I'm sorry to disappoint :( Maybe roadies outside of NYC are different? I rode my loaded touring bike a couple of times on route 9W out of GWB bridge which is a VERY popular destination for NYC roadies. That's a 65 mile ride to a campground, pretty much takes me an entire day one way and I pass literally a couple of hundred roadies. I met maybe 2-3 friendly roadies each time. I'd stop at a food place and get comments like "You opted for the weight uh?", "Man, that's funny actually", "How far can you get on THAT?", "How many miles do you per day... 30?". Or sh*t like "Get a real bike", "Don't give up" when passing me on the road. Annoying looks when passing me, etc. I waved to few and got the "outta my way" looks. I stopped waving. Cagers on bikes, that's all. They probably honk at commuting cyclists when driving their SUVs to work.

Plus the route is littered with punctured tubes and empty CO2 cartridges. Real cyclists, huh?

***

I just built a pretty tricked out Big Dummy and I have anything but style :D I look like a schmuck... I never had any sense of style. I think my style is "utter lack of style" :D

LOL, I forgot about that... I'm the only one who shows up for group rides on a bike. I always get one guy who asks when I'm leaving on my bike, "You're getting more miles in?" to which I reply, "No, I'm going home."

We're not bagging on all roadies... just the ones who are narrow-minded. There are some folks in the club who are cool with my riding choices, but they still don't understand it. As long as they're not bashing me for it, I'm okay with setting the example.

We also have to be careful not to point too many fingers, as there are 4 more pointing back at us... but for the most part, we are a widely misunderstood group. I'm hoping to fix that in the future. I want to be the catalyst that begins the change in my local club. I joined up this year just for that purpose.

(Afterthought)
I guess what it boils down to is that we don't want other cyclists passing us off as "beginners" because we don't ride high-dollar racing bikes. We are just as serious cyclists as they are... we're just concerned more with using the bike for everything than we are about heart rates and VO max and wattage.

Not really the only one, but back when I was riding with the club I was one of very few who came to meeting spots by bike, and all the club members lived in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan where the rides used to start, probably not more than 10 miles away. The starting point was usually arranged to be a parking lot in a city park. Although, to be fair this was a relaxed club and many riders were true weekend warriors that perhaps didn't feel confident to ride the streets alone. But there were plenty of long-time club members who would still drive to the meeting point.

Nothing to do with roadies but that reminds me of a random encounter with a non-biking friend who knows I ride all the time. She saw me at the grocery loading my bike to go home. She said:
"Oh, out getting your exercise?"
"No, just getting some things for dinner."
"Yeah, but out getting some exercise."
"No, just running some errands and getting groceries.'
"But, out getting some miles in..."
"No, just going to the store."

No matter how you say it, they just don't get it.

Marc

Unfortunately the trouble with stereotyping is that good folks get caught up in it and in many cases you can't tell who is a "good" biker from one your disdain based on the 3 sec encounter you have with them. Since I ride virtually every type of bike made I get to experience all sorts of this nonsense. People who are nice to me on my touring bike give me attitude if I am on my fixed gear. People who think my cargo bike is goofy think I'm cool on a road bike - or the other way around.

It never ceases to amaze me how a small community like cycling is always looking for ways to subdivide and criticize other cyclists. I'm just happy I see someone else on a bike!

There are going to be friendly and unfriendly folks in any group and as cycling becomes more common, we will see all types. I don't take it personally. I've had some great conversations with motorcyclists when I've been on my touring bicycle but first I had to break the ice by asking about their experiences. Turns out we have a lot in common when it comes to cars not seeing us.

Yeah, I had some pleasant encounters with motorcyclists too. On one ride, I remember this, stopping for bathroom at a gas station, then when I was sitting down a curb next to my bike drinking water and a guy on a Harley pulls up to the pump, smiles to me and says "Great day to be on two wheels, eh?"

On many ride motorcyclists waved, gave me thumbs up, and said nice, friendly things if we stop next to each other.

However! These are the bearded and tattooed dudes on Harleys, lowridres, touring motorcycles, etc. I'm talking about, not the kids on sportsbikes. These, like SUV drivers, would buzz you whenever they can. And it seems there is a schism between these two groups too.

Another image of a utility cyclist. A long time messenger who would be one of the last I'd expect to see downtown with a trailer, but here he is. He doesn't look too happy about it.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/DSC09559.jpg

In reference to people's reactions to my choice in transport, many ask if I choose to use a bike because I don't have a vehicle. I love informing them that I own four operating, late-model vehicles (after thinning out the collection) and I'm in transition, working toward becoming vehicle independent (or less dependent). I feel a responsibility in teaching my children by example. Most act shocked, then seem more interested in both my bikes and reasons for the effort. It seems as though they had been looking for hardship as the only reason to ride. BTW, many of the curious are obese. I point out the advantages in health (which should be obvious) of commute and utility bicycling.

I still need a unicycle to complete my collection... like you I am always happy to see anyone on a bike regardless of who they are.

She rides a fixie
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/DSC00057.jpg

Another DC cargo biker?
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/DSC00645.jpg

Welcome home.

Thanks, Dan. I see a lot of the riders in the city, most are utility riders. The utility riders I've posted images of in this thread just happen to be mostly paid freight haulers. Another bike I spotted last week, no rider.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/DSC00411.jpg

Yeah, I'm a paid freight hauler too, but use a slightly different mode.:D

It's a nice panel truck. I'm more of a tractor trailer guy too. :)

I don't know what all this "image" stuff is about. I'm trying to transport school books or go grocery shopping*, not get laid.

*16 miles north of me to the farmer's market; 8 miles west of me to the Asian store; 9 miles east of me to the German meat market. Total distance: 9 + 12.5 + 18.5 + 8 == 47 miles in a triangle trip, or 66 direct there and back home repeatedly.

you're gonna be in great shape. that's where the getting nookie comes in... besides, anyone who is really worth taking to bed isn't going to judge you negatively based on what you look like going grocery shopping.

Whatever your mate preference is... we all know that when you get on a bike you get 10 times better looking and finding a significant other who is also a utility cyclist is pretty much a dream come true.

The Girl came with her own Burley trailer. :)

This is very similar to what I've experienced, too. I've had several bad experiences with sportbike riders when I was cycling. They are only concerned with going fast and looking good... hmmm... is there a parallel there?

I don't think the "crabon fibre" fairies are trying to impress women, they're trying to impress their buddies. Who has the fastest bike, who has the most expensive bike, who can put out the most watts, who can go the farthest without getting dropped, the whole thing is a big competition. When their competition is over, they put away their toys and drive home.

Now, to be fair, this is not all of the roadies. In our local group, there's let's say 30 fast riders, who only ride for speed. There's about 3-4 who will ride with anybody, anywhere, for any distance, even on a titanium/carbon road bike. They just like riding. These are the guys I love talking to, because not only will they chit-chat, but they don't care how ugly, cheap, or slow my bike is. They see me putting miles in commuting, and they respect that. I see them helping out noobs and giving sound advice, and I respect that. The rest of the fast guys, they won't give me the time of day, or even make eye contact with me in the parking lot. I'm not exaggerating.

There's been a few times when those 3-4 nice guys will ride with us. I've even helped them change a flat... I've picked up their dropped blinkies, screwed on loose pedals, shared cliff bars with them, etc. and when they're not in the group, they're as nice as can be.

Geez, I'm rambling like an old man. You darned carbon fairies, get off my lawn!

wear boots, man, you gotta believe me!

Funny I don't get on my bike unless I'm testing an adjustment or going somewhere; I won't just ride around, destination needed. I get the feeling people around here would find that strange.

You should play Go. http://www.gokgs.com/

Or well, as much as I feel knowledge given freely is worthless ... this may be faster, or at least put you on the path to enlightenment, if more than a little shaky:

http://kiseido.com/three.htm

You will want to read the whole essay in detail (it's short); afterwards, you should understand the difference between the guys who will ride with anyone and the guys who won't even talk to you. Such things are difficult to comprehend; it is easier with an analog. I suppose I'll leave it up to you to discover the lesson yourself; after all, knowledge given freely is worthless. I'll consider leaving it up to you to understand as a kinder form of making you earn it.

I pretty much understand the differences, but what's more, I no longer care. I just let them do their thing, and seek out the kindred souls who like to ride like I do. There is definitely a difference, though.

And this puts you closer to enlightenment than not. :)

Yep. I love riding, and don't need a destination before I leave the house. Sticking to the trails is boring.

White tires or black, we are utility riders
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/DSC00783.jpg