Originally posted by ireman_1
Is there a rule somewhere in the roadie handbook that compells some to act as though they are some superior brand of cyborg when faced with a mountain biker riding on the road?
This is an interesting subject matter and one I think I can actually comment on with some accuracy having transitioned over to road cycling from a 10 year mountain biking history.
"Accuracy" first off might be a hasty word since, like in all other things in life concerning people, "individual" is the operative word, but there are a few very solid facts when comparing when MTB's and road bikes meet on the road that I think can be used to shed more light on what the truth actually is.
Mountain biking is generally more "technical" than road biking, not that road biking contains no level of technical skill, but rather, when mountain biking, it is more common to slow to a crawl, even stop, assess a situation, then attack it. Because of this, the action of "pauses" in a ride is normal, as is the conversation between riders during these pauses.
Because the emphasis in road cycling is a generally consistent, more predictable riding surface, and much longer distances at speed, "pauses" are much rarer, and not generally normal. In addition, to be competitive in road cycling, these pauses and slowdowns are things to be vigorously avoided at all costs since it is normal to gauge one's competence with interval times over an unchanging route. In contrast, as a mountain biker, time is of little value, only survival and avoiding serious injury is of value. The reward being able to traverse rough obstacles and terrain with confidence.
How does just this first point manifest itself on the road? Unless you are a VERY serious mountain biker in excellent physical condition, a competent road cyclist on a decent rig will undoubtedly pass you at a significant difference in speed. To a mountain biker on the street this may appear as "arrogance" or a "stay out of my way you moving pothole" attitude, but in the same way you, as a mountain biker would show irritation if someone busted up your wood bridge crossing over a stream, a road cyclist trying to improve themselves will be distracted by an inconsistency they need to be wary of and may potential destroy their rythm...
I've had people on mountain and comfort bikes that I pass on the road yell obscenities at me simply because I passed them when the only thing on my mind was the road, my cadence, and my split time...
Even though I am riding for the fun of it, just like they are, I am also riding to improve, and so I have to adopt a certain level of output... I love seeing other cyclists on the road, but because I don't slow down and say "hi" when I am concentrating on my lactic acid levels in my legs doesn't mean that I'm trying to be mean.
Riding the trails on a mountain bike is a visceral and very dynamic experience, always something different happening, always something new popping up (sometimes to bite you right in the ass *laughing*) and very often the biggest thrill is to ride somewhere challenging and "new" somewhere you haven't been before. To a road cyclist, this "haven't been there before" is called "time"...
Road cycling is all about consistency, and smashing thru previous levels of performance on often the very same or similar routes. Because of this it is VERY common to almost go trancelike while ticking away your cadence on the pedals. In concert with this, road cyclists (and MTB'ers to a smaller degree) reach a "zone" a very important level of output where they can continue to hammer at a competitive pace while actually maintaining the bodies equilibrium of energy usage vs output vs lactic acid buildup.
That steady state is almost like Nirvana to a road cyclist and ANYTHING that interupts that balance is sheer hell, stop signs, traffic lights, flats, and yes, other cyclists... So when a roadie passes you and acknowledges your "howdy!" with a small head nod, 9 times out of ten it is NOT arrogance...
Think of it like someone building something, vs someone playing a musical instrument... You walk up to someone building a cabinet and they stop and say "how are you doing!" but it's general knowledge that if someone was say, playing a piece on the guitar, that your walking up and talking to them is breaking a level of concentration and consistency... Road biking is often like this.
Now, I'm not saying that if you're both at a traffic light and stopped, and you say "hi!" to a roadie and he responds with a sneer, that this is acceptable behavior, but when one blasts by you, recognize that you may very well be on a standard course he/she uses and they are 10 seconds ahead of their best time for that interval and pushing hard. For a roadie that feels the same as when you graduate from the 5 foot vertical drop to the 10
You can't EVER convince me that bravado is not alive and well on the trails and single track either... I came from there and it is alive with a vengeance, when you see a pack of road bikers displaying the same bravado, it is not something new to MTB'ers, it is only in a different form
I ride exclusively on the road now, I wear pro-team jerseys all the time, i constantly try to get better (sometimes my mind pushing harder than my body can take) I have no animosity toward any other cyclists on the road no matter what they are riding, but I take my riding VERY seriously... On the road, I concentrate, and concentrate HARD... but at the end of the ride, no matter how well or poorly I do, I'll be the first one to come over and say "hi!" and buy you and your buddies a beer...
Next time you see a roadie, think of it more as seeing someone playing an instrument...
Have a good one!
Feanor
