Nice day+elitist cyclist=childish behavior
09-29-06, 02:33 PM
#76
Cat None
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: San Diego
Posts: 4,508
Bikes: LOOK KG 461, LeMond Zurich, Giant Talon 29er 0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by voltman
I passed a old guy wearing baggy shorts on a mountain bike and said hi. No answer.
09-29-06, 02:53 PM
#77
Certifiable Bike "Expert"
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 5,647
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by slowandsteady
+1
Why am I obligated to have a converstation with someone who my only connection with, is that fact that they share the same piece of road with me for about 1 nanosecond?
Why am I obligated to have a converstation with someone who my only connection with, is that fact that they share the same piece of road with me for about 1 nanosecond?
09-29-06, 03:01 PM
#78
hamster with funny pants
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Bethesda, MD
Posts: 608
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Here's Tom Kellogg of Spectrum Cycles on this subject:
Cyclists, we cannot afford to eat our children!
A week or so ago, I received a letter from an interested cyclist who had written me with some finishing questions. At the end of his letter he asked me a very tough question, one that I have ignored for far to long as a long time competitive cyclist. Following is his letter in part and some of my own thoughts on the subject.
Dear Tom,
I'm only at a "novice" level of experience, having done about 1000 miles last year, and looking to do about 1300 to 1400 this year, so I'm not certain if I expect too much, but , it seems that at least 50% of the riders I encounter on the road will not even lift a finger or nod to me to say "hi", whereas probably 20% are very friendly . Many of those silent riders seem to have aero bars, and my first impression of them is that if they were interested in being friendly they could at least nod or say "hi", and that would not cause them to lose control of the bar, OR should I not expect any reaction from someone with an aero bar?? I always try to give a small wave to all cyclists I encounter, but I've been getting more discouraged lately from the consistent lack of response that I get. Just wondering.
Ugh, I don't want to get into this, but it is an important issue. Actually, I really hadn't noticed this problem till shortly before I got married back in '85. My, then, fiance June complained one day that when she was out riding no other riders would acknowledge her even when she waved or yelled "Hi." Of course, the reason I hadn't noticed it was that I had been as guilty as all the other jerks out on the roads. June's complaint got me noticing how most of the riders in our area act, and indeed how I was reacting, to cyclists I did not know. I figured out pretty quickly that along with many other competitive riders I saw myself in a narcissistic way. Many cyclists have a pretty warped view of themselves. Not that cycling isn't cool, or that we don't have a right to feel good about what we do, it is just that our riding surely does not make us any more valuable or better people than anyone else. The way we look down on riders we do not deem worthy of our glance is not only rude, but also harmful to our sport. There are many potentially talented riders out there who need our encouragement, even if its only a nod or a wave. When we make them feel invisible, we tell them that we don't value them. Well, if we don't, we have just lost a potential ally. That rider we ignore could have been the next Greg Lemond or the person who gets his neighbor kid (the next Marty Nothstein) involved in a junior cycling program after the kid vandalizes his house. When we are rude, we drive people from OUR sport. We loose our future friends, the field fillers and those who will someday beat us to the finish line.
A number of years ago I joined a team based in Philadelphia partly because they have placed a great deal of emphasis on working with young and inexperienced riders,'bringing them up to speed. It has given me hope and satisfaction to see the club grow with so many new cyclists. It has also given me a way to use what I have learned over the years to strengthen cycling in our area. It is easy and fun to boot. It takes no more effort to smile and wave than it does to look cool and aloof, but what a difference it will make to the direction cycling takes in the next decade. Let's all stop eating our young. Smile.
Cyclists, we cannot afford to eat our children!
A week or so ago, I received a letter from an interested cyclist who had written me with some finishing questions. At the end of his letter he asked me a very tough question, one that I have ignored for far to long as a long time competitive cyclist. Following is his letter in part and some of my own thoughts on the subject.
Dear Tom,
I'm only at a "novice" level of experience, having done about 1000 miles last year, and looking to do about 1300 to 1400 this year, so I'm not certain if I expect too much, but , it seems that at least 50% of the riders I encounter on the road will not even lift a finger or nod to me to say "hi", whereas probably 20% are very friendly . Many of those silent riders seem to have aero bars, and my first impression of them is that if they were interested in being friendly they could at least nod or say "hi", and that would not cause them to lose control of the bar, OR should I not expect any reaction from someone with an aero bar?? I always try to give a small wave to all cyclists I encounter, but I've been getting more discouraged lately from the consistent lack of response that I get. Just wondering.
Ugh, I don't want to get into this, but it is an important issue. Actually, I really hadn't noticed this problem till shortly before I got married back in '85. My, then, fiance June complained one day that when she was out riding no other riders would acknowledge her even when she waved or yelled "Hi." Of course, the reason I hadn't noticed it was that I had been as guilty as all the other jerks out on the roads. June's complaint got me noticing how most of the riders in our area act, and indeed how I was reacting, to cyclists I did not know. I figured out pretty quickly that along with many other competitive riders I saw myself in a narcissistic way. Many cyclists have a pretty warped view of themselves. Not that cycling isn't cool, or that we don't have a right to feel good about what we do, it is just that our riding surely does not make us any more valuable or better people than anyone else. The way we look down on riders we do not deem worthy of our glance is not only rude, but also harmful to our sport. There are many potentially talented riders out there who need our encouragement, even if its only a nod or a wave. When we make them feel invisible, we tell them that we don't value them. Well, if we don't, we have just lost a potential ally. That rider we ignore could have been the next Greg Lemond or the person who gets his neighbor kid (the next Marty Nothstein) involved in a junior cycling program after the kid vandalizes his house. When we are rude, we drive people from OUR sport. We loose our future friends, the field fillers and those who will someday beat us to the finish line.
A number of years ago I joined a team based in Philadelphia partly because they have placed a great deal of emphasis on working with young and inexperienced riders,'bringing them up to speed. It has given me hope and satisfaction to see the club grow with so many new cyclists. It has also given me a way to use what I have learned over the years to strengthen cycling in our area. It is easy and fun to boot. It takes no more effort to smile and wave than it does to look cool and aloof, but what a difference it will make to the direction cycling takes in the next decade. Let's all stop eating our young. Smile.
