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

[raindog]

Good grief, is that all? I couldn't get to sleep last night wonderring what this thread was all about.

 

[funnymummy]

I'll talk to anyone, shutting me up is the problem - I'm a mum & a teacher - Bred to talk!!

 

[the_mikey]

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.


I've not done a sportive are there more younger people at those events?

I'm 35 and I felt quite a bit out of place when I showed up for a local ctc ride one day, I didn't feel intimidated but more like I was the square peg in the round hole. I'll be going on a sportive ride later this month so I will bear this thread in mind when I'm riding around. But also to answer to the OP, I'll chat to most people if they want to chat with me, I'm not really all that sociable, but I do enjoy the sense of camaraderie that you get when you've got people to talk with on a ride.

 

[Fnaar]

I don't tend to start random conversations

I do... like asking people at bus stops... "When you're on your own in a lift, do you practice breakdancing?"

 

[BrumJim]

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

+1

 

[KenG]

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

 

[Banjo]

Audax UK puts the average age on rides on the result sheets. On the shorter rides (200 or less ) it seems to be around 50 bearing in mind there are some considerably older than that there must be some younger riders.

On the longer rides (I havent done a long one yet) the average age gets younger.

I wonder if you were a bit nervous entering a room full of older cyclists and perhaps they picked up on that vibe Im sure there wasnt any intentional snub.I would expect most people to welcome younger riders .Personally I will chat to anyone I can keep up with.

 

[MacB]

Another gobshite here, the only thing that shuts me up is a lack of fitness and a pace that sees me unable to 'multitask'.

I'm never quite sure about going on a group/organised event ride and then riding on your own in silence. If all you want to do is tick a check box for having done a certain distance then you can do that on your own anyway. Though I fall into the category of people that wouldn't bother getting a card stamped and wouldn't collect a certificate. The other aspect is distance/time perspective is a funny old thing, you can mentally make them stretch and contract but having a natter works better than anything else.

Re the OP and an age thing, that's just people, territorial, tribal, awkward, insular - join any club and you'll find the same sort of thing - some golf clubs I've played at have cracked me up

 

[benb]

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

FIFY