Snobbery

[gallego1968]

Is there a cycle snobbery.
I went out for a great 14 mile ride this morning and along the way i saw two other riders all dressed up as if they were in the Tour De France and i said good morning to them and both ignored me even though they looked at me.
Now i may not dress as they dress but i do have helmet and cycle shorts on with a tracksuit top on.
If there is a snobbery it's like bikes as the power rangers don't really acknowledge you unless you to have a superbike.

 

[abo]

Yeah, there's always going to be people who act that way whatever the pursuit, from gaming to bikes.

Just let them get on with it. It is annoying when you go into a LBS for some simple advice and you are treat like an inconvenience mind. Won't be going there again...

 

[coffeejo]

You get pillocks on kinds of bikes ... but most aren't.

 

[lukesdad]

Mind games. They re worried you might be faster than them.

 

[Glover Fan]

I think we should all take stock before jumping to conclusions. There are many times I don't have a chance to say hello due to the fact I'm going too fast and too out of breath to day hello.

They could have well of been in a deep conversation and genuinely did not see or hear you!

I think sometimes it says more about people who get annoyed about the lack of recognition, than the people who for whatever reason do not return the gesture of goodwill!

Of course some people are just ignorant and without sounding brash I'm sure there are people who don't care how far you have cycled or what type of bike you ride!

 

[gallego1968]

These two riders weren't together as these were separate incidences.

 

[gavroche]

Now i may not dress as they dress but i do have helmet and cycle shorts on with a tracksuit top on.

you wear lycra shorts John?

 

[NormanD]

Just ignore them as it's the same in all walks of life, whether you drive a car/ fly a plane/ sail a boat / the job you do, you'll find them all there lurking ... oh wait I'm on a road bike now ... ignores OP post

 

[Oldbloke]

I live in France & when I'm out (lycra, helmet & ALWAYS a plain jersey) it's invariably the prize-guys in their matching kit with "Credit Agricole/FDJ/etc etc plastered all over them who blank me; on the rare occasions that I overtake them I usually get glared at if I bonjour them


When I rode sports bikes in the UK it was usually the HD/Goldwing/BMW riders who didn't nod....

 

[downfader]

I nearly cause some poor sod to crash last year. I thought it rude not to alert him to my presence as I overtook so said a cheery "good morning!" He veered violently to the left into the kerb with shock, nearly wobbling off.



Saving grace was we were both going up hill at the time rather than down.

 

[Red Light]

I usually do a small wave or nod of the head when I meet another cyclist but I do wonder why. When I'm walking I don't greet every pedestrian I come across, when I'm driving I don't wave to all the other drivers so why when I'm cycling do I wave to other cyclists? "Serious" roadies though are the ones that wave back least often.

I can remember a time when the AA and RAC gave you metal membership badges to mount on your front bumper or radiator grill and you used to wave or flash other members when you saw them and patrol men used to salute you. But that died years ago.

 

[endoman]

I acknowledge every cyclist I see, and without exception there is a nod or wave / raise of hand reciprocated. Maybe it's a regional thing? Roadies, commuters, whatever, all very polite .

 

[Norm]

I usually do a small wave or nod of the head when I meet another cyclist but I do wonder why. When I'm walking I don't greet every pedestrian I come across, when I'm driving I don't wave to all the other drivers so why when I'm cycling do I wave to other cyclists? "Serious" roadies though are the ones that wave back least often.

I don't greet pedestrians in town but I will say hi if I'm walking where there aren't many others around.

When driving the Land Rover or, in past times, the Porsche, I'd wave at others in similar cars (although Defender drivers would never acknowledge anyone in a Freelander or Chav Rover Discovery ) and, outside London, I nod at anyone on a PTW when I'm out on a motorbike, even when riding a Harley (although that does confuse people on UJM's as Harley riders aren't supposed to acknowledge them ).

I even cross-pollinate. I say hi to walkers when I'm cycling and cyclists when I'm walking, I'll nod at cyclists when on the motorbike and vice versa and I say hi to horse riders even though I haven't been on a horse in about 40 years.

 

[endoman]

When I had a Porsche there was the Porsche " flash" used by owners.
When out walking in the country I say hello to everyone I meet, not in town obviously, but yep on all walks out of town.

 

[Wednesday]

I figured it was like walkers saying hi to each other. I don't really get it, but I suppose it's nice. I smile at walkers or cyclists if they're coming the other way on a path (and of course thank anyone who stops or moves aside for me), but I don't see the point of saying something when overtaking/being overtaken since there's no eye contact.