Thanks, but I'll manage...I said thanks...No, see, I...TAKE A FREAKING HIKE!
#27
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Shout a reply in Latvian, or Russian, or Vulcan, or Lower Slobovian. Throw in at least one loud , "F...ing."
If they answer in Vulcan, stop for a chat.
If they answer in Vulcan, stop for a chat.
#29
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Does trying to help include offering advice? I think that's what was happening here. Although my guess is you might not offer advice unless asked. To me the reactions of other riders was probably based on wanting to offer what they saw as good advice and wanting to show what they know. None of it really bothers me. I don't take that stuff personally. Maybe something someone says will be helpful maybe not. I just take it or leave it depending on the value I see in it. Enjoying the ride is what is important.
#31
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I don't comment on peoples' bikes, but I have been known to shout "you'll be able to ride it next time!" when I see someone pushing a bike up a hill.
#34
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My reply for the need to be faster crowd; "Yeah but if I was faster I would get there sooner" Sounds like a great opportunity to work on ones mildly sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek, sometimes humorous, self satisfying reply repertoire.
#36
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When i get upset after a rude comment i try to remember a great bumper sticker i saw:
Less bark more wag
Charlie
Less bark more wag
Charlie
#38
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T responding: "Je ne parle pas anglais." or, "Ich spreche kein Englisch." I pass over one hundred riders a week. Only twice in the last year has anyone made a comment on my bike, fit, setup, etc. The first one was, "Nice ride!" The second was, "Fenders? Got to get me some of those."
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A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
#39
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Related to this guy...https://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Mister_Mxyzptlk
#40
Senior Member
“People often say that the English are very cold fish, very reserved, that they have a way of looking at things – even tragedy – with a sense of irony. There’s some truth in it; it’s pretty stupid of them, though. Humor won’t save you; it doesn’t really do anything at all. You can look at life ironically for years, maybe decades; there are people who seem to go through most of their lives seeing the funny side, but in the end, life always breaks your heart. Doesn’t matter how brave you are, how reserved, or how much you’ve developed a sense of humor, you still end up with your heart broken. That’s when you stop laughing. In the end there’s just the cold, the silence and the loneliness. In the end, there’s only death.”
― Michel Houellebecq, The Elementary Particles
― Michel Houellebecq, The Elementary Particles
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Momento mori, amor fati.
Momento mori, amor fati.
#42
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Or another way to look at it is we all love cycling and we learned lessons, often the hard way, over time. Many of the people are just sharing their experiences and trying to be helpful.
#43
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Shortening a long story as much as possible, I've been cycling as an adult for more than 40 years, usually a couple of thousand miles a year but as many as 8,000. An illness two years ago took me off the bike, and this spring/summer I'm slowly getting back into it. Strength's coming back, control is shaky but improving; my distance is a quarter of what it was, but 18 months ago I was rolling a wheelchair. I've set up my bike to accommodate my problems (more upright, big tires, lower gearing etc.) and life is good.
I live near the midpoint of a popular 25-mile training loop from town, so nearly every time I go out I run into groups and gaggles and herds of cyclists. I'm wobbling around at 12.5 mph, happy to be alive, and for some reason about 20 percent of the people who pass feel obligated to critique my bike, my position, my equipment and my clothing: You'll be a lot faster once you upgrade to clipless pedals, sir (did that 20 years ago, and I wasn't). Boy, you know those tires really slow you down (no, they don't, but I wouldn't care if they did). Is that a Brooks saddle? Man, those are heavy (see how you like them after six hours). You should lower those handlebars (raised 'em when I realized it stopped my back from hurting). Once you get stronger, you won't need that triple crank (I used to BE stronger, and I needed it then. Now I REALLY need it). And so on.
I know everybody means well. I remember that when I was 19, I knew what was best for other riders, too. I don't like to be rude. But if you'd all just STFU, I'm going to coast down this hill with a big grin.
I live near the midpoint of a popular 25-mile training loop from town, so nearly every time I go out I run into groups and gaggles and herds of cyclists. I'm wobbling around at 12.5 mph, happy to be alive, and for some reason about 20 percent of the people who pass feel obligated to critique my bike, my position, my equipment and my clothing: You'll be a lot faster once you upgrade to clipless pedals, sir (did that 20 years ago, and I wasn't). Boy, you know those tires really slow you down (no, they don't, but I wouldn't care if they did). Is that a Brooks saddle? Man, those are heavy (see how you like them after six hours). You should lower those handlebars (raised 'em when I realized it stopped my back from hurting). Once you get stronger, you won't need that triple crank (I used to BE stronger, and I needed it then. Now I REALLY need it). And so on.
I know everybody means well. I remember that when I was 19, I knew what was best for other riders, too. I don't like to be rude. But if you'd all just STFU, I'm going to coast down this hill with a big grin.
Hmm, Northern Nevada.. See anything weird in the sky lately? Never mind.
Sounds like you're encountering what I call "The Bicycling Magazine crowd". Gotta have the latest bike, the latest "full kit", the latest aerodynamic water bottle, the latest helmet,
the latest you-fill-in-the-blank.
I like my steel frame, Fixed Gear, toe-clips and straps Gunnar Street Dog just fine, thank you. Interestingly enough though, I have never received a single word of advice from any of them. Hey, maybe they think that a tall dude, riding a fixie by himself, is obviously some sort of dangerous nut job. Good, go right on thinking that.
#44
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#45
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"You do what you think is best for you, I'll do what I think is best for me."
Works in lots of situations.
Works in lots of situations.
#46
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To this day I never ever tell anyone 'LOOKING GOOD!" "YOU CAN DO IT" "KEEP IT UP" I now will just say in passing "Beautiful day for a ride!" or "I'm loving this! How 'bout you?" I learned also many years ago that cyclists come in every shape, size and ride just about everything and its not what you ride or how you ride but that you ride that matters. I would never even assume to give someone advice, unless it is asked for.
I was SO tempted to say "You would find it easier and be much faster if you dropped a few gears", but having been married for nearly 30 years, know that giving advice to a woman can sometimes have repercussions
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plus je vois les hommes, plus j'admire les chiens
1985 Sandy Gilchrist-Colin Laing built 531c Audax/fast tourer.
1964 Flying Scot Continental (531)
1995 Cinelli Supercorsa (Columbus SLX)
1980s Holdsworth Mistral fixed (531)
2005 Dahon Speed 6 (folder)
(YES I LIKE STEEL)
2008 Viking Saratoga tandem
2008 Micmo Sirocco Hybrid (aluminium!)
2012 BTwin Rockrider 8.1
plus je vois les hommes, plus j'admire les chiens
1985 Sandy Gilchrist-Colin Laing built 531c Audax/fast tourer.
1964 Flying Scot Continental (531)
1995 Cinelli Supercorsa (Columbus SLX)
1980s Holdsworth Mistral fixed (531)
2005 Dahon Speed 6 (folder)
(YES I LIKE STEEL)
2008 Viking Saratoga tandem
2008 Micmo Sirocco Hybrid (aluminium!)
2012 BTwin Rockrider 8.1
#47
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Cyclists are a strange lot...
Last edited by Banded Krait; 07-04-13 at 09:08 AM.
#49
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