patentcad

Of course everyone knows this.

This thread is F-ing up the Road Nazi Wermacht's ongoing efforts to preserve elitism in cycling. Hell, without that, what the F else do we have? Friggin lycra? Lance videos? Lower cholesterol?

Woe unto Bike Weenies who promulgate this disturbing Welcome to Cycling Kum Bay Ya Crap. We are taking notes, and we will deal with you in due course. This would be an excellent time for somebody to post a link to the 'We're Going to Yell at You' thread. I'm too lazy.

NYJayhawk

I'll talk bikes with anybody who wants to. Unfortunately, most people don't give a crap.

As for newbies, here's my take:

>Everybody was a noob once.
>Sharing knowledge is always a good thing.
>Unsolicited advice is annoying. If a newb is on a $40 wal mart bike, the odds are that he KNOWS that my nice carbon ride probably cost more. Rather than just pointing out his bike's flaws, try to provide solutions...if you're asked. If not, shut up and ride. Some useful advice for a newb on a crap bike: keep riding until you're ready for an upgrade, and then don't go half-assed on the new ride. Get something good. A crap bike that doesn't shift properly, or is set up wrong is doubly bad. If you see an obvious fix (seat height, appropriate tires, misadjusted drivetrain) give out some tips or offer to help.

Then drop the *******s like a bad habit.

McTufferton

-1
You were a newbie at some point. Give me a break.

KevinF

Wow, you sound like a real bucket of joy to be around. Sheesh.

chipcom 

Where's BillyD with the popcorn? The these first wussy tears are just the beginning of a full blown pity storm!

patentcad

When I was a newbie they yelled at you, told you to hold your line, and dropped you whenever possible. The general impression you got was that there had to be something really cool about this idiot sport or the experienced enthusiasts wouldn't be so hellbent on keeping you out of it.

That's the incentives newbies need. Humiliation and browbeating. Worked for me.

McTufferton

This isn't a fraternity... we're riding a freakin' bike!

EventServices

What day of the week are we talkin'?

patentcad

It's like a fraternity, but with less alcohol, unless botto is involved.

Monument Man

i applaud your willingness to ride with him

but i am definitely not interested in doing stuff like that.

if it was a friend i'd let him tag along, and indeed i've had great times pulling novice friends on rides. but strangers who are struggling with 5km rides? no way jose. I'm happy to lend them some advice, but definitely, definitely not a meet up.

tbrown524

Reminds me of a woman I saw riding with her helmet on backwards. Still don't know how in the hell she did it but she was able to put it on.

rollin

"True Self Loathing starts with a single yell"

Wasabi Genko, Zen Master and part time keirin bike racing pack fodder

obie

You guys are wussies. Really.

New surfer pulls into heavily localized spot. If he parks in "locals only" spot, he will get stink-eye and should/will park elsewhere.

Same surfer then paddles out into lineup. Catches a few...near "locals". Same truck that was parked "elsewhere" is now strong possibility for keying, broken antenna/window(s) and some sheit written across windshield with surf wax.

Unless he intends to NEVER surf here again, same surfer says nothing, heads home and thanks wave god that this wasn't Hawaii and all this didn't place in front of Eddie Rothman's house and some big brahs raked his head with knuckles for emphasis.

Worst I've gotten on the roads around OC was getting buzzed by a big peloton. I kinda wished they weren't screaming by/through our group at 30+ MPH just for the f**k of it. No worries.

Machka 

I only share when asked.

logdrum

I did have good experiences going into road biking other than getting dropped the first few rides. It was different in the mid 90's than now. Everyone was really good to me and encouraging. Local racers gave me jerseys and shorts, tires and pedals and cleats. They also all happen to be the ski bums I worked with. This was in Vermont and I just came from NYC where I had a used Japanese touring bike for going around although I did not use it that much.

I try to help but mainly encourage riding out more.

Why be an ahole when you can be nice? That way the ego is less crushed when that noobie drops you about 6 months later.

Tunnelrat81

When I got started it was through a good friend who'd been casually working on me for a long time. I had *some* interest, but no extra money to get myself a bike. When I was finally able to find and borrow a bike and get tires/tubes on it, it was my good friend who took me out on easy rides to get me up to speed. Had he not been willing to ride slow with me then, we wouldn't have the opportunity to push each other today. We're now on a very similar fitness level (with different strengths), and it had to start somewhere. Thanks Mark for hooking a brother up to such a great sport.

Who wouldn't want to pass this opportunity along for someone else to experience the same.

-Jeremy

Machka 

Do you ever find that if you talk about cycling to your coworkers ... or if you commute to work by bicycle, and your coworkers see ... that your coworkers mock you rather than showing interest in taking up cycling themselves?

thirtyminbreak

Well I would be the newbie you guys would be talking to. This thread started out great. Kind of the insight I wanted to see out of seasoned riders. I could really sense your love of this sport and all that comes with. I get it on a superficial level, that is why you do (and now I) what you do. And hopefully will understand it on a more substantial level.
Unfortunatly this thread has seriously digressed from the topic.

Just another thread now.

rmwun54

I will always share what I know about cycling to anyone, because as long as I can inspire, inform, and help any person to follow suit, I will have continue to add to the cycling community. Why not, life is about freedom on two wheels and the wind on your face.

RubenX 

I'm a noob myself, ergo I love to talk cycling with other noobs. The usual conversation topics are:

- Why road bikes are faster?
- The benefits of high cadence.
- Diet choices (pasta and rice).
- You have to do it every single day (or almost).
- Where do you ride?

I rarely engage in conversations about the technical difference between components, like the campy vs shimano kind of stuff. I also avoid conversations about speed and distance, since noobs don't really want to know how much they suck (myself included).

condiment

I partake in cycling conversations every chance I get. I don't know if I still qualify as a novice, but I've found I have a much better time talking with and relating to people new to the sport than with grizzled elites.

danimal123

I hate, hate, hate that stupid "locals only" crap. If the cyclist/surfer/etc. is a total barney and is endangering people, then hell yeah strong words or a beat down may be in order. Anything else is just stupid elitism....you don't own the roads or the waves. We all were beginners once and I guarantee that we've all been strangers someplace as well.

roadwarrior

No.

roadwarrior

In a shop, one shares knowledge all the time.

I also help out racers that want to learn. These are guys that are quickly moving up and have had it with the lifetime cat 4's that don't want to help them. Several are juniors.

The Weak Link

Eldon Nelson gave the best advice: you may give someone only 5 helpful comments in your lifetime, and no more than two on any given day.

I mtb'd with my middle daughter several times, finally giving her this gem: you do your best riding when you feel on the verge of losing control.

She then went riding with my oldest daughter and in bombarded her with "helpful'" advice on the very first ride. Helpful advice #12 was "you do your best riding when you feel on the verge of losing control".

At which time my oldest daughter washed out her front tire, slammed into the ground, and swore off mtb'ing forever.

So: no more than 2 helpful comments on any given day.