Question for the more experienced (older) cyclists...

[Glover Fan]

If you are at a cycling event and you see a cyclist either male or female presumed to be under the age of 25, what do you think (if at all) and be perfectly honest?

Are you as likely to strike random conversation with them as anybody else?!

This is obviously a very random question, but I shall elaborate before I state my thoughts, I wouldn't want to sway opinion just yet.

 

[Ravenbait]

I'm not the world's most sociable person, but unless the cyclist in person is an actual child, I'm just as likely to talk to him or her as anyone else.

Sam

 

[Smokin Joe]

I'm not the world's most sociable person, but unless the cyclist in person is an actual child, I'm just as likely to talk to him or her as anyone else.

Sam

Same here.

 

[TVC]

If they're on a bike they're fair game for a chat.

 

[JonnyBlade]

If they're on a bike they're fair game for a chat.

Agreed

 

[Baggy]

On events I'll have random conversations with whatever range of random people happen to be there. Mind you, I'm only middle aged...

Hmmm, let's see, you've been Audaxing, haven't you...

 

[ColinJ]

I don't tend to start random conversations so I'd probably ignore young strangers the same way that I'd ignore older ones!

I have spoken to strangers on rides but it is usually after something has triggered off the conversation, or they have spoken first.

If the young person was standing at the side of the road and looked like they might need help, I would offer it. If the person in question was female and it was in an isolated spot, I'd be aware of the possibility that she might be a bit concerned about being stuck there with a big male stranger and if there was any sign that my offer of help worried her, I'd move swiftly on.

I'd certainly be aware of the fact that a lot of young people would find me even more boring than the older people who do, so I wouldn't assume that they would be particularly interested in talking to me!

I've chatted to young people on the relatively rare occasions that they come on my forum rides. Calum was only 19 when he first came on one and aJohnson only 17 (aJ - where are you? Are you still riding?). I assumed that they didn't want to ride with us in total silence!

I wonder where you are heading with this ... Have you had a problematic response when trying to chat to a young cyclist?

 

[raindog]

Beggars can't be choosers - I'll chat with anyone who'll have me.

 

[summerdays]

I'd probably chat to anyone in a random way ... but if they are young and fit they are bound to be ahead of me. I'd probably talk to kids or teenagers but then I'm a female and a mum - so I probably couldn't pass a young child that looked lost.

 

[Smokin Joe]

This is obviously a very random question, but I shall elaborate before I state my thoughts, I wouldn't want to sway opinion just yet.

This doesn't involve some embarrassing misunderstanding that resulted in the police being called, does it?

 

[corshamjim]

The young & fit are likely to be miles ahead of me.

 

[Glover Fan]

Thanks for the replies, the thread really has been prompted by an odd experience I had at my second ever audax on Sunday. I arrived there earlyish and walked into the village hall to collect my brevet card when the hall literally fell silent and I could literally feel glaring eyes on me. I'm only 22 so was doing my best to bring the average age down in this particular event, but I loved the first audax I did a month ago.

What made the whole situation even more odd was that once my riding comrades had arrived who are in their forties, I then had people striking up random conversation with me. Maybe I am looking into the scenario too deeply but I got the impression that I seemed intimidating or like I was some sort of thug! Lol.

Anyway I ended up really enjoying myself!

What it did make me wonder was where Audax UK is headed, I haven't seen many young people at all at either event. I've not done a sportive are there more younger people at those events?

 

[Sallyann]

Hate to be blond but what's an audax??

 

[Garz]

It is usually an event which has a set time-limit to complete over a long distance. There are however shorter length ones to do so the 'long' is old hat.

Some may compare them to sportives but the other nice element is they are much cheaper and have a traditional feeling.

Others may not fully concur though.

 

[Baggy]

As garz says, there's a lot of debate about what the differences/similarities are about sportives and audaxes!

I really enjoy both, but find the atmosphere different. I've not ridden an Audax longer than 200k, but the "shorter" Audaxes have been relaxed, cakey and sociable (I know the longer ones have more pressures), whereas sportives feel more frenetic as the focus on getting round in the quickest time possible, and yes, there are more young riders on them (and more riders full stop).

There is ongoing debate about the kind of audience Audax UK is trying to attract/aim at, and at the moment I think efforts are being made to widen the appeal and attract a wider demographic group on to rides, as well as encourage people to progress on to the longer events of 300k upwards.

Women and younger riders do seem to be in the minority, which personally, I'd like to see change - but then women and younger riders are minorities within a minority of cyclists who ride longer distances, so it's always going to be a challenge.