Are men bike snobs?

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Originally Posted by BikeHN

........ its NOT just the 'spandex-clad "elites".'

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I actually find the fact that people associate snobbery with spandex amusing. I race and I'm on a team - so I'm one of those..... as a group no we aren't the most likely to wave or be chatty. When we're riding as a team we don't necessarily want other folks getting into our group. We're generally out there to train. We're paying attention to our workout etc. *but* - team riders are also usually the first to stop and help out when there's someone with a problem - a flat, a crash. We tend to be prepared (lots of spare tubes, pumps, patches, co2), we're used to helping out one another and we have a lot of health care workers - my team alone has several PT's, a doctor, more than a few nurses.... (and of course unfortunately most of us have had some experience with a downed teammate, so we know some of the problems you run into trying to get medical aid to a crash.)

If I'm calling out "passing on your left" I really like to get some form of acknowlegement so I know the rider is aware there is someone about to pass them.

The OP was about a difference between observed behaviour of men and of women in passing situations.

I have noticed that younger men are not as responsive when I call out before passing as are older men. (I'm not expecting a big warm hug and a juicy kiss... I'm talking about raised fingers, a nod, a "ok" or "thanks", or a return ring on a bike bell to signify the rider is aware I am about to pass)

Not that I would interpret it as snobbery, I think of it more as the younger men are just in their own world more when they ride and don't think about communicating that they know they are being passed. Everyone will use their own vocabulary, I used her description of the situation more than her vocabulary choice when I thought about her post.

Cyclists are in a fairly unique position as vehicles, because we can signal the person ahead that we are going to pass, and the person about to be passed can signal back that they know it. The only parallel I can draw for car traffic is when you activate your turn signal you want to merge into a lane, and the car behind you in the next lane flashes their headlights to let you know they will stay back as you merge.

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Originally Posted by BikeHN

Haven't you ever noticed how motorcycle riders wave to each other? :cool:

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Nope, have not noticed this..yet.

Really, maybe it's your area that likes to be friendly when people feel like it. Each region is abit different.

We also get alot of tourists who cycle and jog in certain areas. Often one can figure out if they are tourists, just by their riding style. But other times, no.

Yep, must just be a regional thing.

And about 95% of the time they nod back.

What was cool, or I thought it was anyway, on the second day of STP this year there was a motorcycle in a turn lane and I happened to catch his eye. I smiled and nodded and he nodded back & gave a thumbs up, then went along his way. I've seen motorcyclists nod and wave at each other, but don't think I've seen one respond to a bicyclists. (And no, it was not one of the Gold Wing people this guy was on a Harley and decked out in leathers).

In Copenhagen where over 40% of cyclists are women....no one cares to acknowledge :rolleyes: Just way too many. :)

I'll be posting an article about my Copenhagen cycling experience last month...just give me a few days.

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Originally Posted by ZooZoo

I've seen motorcyclists nod and wave at each other, but don't think I've seen one respond to a bicyclists. (And no, it was not one of the Gold Wing people this guy was on a Harley and decked out in leathers).

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I've had several motorcyclists wave and/or nod in my direction. It always has an air of "I see that you are on 2 wheels, too. Cool." :cool:

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Originally Posted by Eden

+1 - I've never understood this he/she didn't wave at me so he/she must be a snob thing..... you don't wave at all other drivers or all other folks walking on the same sidewalk as you? Well at least we don't around here.

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I think what gets me is the fact that I live in a rural area. I can go for miles without seeing another walker/runner/car/cyclist. So when I do encounter another living person I generally wave or nod. In the cases where other cyclists don't reciprocate it always seems more than a little like they are going out of their way to avoid making eye contact or acknowledging me...which seems weird and a little rude. Especially since I don't get this from other runners very often (on the rare occasion that I do, again it is men the vast majority of the time).

Men acknowledge me on a regular basis. So do women. Sometimes a really fast guy will pass me and not announce his intention, which is a little unnerving, but I accept it. There's tons of cyclists around here and half or more are women.
If I am on my Jamis with the pannier, I don't get as many waves, as when I am on my road bike, but since the Jamis is a little usual, I do get an occasional nod, since I look like I am commuting , even if I am just doing an errand.

the busy big road near where i live is like a bike riders freeway. the bike lane is ten feet wide and always full on both sides of the street.

i try to wave at people, but there are so many that its hard to concentrate on riding and not crashing into the many speeds and styles of riders just on my side of the road.

its like an amateur bike race on the weekends that is miles long. more like a social gathering on bikes.

us girls get lots of attention from men here:eek:. a little too much if you get my drift.....

I definitely think it is a regional thing
Around here, cyclists tend to acknowledge eachother with a nod.
just like backpackers acknowledge each other in the backcountry.
It only takes a sec to nod (doesn't even really disrupt an interval) and makes people feel good.

I ride solo out in the country and have rarely had the very occasional male bike rider warn me that he is passing me or acknowledge me with so much as a glance if going in the other direction. Now farmers and truck drivers in any direction are another story- trucks passing will hannd back a bit, give a toot to let me know they are there and then pass with plenty of room.

Since I can ride for hours without seeing another living soul, it makes it a bit less lonely when they toot and wave but I would think the same would apply to male bike riders. As far as women riders, out in the country, I have yet to see one.

It probably is probably regional though.
marni

I've found male bikers much more helpful and friendly than women. Where I live, bikers check on each other mostly in winter or at night (because fewer people are out, I guess). I see far fewer women biking in winter.

Males are also much more amenable to general bike/gear/route conversation and advice.

I've only once had a woman ask if I was okay, whereas men do it fairly often.

I heart spandex boys.

There are definitely regional differences.

When I lived and rode in NC, I didn't find much of a difference between men and women, but there was definitely a difference depending on which bike I was on. Road bike? Lots of attention/acknowledgement. Commuter? Not so much unless it was freezing or raining and then everyone was generally friendly.

Here in Oregon? Maybe it's because I've been ridng longer, or maybe it's because I see so many more cyclists on any given day, but honestly, everyone seems friendlier. I notice NO difference between men and women (though I do generally see more men than women) or no difference based on bike or my attire. I do notice that cyclists generally acknowledge each other more when in the country than in the city, but that just makes sense. There are tons of riders in the city. As others have said, if you were to acknowledge every single cyclist, you'd be a waving maniac or nodding so much you'd be constantly dizzy!

I often begin & end my rides on an 8 mile long bike path. Often times I'll see older ELDERLY cyclists, newbie cyclists, and families of cyclists on that path. I'll often smile at them if we're passing in opposite directions, or I'll call out a cheery good morning / afternoon if I'm passing them.

Part of that admittedly is for self-defense :D, so I know that they know I'm there, but it lifts my spirits as well.

I don't often acknowledge the experienced riders on the path, and once I'm out on the main road, I rarely acknowledge other riders unless I'm passing them.

I suppose I'm a reverse snob. :rolleyes: