Cycle snobbery



FranklynMint

FranklynMint

New Member
Jan 16, 2004
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I have always cycled, but have only recently (12 months) taken up regular recreational cycling for health reasons (dodgy knee means I can't jog or play footy, and swimming lengths is tedious). I have a 35 quid mountain bike, bought 2nd hand because i am not well-paid, and couldn't afford to splash out.
I usualy road-cycle, occasionally going off-road when the fancy takes me. I wear cheap but functional proper cycling gear. All mountain-bikers will give a cheery wave and hello, but I have noticed that people on road bikes will often totally ignore you as you pass in opposite directions in the middle of the countryside miles from anywhere. I don't understand it. I have no wish to harbour negative thoughts about other people, or spoil anyone's enjoyment of a wonderfully fulfilling and healthy pastime, but why would anyone want to ignore another cyclist, especially if there is nobody else around! I have started to grow a chip on my own shoulder, and now get enormous enjoyment from overtaking road-bikers in all the latest gear, on the latest, flashiest bikes, who are not as fast as me. Hur hur. Can anyone explain or help me get rid of the shoulder chip?
 
I think you get rude people in cars, rude people on bikes & rude people walking the streets. I always wave or say hello to everyone one a bike that I see, most reply, others don't. I wouldn't worry about it. Just keep waving & keep cycling. Life's too short to worry about people who don't have time for you - Just enjoy the salutations from the less rude road users :)
 
"FranklynMint" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> All mountain-bikers will give a cheery wave and hello, but
> I have noticed that people on road bikes will often
> totally ignore you as you pass in opposite directions in
> the middle of the countryside miles from anywhere. I don't
> understand it.

Yup, definitely get that myself in Richmond Park. Roadies
blocking cycle paths and showing little common sense or
courtesy (not sure which).
 
On 7/6/04 2:04 pm, in article [email protected],
"FranklynMint" <[email protected]> wrote:

> All mountain-bikers will give a cheery wave and hello,
> but I have noticed that people on road bikes will often
> totally ignore you as you pass in opposite directions in
> the middle of the countryside miles from anywhere. I
> don't understand it.

The problem is that all those road bikers who COULD explain
why they ignore you will just, well, ignore you so you won't
get a helpful response.

It's an us and them situation. When I am on the road
bike the roadies say hello and the MTB'ers ignore me.
And vice versa.

..d
 
FranklynMint wrote:

> Can anyone explain or help me get rid of the
> shoulder chip?

Don't take it personally. It's just people.
 
"FranklynMint" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have always cycled, but have only recently (12 months)
> taken up regular recreational cycling for health reasons
> (dodgy knee means I can't jog or play footy, and swimming
> lengths is tedious). I have a 35 quid mountain bike,
> bought 2nd hand because i am not well-paid, and couldn't
> afford to splash out. I usualy road-cycle, occasionally
> going off-road when the fancy takes me. I wear cheap but
> functional proper cycling gear.

I started off like you with a Makro MTB, which I ended up
doing a 200 mile ride on, even with it's plastic pedals and
with no cycling clothing. I had a lot of fun on that bike
and found that roadies would say hello, but only in the
middle of nowhere when you got the kudos from obviously
being able to cycle fairly long rides.

My next bike was a Raleigh hybrid and the same thing
happened, no wave in the suburbs , but in the countryside
yes. Now I've got a fairly decent Italian road bike and I've
all the proper gear on (except I wear baggies over my lycra
shorts) and every roadie I've met bar none has waved to me
even in the suburbs. It's just one of those things.

