's, there are probably hundreds of folks who do the exact same with their cars, their gated housing communities, their cameras, their gaming computers, or any other hobby or money-pit we all like to gather around and empty our wallets. Most of the folks who I've met in group rides are very friendly, and I've enjoyed riding with them a lot. I can hardly wait for the Covid to fade away so the bike shops can start doing their group rides again.
He who is without sin, let him first cast a stone. Confession time: if I'm honest, I do sometimes feel a twinge of smugness when I blow by non-cyclist folks out toodling along on their random bikes. And by "random bikes" I just mean what most non-cyclists would think of as a bike. I wave to them all, of course, and they wave back.
I've run into arrogant cyclists, but to be honest I don't think the cycling world of real people is overrepresented in this regard than the general population. For every dude who shows up to a group ride extremely pleased with himself because he imagines that his bike is more expensive than everyone else's, there are probably hundreds of folks who do the exact same with their cars, their gated housing communities, their cameras, their gaming computers, or any other hobby or money-pit we all like to gather around and empty our wallets. Most of the folks who I've met in group rides are very friendly, and I've enjoyed riding with them a lot. I can hardly wait for the Covid to fade away so the bike shops can start doing their group rides again.
He who is without sin, let him first cast a stone. Confession time: if I'm honest, I do sometimes feel a twinge of smugness when I blow by non-cyclist folks out toodling along on their random bikes. And by "random bikes" I just mean what most non-cyclists would think of as a bike. I wave to them all, of course, and they wave back.
Now, inverse/ reverse snobbery could also be interpreted as self-deprecation or excessive kudos to others, but for whatever reason that's not what we take it to mean.
#124
Banned
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,585
Likes: 6,538
From: TN




