Cycling Snobs

[Davidc]

The world is full of tw*ts

unfortunately some of them cycle as well

Cyclists are as diverse as the population in general, so we should expect to come across all sorts, and yes rh100, some are tw*ts! Fortunately most aren't.

My experience has always been that a large majority are pleasant, polite and helpful. I think it could be that people on bikes are generally less stressed than many others - at least while they're riding.

 

[trustysteed]

i just wonder why people spend so much time worrying about other cyclists not saying hello. do you say hello to everyone you walk past just because they're also walking? do you wave to everyone else in their cars when you're driving? no, because everyone would think you're a nutter.

why do people suddenly think that because they're on a bike, they are suddenly special enough to be acknowledged by other cyclists?

just ride your flipping bike and enjoy your own ride. you weirdos.

 

[BentMikey]

It's very sad to think that people might not want to say hello when riding on a bike, or when walking for that matter. Poor us, and poor society.

 

[brokenbetty]

I LOVE these comments, they're so true!



This applies to other areas as well. One that springs to mind is the 4x4 fraternity of which I'm part, although much less so these days. I used to go competition trialling and still have one of the vehicles.

Anyway - look on any 4x4 forum and there'll be loads of people saying they broke this, that or the other expensive bit of their modified 4x4, or that they got so stuck it took 4 hours and two winch vehicles to get them unstuck. Same principle - you weren't doing it properly unless you broke something!

Well I never subscribed to that view either. If I broke something I either wasn't driving properly or I hadn't maintained something properly. If I got stuck then I wasn't driving or anticipating properly. If I broke nothing and didn't get stuck I was very pleased with myself, however there were always the tits who would say I wasn't trying hard enough!

Hee hee - you think that's bad, you should talk to mountainboarders. You have to break YOURSELF before you count as serious.

Though I do think if I spend a day on the snowboard or mountainboard without falling it means I'm spending too long in the comofrt zone. But they are a different sort of sport, and very fall-y

 

[SimonC]

No. The logic of the original statement specifically precludes it. The meaning of the original statement is also precise and well defined.

A proper cyclist is anyone who rides a cycle. The terminology you're looking for is serious cyclist, conventionally used to describe those cyclists who train to a competitive level, and no I haven't been one of those for about 33 years.

Maybe in your head, in reality no.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I'm not really bothered about all the 'cyclier than thou' attitudes - if I do get blanked, etc. I couldn't give a monkeys. If I get a hello back then there's the warm cosy glow of the bond of cyclists.

Some you win and some are complete tossers who should rot in hell!

 

[Jezston]

I'd disagree with the last statement. Fixies are pretty good in hilly environments too, in fact over rolling terrain I'd say a fixie is almost better than geared. Nottingham would be fine. It seems counter-intuitive but it's true, fixed-wheelers climb really effectively, but you'd have to try one to be convinced.

Regarding brakes, I still had both brakes on mine, seemed stupid not too... but then they weren't fashionable when I first had mine, they were just the winter training/low maintainance version of your summer bike.

I realise I probably shouldn't have said that, what with never having ridden one

I think I'm still sore after my bike got nicked and my trendy neighbours with their vintage fixies got left alone!

 

[GrasB]

I'd disagree with the last statement. Fixies are pretty good in hilly environments too, in fact over rolling terrain I'd say a fixie is almost better than geared. Nottingham would be fine. It seems counter-intuitive but it's true, fixed-wheelers climb really effectively, but you'd have to try one to be convinced.

+1 the biggish inclines around here I find the fixie is the fastest bike up them... but not down them.

Regarding brakes, I still had both brakes on mine, seemed stupid not too... but then they weren't fashionable when I first had mine, they were just the winter training/low maintainance version of your summer bike.

Nothing beats a front stopper with attitude & a rear brake is a useful thing to have as well..

 

[fossyant]

I'll say 'ello to anyone, be it on the custom road bike, or the MTB (especially when overtaking a road bike going up hill, flinging mud off having just come off a path )....

 

[DJ]

There is a worse form of cycling snobbery.

Its the "I ride a bike in all weathers, not just at weekends, so what do you know" statement.

Snobbery, or inverted snobbery??[/QUOTE]




I would call this positive snobbery and justifiable rather than the "weekend warrior',look how much my bike cost" types who are counter productive and put people off!

 

[Davidc]

Maybe in your head, in reality no.

Ah well, never mind, shame you can't follow simple english &/or statement derived logic, but that's your problem, not mine.

 

[Browser]

I just think that there are a minority of people who never grow up from the school playground, staements like "how many gears has your bike got? Ten! That's crap, mines got fifteen!". Apply this to anything new you bought, theirs would always be better. They just get older and better funded

 

[threebikesmcginty]

The vehicle was an "old" ford transit ... and hidden under the bonnet was a vamped up engine that could hurl the whole thing down the road quicker that the ford cosworth...alledgedly

Used one of them on a job (work not nickin') in London years ago - it had a Ford V6 engine - S.H. 1 T. off a shovel!

 

[Two mile commute]

I'm not really bothered about all the 'cyclier than thou' attitudes - if I do get blanked, etc. I couldn't give a monkeys. If I get a hello back then there's the warm cosy glow of the bond of cyclists.

Some you win and some are complete tossers who should rot in hell!

+1

 

[Arch]

About ten lycra clad Lance Armstrong wannabees pulled up next to me. Cue energy drinks and high protein bars being passed around etc.

That just makes me laugh. Those things cost a fortune. I do all my cycling fuelled by pasta, cake and tea, which are very cheap, and readily available at millions of stockists nationwide (and world wide, should I wish to venture abroad).

The chap turned out to be ok despite the initial impression I had of him but did say he wouldn't be seen dead on anything but his high end road bike.

He can't think much of himself, if he needs a high end bike under him to make him look good....

If a roadie sneered at me, I'd think, well, you may have the better bike, but did you build your own front wheel? No? ha! beat you!

(ok, I've only ever built the one, but hell, I did it, and it's still true enough, about 5 years later)