I don't think it's snobbery as such, it's just that you
can't sat hello to *every* cyclist, so you tend to be
more selective
--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W
http://www.simonmason.karoo.net
 
FranklynMint wrote:
> I have always cycled, but have only recently (12 months)
> taken up regular recreational cycling for health reasons
> (dodgy knee means I can't jog or play footy, and swimming
> lengths is tedious). I have a 35 quid mountain bike,
> bought 2nd hand because i am not well-paid, and couldn't
> afford to splash out. I usualy road-cycle, occasionally
> going off-road when the fancy takes me. I wear cheap but
> functional proper cycling gear. All mountain-bikers will
> give a cheery wave and hello, but I have noticed that
> people on road bikes will often totally ignore you as you
> pass in opposite directions in the middle of the
> countryside miles from anywhere. I don't understand it. I
> have no wish to harbour negative thoughts about other
> people, or spoil anyone's enjoyment of a wonderfully
> fulfilling and healthy pastime, but why would anyone want
> to ignore another cyclist, especially if there is nobody
> else around! I have started to grow a chip on my own
> shoulder, and now get enormous enjoyment from overtaking
> road-bikers in all the latest gear, on the latest,
> flashiest bikes, who are not as fast as me. Hur hur. Can
> anyone explain or help me get rid of the shoulder chip?

Just ignore it.
 
Simon Mason wrote:

> (except I wear baggies over my lycra shorts)

Pfft! Why?
 
On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 13:04:52 GMT someone who may be FranklynMint
<[email protected]> wrote this:-

>I have noticed that people on road bikes will often
>totally ignore you as you pass in opposite directions in
>the middle of the countryside miles from anywhere. I don't
>understand it.

Simply tell yourself that they are idiots and continue to
be yourself.

>now get enormous enjoyment from overtaking road-bikers in
>all the latest gear, on the latest, flashiest bikes, who
>are not as fast as me.

I would continue to get enormous enjoyment.

People are just human. Some will acknowledge you, others
will not. That's life and in some cases has nothing to do
with snobbery.

I am told that one of the more amusing ways of passing other
cyclists, especially those on "flash" road our mountain
bikes, is while wearing a floral dress on a Brompton.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number
F566DA0E I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK
government prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.
 
David Hansen [email protected] opined the
following...
> I am told that one of the more amusing ways of passing
> other cyclists, especially those on "flash" road our
> mountain bikes, is while wearing a floral dress on a
> Brompton.

Passing a rider on an MTB who I had seen (and
kindofnotreallyinformallyracedsortofthing!) this morning, I
felt obliged to say "morning". I assumed correctly that his
response would be to speed up, and when we arrived at the
junction where we part company, he was about 2 secs behind
me. There then followed a short conversation ("Do you mind
if I go the other side of you, turning left here" "Not at
all" <lights change> "See you round").

Thoroughly entertaining.

Jon
 
Simonb wrote:

>> (except I wear baggies over my lycra shorts)
> Pfft! Why?

To go with his platform soles?[1]

[1] Yes, that is a dire joke.

--
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after
posting. http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

Victory is ours! Down with Eric the Half A Brain!
 
FranklynMint wrote:
> I have always cycled, but have only recently (12 months)
> taken up regular recreational cycling for health reasons
> (dodgy knee means I can't jog or play footy, and swimming
> lengths is tedious). I have a 35 quid mountain bike,
> bought 2nd hand because i am not well-paid, and couldn't
> afford to splash out. I usualy road-cycle, occasionally
> going off-road when the fancy takes me. I wear cheap but
> functional proper cycling gear. All mountain-bikers will
> give a cheery wave and hello, but I have noticed that
> people on road bikes will often totally ignore you as you
> pass in opposite directions in the middle of the
> countryside miles from anywhere. I don't understand it. I
> have no wish to harbour negative thoughts about other
> people, or spoil anyone's enjoyment of a wonderfully
> fulfilling and healthy pastime, but why would anyone want
> to ignore another cyclist, especially if there is nobody
> else around! I have started to grow a chip on my own
> shoulder, and now get enormous enjoyment from overtaking
> road-bikers in all the latest gear, on the latest,
> flashiest bikes, who are not as fast as me. Hur hur. Can
> anyone explain or help me get rid of the shoulder chip?
>
>

I had a similar but different issue yesterday on the
Ridgeway.

