Are men bike snobs?

[BikeHN]

Ok. Maybe I'm being hyper-sensitive, but there is something that I'm noticing in the cycling community around where I live. Men don't acknowledge women riders! I'm talking about while passing on the roads, men don't even give a nod, a wave, or even a glance. I've just gotten into cycling but I've been a fairly serious runner all my life, we runners male or female (even when suffering) usually give a nod at least. Women cyclists around here always give a friendly smile and nod...but nope, not the men.
I'm wondering if I"m being overly sensitive since recently I heard a woman in our riding group say about a couple of guys that passed us on a climb, "Oh, those guys were nice & even encouraging for a change."

Am I over-analyzing this or is it legitimate?

[zoom-zoom]

I've seen it. Even before I started riding, myself. I can count on 1 hand all the times in 4.5 years (and thousands of miles on the roads) of running that a male cyclist acknowledged me while running. They seem to reciprocate waves and hellos more when we are both on bikes, but there definitely does appear to be some weird superiority complex that many guys on bikes take on (at least around here).

But it's not just the spandex-clad "elites." It's guys on casual cruisers and mountain bikes, too. The only ones who break this trend are the 'bent guys. I love those dudes on recumbents. They are always happy to exchange greetings.

[KnottedYet]

I find older guys to be more friendly. And definitely the 'bent riders.

Guys significantly younger tend to be in their own little world, and don't respond to much. (except to pour it on and re-pass me once they realize they've been passed by a chick)

[Blue_Fedora]

Not my experience at all where we live. Cyclists of both genders are equally friendly... and equally aloof

[BikeHN]

Actually zoom, I'm not talking about when I'm running and the men are on bikes...I'm talking about when were BOTH on the bikes. I don't care that cyclists don't acknowledge me when I'm running. I just thought you know, runners have a kind of comaraderie with other runners they pass, and I would think the same would be true of two cyclists passing. I'm glad I'm not the only one that notices this. I totally agree with you, its NOT just the 'spandex-clad "elites".'

[Eden]

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

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.)

[GLC1968]

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!

[jobob]

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 , 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.

[trista]

I don't see many other cyclists at all when I'm out, so I can't comment on actual riders, but I have learned that at the LBS it's best for me to ask for a female to assist me when I need something. The first time I went shopping for a road bike, a man "helped" me. He told me that a novice like me shouldn't be considering a road bike, that it's not normal to go from a hybrid to a road bike, and that I was foolish to consider that the increased hand positions of a road bike was going to offer me any relief from my wrist hurting on the flat handlebars of the hybrid. I left there without having tested ANY bikes, feeling dejected and amateurish. I was so mad!!!! No woman at the LBS has treated me that way.

[Catrin]

When I am riding in the country most of the other cyclists I see wave or say something to me when we pass. In the park where I go to practice intervals, it has taken all summer for many of them to start acknowledging my presence - but most of them do now.

Apparently the fact that I ride a Surly gets attention and most of the roadies want to know where I got it. Guess it has a reputation around here of being hard to get - and of being a great all-day bike (which it is).

Sadly that snobbery is just one of the not so nice part of human nature - but it is also true that I've noticed far more of it over the years from men. Not saying that there aren't female snobs - but I think it tends to come out differently. Or not.

[maillotpois]

there are so many cyclists on the roads here I would never consider waving to everyone. it would be a parade instead of a bike ride. if someone's stopped with a mechanical, I am going to ask if they need anything and will stop and help if they do. but I am not waving at everyone, sorry. I dont think that makes me a bike snob.

[buffybike]

All the cyclists in my area are pretty friendly (I DO live in the South, though). The older men are the nicest and most encouraging. The worst treatment I ever got was actually from another female cyclist.

The younger racing crowd tend to keep to themselves, but that's fine with me--I'm not trying to keep up with them.

[Owlie]

Where I'm currently living, we road cyclists are such a novelty that most of us wave or nod to each other. Back home, most nod or wave, except for the MUST-GO-INSANELY-FAST-type guys, who are in their own little bubble of awesome, apparently.
And let's not talk about the guy with the Pinarello who seemed to think it was his job to be a tool...

[shootingstar]

BikeHN, there are enough cyclists in our area at times, that usually everyone is doing their own thing.

What seems noticeable is more in isolated areas where there are far less cyclists, and I'm cycling solo in opposite direction, then occasionally there may acknowledgement from a passing male or female cyclist. But more often, I think some guy- cyclists (usually 1 or 2 of them) if they bother to look at me, it's to figure out if they might know me.

Usually it's a guy older than his 20's, if he nods or looks.

Many cycling gals in our area are indifferent. Or just concentrating on the traffic or hill ahead of them. Just like I tend to do.

Don't take it personally. Love your bike rides instead.

[Veronica]

Why do you think they have to give you a smile, a wave or a nod? When you're grocery shopping do you acknowledge everyone you see?

Veronica