Ghouse

On a metric century this weekend I was doing well just to get out of bed at 4:30am and get to the start line on time. I had just caught a nasty sinus cold the day before and snot was pouring out of my nose. Staring at myself in the mirror I told myself to HTFU and get out there anyway.

After about 10 miles (and 20-30 snot rockets) I was feeling pretty good but certainly not in top form. About 15 miles from the finish some dude on a tri bike starts chatting me up talking about his wheels and how he does a lot of triathlons. "whatever" ... I didn't think much of the guy, but i was cordial despite my internal resentment to his road bike with tri bars mounted on top.

About 7 miles from the finish he was positioned in front of me and to my left a bit. Five or six of us had been pacing so we were still fairly close to each other. As we came up to an intersection the riders in front had rolled straight through, but the tri-guy to my left decided he was going to take a 90 degree turn to the right without pointing, calling out, or making any gesture as to his intentions. I had to brake super hard, locking up my rear brakes and power sliding my bike in the direction he was going. For a moment I thought I would actually slide into him and just knock him over, which would've been a better scenario, but he had cleared a little more distance and my front wheel ended up clipping his rear wheel while i was sliding sideways. As our wheels connected i was thrown in the direction of travel (which at this point i was facing to the right but moving to my left with my right knee almost sliding across the ground) and rolled across the intersection.

I got up and my wrist was all ganked, I had a bloody knee and a bruised hip. I'm fine with the bumps, bruises and sprains, but my bike now has a brand new Toupe saddle that's shredded on the side, a Ksyrium wheel that's out of true, some F-ed up bar tape, some chewed up skewer bolts, and a scratched up RED lever. The guy apologized and I tried not to be irrational.... sh*t does happen. I do remember telling him i was pissed about my saddle.

I was tired of hearing his voice and I just wanted to be rid of this guy so I jumped back on the bike to take off and the anger started to set in... so I hammered the final climbs to the finish line with the pain from my wrist just feeding the fire.

My past experiences with triathlon types have been about the same. I've been spit on by tri-guys (one hocked a loogie without looking back or pulling to the side and it landed on my face), I've had to slam on my brakes in the middle of a climb due to their inattentiveness, they hold horrible lines, I've seen them throw their trash on the roads, they suddenly slow even if they're on the front to hydrate instead of dropping back... now one has crashed me out.

So it's official, if you have tri-bars on your bike, i will not be cordial to you on the road, i will not let you in a paceline, and i will fry myself dropping you if that's what it takes.

Velo Gator

Is it hate on a triathlete week?

Sylv

There's dip****s in every population of humans. Do you treat every waiter at every restaurant like crap because one gives you bad service?

Seattle Forrest

It's hate on all triathletes week. Feel the love.

Nachoman

Classic!

celticfrost

Only a week?

ahsposo 

Not me.

I've decided anybody who gets out and moves, sweats and competes is my brother.

I've just about had my fill of fatties that dis the tour and who think getting involved with sports involves a TV remote control or driving their kids to T-ball.

Bob Dopolina 

Tri guys are basically runners/swimmers on bikes. It's the nature of their sport.

They think like runners/swimmers not riders.

When forced to ride near one I always assume that they have no clue about group riding etiquette or technique. It's much safer for everyone.

Seattle Forrest

Oh come on. Do you know how many reps it takes to drink a pepsi? Those fatties are doing curls all day long!

elysium_rider

Yeah, I hate fat people too! What sort of brain disease do you have? Anyone who sweats is your brother, unless they're physically grotesque. Jesus dude, go play in traffic.

I sweat my ass off when I ride; I ride like hell; I put into my ride everything I can; and I'm GD exhausted when I'm done. But I suppose since I'm overweight, you'll probably vomit at the thought. Brother?!? Ha!

Brian Ratliff

Okay, this is why we don't overlap wheels. Guy ahead doesn't know where, exactly, guy behind is, so it is imperative that guy behind be attentive to what guy ahead is doing. Yes, it is polite for guy ahead to signal, and definitely necessary if the paceline is going to run smoothly, but ultimately it's guy behind's imperative to keep himself safe.

Don't put your safety in someone else's hands. Protect your front wheel, learn the little cues that indicate someone is going to make a maneuver, and be attentive.

ErichM

Ahhh, feel the love.

ahsposo 

Dude.

Did I touch a nerve?

Seattle Forrest

Did this remind anyone else of last week's wheel touching drills thread? I think I'm going to recruit a friend to ride with me on a grassy field and laugh while I crash behind her/him.

SBRDude

We all know that roadies have never once caused a crash or even been out of position in a group ride.

bbattle

Every week is hate on triathlete week.

They tried to blend in by ditching the 650c's but the wifebeater spandex gives them away every time.

Mario Cipollini knew what to do with triathletes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4XxCZagAjk

WHOOOSSHHH...

This was not the stupidest thing I've ever read here, but it's in the running...

bbattle

You must be new here.

Velo Gator

Never! It's as rare as a Cannondale failure!

Blackdays

So, you're upset because some Tri-geek messed up your Fred ride? And now you are going to be hostile towards ANYONE with tri-bars on their bikes?

Sounds like you're the ****** in this scenario.

BrainInAJar

Why not extend that to everyone that doesn't race? Racers usually know what to do in groups to avoid crashes, random Freds on metric centuries not so much. Or better still, extend it to everyone on a bike. Don't ride in groups and you won't get crashed out by people that don't know how to ride in groups

elysium_rider

Well, I suppose at best, it's complicated. I TOTALLY understand your frustration with people who think they "know" something, or who think they are really a part of something (i.e.- your comment about those who scoff at the tour while not being able to conduct a decent ride themselves). This is a legitimate beef, and I whole-heartedly support and agree. The problem is that you assume that "overweight" people are 1) a single group who think and act alike; 2) incapable of getting off their butts and working hard; and 3) are thereby excluded from your brotherhood regardless of effort.

I wave or say hello to every single rider I pass on my ride; regardless of outward appearance. That doesn't mean I'm some happy goofball oblivious to my surroundings or think we can all be friends, or even think that every rider is into the sport the way I am, but there's no way for me to tell in the few seconds in which our paths cross.

adam_mac84

That's true... i hear cervelo makes a bike JUST for that whole riding solo thing... u won't get crashed out if you hop off your bike and run after either... that way the idiot tri geeks will just ride past you and you'll be safe

John_V 

I only put the tribars on my bike when doing a metric century or longer charity ride. Does that qualify me as a triathlete?

surgeonstone

I am not a triathelete but yes, it does seem that way.