15 miles from the car my rear tyre decided to start ripping
along the sidewall. Cue multiple pit stops to attempt to
repair the tire using puncture repair patches. (They only
lasted a few miles). During these pit stops 6-10 people
cycled past - all on mountain bikes. Not one of them said
hello, or asked if we needed assistance.

I'd have thought that even if someone appears to be dealing
with their problems, that it was courteous to ask if they
needed assistance. Or am I deluding myself?

Adam
 
"David Hansen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 13:04:52 GMT someone who may be
> FranklynMint <[email protected]> wrote this:-
>
> >I have noticed that people on road bikes will often
> >totally ignore you as you pass in opposite directions in
> >the middle of the countryside miles from anywhere. I
> >don't understand it.
>
> Simply tell yourself that they are idiots and continue to
> be yourself.

You can be more generous. They might not expect to be
greeted by a fellow cyclist. (Yesterday out on the road bike
I waved at a pair of panniered tourists and one of them
nearly fell off from surprise.) They might be training and
deep into the pain zone after the first 80 km out.

> >now get enormous enjoyment from overtaking road-bikers in
> >all the latest gear, on the latest, flashiest bikes, who
> >are not as fast as me.
>
> I would continue to get enormous enjoyment.

Best is to be focused on your own improvement. The only
flawless victory you can achieve is over yourself, over your
own limitations.

> People are just human. Some will acknowledge you, others
> will not. That's life and in some cases has nothing to do
> with snobbery.

Some examples above. And snobbery or no, where is it written
that someone has to acknowledge you? I believe it's the same
place that it's written you shouldn't call "Well screw you
then!" over your shoulder with a cheery smile.

> I am told that one of the more amusing ways of passing
> other cyclists, especially those on "flash" road our
> mountain bikes, is while wearing a floral dress on a
> Brompton.

While out on my road bike I'm often passed by blokes on
heavy mountain bikes. They typically pull out of a driveway
as I come past, catch up to me puffing hard and swoop past
laughing at having "defeated" me. They then collapse
exhausted and turn off into the next sideroad. Since I'm
pacing myself to do 100 km at a steady heartrate, and
they've just blown out doing 500m, I wonder what they think
their "victory" shows.

Basically, even if you put your floral dress on, what does
passing accomplish if you aren't in the same race?
--
Mark South: World Citizen, Net Denizen
 
Adam H wrote:

> I'd have thought that even if someone appears to be
> dealing with their problems, that it was courteous to ask
> if they needed assistance. Or am I deluding myself?

It deep ends.

If there is a lone cyclist I will almost always stop and
ask. If it's a group, I don't usually bother (especially if
they seem to be dealing with
it). I have stopped and helped a group of two, one of whom
had stripped a crank bolt.

--
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after
posting. http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

Victory is ours! Down with Eric the Half A Brain!
 
David Hansen <[email protected]>typed

> I am told that one of the more amusing ways of passing
> other cyclists, especially those on "flash" road our
> mountain bikes, is while wearing a floral dress on a
> Brompton.

Been there, done that!

(No T-shirt though)

Floral dress on old clunker or shopper's quite
effective too...

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email protected] Edgware.
 
Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:
> Simonb wrote:
>
>>> (except I wear baggies over my lycra shorts) Pfft! Why?
>
> To go with his platform soles?[1]
>
> [1] Yes, that is a dire joke.

It is, in fact, worse than one can possibly possibly
imagine. Allow me to stab the perp with this six-blade
knife...

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/
===========================================================
 
Dave Larrington wrote:

>>>> (except I wear baggies over my lycra shorts) Pfft! Why?
>> To go with his platform soles?[1]

> It is, in fact, worse than one can possibly possibly
> imagine. Allow me to stab the perp with this six-blade
> knife...

And I thought we were brothers-in-arms...

--
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after
posting. http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

Victory is ours! Down with Eric the Half A Brain!
 
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