Cyclists/elitism?

It's got nothing to do with cycling.  It has everything to do with the person.  Elitist cyclists are jerks in other parts of their lives, too.  Frankly, I think it's a waste of time to even think about.  Instead, I prefer to think about how nice a ride is, how great the scenery is, how painful the grade is, and when I ride with others, how good the ride with others was.  Likewise, not seeing another cyclist wave back doesn't bother me.  

Sunday's ride left me thinking about the climbing, the mountains, the adult bobcat and two cubs we saw crossing the road, and how hot Marisa Tomei was in her first nude scenes in "Before the Devil Knows Your Dead."

I think it's more that cycling seems to either be a "lonewolf" pastime or you have to find a "specific" group that rides , "your style". I have a hybrid style tandem and single bike, that's not what you show up too with the local racing club or the local "touring" club either. I'm a rec./utility/lite touring style rider, I don't "train", being in pace line isn't something I have any interest in, I just like to ride. I'm a member of the local general bike club, (Colorado Springs Cycling Club) but I don't really, RIDE with them. Maybe a event or ride now and then. LOL, even the "Social Rides" are faster than my wife and I like to go so we mostly ride by ourselves. 

So if you need to be in group, check out all the local shops and see what kind of riding groups they have or know of, hopefully you can find the type of riders who share your intrests, if not then you might just have to take up, Lonewolf riding and ENJOY! Jmho, Ymmv. have a most excellent day! :)

Cycling mirrors the world in which we live, as do many other "activities" With cycling being such a niche activity, the idiosyncracies tend to be more easily noticed. I also see it in internet forums, where anonymity can enbolden a person to act in a way they never would in a face to face environment. I have sen elitism in every aspect of my life. cycling is no different. Where I live now, I have run into all types, the vast majority being terrific folks.

Cheers,

Brian J.

This is the reason I pretty much always cycle alone. I couldn't give two hoots about what bike a person rides, the wheels they're rolling on or what they do for a living. Sure, it's a conversation starter but at the end of the day it's all about the ride and having fun - whether that's taking in 10,000+ft of climbing, smashing each others brains out until someone cracks or hitting the descents hard until someone chickens out. But, all I get from grouprides overhere is the same ol' same ol' diatribe of "I need these wheels, I need this bike, I need, I need, I need... I'll go lots faster if I do...Bicycling magazine tells me I'll be so much better if I do..." My replies of "no, you need mommy to slap some sense into you and give you a warm bottle of 'man up' so you can press on the pedals harder" always seem to be taken the wrong way. Too many frail egos, not enough hard faced bast&rds that like caustic sarcasm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by swampy1970 

But, all I get from grouprides overhere is the same ol' same ol' diatribe of "I need these wheels, I need this bike, I need, I need, I need... I'll go lots faster if I do...Bicycling magazine tells me I'll be so much better if I do..." My replies of "no, you need mommy to slap some sense into you and give you a warm bottle of 'man up' so you can press on the pedals harder" always seem to be taken the wrong way. Too many frail egos, not enough hard faced bast&rds that like caustic sarcasm.

Haha, that's hilarious.  Agree 100%

Quote:

Originally Posted by rclouviere 

... but there are quite a few cyclists that seem to think of themselves as better than others.  Is this just me?  Does this have to do with spending lots of money on bikes/equipment?

Anyone who rides with a 52/12 is is a lot better than I am. He has a right to be elitist.

I don't see what you're describing as elitism, I see it as a greater degree of competitiveness.

Runners/joggers on a group run aren't constantly racing and trying to drop each other like cyclists do when on group rides.  To the top of every hill is a race, every ending destination becomes a race, every town sign turns into a sprint - just the nature of the beasts that ride road bikes. 

When I go mountain biking with friends, the dynamic of the group is more akin to being out jogging - much more relaxed attitude.  Once on a road bike, guys transform into different animals.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonyzackery 

Runners/joggers on a group run aren't constantly racing and trying to drop each other like cyclists do when on group rides.  To the top of every hill is a race, every ending destination becomes a race, every town sign turns into a sprint - just the nature of the beasts that ride road bikes. 

 

Around here only the second rate bicyclists act as you describe. They do think they are elite.

Quote:

Originally Posted by An old Guy 

 

 

Around here only the second rate bicyclists act as you describe. They do think they are elite.

 

 

 

Your perception is your reality, and that I will never deny...
 

How do we know what people are thinking. It comes down to your concieved perception. There again how could I possibly know that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by davereo 

How do we know what people are thinking. It comes down to your concieved perception. There again how could I possibly know that.

This is the winning answer.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by An old Guy 

 

 

Around here only the second rate bicyclists act as you describe. They do think they are elite.

 

 

 

Around here most group rides have guys on the front who like to challenge each other on hills and sprints.  That's not elitism to me, just having fun.  My skinny buddies who kill me on the hills aren't doing it to prove they are better than me,  it's just that they are faster riders uphill and have no need to hang back with us "normal" bodyfat percentage-types. 

If I beat them on the speed limit sign sprint on any given day,  suppose I get a little bit of that "old man's still can bring it" feeling.  No danger thought, my skinny ex-racer buddy on the steel bike(with dt shifters and rack on the back) will put me back in my place soon enough.  He and lots of others always will always be faster than me, but we're still good riding buddies. 

I see competiveness as an evolution of play which young animals in the wild do it as a way to hone their skills to take down prey, attract mates, or wittle down competition for said mates. That is unless you're playing teacup parties and dress up dolly and there's nothing wrong with that either. The older we get, the less interested in playing and competition. My 18 year old decrepit cat who is going to kick the bucket someday soon is less interested in playing with his younger 8 year old mate than he was five years ago. Not neccessarily a good thing or a bad thing, just is. Then again some of us never played well with others.

There are elitists and a-holes in all walks of life. I don't think equipment has anything to do with it. I witnessed this in my years in martial arts and I think some of it does come being very good at something and letting it go to your head, and coincidentally many strong riders are in possession of better equipment. But I imagine anyone who engages in playful, even dare I say sarcastic discourse on this forum is probably fun to ride with on the bike, regardless of how good they are.

Since we're diggin' deep into crackerjack psychology box, I might as well take a handful...

People compete as long as they're competitive.  If they feel they're not competitive against the competition, they won't compete for fear of failure.  And it is also true that some people have never had much of a competitive streak, regardless of age.

Get a bunch of 80yoguys on road bikes and I guarantee they will test (compete against) each other.  Put those same 80yos in with a group of 40yos and they won't be so keen to compete.

People don't cease to be playful/competitive as they age, it's only that their opportunities to play/compete amongst comparable competition/ability/skill become fewer and further between.